The new class of Crystal Charity Ball members (Cindy Simmons Booker, Carol Cook Dalton, Carolyn Thompson Goelzer, Stephanie Martin Lauck, Margaret Elizabeth Perry McKissack, Melissa Sherrill Martin, Felicia Smith Powell and Katherine Rochelle Wyker) scored points for following orders. For their first get-together breakfast on Tuesday, January 24, at the Dallas Country Club, they were advised to use the Beverly entrance that is usually for DCC members only. It seems that the Mockingbird entrance was not available due to construction.
They were to be in the Founders Room by 8:45 for individual and group photos. Every one of ’em showed up on time, with Cindy Booker being ten minutes early. She had already had a sampling of CCB behind-the-scenes activities by helping to run the Gift and Prizes Store at the 2022 ball in December. One of the night’s challenges had been the manger scenes. It seems some guests just wanted parts of the scene, like only the sheep. It was hard to explain that it was a package deal — crib, sheep and all.
Newbies Katherine and Melissa were like sorority pledges saying they were there to follow orders. One of the first is to have their individual photos taken that will appear in the CBB directory.
Next on the docket was a group shot to be taken with 2023 CCB Chair Angie Kadesky, Membership Chairman Louise Griffeth, New Member Liaison Co-Chair Beth Thoele, and breakfast host/2014 CCB Chair Robyn Conlon, who was glad to be in town for the gathering. During the pandemic she and husband Don Conlon sheltered in place at their home in Grand Cayman.
When someone commented about the rain, Angie recalled the days of driving her six youngster. She admitted that her Suburban was never clean. The worst challenge was when she, husband Dr. Kevin Kadesky and the kids were on a trip and the temperatures hit above 100 causing one of the young Kadesky kid’s crayons to melt. The smell was remarkable and hard to get rid of.
Both Angie and Post-Ball Arrangements Chair Jennifer Chandler agreed that another mother challenge was driving their daughters wearing big skirts in their cars to church and emerging unwrinkled.
Children’s Book Chair Jennifer Dix was in for a long day. After the breakfast, she and the rest of the 2023 CCB committee chairs (Underwriting Chair Mary Martha Pickens, Fashion Show Chair Patty Leyendecker, Foundations Chair Elizabeth Gambrell, Silent Auction/Special Gifts Co-Chairs Amy Hegi and Heather Esping and Charity Selection Chair Ola Fojtasek) would go to the CCB office for an orientation meeting with the new members. Hours later she would head to the Ritz-Carlton Dallas for the 2023 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball Underwriters’ dinner.