At the Thursday Club tea earlier this month, members celebrated 65 years of their Les Fleurettes Debutante Program.
The afternoon started with a history and slideshow of the many years of debutantes, pointing out the program’s changes (especially in the styles of gowns and hair!) and lasting similarities. The Thursday Club debutante program is a tradition-based program put on by the members of the club. However, the debutante committee strives to keep it relevant and current. New personal development classes include social media etiquette and downsides, along with personal safety instructions at home and away at college.
The second part of the program introduced five past debutantes from the classes of 1953, ’56, ’75, ’86 and ’07. These ladies shared their thoughts, memories and insights gained from their years in the program.
Anne Hills (1953) and Molly Brockmeyer (1956) both shared memories and Molly told the group that she married her escort, Neal Brockmeyer.
Susanne Whatley (1975) is a current Thursday Club member and her daughter will be a 2018 provisional debutante with the club. Julie Anne Winnaman Ulcickas (1986) currently teaches the provisional debutantes their Modern Etiquette Class, and Jordan Platisa (2007), who came onstage in her debutante gown, mentioned that she was thrilled that it fit 10 years later.
The third portion of the afternoon was devoted to update the membership as to “Where Are They Now?” for the 2015 debutante class, along with showing their formal ball pictures with their updates.
The program finished with the introduction of the 2017 class and their mothers.
