The VIP reception started off with Laura being photo-graphed with last year’s honoree Nancy Ann Hunt and her daughter Ashlee Kleinert and other guests. Next emcee Heather Hays interviewed Laura for KDFW-CH. 4’s evening newscast.
Then Laura was seated at a table to sign her book, Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and The Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home, for guests. Due to the popularity of the books, Luncheon Chair Anita Oberwetter found herself schlepping books to the table. Dallas Regional Chamber President/Anita’s husband Jim arrived and reported that he was there to support Anita in her efforts to raise funds for the crisis prevention and intervention organization.
Speaking of family support, honoree/Junior League of Dallas President Leigh Anne Haugh had both husband Doug and parents Clo and Perry Cloud on hand. That Leigh Anne was a sneaky one. She pulled off a nice one during the lunch, but more about that later.
But talk at the of the day was not focused solely on Laura and the luncheon. For instance, former high school teacher Martha Ann Cates, who has volunteered at CONTACT for seven or eight years, admitted that her chief concern was for the schools kids who don’t realize there are alternatives.
Just before it was time to head to the Stemmons Ballroom for lunch, CONTACT President Benaye Rogers reminded the gathering that raffle tickets were still available. . . especially the American Airlines trip to Brazil.
At 11:25 the Stemmons Ballroom was starting to look like a melting pot of ages, sexes and races. It was obvious from the makeup of the group that CONTACT was impacting the entire community. SMU President Gerald Turner arrived just before former Mayor Tom Leppert. Seems that Tom was subbing in for wife/Luncheon Honorary Chair Laura, who was called away on business. The ladies at his table were thrilled.
Emcee Heather called the group to order at 11:36. Following a welcome by CONTACT Board Chairman Susan Odom and Anita, Pastor Brent McGuire gave the invocation and it was lunch time.
At 12:05 p.m. Benaye addressed the group telling them that 46% of their calls came from men and that CONTAC T did not receive “just a suicide” call. Rather, the calls often come from people who are just overwhelmed and need assistance.
Benaye then introduced Nancy Ann who gave an excellent introduction for Leigh Anne. For most people it would have been a real challenge to follow such a lovely intro, but Leigh Anne proved her ability to rise to the occasion. She told about her days as a CONTACT volunteer, where she learned, “We are not here to judge. We are here to listen.”
Then Leigh Anne asked everyone to pull out their cell phones. An uneasy twinge rippled through the audience. They had been at other events, where they had been “encouraged” to text donations to the group. Awkward. If you didn’t pull out your cell phone, you looked like you weren’t part of the effort. But since it was Leigh Anne, phones appeared with fingers ready to donate. Instead, she pulled a fast one. The blonde asked everyone to tap in 972.233.2233 and save it. The number was the CONTACT hotline and she added that one day they just might need to provide that number for someone in need of help.
No wonder the crowd gave Leigh Anne a standing O.
Then it was time to pull the raffle tickets. First one was for the trip to Rio. Leigh Anne pulled the first ticket and handed it to Heather, who read, “Gail Bartlett.” Gee, wasn’t that the former first lady of Dallas, Mrs. Steve Bartlett. Next was the spa package at the Hilton Anatole. This time, Leigh Anne handed the ticket to Heather, who laughed and read, “Doug Haugh.” Leigh Anne quickly swore she hadn’t looked at the tickets, when she realized her husband was the lucky winner.
After the final ticket was pulled at 12:30 p.m., it was time for Laura, who was introduced via video by sister Lisa. From Utah, Lisa apologized for not being there but added that her talk would have centered around Laura.
It was a fascinating talk that covered Laura’s work in the Middle East, Mexico and North Korea) and the importance of freedom. In telling about her captivity in North Korea, she told of a moment when she was in despair and guard said, “Have hope.”
Then Laura explained former President Bill Clinton‘s involvement in her release from enprisonment. It seems that when North Korean President Kim Jong-il‘s father died in 1994, Clinton was the very first to call and offer his condolences. The North Korean president didn’t forget Clinton’s sympathy, so when the former president got involved in Laura’s release, it happened. According to Laura, it was that “simple act of kindness” that made the difference.
Magically, Laura tied her story with the work done by CONTACT. . . offering hope to others and the important of acts of kindness.
At 1:05 p.m. Laura closed her talk telling the group how depression has become a major problem in schools. Yes, there are support groups in schools for drugs, but rarely for students suffering from depression. Closing with a quote from Maya Angelou‘s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Laura received a standing O, too.
She done her big sister and CONTACT proud.
Rawlins Gilliland says
You make anything interesting and this WAS interesting.