ODACA Day 2025: A Celebration in Norfolk, the City Mermaids

Highlights and Special Thanks

We’re all back home, still smiling from another memorable ODACA Day gathering—this time in beautiful Norfolk, Virginia, famous for its pirate history and also known as the City of Mermaids. And what a celebration it was!

A special shout-out goes to Cat Woody, whose stunning souvenir doll perfectly captured Norfolk’s mermaid spirit. And who could forget the pirate-themed centerpieces and programs created by Sandra Wright Justiss? They were such a hit…“Yo Ho, Me Hardies, Yo Ho!” still echoes in our minds.

The event only happened with the enormous amount of work, coordination and communication by chairs Christine Shively Benjamin and Stevi T.  Many thanks to them for making entire event such a success. We wouldn’t have had a luncheon without you!

Sweetheart Award 2025

Each year, ODACA honors someone whose dedication helps keep our organization thriving with the Sweetheart Award. This year, the honor went to Carol Johansen, artist member since 2019, who has worn many hats. Carol’s years of service have touched nearly every corner of ODACA. As thanks, member Lillian Alberti created a beautiful Alice in Wonderland doll, continuing the tradition of presenting an original doll to the recipient.

Behind the Scenes: The Team That Made It Happen

ODACA Day wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated team of volunteers. My heartfelt thanks go out to Stevi T and Carol Johansen, whose ideas and hard work made planning the luncheon and Sales Room a joy.

Thanks also to our Board members, who patiently answered our endless questions during the planning process. Carol’s posters and custom name tags added such a special, professional touch, and Barbara’s help in getting the posters delivered right to the hotel was a lifesaver.

Spreading the Word

Promotion is everything, and Lesley Duthie—along with many others—helped share ODACA Day far and wide on social media. That support made a huge difference in reaching new guests and reminding everyone that ODACA’s annual luncheon is truly an event not to be missed.

Event Day Highlights

Thanks to Barbara Norwine for coordinating name tag distribution and raffle ticket sales, and to the whole setup crew—Trudi Watkins, Donna Sims, Shawn Duthie, Mark Jones, and our newest Patron, Kristin Lynch—for their amazing teamwork under a tight schedule.

And what fun it was to see so many guests embrace the Pirate theme—from table favors to full-on costumes! That kind of enthusiasm brings such energy and joy to the day.

Looking Ahead to 2026

One of the best parts of ODACA is how artists, patrons, and guests alike handle every little “hiccup” with humor and grace, making our events feel like a true family gathering.

Now, we turn our eyes to New Orleans in 2026, where the luncheon theme will be “Steampunk Masquerade.” Guests are encouraged to dress the part and bring theme-inspired table favors—because the more you join in the fun, the more magical the day becomes.

Details will be posted on the ODACA website, ODACA.org, after October 1st, so keep an eye out. We can’t wait to see you there!

… Thanks to Christine Shively Benjamin for her event summary, making this post possible.