Maxine Sullivan is painfully aware that common words are mispelled.

Mispeled.

Misspelled.

But she thinks that might just be a way to garner funds for women's education.

Sullivan, secretary of the Coeur d'Alene American Association of University Women, as well as proud great-aunt of a fifth-grade spelling champion, proposed a new idea this year for the nonprofit's scholarship fundraiser.

An adult spelling bee.

"We want to have a good time, but we also want to promote good spelling," said Sullivan, who described herself as a faithful spelling nerd. "It's something for people who were good spellers in school to show it."

The Coeur d'Alene AAUW has provided more than $20,000 in scholarships over the past 50 years to women attending North Idaho College. But Sullivan said the group's usual scholarship fundraisers of book and yard sales have become efforts that require too much effort with too little gain.

She thought up netting funds with an adult bee, she said, after her great-niece placed sixth at the Colorado State Spelling Bee.

"I thought, 'Hey, we can spell better than those kids,'" Sullivan said.

Well, maybe.

The Kootenai County Adult Spelling Bee, restricted to contestants 18 and older, will be a little easier than the student version.

Folks can register in teams of two or three, Sullivan said, adding that she hopes many businesses and organizations will sponsor their own teams.

Team members will be allowed to work together to write given words on a board, and can even correct themselves before presenting.

The words will be taken from lists of commonly misspelled words and eighth grade vocabulary.

Many, Sullivan noted, could likely be sounded out.

"Our words are going to be difficult, but not that anyone who is a good speller can't do," she said.

Team registration is $100, which includes the event, lunch and a T-shirt.

Guests may attend for $25, including lunch, or $35 for lunch and a T-shirt.

Coeur d'Alene AAUW is also seeking business sponsorships between $125 and $500, Sullivan said.

Prizes will be awarded to each member of the top team. The winning team members will also draw for a free, two-night stay at Lakeview Lodge in Harrison.

Coeur d'Alene AAUW President Tina Gospodnetich said it was worth giving the event "a twist and a whirl" to test if it garners more funds than past efforts.

The Coeur d'Alene chapter was founded in 1938, Gospodnetich said, and now has 42 members. The group provides annual scholarships to women pursuing college education.

The group hopes to raise at least $1,500 with the spelling event this year, Gospodnetich said, and she hopes the bee will build each year.

"This is something we can use our heads with and get better at," she said.

Registration information, rules and practice word lists are available online at http://coeurdalene-id.aauw.net/spelling-bee.

The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 31 at the Coeur d'Alene Best Western Inn.

Registration deadline is May 29. Forms can be submitted to Kootenai County Adult Spelling Bee, P.O. Box 3487, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816.

The bottom line is to help ambitious women access higher education, Sullivan said.

"College has gotten increasingly more expensive," she said. "We're trying to give (women) the best push to get their feet underneath them and go on to four year degrees."