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APRIL 2011 WOMEN'S POKER RETREAT
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Once in a while each of us gets the opportunity of a lifetime created by
Divine Intervention and perfect timing. Those are few and far between
unless you know Barb Andre’ Van Lith who has become the Divine Ms.
Intervener--creator and organizer extraordinaire of women’s events.
Barb has made dreams come true for women of all ages. I will keep the
topics “G” rated. Her latest endeavor is Apple City Roller Derby for
Wenatchee. Their Facebook page already has 1182 fans and they
have only been around since December. Barb does not just talk about
doing …she DOES!
I don’t know about you, but I could take a lesson from my dear friend,
Barb. She makes a difference in so many lives, and Michelle and I are
so grateful and honored to have her in our lives. Now, before we get
too mushy, thank you Barb for organizing and making possible the
opportunity of a lifetime for all of us that we will never forget.
Michelle and I had an amazing time at the poker retreat. All the
women attending signed up to improve their poker games and learn
from the best, and while we all filled our “toolboxes” full with valuable
information from Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, I think we all came
away with a lot more than poker strategies.
Linda Johnson is the First Lady of Poker and an inductee into the
Women in Poker Hall of Fame. She got that name by being an
ambassador for poker on and off the felt along with her keen poker
skills. During a lecture she generously passed around her 1997 Razz
event WSOP gold bracelet for all of us to see. It was pretty cool being
able to touch that gold bracelet--especially since it is one of only a
few WSOP bracelets won by a woman. I have to be honest though.
As excited as I was to hold that WSOP gold bracelet, I was even more
impressed with Linda’s heart of gold.
Jan Fisher, aka PokerFish, is anything but a fish in the poker world
and is also an inductee into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. I
think we can rightfully dub Jan Woman of Everything Poker. She is or
has been involved in every aspect of poker from dealing to announcing
for the PPT, co-founder of the Tournament Directors Association. She
graciously taught us poker strategies and shared stories with us that
made us laugh so hard I swear the river roared with us. She also gave
us a peek into a gentle and generous soul who really does work every
day to make the world a better place.
A more gracious duo you will not find in or out of the poker room. They
made themselves completely accessible to a group of 16 women who
will not forget this weekend. They shared intimate stories about poker
and their lives; generously giving a part of themselves to us. I think the
highlight of Michelle’s and my weekend was hearing the two of them
say to us, “you are the nuts.” I know I heard the “the” in that
sentence didn’t I, Michelle?
Jan and Linda travel all over the country giving poker seminars,
playing poker, instructing for WPT Boot Camps, hosting Card Player
Cruises, serving on boards, and contributing much of their time to
Poker Gives, the charity they co-founded.
We will never forget the experience of meeting and spending time with
each and every one of you. Thanks to Barb, Jan, Linda, Bonnie, TJ,
Pam M, Pam, Kim, Sharon, Nena, Sabrina, Catherine, LaDawn, Kara,
Sonja, and Saritza.
I feel very lucky that Barb, Jan, and Linda were able to find that
“perfect timing” in all of our lives. Now, who says there isn’t any
luck in poker?
Diane & Michelle
Divine Intervention and perfect timing. Those are few and far between
unless you know Barb Andre’ Van Lith who has become the Divine Ms.
Intervener--creator and organizer extraordinaire of women’s events.
Barb has made dreams come true for women of all ages. I will keep the
topics “G” rated. Her latest endeavor is Apple City Roller Derby for
Wenatchee. Their Facebook page already has 1182 fans and they
have only been around since December. Barb does not just talk about
doing …she DOES!
I don’t know about you, but I could take a lesson from my dear friend,
Barb. She makes a difference in so many lives, and Michelle and I are
so grateful and honored to have her in our lives. Now, before we get
too mushy, thank you Barb for organizing and making possible the
opportunity of a lifetime for all of us that we will never forget.
Michelle and I had an amazing time at the poker retreat. All the
women attending signed up to improve their poker games and learn
from the best, and while we all filled our “toolboxes” full with valuable
information from Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, I think we all came
away with a lot more than poker strategies.
Linda Johnson is the First Lady of Poker and an inductee into the
Women in Poker Hall of Fame. She got that name by being an
ambassador for poker on and off the felt along with her keen poker
skills. During a lecture she generously passed around her 1997 Razz
event WSOP gold bracelet for all of us to see. It was pretty cool being
able to touch that gold bracelet--especially since it is one of only a
few WSOP bracelets won by a woman. I have to be honest though.
As excited as I was to hold that WSOP gold bracelet, I was even more
impressed with Linda’s heart of gold.
Jan Fisher, aka PokerFish, is anything but a fish in the poker world
and is also an inductee into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. I
think we can rightfully dub Jan Woman of Everything Poker. She is or
has been involved in every aspect of poker from dealing to announcing
for the PPT, co-founder of the Tournament Directors Association. She
graciously taught us poker strategies and shared stories with us that
made us laugh so hard I swear the river roared with us. She also gave
us a peek into a gentle and generous soul who really does work every
day to make the world a better place.
A more gracious duo you will not find in or out of the poker room. They
made themselves completely accessible to a group of 16 women who
will not forget this weekend. They shared intimate stories about poker
and their lives; generously giving a part of themselves to us. I think the
highlight of Michelle’s and my weekend was hearing the two of them
say to us, “you are the nuts.” I know I heard the “the” in that
sentence didn’t I, Michelle?
Jan and Linda travel all over the country giving poker seminars,
playing poker, instructing for WPT Boot Camps, hosting Card Player
Cruises, serving on boards, and contributing much of their time to
Poker Gives, the charity they co-founded.
We will never forget the experience of meeting and spending time with
each and every one of you. Thanks to Barb, Jan, Linda, Bonnie, TJ,
Pam M, Pam, Kim, Sharon, Nena, Sabrina, Catherine, LaDawn, Kara,
Sonja, and Saritza.
I feel very lucky that Barb, Jan, and Linda were able to find that
“perfect timing” in all of our lives. Now, who says there isn’t any
luck in poker?
Diane & Michelle
Photo: Nena Walton
| Thanks Bonnie for your photos too. |
| Can you tell who won this big pot? Was it TJ or DIane? |