"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.

Which VIP’s did Obama meet with in Phoenix? Only the AZ Insider has the behind the scenes scoop!

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Obama's Visit

As Air Force One’s wheels touched down at Sky Harbor Airport on Wednesday about 6 p.m. for Obama’s history making visit, (the first time a U.S. president would deliver a commencement speech at ASU) a small group of VIPs anxiously awaited to greet the president.

Ten year old Kevin Goddard wore his lucky shirt. Yes, amidst the headlines of Arizona Cardinals Kurt Warner, his wife Brenda and 17 year old daughter Jesse, having some “time out” time with Obama ---- I’ve got the behind the scenes scoop for you!

In a small bland looking room off the runway of the Lincoln J. Ragsdale Executive Terminal - Kevin, a stack of papers in hand, and his father Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, were among the 15 or so dignitaries invited to greet the Pres behind closed doors.

Obama spoke for a few minutes and then greeted each guest in the receiving line, which included Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, Arizona Democratic Party Chair Don Bivens and President of the Salt River- Maricopa Pima Indian Community, Diane Enos.

While Kevin proudly presented the president with his gift of poems and stories written by his classmates at Herrera Elementary, his mother enjoyed the moment behind a glass window. “Some of our names didn’t make the list that had to be submitted to the secret service in advance,” says Monica Goddard. “But that’s O.K., I wanted my son to have the opportunity,” she notes, because Obama caught a glimpse of her and Earl Wilcox, (Mary Rose’s husband) peeking through an opening in the curtains. He smiled and waved to them.

(And Monica was hopeful Obama would read the cover letter that was part of her son’s presidential gift. She wrote about the educational budget crisis across the state and nation- with her example of the loss of the talented teachers at Herrera who were recently pink slipped and other cutbacks affecting the school, located, actually, not too far from where Air Force One touched down.)

After the brief meet and greet, (and Kurt Warner receiving an invite to play hoops with Obama at the White House, ) the president was whisked away into a limo, with a motorcade of security vehicles in tow, with a group of the traveling press and White House staff following closely behind, in white SUVs.

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The Latest Key to Fashion

O.K., so let’s take a look through the keyhole of Tiffany & Co. – inside some of those great soft turquoise colored Tiffany boxes. It’s the elegant new Keys Collection. “We can’t keep them in stock,” says Tiffany’s Arizona Director, Meredeth Moss. She’s talking about the 18 karat yellow or white gold platuimn with diamonds or sterling silver pendants.

The keys are reminiscent of the vintage keys women used years ago to unlock their steamer trunks, jewelry boxes and diaries.

It’s a great gift idea for the “key “ to someone’s success, the “key” to someone’s beauty… or heart.. or… you get “the key” to the picture. By the way, the man who holds the key to Meredeth’s heart, is hubby Jim Moss, pictured below.

I asked Arizona Diamondbacks Chad Tracy to snap a photo with the couple at the team’s gala fundraising dinner. (The team hosted the elegant dinner on the Chase Field and scored big bucks for its Diamondbacks Foundation.)

And let’s “unlock” Chad Tracy’s personal style. He bats with his left hand and throws with his right. Chad and the entire Diamondbacks team was at the fundraiser which also boasted entertainer Bill Cosby.

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Keying in on the Asian Arts Council

O.K., so let’s unlock “the key” to the wonderful new additions to the Asian Arts exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum. The three pieces, including a double magnolia jade vase- were purchased with monies raised from the Asian Arts Council’s last two fundraising dinners. The Council is unveiling the pieces at this week’s membership meeting.

Eileen Yeung and Lily Yee co- chaired this year’s gala “Celebrate Asia” dinner at the museum. And the evening prior Eileen and husband orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Anthony Yeung, hosted a dinner at their Phoenix abode. About 100 guests mingled through their 9,500 sq. foot home exquisitely decorated with Asian art. I captured the ambiance and a spectacular Coromandel Chinese screen as Eileen chatted with philanthropist Angela Shaulis.

Pictured below are Dr. Herb and Lynne Rigberg, artist Gary Hostallero and Dr. Barry Fernando, a plastic surgeon with a passion for Asian Art. They’re admiring one of Gary’s works which reflects his hallmarks of spectacular colors and breathtaking detail. Gary and Caroline Young- known for her stunning imaginary on silk, donated their works for the auction.

Pictured below is artist Caroline Young with one of her wonderful pieces at the pre-dinner at the Yeung’s home.

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .