Our fabulous style columnist, "The Etceterist," also known as Billy Norwich, had the privilege recently of mingling with one of the most important members of Barack Obama’s inner circle: Desirée Rogers, the next White House social secretary. In other words, Rogers is responsible for all of Barack Obama’s social events and ceremonies – "from a tea for two to a peace-treaty signing for a thousand."

Though she’s no doubt preparing the president-elect’s roster, Rogers recently invited Billy along as she spoke with party-planner extraordinaire, Letitia Baldridge, who served as White House social secretary during the Kennedy administration. Billy’s profile will be published in Vogue’s February issue, which hits newsstands January 20, but a sneak peek can be found online. The article discusses what Rogers’s job entails, challenges to expect and how we can get ourselves on the guest list. Here’s a small taste.

Rogers’s job description:

Her job "is helping people visualize what the Obama presidency is about, the feelings Americans voted for — inclusion, transparency, embracing people you might never otherwise learn about — and also translating the splendor, that sweetness, that comfort of the White House to everyone." She paused and smiled. "Enormous task."

On how she got the job:

Rogers’s appointment, in late November, did not come as a surprise to anyone in the Obama inner circle, including Valerie Jarrett, one of her best friends and a senior adviser to the new president. Days before the announcement, Rogers had hosted a small birthday party for Jarrett in Chicago attended by Barack and Michelle Obama, who rejoiced in being able to spend some downtime with a few of their closest pals, including Rogers, after the campaign’s long haul. "My party was perfect," Jarrett told The Washington Post later, adding that Rogers "has extraordinary flair and exquisite taste."

On how to organize a party:

During her tour of the White House, she was greatly relieved to find a ready solution for one of her main worries — "those seating charts." Rogers was given a preview of "a huge computer screen, programmed with all the tables, so you can drag the names of guests around until you get it right." She also saw the extensive archives of social events from prior administrations, material that she and Michelle Obama can study. "There is a history and tradition to these events," said Rogers — the Christmas-tree lighting, for example, and the Easter-egg hunt. "Yes, we are about change and about finding a new way, but ‘new’ doesn’t mean that we walk away from history."

On challenges to expect:

Always having a backup plan if the First Lady is unable to attend a function or, for state dinners, checking whether any of the guests have children and, if they do, arranging for a signed gift from the First Family to mark the occasion — something special, like a book, that they will remember for a lifetime. "Desirée is so poised and so charming, so substantial and capable, but nonetheless I told her how important it is to always stand up to the West Wing," Baldrige recounted later. "The West Wing is the men’s side, and they will want to push you to put all those politicians on the dinner lists, and you’ve got to be strong and say no. Always represent what the First Lady and the president want. In the case of the Obamas, it’s an exciting mix of people — not paybacks."