The City Federation of Women’s Clubs hopes the community will take a seat to help area students and community organizations at this year’s annual Fashion Show and Champagne Brunch.

This year’s event entitled “Sweet Chair-ity” is set for 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Cultural Arts Center, 3011 N. Third. St. in Temple.

Tickets for the brunch and fashion show are $40 each, and can be purchased at 219 King Circle in Temple. Call 778-1270 for reservations or more information. Tables seating up to eight are available. Seats fill up fast so reservations are strongly recommended.

Last year the event raised more than $23,000 to benefit 15 Bell County high school seniors and seven community groups.

Area community groups will benefit, as they do each year, from the silent auction. This year’s theme is chairs. Artists throughout the community were asked to decorate and donate chairs, according to organizer Linda Ringler.

The result was a variety that includes beautifully reupholstered chairs, painted chairs and chairs pulled straight out of the artists’ imaginations.

Last year, the group awarded $9,700 to groups including Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum, Temple Literacy Council, Family Promise of East Bell County, Aware Central Texas, Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas, Temple Public Library and to Families in Crisis for a playground.

Artists include Kim Myers, Hilde Cort, Chonie Pischinger, Elaine Dobos, Stacey Smith, Jana Secrest Marilyn Ritchie, Bob Rynearson, Aaron Gist, Heidi Couchman, Janis Holmes, Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom, Jill Main, Pam Diekert, Ann Montgomery, Elaine Caughlin, Stephen King, Dana Curry and Barbara Trainer.

Those attending will be able to bid on the chairs as they dine on Chicken ’N’ Cherry Salad, Marinated Vegetable Salad, Baked Fruit, Chocolate Sheet Cake and Easy Herb Biscuits.

Serving will be the job of Malissa Baugh’s Black-tie Guys. The men volunteering to dress up and serve include the Rev. David Alwine, Scott V. Allen, Jason Bullock, Jon Burrows, John R. Carter, Tom Chamberlain, Mike Cowan, Nathan Creasey, Dr. Lance Crews, E. J. Daniel, Gary J. Davis, Steven Dobos, Danny Dossman, Chuck Emerson, Bill Euler, Ramsey Farley, Bob Farrell, Brad Farrell, Sam Farrow, David Fette, Guy Fowler, Mark Fuller, Dr. Gary Gosney, Neil Haney, Davis Harper, Ken Higdon, George Hogan, Scot Hrbacek, Don Hyden, Sonny Jaramillo, Bill Jones, Jim Kerby, Roger Kylberg, Bill Lawson, Dick Mayfield, John Mischtian, Dr. Jack Myers, Norman Northen, Anthony Palomino, Derek Parsons, Lee Peterson, Drew Popelka, Mack Purifoy, the Rev. Tom Robbins, Jerry Secrest, Ralph Sheffield, Kent Smith, Jay Taggart, Rick Thomssen, John Tipton, Jim Tranum, Jerry Tyroch, Lott, Lonzo Wallace and George White

After the meal, the close to 500 ladies in attendance will be treated to a fashion show organized by Barbara Chandler and Georgia Tarver.

Chandler said this year’s show of clothing from Sherri’s The RoseBud will feature “the trends of the season including everything from up-to-date rain wear and day sportswear to cocktail and fabulous formalwear.”

Lourdes Chavez will be the guest designer at the fashion show. Ms. Chavez is heir to the legacy of fabled Hollywood designer Bill Travilla, the man to made glamorous movie stars look even lovelier. She has been with Travilla since 1993 and now creates three collections a year for the company.

Sherri’s The RoseBud has also worked with designer Charlie Wharton to secure a 37.5 CT, lab-grown Blue Topaz pendant wrapped in Starfire’s elaborate Crown Design on a Starfire GP “V” collar as a raffle item. It is valued at $1,410. Tickets for the raffle are $5 each or six for $25. Tickets are available at Sherri’s The RoseBud or the City Federation of Women’s Clubs.

Winners of the raffle and auction will be announced at the fashion show.