WORKING WOMEN: A crowd of nearly 750 -- mostly women -- gathered today at the Ritz-Carlton for the annual luncheon honoring the 10 women who were selected as the 56th class of Women of Achievement.

This year's honorees include women devoted to youth enrichment (Lisa Boyce), community service (Karen Castellano), humanitarian concerns (Margo Deloch), creative philanthropy (Diane Katzman), volunteer leadership (Becky Kueker), youth dedication (Lisa Nichols), women's health (Pam Toder), health leadership (Dr. Corinne Walentik), senior health advocacy (Carol Weir) and community betterment (Fran Gelber Zamler).

With a history of honorees that includes such influential women in our community as Marilyn Fox, Debra Hollingsworth, Noemi Neidorff, Cheryl Polk, Peggy Ritter, Gwen Packnett, Mary Ann Lee, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Joan Quicksilver, the current class is joining a select crowd.

Every year the lunch is eagerly anticipated as a rite of spring. Women break out their pastel-colored frocks, enjoy the flower bedecked ballroom and say they shouldn't as they dig into a frothy dessert -- this year it was dark chocolate and pear mousse in a lavender linen cup, which was actually edible white chocolate. Not bad.

Also, as usual, Carol Daniel of KMOX (AM-1120) kept the pace brisk as emcee, and Rabbi Susan Talve offered the invocation and benediction.

Alice Handelman, president of Women of Achievement, presided over the gathering in a seasonally suitable lavender top and white skirt, exchanging cheek kisses with each of the honorees after handing them their award and posing for a picture.

Presenting sponsors of the lunch were KMOX Radio and the Suburban Journals and Ladue News, divisions of Lee Enterprises, which also owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.