Dear Council of 101 members,



It’s time to celebrate Spring at the Museum with this years fabulous Art In Bloom! Get your tickets today for the opening night preview party - a Hamptons inspired event with craft cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by Arthur’s Catering, personal fashion sketches of your chic attire by the Paper Bar Company and live music + a first look at the show offerings! 

We have two guest speakers sharing the best in lifestyles, design and art - Amanda Lindroth and Jill Steenhuis. Tickets are available for both the lectures and book signings. You can have an extra special experience with two VIP receptions with our speakers that include elegant champagne, brunch bites and reserved front row seating.

The Mystery Show House is back with 4 tours on Saturday. Always a sell out; so, don’t miss this opportunity to tour a beautiful home and garden and enjoy light refreshments. 

And for the creatives amongst us Sunday features a pastels workshop presented by Jill.

One of Art in Bloom 2023’s offerings is sure to tempt you and your friends too: 

· Antiques Dealers

· What It’s Worth Appraisal Days

· Art Auction

· The Café

· Exquisite Floral Interpretations

· Outdoor Market

We cannot do this without the help of all our members. Thank you to Stacy Jennings and the AIB Chairman! Purchasing your tickets and attending the show is key to our success. You can find ticket details in the membership obligation section of the newsletter. You can also call Vanessa in the office if you need assistance. Tickets for the public will be sold through Eventbrite as well as at the door.

The business of Council of 101 continues with our important March 16 general meeting. We have the privilege to vote on our 2022-2023 Board of Directors and hear the final exciting details from our Art In Bloom Committees. Our annual meeting is right around the corner so plan for a delightful April Spring Luncheon at Interlachen Country Club. Pencil in these, and other important event dates listed here on the side. 

Spring has most certainly sprung and I hope you all enjoy it immensely! 

Linda Cegelis 

President 

Take advantage of this special! 101 Members-only Invitation to meet

Jill Steenhuis at Art in Bloom:

VIP Champagne Reception : $50 click HERE to purchase

Presentation, Painting Demonstration* & Book Signing: $20 click HERE to purchase

* Special note on the above price change.  If you have already purchased individual tickets or used the "Special Bundle” for this event, your tickets will now become a VIP tickets and you will be able to attend the VIP Champagne Reception. If you have already purchased tickets to the VIP Champagne Reception, we will automatically refund you the difference in price. 

Delightful and entertaining Jill Steenhuis has been painting in the landscapes of Provence for more than 40 years. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Jill was one of the rare artists to have a studio at the Château Noir, where Cézanne had his studio in the late 19th century.  Today, Jill paints daily, either “en plein air” or in the light-filled studio of her home in Aix-en-Provence, capturing the essence of Provence with her own personal poetry.

She is the Cezanne and Van Gogh specialist for American Museums who visit the south of France. Her work is part of the permanent collections of several museums and important private collections in America and in France. She leaves Aix-en-Provence each spring to tour throughout the southeast US.  We are delighted to be a stop in her schedule!  

*Jill is donating to 101 the piece she creates during her presentation for auction in Art in Bloom.

Amanda Lindroth's FABULOUS book

 “ ISLAND HOPPING”

is available for Pre-Sale online HERE, or see Vanessa at the Council of 101 office. Payment is due at time of pick-up, and a limited number of books are available!

Membership News



Now is the time to recruit new members! We are off to a great start for our Provisional Class for 2023-24.  Our next Mix and Mingle is Wednesday, March 29^th at 5:30 pm or you could also bring them to our March General Membership meeting.  Attending a Mix and Mix or a General Membership Meeting is part of the requirements to become a new member plus attend a New Member Orientation, set for April 5^th at 5:30 pm at the Orlando Museum of Art). 

All applications, sponsor letters and new member payments are due by April 1^st.  Applications and the payment link are on our website.  We want to make sure we have everything we need for new members to be voted on at the April Board meeting and presented as part of the new Provisional Class at our Spring luncheon.

Remember as a sponsor, it just doesn’t end when you write them a letter of recommendation.  We hope you attend the New Member Orientation with them and keep in touch with them during their first year in Council of 101.  You are their BEST mentor!

Our Art in Bloom is fast approaching, so I want to remind you that under our Council of 101 Bylaws/Policies we are responsible for BOTH financial and volunteer shift requirements to remain in good standing.  Actives and Associates are required to work ONE shift during Arts in Bloom.  Provisionals are required to work TWO shifts during Arts in Bloom. Please sign up on Sign-Up Genius today.

Marketing News

A little help here to expand your social media skills! Check out the Art in Bloom social media tool kit in the link HERE.

Special thanks to Erin Hellkamp for producing! Check it out and start posting! 

Carla Bray

VP Marketing

2023 Art in Bloom Member Financial Obligation

REMINDER: The 2023 Member Financial Obligation is $140 for Actives and Provisionals and $100 for Associates. 

You can fulfill your obligation by purchasing tickets to the many wonderful AIB events, sponsorship, or by making a donation.

You’ll find links to all options on the website:

Log into 

councilof101.org

 click on “Members” passcode is 1965

Scroll to find tickets for purchase as well as sponsorship and donation opportunities. Click “View All”to see all available options. You’ll find more information on each event on the website. 

For ease in purchasing, all event items below are

clickable links:

Adult AIB General Admission tickets - $20 each  

Child (ages 3-12) or Senior (60+) AIB General Admission

tickets - $12 each 

First Look Preview Party tickets - $120 each 

101 Members only Exclusive “Bursting with Blooms” Package (one package per member only)

$200 each (savings of $20)

Ticket to First Look Preview Party

Ticket to One Guest Speaker event

Ticket to One Mystery Home Tour 

Guest Speaker Amanda Lindroth – presentation and book

signing - $50 each

Friday, March 24, 11:00am-1:00pm

Her book is available for pre-purchase (does NOT count

toward member obligation) 

Guest Speaker Amanda Lindroth – VIP Champagne

brunch -$130 each

Friday, March 24, 9:30-10:30am

ticket includes presentation & book signing 11:00am-1:00pm

Guest Speaker Jill Steenhuis – lecture, painting

demonstration & book signing - $20 each

Saturday, March 25, 11:00am-1:00pm

Her book is available for pre-purchase (does NOT count

toward member obligation) - 

Guest Speaker Jill Steenhuis – VIP Champagne brunch

$50

Saturday, March 25, 9:30-10:30am

Ticket includes lecture, painting demonstration & book signing

11:00am-1:00pm

Pastels Workshop led by Jill Steenhuis - $250 each

Workshop does NOT count toward member obligation

Sunday, March 26, 12:30-3:30pm

Materials and refreshments provided

Mystery Home Tour - $50 each

Saturday, March 25

Four tour options: 11:00-11:45am, 12:00-12:45pm, 1:00-1:45pm, 2:00-2:45pm

Member-only Sponsorship opportunity - $1000

Donation - $140, $120, $10 



Thank you for your financial support of AIB and Council of 101!  We encourage you to use the website for purchases, but if you prefer to pay by check, please send to the Council of 101 office. Please reach out if you have questions or need assistance to andreab34567@gmail.com

Andrea Balanzategui, Membership Treasurer

Membership Renewal

I hope you will join me in renewing your Council of 101 Membership for 2023-2024!  It is quick and easy to pay dues and take care of other administrative items online. Please contact me (Andrea Balanzategui, Membership Treasurer) at 407-451-3878 if you have questions or need assistance.

This year we will begin collecting Annual Membership Dues and OMA Dues through one transaction wherever possible for more accurate accounting. To renew your 101 and OMA dues, please click HERE. As a reminder, OMA dues are discounted for Council of 101 Members and are a requirement of 101 membership. You can choose between a single or family membership. If you need an option to pay 101 dues separately due to an affiliation with another OMA group or other circumstance, please contact me. 

Name Tag: If you need a new name tag, please purchase by clicking HERE.  The cost is $10.00. Please indicate if there is a name change. New Provisionals and new Actives will be provided with a new name tag at no cost.

Yearbook Mailing: If you would like the 2023-24 yearbook mailed to you, please purchase the shipping HERE at a cost of $5.00. If you need a 2022-23 yearbook, please call Vanessa in the Council of 101 office.

Andrea Balanzategui, Membership Treasurer

Change in Membership Status



If you are interested in making a Change in Membership Status, you have until June 1^st to do so under our bylaws.  You must notify the President-Elect of your request to do so in writing by email that you are requesting to change.  It will then be brought back to the Board for a vote.  Once approved, you can pay your dues at the new level.

-       Active wanting to go Associate, it is 4 years (Member since 2018).  

-       Associate(2 years as Associate & 4 years as an Active) to become a Sustainer.  

Please email Lisa Sheppard, President-Elect at lsheppard50@icloud.com if you are requesting to change or if you have any questions.

Sponsorship Corner

Check out the redesigned sponsorship packet and forms. There are many sponsorship opportunities available. If you are interested or know someone who is interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Allison Hudson, VP of Corporate Development and Sponsorship, at ashudson@me.com. 

Links to all the forms below:

AIB Sponsor Submission Online form for all donations

AIB 2023 Overall Sponsorship Packet

Cash Sponsorship Opportunities for Council of 101 Members Only



Become a Silver Sponsor ($2,500-$4,999) for the price of a Bronze Sponsor ($1,000-$2,499)

Sponsorship includes your choice of the following and all the other benefits at the Silver level:

2 Opening Night Party and 10 General Admission 

or 4 Guest Speaker and 10 General Admission

Satisfies membership obligation. Contact Allison

at ashudson@me.com for more information  

Sponsor a Floral Design Pedestal $200

What a wonderful way to honor family members, friends and our past members of old! Please consider sponsoring a pedestal in memory of someone, in thanksgiving, or as a happy anniversary/birthday or even a corporate sponsorship. Complete the AIB Sponsorship Form and indicate Pedestal Sponsorship and list details in the information section. For additional questions, contact Allison Hudson, VP of Corporate Development & Sponsorship at ashudson@me.com or 407-920-7868. Direct link HERE to Shopify to purchase pedestal sponsorship.



Allison Hudson, VP Corporate Development & Sponsorship

2023-2024 Council of 101 Slate of Officers

Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the proposed slate of officers for the 2023-2024 year. We thank these women for their dedication to serve in leadership positions.

Section 3: ELECTION OF VOTING DIRECTORS: 

A nominating committee shall prepare a slate of candidates to be presented to the membership and voted on at the March general meeting and installed at the April annual meeting for a term of one (1) year, which shall begin May 1^st.  Nominations for any office may be made from the floor at the March general meeting provided consent of the candidate has been obtained prior to the nomination being made.

President: Lisa Sheppard

President-Elect: Allison Hudson

Vice President of Provisional Membership: Elizabeth Benoist

Vice President of Long-Range Planning: Amy Arnold Sirmans

Vice President of Marketing and Media Relations: Donna Neck

Vice President of Sponsorship and Development: Anne Olenek

Recording Secretary: Lauren March

Corresponding Secretary: Paula Kennedy

Treasurer: Lee Nimkoff

Membership Treasurer: Andrea Balanzategui

Nominating Committee Chair: Joan Kennedy

Nominating Position 1: Stacy Jennings

Nominating Position 2: Han Truong

Long Range Planning:

Chair: Amy Arnold Sirmans

Associate: Susan Goyer-2^nd year

Sustainer: Tiffany Freeland

Any Member: Jerri Graham

Financial Member: Stacy Manos-2^nd Year