Annual Idaho State University Women’s Club Holiday Fair set Nov. 12

The Idaho State Women's Club Holiday Fair at the Pond Student Union Ballroom on Friday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is an enduring tradition with free parking available to those who come from off campus. 

"The Holiday Fair is a wonderful way to kick off your holiday season," said Barbara Cunningham, one of the fair's organizers.

The Holiday Fair is the ISU Women's Club's largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds go toward three ISU scholarships per year.

Four of the biggest draws to the Holiday Fair are:

•  the raffle for the handmade quilt;

•  the donated ISU departmental holiday baskets;

•  more than 40 vendors who are local and regional artists and artisans; and

•  lunch featuring enchiladas, hot dogs, sloppy joes, soups, salads, beverages and desserts.

Treasures available for purchase include handmade crafts, pottery, jewelry, woodwork, artwork, clothing, holiday decorations, cards, baked goods, stitchery and much more. 

This year's quilt is a sampler quilt and each square is a different pattern.  Jan Goettsch, who passed away in September, was the leader on this quilt, and the quilt is in her honor.  ZZ Gilmore has overseen the quilting for approximately 20 years along with other members of the Club's Quilt Group who meet weekly at the Sages Creek Quilt Company.

Recently retired, Debbie Thompson, former associate dean at the College of Technology, directs and organizes the ISU Departmental Basket donations.  Each basket has a theme and is displayed for bidding in a silent auction.  A traveling award is presented to the department or college with the most creative basket as well as first-, second- and third-place ribbons.

The ISU Women's Club, which has been in existence for 87 years, has been spearheading the Holiday Fair for more than 20 years. In the 1920s the Club was called the Faculty Wives Club, and in the 1930s it was called the Faculty Women's Club.  Finally, in the 1980s, it was given the name it presently holds, the ISU Women's Club.  Membership consists of faculty and staff, wives of the faculty and staff, and honorary members. 

For more information, contact Barbara Cunningham at (208) 282-3995 or Teena Rhoads at (208) 282-3597.

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