For a couple of days, Mother Nature went to brutalize Chicago, leaving North Texas in spring-like conditions. Perhaps it was that reason that the class of 2019 Crystal Charity Ball new members and executive committee were in cottons and silks. Nary a boot or wool was in the 2014 CCB Chair Robyn Conlon’s Highland Park home for the annual get-to-know-you brunch on Tuesday, February 5.
With place cards at the five tables draped with pink table clothes and topped with Garden Gate roses and peonies, the newbies were directed to the back of the family room, where Melissa Macatee had set up a shot to photograph the new kids for the CCB directory.
Then there was the group photo on the winding staircase of the six present (Julie Bagley, Christy Berry, Kim Hext, Nancy Scripps, Molly Thomas and Merry Wyatt) sans Sunie Solomon, who was MIA.
In the family room, the 2019 CCB executive committee blondes (2019 CCB Chair Pat McEvoy, Underwriting Chair Shelle Sills, Children’s Book Chair Anne Besser, New Member Liaisons Amy Hegi and Libby Hegi and Special Gifts Chair Kim Quinn) were photographed with eyes directed at the front door looking for their silver- (Foundations Chair Kristina Whitcomb) and brunette-haired (Silent Auction Chair Jennifer Dix and Contribution Co-Chair Susan Farris) partners.
Over to the side were 2010 CCB Chair/CCB member-at-large Cynthia Mitchell, Ten Best Dressed Chair Ola Fojtasek, Ball Arrangements Chair/birthday girl Patti Flowers, PR Chair Pam McCallum, 2007 CCB Chair/ Membership Chair Vicki Chapman, who has her work in the months ahead cut out for her. Not only is husband Bob Chapman retiring from Deloitte, but daughter Lauren Chapman and Francois Bellemare are heading to the West Coast for a destination wedding.
Following the sipping of ice tea, the ladies adjourned to their assigned places at tables throughout the public rooms. With centerpieces by Garden Gate, the CCB new members and veterans were officially introduced.
Pat then briefly explained that one of the CCB misnomers is that the purpose of the organization was to put on a gala the first Saturday of December. Rather the year is spent raising funding for Dallas children’s nonprofits with the black-tie ball honoring the donors and sponsors of their efforts.
She also revealed that since the internal working theme of the 2019 CCB was Around The World, the new members would be tagged The Comos.