Cabbage Queens Having A Ball While Raising Money For OASIS By Sherrie Norris They stand out heads above any crowd in their glittery regalia and are literally preparing to have a ball. It’s nothing new for the Watauga County Cabbage Queens who come out of their fields about this time every year for fun and frivolity and to spread a little green for OASIS in its ongoing effort to prevent domestic violence. The Cabbage Queens will collect funds for OASIS as they glide down King Street during Boone’s holiday parade this Saturday. MT file photo As they do each year, these self-professed royal beauties will be offering “the wave” as they glide through King Street during Saturday’s Christmas Parade in Boone, opening their palms for more than a friendly greeting as they collect money along the route for an agency worthy of their time and energy. While only the dozen true-blue (oops, green!) Cabbage Queens, all named Wanda, are worthy to ride on the parade float, the Wanda Wannabes and little Brussel Sprouts (daughters of the queens and their friends) will be walking close by with collection buckets out-stretched for your dollars and spare change. It is not uncommon for the queens and sprouts to raise between $300- $500 during the parade. While only a dozen Wandas are currently among the royal social order, the Wannabes cannot have a place of distinction on the float or become official until one of the queens retire or drop out. “For a year, at least, to even think of becoming a queen, they have to walk in the parade first, gather the change and earn their title. Then, they just might become a Wanda,” states Susan Owen, founding Cabbage Queen. Another requirement to enter the society of Cabbage Queens is turning 40. “We’re all 40 . . .and we stay that way!” she states with a chuckle. “We never age-out. – Forty is such a wanda-ful age!” The following Friday night, December 8, from 8:00 p.m.- midnight, the queens will be dancing the night away during their annual Cabbage Queen Ball at the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock to the music of the Swingin’ Richards, one of the southeast’s most popular bands. A lavish buffet will be provided by Gadabouts, the Inn’s resident caterers. “The Inn’s staff has bent over backward for us this year and will be discounting rooms for those wishing to stay the night.” A number of area businesses have donated generously for the event’s silent auction, with items including a round of golf with cart for four at Boone Golf Club, gift certificates for luxurious treatment at places like the Sanctuary Spa and Yonahlossee Inn, an antique silver cocktail pitcher from Saks 5th Avenue and lovely works of art from local artists. “We will also have some fun and silly things on the auction, as well. We like to keep it exciting!” Owen added. There will also be a full cash bar. “It’s a lot of fun to see what people come up with to wear. We call it a semi-formal, thrift-shop, chic party so everybody can run around to different thrift shops and find whatever fun stuff they want to wear, then throw it all together and come to the party and have a blast! You would not believe how much fun people have. A man might wear a tuxedo jacket over bib-overalls, his date might come in a bridesmaid dress from the ‘80’s – we don’t’ care as long as it’s fun!” Last year’s ball raised nearly $6,000 for OASIS, which has gone a long way in supporting the needs of the agency and its clients. As Owen and her queen sisters anticipate their big event, they are expecting more fun and excitement than ever before, with a goal to raise more money for OASIS than ever before. “It’s amazing that we can raise so much money having so much fun and all the money goes to OASIS.” Owen, aka Way*Wanda, The Cabbage Queen, got this group off the ground in 1999, after reading the book “The Sweet Potato Queen’s Book of Love,” about a self-proclaimed beauty queen in Mississippi who is in her hometown Christmas parade every year,” Owen said. “They raise money for a children’s hospital down there and after I read it, I got the idea to do something like that here. So, I bought 12 copies of the book and gave them to my closest friends. I wrote a little note inside that told them to read it and get back to me, that I had an idea. Almost everybody agreed to do it, and we started it that first year as Watauga County Christmas Cabbage Queens and have become more notorious every year since!” In contrast to the Mississippi Queens who called themselves “Tammy” and the familiarity of sweet potatoes to their hometown, Owen said she and her queens chose cabbage because it is a common crop of the High Country. “And we’re all named Wanda because Wanda’s our favorite name, though each Wanda has something in her name that sets her apart, ie: Way*Wanda.” “We also have this wanda-ful slogan, ‘There’s a whole lot of Wanda going on . . .’ “ Owen said. “We just have the best time being sparkly and silly and over-the-top.” OASIS has benefited greatly from its relationship with the Wandas through the years. Only 220 tickets are available for this year’s ball and are going fast. “It’s always a sell-out,” Owen states. Tickets are $35 apiece, tax-deductible, and can be purchased at OASIS The funds the lively group has raised have gone a long way to help OASIS in its ongoing mission, states Melissa Gee, associate director of OASIS. “The Cabbage Queens are fantastic! They coordinate the entire Ball, freeing us up to serve clients and work to end domestic and sexual violence. The Queens help raise awareness to the needs of survivors through both their participation in the holiday parade and the Wanda Ball. We have come to depend on their funds to operate our emergency shelter and provide educational programs for the next generation of families. We cannot thank them enough for what they do for us.” Jennifer Herman, executive director for OASIS, agrees wholeheartedly with Gee, telling us that the support of the queens is a tremendous asset to their organization. “Within the last year we have provided support to 208 new clients and 452 new and continuing clients. We track clients each month, so on average we are working with 38 clients and families. We sheltered 74 clients and their 64 children. We answered 1041 crisis, informational and case management calls and we provided educational programs for more than 5300 area students, professionals and residents.” The total amount of money raised for OASIS by the queens is near the $16,000 mark, a huge boost to the agency’s budgetary needs. OASIS, Inc has been providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the High Country since 1978. Services include: free, confidential shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, individual crisis intervention, advocacy and support for clients as they navigate medical and legal processes, support groups for victims and their children, assistance securing other available community services and resources, outreach and educational programs, and a transitional housing program. The 24-hour crisis line is (828) 262-5035 or (800) 268-1488. For Ball tickets and/or general information about OASIS call (828) 264-1532. MORE