Westlake Women's Club event sparkles at Four Seasons
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TREE TRIMMING-Westlake Women's Club members Jule Hopkins, left, and Claudette Davies, both of Westlake Village, examine the ornate tree decorations before the start of the club's gala holiday luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel last Thursday.

More than 500 women were greeted with sparkle and champagne last week when the brand new Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake opened its doors to the Westlake Women's Club 25th annual Holiday Fundraiser.

The guests filled hallways displaying boutique items shimmering with gems and crystals. Friends came in large stylish groups, with lots of hugging, photo taking and cash to buy holiday gifts in support of charitable causes.

The custom-designed, floral-patterned wool carpeting led to long linen-covered tables with dozens of silent auction items for sale. An "experienced" mink coat and vintage ostrich shoes had attracted some pricey bids as had "Anchored in Avalon," an Alex Coleman painting. A table away was a signed photo of Jay Leno on a motorcycle. Jewelry, clothing, golf, spa, restaurant and other goodies-some piled in large decorated baskets-were also being auctioned to help raise money for the group's philanthropies.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HOLIDAY BASKET-Thousand Oaks resident Carol Shycoff gets a close look at an Asian art bowl at the silent auction before the start of Westlake Women's Club's gala holiday luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel.

"I came to be with friends, see what the hotel has to offer-the holiday shopping is a bonus," said Olga Ciana of Westlake Village. She came with her neighbors Mae Hindy, Dorothy Evergate and Dorri Walters.

By noon the doors to the 11,600-square-foot Grand Ballroom opened for the first time ever. The room was exquisitely decorated with imported French apricot gold silk panels inset into American cherry wood panels with mahogany and gold leaf details. The Grand Ballroom can be divided into five smaller salons but was expanded to its full glory for this large crowd. Tickets to the event were bought out within hours of being offered for sale.

The elegant ballroom twinkled with 21 gigantic crystal Preciosa chandeliers imported from Prague, Czechoslovakia. A high tea buffetstyle luncheon included a vineripened tomato and three-bean relish salad and finger sandwiches made with chicken, curried mango, spinach and walnut salad on wheat raisin bread.

"Just seeing those chandeliers was worth the price of admission," said Ruth Diehl, a women's club member.

Adorning each table was a tall square vase of beautiful cut calla lilies surrounded with crisp white linens and dazzling, firsttimeoutof-the-box silverware.

TV weatherman Fritz Coleman, master of ceremonies for the event, introduced Westlake Village Mayor Susan McSweeney as "one of the most attractive mayors in the country." She responded, "Women are the people who get things done." Both were a hit with the crowd.

David Murdock, CEO of Dole Food Co. and owner of the hotel, made the group laugh as he flattered the crowd by saying, "I have never been so overpowered with so much beauty in my life."

He continued to entertain by encouraging the women, whom he called his first customers, to come to the hotel's spa and "put sticky stuff" on their faces because "I have to admit, I need the money."

He was not alone in his appreciation for the hundreds of women gathered.

"I have traveled to 54 countries in my life, and I've never been so overwhelmed by so much beauty as I am today surrounded by so many beautiful ladies," said Constant Kaczmarek of Westlake Village, one of the few men attending.

The program concluded with the drawing of door prizes from raffle tickets sold earlier. Afterward, with a multitude of guides dressed in black ready to accommodate them, many of the women took group tours of the hotel.

"Not many hotels get this great opportunity their first day open," said Shelby Taylor, hotel spokesperson.

The hotel and wellness center is anticipating great success: already, all 270 guest rooms are sold out for some days in December.

Women's Club publicity chairperson Shirley Cobb estimated the one-day event brought in more than $25,000 for the group.

The club donates funds to the Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks libraries, MANNA, Conejo Senior Concerns, Conejo Valley Historical Society, scholarships, Volunteers in Policing, the Wellness Community and the New West Symphony's Youth Music Education Program and other organizations.