Join with members and friends of Phi Beta Kappa Greater Detroit Association for their annual luncheon meeting with guest speaker on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Great Oaks Country Club, 777 Great Oaks Blvd., Rochester Hills, MI.

During the program, the association will announce their 2026 scholarship winners, review their committees' work, elect the 2027 Board of Directors, and highlight their 250th anniversary plans continuing through spring 2027. The association is excited to welcome guest speaker Patty Isacson Sabee, (PBK, Grinnell College,) CEO and President, Detroit Opera.

Isacson Sabee is a transformative, collaborative leader with more than 35 years of experience driving excellence at U.S. arts institutions. She will be speaking on "Words Matter: Building a Museum of Words and Language in our Nation's Capital." Patty will be sharing her role and experiences as the first Executive Director of Planet Word, Washington DC.

Beginning in March of 2017, Patty led the development and growth of this extraordinary museum created with the vision of literacy as the foundation of a strong, modern democracy. The museum celebrates the fun, beauty, and power of words, language, and reading.

In addition to her groundbreaking role with Planet Word, Patty served at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). Founded in 2000 as the Experience Music Project, she served as Deputy Director of External Relations and Development before being named CEO and Director. She oversaw MoPOP’s national programming and $213 million in assets and was responsible for bringing in more than 600,000 annual visitors. At the Seattle Symphony over the course of two decades, she held positions in operations, artistic administration, and development before serving as Interim Executive Director. Her accomplishments at Seattle Symphony include directing the start-up operations of Benaroya Hall, a $118 million dedicated symphonic concert hall that opened in September 1998.

Patty joined the Detroit Opera in January, 2024 as its CEO and President.

Cost is $38 per person. Ticket purchase includes valet parking. Seating begins at 11:30AM with lunch and the business meeting prior to the presentation. The deadline to purchase tickets is 11:59PM, Friday, November 6, 2026. Register here.