Despite slushy roads and pouring rain Saturday night, more than 100 people attended the first Francestown Recreation Commission dinner honoring the women of Francestown, held in recognition of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. 

“The purpose of this event is to connect women from all walks of life in Francestown,” said Marsha Dixon, former chair of the Francestown Select Board. “It’s all about bringing women together.”

Pamela Berry, a member of the Francestown Recreation Commission, said that when the commission started discussing what they could do to honor Women’s History Month in March, the women’s committee came up with the idea for the dinner.

“The women’s committee wanted to do a potluck and buffet,” said Bob Bitterli, chair of the Francestown Recreation Commission. “But I really thought we should do it right and serve an elegant, plated dinner.” 

Bitterli began organizing volunteers,  the menu, shopping and food, while the women’s committee took on the plan of events, publicity, decor, and childcare.  

“What a wonderful idea that the women’s committee had, and how amazing that Bob and the men were able to pull off the vision,” said committee member Pam Berry. 

On Saturday morning, members of the Recreation Commission began to wonder if they should cancel the dinner due to snow and poor road conditions. Some were in favor of canceling, so Bitterli began to call around to get a sense of how the guests were feeling.

“And one lady said to me, ‘Bob, you’re telling me you’re having this dinner to celebrate the strong, amazing women of Francestown, New Hampshire, and now you’re thinking of canceling because of a little snow?’ ” Bitterli said. “So we decided to carry on, and we had 96 ladies attend.”

Once they decided to go ahead with the dinner, Bitterli and the male volunteers, including Fire Chief Larry Kullgren, began to organize carpools with four-wheel-drive vehicles to pick up the guests.

“But then, when we started calling the ladies, they said had already done that. They already had it all organized so everyone could get there safely,” Bitterli said. 

In the kitchen on the second floor of Town Hall, Bitterli and his all-male crew assembled and served salads as nearly 100 guests flowed into the meeting room to enjoy an elegant four-course meal.

“The Recreation Department did a fantastic job. Despite the weather, this event is very well attended and it looks like the ladies are enjoying themselves,” said Kullgren as he assisted with salad prep. 

Dixon thanked the volunteers who had created entrees for the event. Ted Graham made the beef bourguignon, and Steve Griffin and Chuck Bohnsack made the chicken marsala. Ari Levine made salmon, Stewart Brock the vegetarian pierogies and Greg Neilley the potatoes au gratin. Other volunteer cooks included Brooks Place, Sam Feinberg, J.P. Stohrer, Kevin Pobst, Ron Cheney, Brian Carroll and Town Administrator Jamie Pike. 

Bitterli, who along with his wife, Judy, is planning to open a coffee and chocolate cafe in Francestown, donated boxes of homemade chocolates at every place setting. 

“This dinner brings to life what International Women’s Day is all about,” Judy Bitterli said. “Every woman has a story.”

Each table, which were decorated by volunteer Martha Farmer, included a portrait of a “trailblazing woman” from history. Toward the close of the dinner, Dixon introduced Francestown’s newest Select Board member, Karen Fitzgerald, a landscape architect who has also served on the Francestown Planning Board and the Conservation Commission.

“This is all about social capital. It’s all getting people to come together and connect,” Fitzgerald said.