Mermaids in the lake? Yes indeed

BY Greg Golding

There’s a new kid in town and she’s already making waves. Okay, Lyne Hall isn’t exactly a kid, but she is a relatively new addition to the Woman’s Club and one of its younger members. And she’s making lovely, gentle waves with a traditional concept dressed in new clothes: “Mermaids of the Lake.” The concept? Philanthropy, a core principle of the Woman’s Club.

Canyon Lakers got a preview of Mermaids of the Lake in the Parade of Lights Boat Parade. The pontoon boat bobbing through the darkness with neon-colored mermaids, octopus and fish won the 1st place award for holiday spirit. Lyne says it was just a preview of great things to come as she’s also planning a float for the Fiesta Day Parade, as well as a “Festival of Mermaids” in August.

Mermaids of the Lake isn’t Lyne’s only idea for expanding the scope and vision of the Woman’s Club. As Ways and Means Chair, she constantly concerns herself with ways to attract more women to the club, especially some of the younger women who no longer have small children at home and are looking for ways to get meaningfully involved in their community. Lyne also looks for creative ways for the club to raise money, for that’s at the heart of every event: raising money to help others.

Lyne moved to Canyon Lake from L.A.’s South Bay in November 2011. She and her husband Mike have six children – his two and her three from previous marriages, along with a daughter, Branwen, 15, who they share and who lives with them in Canyon Lake.

Lyne’s accent is noticeably British. She was born in Manchester, England and grew up in Blackpool, earning her college education while still living in England (a BA in Fashion and Printed and Woven Textiles and an MA in Fine Art).

She visited Lomita, California “on holiday” when she was 22 years old, and never saw any reason to go back to England. She met and married her first husband and lived in the South Bay for 30 years.

Lyne brought her education and creativity to the marketing and advertising industry, most recently working for Bobit Business Media, a national company providing news to people within specialized business industries through publications, trade shows, websites, etc. Working in graphic art, motivational speaking, special events and trade shows prepared Lyne for the work she does now in her own event-planning business, “The Royal Bash” (www.royalbash.com).

This background also gives her an edge when helping out with, not only Woman’s Club events, but Yacht Club and Travel Club events as well.

So what about those Mermaids of the Lake? Lyne envisions a group of ladies, ages 14 to 94 (there really is no upper age limit) somewhat similar in scope to Canyon Lake’s Royal Court in that the focus of the group’s efforts will be volunteerism. But there’s a twist. Ladies who want to apply will have to prove their qualifications through volunteer hours, creativity and, of course, like any good mermaid, the ability to swim.

Lyne says the application process will include writing an essay about volunteerism and how many hours the applicant has put into helping others, proving creativity by decorating a swim cap, and proving prowess in the water by collecting pirate treasure from the deeps during a special function at the Lodge Pool.

After the court is chosen, a Mermaid Queen will be crowned at the Festival of the Mermaids in August. Details, date and location are still to be determined, but Lyne envisions that event including entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, alcohol sales, paddling in the East Bay and perhaps a contest for pirates.

Mermaids of the Lake will serve as ambassadors for the Woman’s Club and will help with club and community events. Lyne will be speaking more about the group at next week’s Woman’s Club luncheon. Attendees are encourage to dress in “mermaid-inspired” clothing. Two of the vendors who will be there an hour before the luncheon will offer mermaid-ish items: Lonnie, the Fascinator Hat Lady and Aprile DeAnne of Just 4 Gifts.

Fashion Show and Pre-Parties

For the next three months, members of the Woman’s Club will be focused on the annual fashion show on April 24 and the pre-fashion show parties leading up to it. This year’s theme is “The Swinging Sixties,” which is expected to provide fun and nostalgic memories for quite a few of the ladies. Lyne is working to make sure the menu is new and interesting.

All women in the community are invited to the fashion show and pre-parties. If they would like an invitation to a pre-party, they should contact Lyne. She has Pinterest Boards for anyone needing costume ideas.

Each pre-party has its own theme and committee of ladies to provide decorations and free appetizers. Admission is $10, which buys a ticket for the grand prize drawing at the fashion show. Each drink is $10, which also buys a ticket for the grand prize drawing. (Don’t forget, these events are for fun but also for the purpose of raising money for the club’s philanthropic endeavors.)

The dates and themes of each pre-party are as follows:

• February 13, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., ladies and gentlemen (husbands and significant others invited) – “Secret Agent Party” (Think “Get Smart,” James Bond and the Bond ladies)

• February 27, 6 to 9 p.m., ladies and gentlemen – “An Evening with Austin Powers” (with a visit from his “Fembots”)

• March 6, 4 to 7 p.m., ladies only – “These Boots Are Made for Walking” (Lyne says women will want to bring extra cash to this one)

• March 26, 3 to 6 p.m., ladies only – “Yellow Submarine”

• April 10, 5:30 p.m., ladies and gentlemen – “Mad Men Cocktail Party”

For information about membership in the Woman’s Club, contact Membership Co-Chair Pam Oskey at 909-437-4468. For an invitation to a fashion show pre-party, contact Lyne at ly967hal@gmail.com.