Pack your Pearls for Asheville!
If you have been a MAC member for a few years (and maybe if you haven’t), you have likely heard stories about a semi-traditional event regarding the “Pearl Girls” Well, here is the real story.
It all started in 1995 as MAC was preparing to meet in Richmond, VA at the venerable Hotel Jefferson. M.J. Tooey posted a message on the MAC listserv to the Local Arrangements Committee asking about proper dress for such an auspicious venue. I happened to reply that “pearls would definitely be appropriate for the Jefferson!” The news spread like wildfire and on the night of the opening reception, members showed up in hoards sporting their pearls for a special photo opp. Since that time we have had our picture taken on boats, in train stations, with life-size cutouts of Hilary Clinton, in mansions and even in bathrooms. Let’s revive the tradition in honor of the 20th anniversary of that fabulous Richmond meeting and turn out in force with our pearls in Asheville at the reception on Sunday night, Oct. 18. And this is not limited to females in our midst – there is documentation showing brave male counterparts who joined in the fun. True cultured pearls are not a requirement to get in on the photo – costume pearls or even pop jewelry are enough to get you into the gang. So tuck some pearls into your bags when you are packing for Asheville and let’s get a great 20th anniversary Pearl Girls photo.
P.S. – here’s a picture from our last meeting in Richmond in 2011 at the Virginia State Capitol: 
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