Last October was the 6th Annual Ladies Night Out event, organized by the Northwest Pennsylvania RMEF chapter, and it was quite the success.
Jessica Buck and LuAnn Price run the chapter and spearheaded the event. With the help of eight other women and four men, the crew threw a full-blown luau—grass skirts and all.
Around 65 women (and a few men) showed up for the event. “What sticks out in my mind is the laughter,” says Buck. “Everyone brings friends and people come as strangers and leave as friends. You hear them saying ‘We will be back next year, and we need to sit together!’”
“We really love doing the women’s banquet because it is more fun than the regular ones,” adds Price. “There is a theme, and we all dress up and we have a good time!” Past themes have been Halloween, denim & diamonds, ‘50’s sock hop, roaring ‘20s and the wild west.
Within a sea of colorful leis, attendees had the opportunity to participate in auctions as well as a general raffle with nearly 90 different bucket prizes, almost all donated by chapter members. The event also featured a purse raffle. Twenty purses were auctioned off, and each of the winners were then entered into a progressive raffle, where they had a chance to win a Smith and Wesson 9mm.
“We had a lot of new ladies this year, and it was fun to see new people win stuff, they get so excited when it’s their first time here and they go home with something like a new gun,” says Price. “It’s just a great night where we all kind of kick back and do work in an enjoyable way!”
Even though nobody chose to participate in limbo, the night was full of raucous laughter and an energetic crowd.
These women-specific banquets are a great way to bring women together and to keep them involved in the outdoors. They highlight female comradery with a focus on ensuring and promoting the future of elk and their habitat. Both Price and Buck are looking forward to hosting their next ladies night in October of 2023.
“I really enjoyed holding this event,” Buck says. “It is a super fun and enjoyable night and being that it is geared towards the ladies, we bring a completely different crowd to help support RMEF’s cause!”
