Guys, Find that Special Gift for Your Lady

The Rogers County United Way’s 4th annual Holiday Boutique is November 8-10, 2012 at the RSU Student Centennial Center.

Angela Henderson and Shelly Jones, co-chairs of Rogers County United Way’s Holiday Boutique.

Gentlemen, start your engines – it’s time to go Christmas shopping! Yes, you read that right. If you have trouble choosing that perfect gift for wife, mother, or significant other, don’t wait until the last minute and purchase a gift in a panicked rush. Buy a ticket to the Rogers County United Way’s 4th annual Holiday Boutique, being held November 8, 9, and 10 at the RSU Student Centennial Center, where you can celebrate the spirit of giving by supporting a worthy cause and getting your Christmas shopping wrapped up – in more ways than one.            

    “Many men stay away because they read the word ­‘boutique’ and assume this will be a women’s-only event,” says Angela Henderson, co-chair of the Holiday Boutique with Shelly Jones, who adds, “But this is a great place for men to come and shop for the ladies in their lives because it’s a one-stop shop – you can buy your gift and get your purchases wrapped and ready to go right under the tree.” Shelly points out that men ­sometimes bring that special lady along so that she can let him know just what items she would place on her Christmas wish list.

    Of course, ladies love this event also – with great reason, as it features a wide array of items dear to the female heart, ­including jewelry, clothing, ­cookbooks, and decorating, household, sports team related, and holiday themed items. Angela and Shelly would like everyone to note the schedule change this year. “We are ­replacing the brunch we used to have for pre-shopping on Friday morning with a Thursday night Exclusive VIP Cocktail Reception,” she notes. “We wanted to give vendors extra time to replenish their booths before the main event and also to accommodate people who work on Friday mornings." Admission to the Exclusive VIP Cocktail Reception, which is from 6 to 8 p.m., is $25, and general admission tickets for Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. are $12. Rogers State University students pay only $5 for general admission if they present their student ID cards.

    Shelly and Angela expect the event to host around 30 booths this year from great area businesses like Claremore’s J&J Pharmacy and Oologah’s Chrome Cowgirl. Vendors can apply for booth space until all slots are filled. “We had a lot of interest in items for teens last year,” says Angela. “So we would like to invite those who have such items to consider a booth.”

    Both ladies assure potential vendors they will have an ­experience like no other. “We have volunteers from each agency who help bring in and take out items for booth renters,” says Shelly. “That kind of help usually isn’t offered in a vendor situation.”

    Donna Ross, Rogers County United Way executive director, is delighted to have Shelly and Angela co-chairing this event. “These ladies are both directors of United Way agencies – Shelly directs The Manger and Angela heads up Tri-County CASA – so the success of this event is high on their priority list,” she says. “The 26 Rogers County United Way agencies are always ready to help – we are like a family.”

For more information, contact

Rogers County United Way

(918) 343-1165