As we close another winter season and turn our sights onto the blue skies and warmer weather that awaits us, take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the crisp, delightful moments of today. Spring fundraisers are upon us, so take a look at our magazine’s “Happenings” calendar or below at some of the community upcoming events serving the neighbors of Montgomery County. Enjoy a luncheon, fun evening out or round of golf, all while making a difference in someone’s life.

March 2: “Jazzy Junque (& Other Great Stuff!)” benefiting New Danville’s special Preview Party to be held on Tuesday, March 2, from 6-9 p.m. at The Outlets of Conroe. Jazzy Junque will be held on Friday, March 4, through Sunday, March 6, also at The Outlets of Conroe. (www.NewDanville.org).

March 4: Interfaith’s Five Who Share Spring Luncheon. For more information, go to www.woodlandsinterfaith.org.

April 8: Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations presents its annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. www.mcwco.org

April 9: Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum’s 23rd Annual Fundraising Event, Cirque de la Fantaisie, CWJF Ignites the Imagination at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel. For information about tickets call 281-379-1391 or e-mail cwjf@sbcglobal.net .

April 28: Montgomery County Women’s Center, Winefest at Macys Furniture Gallery, The Woodlands Mall. To purchase tickets or to inquire about sponsor contribution levels, call 281-292-4155, ext. 231.

May 13: Hope on The Green Golf Tournament & Dinner featuring The Kyle Hutton Band, benefiting The Will Herndon Fund for Juvenile Batten Disease Research, at Woodforest Golf Club, www.willherndon.org

*

Want to see your event featured in an upcoming “Scene in The Woodlands?” Drop me a line with the details, or send me photos of recent, past events at missyherndon@yahoo.com.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Connecting Families

Connecting Families hosted an inspirational workshop evening at Americas Restaurant for the women of the community, sponsored by Compass BBVA. Ladies were invited to “Let the Magic Begin” and “Unlock the New Year and Unleash the New You” by creating a 2011 Vision Board to help them visualize all their dreams, desires and passions for the new year.  Proceeds from the ladies night fundraiser benefited the Connecting Families’ mission to strengthen families in Montgomery County by providing parenting classes, divorce education, and counseling support. For more information, visit www.resourcesforparents.org.

1. (L-R) Patty Pollard; Donna Wick; Amos McDonald of Compass BBVA, evening sponsor; Diana Boulanger, executive director; Angie Signorelli; and Jeanette Harris.

2. (L-R)Presha Carr, Gweyn Sebastian and Kim Lee

3. (L-R, back row) Amber McGowan and Fawn Creighton; (front row) Angie Signorelli, Honelie Harper, Steffey Whitney and Kelly Wortham

4. (L-R) Jolie Hardeman, Dana Ellis, Mel Diaz and Erica Clark

5. (Back row) Alya and Jasmine Sulaiman with Kim Graham; (front row) Tara Joslin and Uma Vallassery

6. Becky Simpson, Jen McDonald and Danielle Stowers

7. (L-R) Shelley Mathay, Andrea McCole, Maggie Russell and Mary Gilbert

_________________________________________________________________________________

The Woodlands Golf Championship Kick Off

Several local community leaders joined PGA Tour Professional Roland Thatcher, honorary chair, and members of The Woodlands Golf Championship Committee in front of the Champions Bench at Market Street to kick off the 2nd Annual Woodlands Golf Championship and Community Scramble, benefiting Interfaith of The Woodlands.

The two-day tournament will boast play at both the Tournament Course of The Woodlands Country Club and the Fazio Course of The Club at Carlton Woods and will feature 96 amateurs who live or work in The Woodlands. Golfers swing into action on June 27-28.

Tournament sponsorships are available. Please contact Bev Earl, tournament chair, at 281-362-0532 or bev.earl@corp.-inc.com to find out more about the sponsorship levels. To apply/register for the tournament or for more general information, go to www.thewoodlandsgolfchampionship.com or contact Kathy Beisenherz at kbeisenherz@woodlandsinterfaith.org or 832-615-8230.

8. (L-R) Jim Dickson, The Woodlands Golf Championship Committee and director of golf operations at The Woodlands Country Club; Karen Hoylman, CEO of The South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce; Lauri Thomas, TWGC Committee; Kathy Beisenherz, TWGC Committee; Bill Langley, TWGC Committee and managing director of The Clubs at Carlton Woods; Roland Thatcher, TWGC honorary chair and PGA Tour professional; Gary Watts, TWGC Committee and mayor of Shenandoah; Bev Earl, TWGC chair; David Hall, TWGC Committee; Belton Byrd, TWGC Committee; John Schoenbeck, TWGC Committee and general manager of Canongate at The Woodlands; Mary Jo O’Neal, development director of Interfaith of The Woodlands; Eric Depoy, TWGC Committee; Dr. Ann Snyder, president and CEO of Interfaith; and Ron Mullins, Interfaith development committee member.

9. (L-R) Jim Dickson, TWGC committee member and director of Golf Operations at The Woodlands Country Club; Roland Thatcher, TWGC honorary chair and PGA Tour professional; John Schoenbeck, TWGC committee member and general manager at Canongate at The Woodlands; Bev Earl, chair of TWGC; Dr. Ann Snyder, president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands; and Bill Langley, TWGC committee member and managing director of The Clubs at Carlton Woods.

10. Members of the TWGC Committee, Eric Depoy and Belton Byrd

11. Kathy Beisenherz of the TWGC Committee and Interfaith of The Woodlands with Jenny Taylor of Market Street

12. (L-R) Representing Interfaith of The Woodlands, Mary Jo O’Neal with Lauri Thomas, TWGC Committee Member, and Karen Hoylman, The South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Junior League Presents Coach Ken Carter

“Average is just not good enough, PERIOD” was the theme of motivational speaker Coach Ken Carter’s presentation to more than 1,200 area educators, sponsored by the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties Inc. The “coach” created a controversy with his methods of transforming a San Francisco basketball team into a powerhouse on the court and in the classroom.

His efforts have won him numerous accolades and inspired the movie “Coach Carter,” starring Samuel L. Jackson. Coach Carter motivated teachers and administrators from eight local districts at the Junior League’s annual event that focuses on building self esteem in area youth.

13. Coach Ken Carter (center) with local school district’s Superintendents: Dr. Don Stockton, Conroe ISD (far left); Charlie Brown, Magnolia ISD (second, left); Dr. Ralph Draper (second, right); and Dr. Bret Jimerson, (far right).

14. (L-R) Junior League board members Jenni Skipper, Carol McHorse, Ali May, Jennifer Bulovas and Terri Simmons.

15. Rebecca Broussard, Willis ISD school board president, with JL Past presidents, Audra Hoegemeyer and Shannon Mills.

16. Junior League members, Emily Gogineni with Regina Bowen

17. Coach Ken Carter (second, left) with Conroe ISD representatives Dr. Don Stockton, superintendent; Dr. Ann Snyder, board member and JL Sustainer; and Ray Sanders, board member.

18. Event co-chairs (l-r) Ashley Wallace and Brooke Roberts with Coach Carter and event chair Melanie Hensley.

19. JL members Jacey Matson and Joni McCants

20. Junior League members Marcy Wallace and Brooke Roberts