From left, Robyn Lee, Susan Doria, Jennifer Carmer, Ingrid Haas, April Ward, Laura Dannerbeck, Susan Purtill and Karen Quinif.

Submitted photo/Scott Foust Studios

The Arizona Women’s Board announced that Paradise Valley resident Jennifer Carmer will serve as Luncheon Chairman for the 44th annual Friends of Erma Bombeck Authors luncheon, scheduled for noon Saturday, Oct. 28, at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive.

Carmer has been a member of the Arizona Women’s Board since 2009 and most recently served as its board president from 2020 to 2021.

“The incredible women on our board are committed to producing an enjoyable and successful luncheon each year,” she said. “As chairman, it is a pleasure to work with these experienced and dedicated volunteers.”

In addition to the luncheon chairman, the 2023-24 Executive Committee of the Arizona Women’s Board includes President Ingrid Haas, Vice President Susan Purtill, Treasurer Laura Dannerbeck, Recording Secretary Karen Quinif, Corresponding Secretary April Ward, Immediate Past President Susan Doria and Administrative Consultant Robyn Lee.

The Arizona Women’s Board includes active, sustaining and honorary members. Active membership is limited annually to 40 women. More than 60 women represent the organization as sustaining members, having fulfilled their active obligations. When members choose to leave active status, new members are recruited to the board. This year, the Arizona Women’s Board added four women to its active membership roster: Jana Earnest, Amanda Garmany, Shelley Hubbard and Melissa Kenly.

“There is a rich history of philanthropic service among our board members,” said Haas. “We have active members who have served for decades and we even have members whose mothers – now sustaining members – served on our board years before them.”

Honorary members include author and humorist Erma Bombeck, Honorary Founding Member and former Executive Director of the Arizona Women’s Board Glenna Shapiro, and best-selling author Adriana Trigiani, who has served as the authors luncheon emcee since 2014.

The Arizona Women’s Board was established in 1973 as the Women’s Board of the Arizona Kidney Foundation to raise funds for kidney patient programs. In 2010, the Women’s Board applied for and received its 501(c)3 non-profit status. Since then, Arizona Women’s Board has been its own granting rganization, committed to keeping 100% of event proceeds in Arizona for kidney patients and their families.

Visit authorsluncheonaz.org for more information.