manhattan-web.jpgThe thirteenth annual Tables du Jour fundraiser was held Saturday morning, April 22 in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. Weeks and months of planning by many talented and hard-working table designer/hosts and hostesses culminated in an over-the-top event for the nearly 250 guests who attended, and left many people wondering how, even after holding the event for 13 years straight, the bar could keep getting higher and higher.

The decorating frenzy began Thursday morning, April 20, and by Friday evening, April 21, all was ready. A preview, revealing a room filled with 29 lavishly decorated tables, was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Those who attended were able to enjoy a taste of what was to come in the main Tables du Jour event that would be held the next day. Coordinated by Sheryl Vinje and Jackee Lerol of Portland, N.D. and Faye Helm of Mayville, the preview event offered a relaxing and enjoyable way to view the spectacular tables, and the $10-per-person admission charge contributed greatly to the event purpose of raising funds for Mayville State University and its students.

Kim Lauf of Mayville, who has been a co-chair of the event since its beginning 13 years ago, organized Tables du Jour, which began as a way to annually raise funds for the music department at Mayville State University. The past fund-raising efforts have been overwhelmingly successful, so much so that scholarship funding for music students for next year is already in the bank. This prompted organizers to direct proceeds from the 2017 Tables du Jour event to the Annual Fund at Mayville State University. The Annual Fund is the area of flappin-web.jpggreatest need at Mayville State this year, and every dollar raised through Tables du Jour will help all Mayville State students’ dreams of an education come true. Tables du Jour efforts are helping not only the music program, but all programs at Mayville State, to grow.

As promised, attendees were treated to a morning of fun, great food, and creative table themes. Each of the 29 tables featured in the spectacular occasion was decorated with its own special theme. Some tables were entertaining, others were elegant, some were sentimental or awakened memories, and still others just plain made a person smile or even giggle. Hosts and hostesses were charged with coming up with a theme and decorating a table, providing everything from the table linens, dishes, and silverware to the many “extras” that made each table special, including party favors. The table designers were also responsible for selling the $25 admission tickets to a total of eight people, including themselves, who would attend the event and enjoy having brunch at their tables.

cannery_row-web.jpgTable themes and designers included the following: Puzzled by Cheryl Angen; A Long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far Far Away … by Sarah Batesel, Betty Karaim, Margit Eastman, Kelly Kornkven, Shannon Hofer, Aubrey Madler, and Marjorie Fugleberg; La Cucina Italiana (The Italian Kitchen) by Kaliann Behrens; Winter Wonderland by Marsha Behrens; Citrus by Jackie Kuhle; Flapping Good Time by Bonnie Enger, Kim Lorenz, and Tammy Volla; Elf on the Shelf by Michelle Braaten and Janna Rygg and sponsored by The First & Farmers Bank; Starring Daisy Delights by Donna Gutschmidt and Kris Scarborough; Sailing the High Seas … HMS Victory by Debbie Hagen, Peggy Schultz, and Doreen Nelson; Queen of Diamonds by Gaylene Johnson; I Believe in Angels by Mary Iverson; Grayscale by Allison Johnson and Lacie Brueckner; We’re in the Funnies by Bob Kozojed and Kelly Morrison; Cannery Row by Barb Kram and Sue Jaramillo, Elegant Bunnies by Kim Novacek; I Need My space by Janice Thoreson and Kim Lauf; Lavender Blue by Molly Lenaburg; Every Day is Earth Day by Annie McMahon and Aprill Hastings; Kindred Spirits by Jacque Moore, Jill Carter, and Stephanie Winterquist; Moonlight Over Manhattan by Lori Morkve; Party Time by Rhonda Nelson and Mandi Domier; Poppies by Donna Olson; Mosaic Medley by Pam Carlson, Char Lee, Ruth vanWechel, Sue Strand, and Joan Osland; Green with Envy by Greta Paschke; Springtime in Paris by Pam Soholt; Lovely Ladies by Beth Swenson; The Botanical Garden by Jayme Trenbeath and Alyson Olson; LIFE is a Board Game by Cleone Whelan and Joan Huus; and Tee Time poppies-web.jpgby Ashley Hanson and Danielle Soholt.

Activities included about an hour and a half of viewing the amazing tables and a silent auction. Betsy Ewen and Bonnie O’Keefe of Mayville and Gaylene Johnson of Cummings coordinated the silent auction event. They gathered lots of fabulous items on which to bid. The items had been donated by table designers, as well as others.

Gary Hagen of Mayville, John Klocke of Fargo, and Paul Batesel of Portland, outfitted in their finest, served as greeters and hosts throughout the morning. Champagne was provided, compliments of Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops of Grand Forks and Fargo. Students representing a research trip to Japan, as well as the music department and the Swing Dance Club, were able to experience the event and see first-hand the source of funding that will assist them and their university. The students helped to serve the brunch which was catered by Bryan Karolus and MSU Dining Services staff. Fabulous desserts and beverages were provided by table designers. Jackie Kuhle of Countryside Creations in Mayville provided door prizes for both the Friday and Saturday events.

While figures are still being tabulated, more than $11,000 was taken in as a result of Tables du Jour 2017. This total includes more than $4,500 generated in the silent auction. After expenses are deducted, the net amount raised will go to the Annual Fund at Mayville State funnies-web.jpgUniversity.  

The date for the 2018 Mayville State University “Tables du Jour” has been set for Saturday, April 21. If you are interested in serving as a table designer for this, please contact Kim Lauf at 701-261-5976.

Photo Captions:

Top: The Statue of Liberty was the centerpiece at the Moonlight Over Manhattan table designed by Lori Morkve. A large backdrop featuring the Manhattan skyline was the “icing on the cake.”

Second: The ladies who ate brunch at this table had a Flappin’ Good Time! Designers Bonnie Enger, Kim Lorenz, and Tammy Volla came to the event dressed in their flapper-style dresses to coordinate with their beautifully decorated table.

golf-web.jpgThird: Barb Kram and Sue Jaramillo incorporated lovely garden flowers into their Cannery Row themed table. Dry ice added to the bottom of the canning pot gave the illusion of boiling water.


Fourth: 
Donna Olson, who has designed at least one table in every year of Mayville State’s annual Tables du Jour event, was hostess of this beautiful and colorful table titled Poppies.

Fifth: Bob Kozojed and Kelly Morrison had collected hundreds of comic strips to incorporate into their We’re in the Funnies table design. Characters who enjoyed brunch at this table included Beetle Bailey, Snoopy, Hagar the Horrible, and Popeye.

Italian_kitchen-web.jpgSixth: Mayville State graduates Danielle Soholt (left) and Ashley Hanson (right) designed this charming golf-themed table into which many clever golf-related details were incorporated.

Bottom: Kaliann Behrens’ Italian Kitchen table was stacked to the ceiling with everything but the kitchen sink.