After the exhibition,
Ms. Cascio introduced the gala co-chairwomen,
Janeil Bernard, Margaret Daffin and
Ella Forel, and thanked them and all the volunteers who created this year's gala. Ms. Cascio then acknowledged and thanked our record number of sponsors for their support of this year's 18th annual event. We had 135 sponsors and it is their support that allows us to hold
Red Hot Ballroom! and keep the price affordable for our members and guests. Ms. Cascio then presented the annual President's Award to three of our gentlemen volunteers for their help with all things Houston USA Dance. Recipients of this year's awards were
John "down with the paparazzi" Mireles who genuinely loves to help behind the scenes and doesn't relish the limelight one bit;
Ralph "Ho, Ho, Ho" Weed, who always helps out at our events and plays our all-time great Santa at the holiday dance, and new board member
Mike "Hey gang, let's try this!" Nelson, a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer with many ideas resonating in his head at one time.
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The Houston USA Dance 2012 Gentlemen of the Year
(L-R) J. Mike Nelson, Ralph Weed, Lydia Cascio and John Mireles.
Photo by Douglas Stockwall |
Ms. Cascio also presented flowers, gift cards and dance passes to Flo Cook for single-handedly bringing the most guests this year (Flo filled two tables with dance loving guests!) We love you, Flo!
Following the presentations, the guests were delighted to partake in the evening's "red hot dessert" - really! We had a choice of Bananas Foster flamed in the ballroom and a scrumptious hot chocolate pecan sauce cooled down by ice cream.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to produce a memorable event. This year's "gala village of volunteers and helpers" were as follows:
Co-Chairs: Janeil Bernard, Margaret Daffin and Ella Forel;
Greeters: Janeil Bernard, Paul Daffin, J. Mike Nelson, Lydia Cascio, David Vise and Teresa Vise;
Cashiers: June Adkins, Versie Cuthbert, and Gloria Zegarrundo;
Catering: Diana Arnett and Therese Cole-Hubbs of Electric Karma International; Decorations: Lois Pierce, Any Occasions, Lee Callaway, Décor to Remember, and Roddy Landon;
Band Coordinators: Karen Freedman and Johnny Tanon;
Show Coordinators: Ella Forel and Michael Schedler;
Music Coordinator: Michael Altamira;
Seating and Reservations: Janeil Bernard, Margaret Daffin, Celia Homer and Teresa Vise;
Sponsors and Fundraising: Janeil Bernard and Margaret Daffin;
Program: Ella Forel, Celia Homer and Copy Doctor;
Publicity and Promotion: ASAP Mailing Services, Rick Archer, Janeil Bernard, Lee Callaway, Lydia Cascio, Margaret Daffin, Ella Forel, Celia Homer, Michael Klaveness, Litho Printing, Rosalia Vazquez, and Phuong Vuong;
Facilities Set-up: Ted Agon, Diana Arnett, Janeil Bernard, Lee Callaway, Lydia Cascio, Margaret Daffin, Ella Forel, Roddy Landon, John Mireles, Lois Pierce, Joe Pikas and Gloria Zegarrundo.
We would like to say a special thank you to the following:
Therese Cole-Hubbs of Arabia Shrine Event Services. Therese always goes the extra mile to help Houston USA Dance and the committees so that our galas are exceptional in every way.
Elizabeth and Steve Hubbs of Little Steve's Catering (
http://www.littlestevescatering.com). When we can leave the sponsor table service in Steve and Elizabeth's hands, we rest assured that everything will be handled to perfection.
Jorge Lebron, Latin Percussionist. Jorge has added his expertise with Latin percussion instruments to our bands and orchestras for the past 11 or 12 years. Every band leader has warmly welcomed Jorge; his reputation as a top tier musician in Houston always makes him an added value to any band or orchestra. (You should hear Jorge's full Salsa Band. You won't hear anything quite that pure and wonderful many times in your life.)
Michael Altamira. Without Michael Altamira collecting the show music and creating a master file, working with the performers on their entrances and exits, and being the show sound engineer at the gala, I can assure you it would be a much different experience for us all! By the time we had fiddled with DVDs and MP3s or 5's trying to figure how the heck they work, Michael would have already downloaded, filtered, edited and balanced and all the music for our performers.
Michael Schedler to whom I send the list of performers and presto-chango he returns it to me in an order that provides a great variety within an act, and allows the performers time to change costumes if needed, and to catch their breath. No back to back Jive and Viennese Waltz from the same couple. No siree!
Last but far from least, thank you Allen Darnel for holding the first National Ballroom Dance Week gala event in Houston in 1991. Allen, your challenge to USABDA Houston (now Houston USA Dance) to adopt this wonderful celebration has been met for 18 years now, and we hope we've made you proud!
Allen, we wish you well in your retirement, though we are doubtful that you will ever actually "retire" from dancing. Thank you for all you did for Houston USA Dance and the Houston Dance Community!
In closing, it really does take our village of volunteers a year of planning to put on this event that is designed to give the Houston Ballroom Dancing Community an old fashioned elegant evening of enjoyable ballroom dancing. Since its beginning in 1995, this gala has touched thousands of ballroom dancers in the Houston Metropolitan area and beyond, and many come back year after year. We love it, and we love and appreciate the many who have volunteered, performed, sponsored, played in bands and orchestras, helped with venues, and most of all, come to dance with us through these 18 years. Thank you to the USA Dance Houston Board of Directors for their support and encouragement, thank you to all of our 2012 sponsors!
And finally, thank you again Margaret, Janeil, Lois, Diana, Lee, Lydia, John, Mike, Mike, Michael, Michael, Celia, Gloria, June, Rosalia , Versie, Roddy, Paul, Karen, Johnny, Phuong, and Ted, who make up a combined force of fresh and venerated champions of the village.
