WBTT's Jukebox 50s Revue

Can you ever have too much fun?  I don't think so, but the whole room sure tried at last Thursday's Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Jukebox 50s Revue.  I don't think I have ever seen so many old, balding, white men getting down with the groove as I saw that night.  Granted, it was a wildly diverse audience, as it should be, but the ones who stood out to me were the strait-laced bankers and attorneys shaking a little booty. 

The absolutely best part of the evening was the performance by the WBTT Troupe.  It was such high energy and so spirited you had to literally jump out of your seat and move!  They were so terrific!  I cannot say enough about them.  You must, must, must go and see one or all of their shows. 

One audience member in particular had the crowd on my side of the room mesmerized.  We couldn't take our eyes off him.  Every time a song would start, he could not contain himself and leaped out of his chaired and did the grooviest moves ever!  He was dropping down to the floor on one knee and shaking and shoulder rolling to beat the band.  It was simply amazing and I don't think I will ever forget it.  I so wish I knew his name.  

Michael Klauber did his usual fabulous job as an auctioneer.  Anne Weintraub won the bid for the diamond earrings and promptly donated them right back to be sold a second time! 

The buffet that Michael's On East provided was yummy, yum, yum!  I think they do the best buffets in town!  I am not usually a fan of buffets, but this one moved right along and had terrific menu items.

Others seen in the crowd and not photographed below were Mark and Jennie Famiglio, Allan Lane, Hobson and Anne Prentice Pilot, John and Janet Hunter, Jewel Ash, Gloria Moss, Anne Weintraub, Dr. L.B. and Peter Wish, Dr. Henry Porter, Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy, Penny Hill, Charlie Ann Syprett, Pam Daniel, George Augustin, Ron Cater, Lisa Rubinstein, Chris and Patricia Caswell, Michael Saunders, Judy Cuppy, Johnette Cappadona, Carol Buchanan, Sheila Baynes, Dr. Jacqueline Ray, and oh so many more.

Co-chairs Audrey Coleman and Renee Hamad

WBTT CEO, Christine Jennings and Donald Attanas

WBTT Founder and Artistic Director, Nate Jacobs

Scott and Candy Greer

Stephanie Shaw, Sophia LaRusso, and Lois Schulman

Veronica Brady and Gayle Guynup

Laurin Ripley, Peppi Elona, and Wendy Surkis

Kim Wheeler and Carolyn Spizzaro

Helen and Roy McBean

Lydia McIntire and Janice Zarro

Julie Leach and Alisa Pettingell

Barbara Parker and Scott Anderson

 

Iwan Mohamed and Marjorie Floyd

 

Nate and the crew

The centerpiece

The buffet line

Raul Molina and Tom Larrabee

Pink carnations for the male guests

WRC's Fall Gathering Luncheon

It's always a full house at the Women's Resource Center's (WRC) Fall Gathering Luncheon at the Plantation Country Club in Venice and this year was no exception. 

In addition to a large silent auction and opportunity to snag bargains from the Encore! and More Boutique, guests were treated to a charming Broadway-themed performance from pianist David Sayer and singer Wendy Wolfe.

The main speaker of the day was "closetologist", Jackie Walker, who spoke to the theme of Life's Highs and Lows....and How I Wore Them!  She said, "If you don't feel comfortable and confident, you will not be happy no matter what material things you have."  She also said that a closet is a room of emotion, which I think is so true.  Speaking of the five fashion personas, she had me pegged to a t! One particular persona was the women who owned five pairs of Ferragamo bow pumps and wore pearls.  Was she looking in my closet? And how did she know I had exactly five pairs of those shoes???

Gulf Coast Community Foundation's Veronica Brady announced a challenge grant from an anonymous donor and GCCF.  All told, at last count, almost $20,000 was raised in a matter of minutes.  What a nice little bonus gift for WRC!

The WRC is such a valuable community asset.  It touches the lives of 13,000 women in our county each year with programs to boost self-esteem, enhance personal growth, improve computer and financial skills, increase employment success, understand the legalities of divorce and calm the mind, body, and spirit.  In the infamous words of Martha Stewart, WRC is a good thing!

Chair Annette Ross and board president Renee Hamad

WRC Executive Director Janice Zarro and Carolyn Spizzirro

Lydia McIntire and Marge Maisto

Kathy Coffey and Kathy Francoletti

Jane Kiebitz and Sheila Murray

Kirstin Fulkerson and Veronica Brady

Annette Dignam and Sue Joachim

Maria Roden, Heidi Bodor, Erika Raguth, Donna-Lee Roden

Sue Hoffman and Kim Wheeler

Closetologist Jackie Walker

Singer Wendy Wolfe

Orchid centerpiece

Lemon cake for dessert

Pines Foundation's Wit & Wisdom of Aging Luncheon

You never know what you are going to hear when you have Emmy-winning television journalist, Jack Perkins on the panel!  I didn't realize just how "personal" the Pines Foundation's Wit & Wisdom of Aging Luncheon panel was going to get!  I won't retell Mr. Perkins' story, but will just tell you it revolves around the Depends product and let it go at that.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation CEO, Teri Hansen moderated a panel that included, in addition to Jack, the retired head of Keep Sarasota Beautiful, Sandra Washington, and US Open and British Open winner, golf pro, Tony Jacklin.

All three panelists shared many insights to the wit and wisdom of aging, but I think I found most interesting how when each shared the most significant moment of their lives, each happened before they were adults.  Tony's happened when his father introduced him to golf when he was only 8 years-old, Sandra's happened to her when she attended school here in Sarasota and the community's values helped her chart the course of her life, and Jack's was when he attended a speech contest in high school and met his wife of 53 years.

I didn't really know Melissa Lerner, who co-chaired the event with Kim Bald, before the luncheon, but I felt like I really knew her heart by the end of her presentation about why she was involved with the Pines.  She said she was shy, but she told a powerful story about how she and her husband, Dr. Brad Lerner, found the Pines as a home for his parents, Jules and Mimi.  I think everyone in the room was in tears, at least I know I was.  She was a great example about how to give a meaningful testimony for an organization's mission.

Each year Pines Foundation produces a really terrific video to educate attendees about what goes on at the Pines.  Well, this year they outdid themselves.  It was all done in a gumshoe film noir style that was just marvelous!  I didn't know how they were going to pull it off, but they did in great style.  I think it was probably the best mission video I have ever seen done, and I've seen a lot of them!

The biggest news of the day - Last year there was a wonderful paddle raise that responded beautifully to a matching grant.  This year was even more fabulous!  The Z Foundation said they would match dollar for dollar the first $10,000 that was raised at the luncheon during the paddle raise.  Last I knew, it was approaching $70,000 and the envelopes were still coming in!  That means around $80,000 was raised on the paddle raise alone!  Now you are talking some major dollars!

Others who were spotted in the crowd and not photographed below were Paul Hudson, Heather Clark, Jane Lautner, Karin Grablin, Kristine Cox Taylor, Larry Hapsel, Steve Seidensticker, Jay Berman, Joan Geyer, Jon Thaxton, Lisa Van Ullen, John LaCivita, David Sessions, Al Goldstein, Betty Schoenbaum, Donna Simmons, Kathy Hargreaves, Rick Piccolo, Scott Collins, Jocelyn Stevens, Andy Dorr, Tom and Kim Dart, Peter and Marcy Abbott, Bob and Pat Johnson, Nathalie McCullough, Tramm Hudson, George Cole, John Patterson, and on and on.

Co-chairs Kim Bald and Melissa Lerner

Pine Foundation President, Estelle Crawford and Charles Githler

Pines Fdn. Board chair, Mike and Marie Pender

Sandra Washington and Lee Levine

Pines CEO John Overton and Peggy Wilhelm

Dave Shaver, Veronica Brady, and Zoltan Karpathy

Cheri and Steve Ziegler

Sophia LaRusso and Marian Moss

Alice Rau and Teri Hansen

Nikki Taylor and Marjorie Broughton

Michelle Crabtree and Dawn Crable

Michael and Terri Klauber with Rochelle Nigri

Jewel Ash and Gloria Moss

Margaret Boyd, Peggy Wilhelm, and Marilyn Saba

Tana Sandefur and Dr. Sarah Pappas

Kathy Stern and Fran Dietz

Leila Windom and Dot Schurenbrand

Julie Delaney

Scott Anderson and Gerri Aaron

Charlie and Dee Stottlemyer

Debbie Vollmer and Diane Nalls

Lois Schulman and Dannie Sherrill

The centerpiece - cupcakes!