RSVP Magazine January 2014 by RSVP Magazine

January 2014

Toy Bash Red Boa Ball Bell Tower Gala Chefsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Celebrity Gala A Magical Night at Overton Park Junior League Holiday Gift Showcase Q&A with Diane Terrell

CONTENTS

Contents January 201 4

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 The voice of the Memphis Tigers, Dave Woloshin, takes a moment from his busy schedule to talk to RSVP at his home.

Junior League Holiday Gift Showcase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Shoppers showed their support for the Junior League of Memphis and got a head start on holiday buying at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

12 JUNIOR LEAGUE HOLIDAY GIFT SHOWCASE Janet Harrison and Mary Simon

The Ambassador Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Bringing to light the saving grace of skateboarding, Edward Pidgeon is at the forefront of the effort to build a skate park in Hernando, Mississippi.

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 & 22 This artist has been putting his stamp on stone since the late ’70s. She’s at the

38 RSVP ROOM VIEW Award-winning Living Room

forefront of offering personalized volunteer experiences to Memphians. StreetSeens highlight Dennis Eleogram and Sarah Petschonek.

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Bell Tower Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Distinguished CBU alumni were awarded, and old friends caught up at the Memphis Hilton.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Q&A with the executive director of the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation and Community Investment, Diane Terrell.

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AMemphians Magicalenjoyed Nightanatenchanting Overtonevening Parkwithin . . .the. . natural . . . . .wonders . . . . . of. .Overton . . .32 Park.

RSVP Room View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 This East Memphis home gets a playful update that features fanciful design touches and eye-popping colors.

STREETSEEN Dennis Eleogram

40 RED BOA BALL Bob and Michele Bramlett

Red Boa Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Partygoers wore their best red apparel and danced the night away at the Memphis Botanic Garden to benefit the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Toy Bash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Partaking in the holiday spirit, guests generously gave gifts to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis at Minglewood Hall.

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48, 56, 58 & 63 Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention. Chefs’ Celebrity Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Local business leaders and philanthropists volunteered their time to serve up some culinary treats for a Memphis Child Advocacy Center fund-raiser at the U of M Holiday Inn.

24 BELL TOWER GALA Cathi and Steve Dunavant

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Humorist columnist Dennis Phillippi reflects on what constitutes a real friend. Cover Photo Katy Murphy and Molly Monroe at Junior League Holiday Gift Showcase Photo by Baxter Buck

45 TOY BASH Tiffany Heard and Erin Shackelford

R SV P S TA F F Volume XIX

Number IV

January 201 4 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

R achel Warren CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jeannie Ashford Ruth Cassin Dennis Phillippi Eugene Pidgeon Suzanne Thompson Lesley Young

CHRIS PUGH, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 103 chris@rsvpmagazine.com

Chris has been exercising his talent in the advertising world since 1999. He joined the RSVP team in 2009 and brought with him a love for laughter and creativity. Originally from New Albany, Mississippi, Chris has settled in Memphis and enjoys being active in the fashion community.

ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s

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PHOTOGRAPHERS

Baxter Buck Don Perry Steve Roberts ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Chris Pugh Kristen Miller

KRISTEN MILLER,

ACCOUNTING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 901.276.7787, EXT. 104 kristen@rsvpmagazine.com

Ruth Cassin

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6 RSVP Memphis is published monthly by Haithcock Communications, Inc. First class subscriptions are available for $55.00 per year. Send name and address with a check to: Haithcock Communications, Inc. 2282 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38104

Having worked in print advertising for nearly eight years, Kristen Miller felt it was a natural fit to join the RSVP team as an account executive. Kristen, who lives in Arlington with her husband and four children, loves to cook, fish, watch college and Arlington Tigers football, spend time with her family and advertising, of course.

For advertising information contact Roy Haithcock Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101 Fax (901) 276-7785 e-mail publisher@rsvpmagazine.com WEB

www.rsvpmagazine.com For editorial information or to request coverage of an event, please contact RSVP Magazine one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785. e-mail editor@rsvpmagazine.com Follow us on

RSVP Memphis Magazine

RACHEL WARREN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR 901.276.7787, EXT. 108 rachel@rsvpmagazine.com

Rachel is passionate about print media and has covered many local events in Jackson, Mississippi in the past. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Millsaps College, and in 2011, she moved back to her hometown of Memphis. She is delighted to be part of the RSVP team as the associate editor. She loves writing about all the amazing people and places in Memphis, enjoying a great book and chasing a good story.

From the Editor

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elcome to 2014 friends! I hope each of you savors the relaxation that comes after holiday festivities wind down and that you focus on all the possibilities that a new year offers. Personally, I’m about to enter the next chapter of my life when I return to my Middle Tennessee roots this month. The move will be a bittersweet one for sure, as I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the exciting opportunities that have come my way because of RSVP, not to mention the fascinating individuals I’ve gotten to know as a result of interviewing hundreds of Memphians from all walks of life and attending even more charitable affairs throughout my six-plus years as editor. Ask me what makes the Bluff City so vibrant and unique, and I’ll respond with “the people” every time. Others must feel the same way, because I’ve heard that answer before, and when proofing this issue, I realized that Dave Woloshin, featured in the Signature Memphis on page 10, agrees. Since photographs are such an integral part of the magazine, I thought that there would be no better way to close out my editor’s column than to share some of my favorite moments from my Signature Memphis, StreetSeen and Vox Popular interviews. My gracious right-hand photographers, Don Perry and Steve Roberts, often snapped pics of me during our shoots together, probably not realizing these images would one day surface in my “Ode to Memphis” column. For their hard work, I am grateful, as I am also indebted to the kindhearted staff both in and outside of the RSVP office for their dedication to producing a superb philanthropic-based magazine and for making me love every moment of my job, which always felt more like fun than work. Next month, the editor position will be in the capable hands of Rachel Warren, so please show her the wonderful hospitality you bestowed upon me from the moment I came on board. See you down the road!

5 1. Kirk Whalum 2. Marie-Stéphane Bernard 3. Wayne Jackson 8 4. Bill Dance 5. Rochelle Stevens 6. Josh Pastner 7. Marguerite Piazza 8. George Klein 9. Javonta Charles

Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

Voice of the Tigers/Talk-Show Host, Sports 56 (AM 560/87.7 FM)

Hometown: Hometown: Chicago. Chicago. Your Best Quality: Perseverance. Perseverance. Place Place You You Go Go to to Think: My backyard. backyard. Best Dish Dish You You Cook: My My special special omelet. First First Car You You Drove: Drove: A 1970 1970 Ford Maverick. Maverick. Best Memphis Hangout: The The Links Links at at Galloway. Biggest Biggest Pet Peeve: Peeve: People with double double standards. Proudest Moment of Your Life: The births births of my my boys. Best Best Advice Advice You You Ever Ever Got: Got: Make Make your passion passion your your job. job. Favorite Favorite Song: “The “The Heart Heart of the Matter” Matter” by Don Henley. Coolest Coolest Things About About Memphis: Memphis: The The trees and the the people. The The Highlight of Your Day: Day: A glass of wine before dinner dinner with my my wife. Who Inspires Inspires You: My parents and Ben Ben Aronin, who who was an author, Hebrew Hebrew scholar, scholar, lawyer and and TV host in in Chicago Chicago when when I was young. young. Something You You Still Still Hope Hope For: To watch Memphis Memphis win win national national basketball and football titles.

Photo by Steve Roberts

SIGNATURE MEMPHIS J A N U A R Y 2 0 14 RSVP

Dave Woloshin

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JUNIOR LEAGUE HOLIDAY GIFT SHOWCASE

EVENT

Junior League Holiday Gift Showcase Girl’s Night Out

S Catherine Snider and Christy Muller

Natalie Brown and Vickie Cruzen

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hoppers had a new place to spend their Christmas money last fall when the Junior League of Memphis rolled out the group’s firstever Holiday Gift Showcase, which took the place of its Merry Marketplace fund-raiser. Dubbed “an all-new type of boutique shopping experience, featuring the best of fashion, jewelry, art and home décor in the Mid-South,” the two-day extravaganza took over every square inch of space inside the Memphis Botanic Garden in November of last year. The local female population particularly enjoyed that the opening festivities included a Girl’s Night Out component, which Baptist Memorial Health Care sponsored. Complimentary tote bags in hand, groups of girlfriends and family members scoured booths set up by more than 60 artists, crafters and retailers. Some unique finds came in the way of Mrs. Post’s hand-felted wool birdhouses in animal shapes from Nepal, Social’s BloemBox bulb kits (Oprah has included these on her Favorite Things list.) and license plate purses from Ell’s Boutique out of Little Rock. Magic Light Wands were another hot item, as they enable users to remotely turn off Christmas lights, not to mention that each one sold meant a $1 donation to Make-A-Wish® Mid-South. Dressed in bright red reindeer ears, Kristi Hammond, as well as Lindsey and Josh Hammond of Buster’s Liquors and Wines, had fun selling these wands for charity. In the middle of the Visitors Center, tables were laden with an assortment of delectable finger foods from B.B. King’s Blues Club, Interim Restaurant & Bar, Itta Bena, Newk’s, Paulette’s, Revival Southern Food Company, the Terrace at River Inn of Harbor Town and Ziparo’s Catering. Beautifully decorated trees and other holiday décor added pops of color to the scene, and to remind guests of the event’s purpose, organizers had included printouts about JLM’s community projects, including Kids in the Kitchen, Collage Dance Collective and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, to name a few. Having shopped till they dropped, attendees left with bags chock full of goodies, and with the knowledge that proceeds from the event will enable the JLM to continue assisting women and children in need throughout Memphis and the Mid-South. How about that for putting dollars back into the community?

See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Claudia Cornwell and Beverly Kiestler

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Baxter Buck

Tessa Harrelson and Sheridan Cross

John Hooks and Allison Springfield

Kristi Hammond and Lindsey Hammond

Mary Kate Brandon and Catherine Harris

Kalista Liddell, Ashli Avis, Kirsten Brasfield and Kristy Johnston

Tara Seals and Jawanna Morman

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Taylor Waring and Lindsey Leet

Ivy Wagerman and Meredith Matthews

Nicole Blum and Barbara Blum

Linda Seidman and Susie Bjorklund

Kristen Williams and Allison Love

Emily Harris and Emily Goldstein

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Rhonda Langston and Lauren Price

Gary Sumrall and Kathyrn Stallins

Gay and Rommy Hammond

Stephanie Snow and Amy Beth Dudley

Kathy Gustafsson and Brigid Lindbeit

Pat Hayes and Maria Hayes

Kathyrn Phillips and Laura Beth High

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EVENT JUNIOR LEAGUE HOLIDAY GIFT SHOWCASE J A N U A R Y 2 0 14

Lacey Washburn, Anna Jeffries and Kim Surber

Morgan Pittman and Anna Maneclang

Lisa Riley and Beth Townley

Mary Lawrence Carruthers, Caitlin Waters, Alanna Mizell, Pegah Shahidi and Megan Wilson

Allison Rogers and Nancy Sanderson

Tonya Wells and Rebecca Bush

Nancy Beck and Heather Mills

Holli Kenney and Leanne McQuown

Nicki Hanley and Callie Pitman

Patti Yancey and Autumn Chastain

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Hallie Ward, Stephanie Simpson and Carolyn Danley

Amber Moore and Emily Proffit

Macy Armstrong and Casey Yoakum

EVENT

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JUNIOR LEAGUE HOLIDAY GIFT SHOWCASE

Sherry Glatzer, Christine Gilliand, Donna Wolfanger, Adrian Fencl, Angie Grooms, Brittney Buchanan and Heather Scobey

Emily Quinn, Emily Bowie, Missy Perkins, Courtney Wages and Peggy Campbell RSVP

Mary Ruleman, Alice Tyrer and Mary Alice Ruleman

Shelby Anderson, Marcie Maxwell and Sarah Williams

By Eugene Pidgeon

HOBIE WAN KENOBI: A SKATEBOARD PARK GROWS IN HERNANDO

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n the movie Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) was a middle class farmer in Iowa who was beset by phantom voices urging him to “build it and they will come!” Here, the it in context was a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield. By itself, the cornfield/baseball field pairing is not such an implausible juxtaposition. However, the story is told at a time during the mid to late 1980s when farmers were suffering a ravenous spree of farm foreclosures and only earning about a quarter on the dollar for their cash crops. So, it might have seemed irresponsible to clear such a large swath of his family’s very life support system to pursue this folly. And in the Old Testament, Noah was just your average, everyday herdsman who tended to flocks and family until he too was solely admonished by what he believed to be a command from the Lord Jehovah himself to build a boat in the middle of the desert. Despite the collective derision and mockery Noah and Kinsella so bravely endured, they each would prosecute their appointed task and without distraction. This because Noah knew it was going to rain, and because Kinsella knew that the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and so many more were going to waft through the stalks, chalk up and play ball! Perhaps it might be an overstatement to compare the difficulties and trials of developing a skateboard park in Hernando, Mississippi with those of Noah and Ray Kinsella. Though, one must remember that Field of Dreams is only a fairy tale and fundamentally a two-hour Wheaties commercial. And as to the historical validity of Noah’s ark, the jury remains locked in deliberation over this one, even after 3,000 years. The proposed skateboard park in Hernando is no fairy tale. Still, the logistical and financial obstacles attached to developing such a facility in Hernando are immense and quite daunting. A former Memphian, Edward Pidgeon has been living in north Mississippi for nearly 30 years. He has been skateboarding since he was a child and is now standing at the vanguard of the Hernando Skates project. Pidgeon would be the first to tell you how skateboarding is not an extreme sport or a daredevil’s elixir. Skateboarding is an art form and possessed of the inherent properties of courage, focus, self-determination and self-trust—properties that very well may have served and, in some ways, have even saved his life. On Saturday morning, January 21, 1968, an 11-year-old Edward Pidgeon experienced such a devastating blow it is only

via a precise and godly miracle he survived. Edward’s beloved, older brother, and more his hero, Frank-17, had violently committed suicide, and Edward had discovered the body. Only hours after the fact, a concerned uncle of Edward’s found him cowering all alone and reeling in an unfathomable sadness and trauma near the farthest corner of his upstairs bedroom. As if

Dillinger discovered at the meeting how the aldermen had already received 200 queries from all throughout DeSoto County about establishing a skate park. The City of Hernando agreed to donate a single acre of parkland for this project. Currently, there is an acre of land reserved and allocated for the Hernando Skates project in the new Renasant Bank Park development in Hernando. It is an unhappy distinction for the state of Mississippi to be yoked by the grim statistics surrounding juvenile obesity and the subsequent contraction of Type 2 diabetes. Only one state in the country surpasses Mississippi in juvenile obesity. Mississippi does rank number one in the number of cases reported of juvenile Type 2 diabetes, of which obesity is the catalyst. According to Pidgeon, “Mississippi is at 12 percent and climbing! I am referring to all people from 5 to 21 years old.” Further, he submits, “Our contention is that if we can involve children in skating, it would be great for their health and great for the city. Obesity and juvenile Type 2 diabetes are an extraordinary burden for communities.” During the past five years, juvenile participation in organized sports like baseball and football across the entire United States has decreased by 5 percent annually. Despite this, Pidgeon maintains, “Participation in skateboarding has increased in this same five year period by a factor of 15 percent. As of last year, it is estimated that 14 million Americans skateboard, and that figure is rising every day.” The costs of building the park are also rising, with Pidgeon estimating that it will take up to $125,000 to complete the Hernando Skates project. After two years of campaigning, there is only $25,000 raised. The Hernando Skate Park is a nonprofit venture, and it is relying on the kindness of strangers who are willing to dig deep into their own pockets to help. Pidgeon emphasizes, “We don’t care if 100,000 people give a single dollar each. This is for the betterment of our community and the health of our children.” To contribute to the skate park building fund or to support the free skateboard clinics by Hernando Skates, e-mail Pidgeon at thequackmaster@bellsouth.net or visit the Hernando Skates Facebook page and check out the “Description” section to find out how you can help with the effort to build a real-life “Field of Dreams”…minus the baseball, of course. Couttesy of Evergreen Skateparks LLC

THE AMBASSADOR SERIES

The Ambassador Series

a battlefield triage, he pulled Edward out of the corner and whisked him away from the rogue despair now fanning this furious, inexorably painful maelstrom. “I grabbed my skateboard, Uncle George grabbed me and we left the house,” recalls Pidgeon. His uncle took him to a stretch of road that offered an ideal but treacherous skateboarding opportunity. He says, “I had always been afraid of this run. I had never even tried it. But, somehow, I knew if I faced the fear around this run, I would make it, and not just down the hill.” Pidgeon, wiped completely out, but he had faced the fear and conquered it. And in spite of the many, many spiritual and emotional wipeouts linked to this tragedy, which would come and haunt him later, it would be from this same core source of courage Pidgeon discovered how he would make it through the suicide of and the future without his brother. The Hobie skateboard changed his life. It saved it, too. Although it was not Pidgeon’s original idea to build a skateboard park in Hernando, he has been at the forefront of all civic and social petitions to make it happen. The journey to build the skateboard park began, in earnest, nearly three years ago. “A woman named Michael Ann Dillinger from Hernando had actually contacted Mayor Chip Johnson to inquire about building one,” Pidgeon remembers. “I, too, would go to meet Mayor Johnson myself, and he asked me to make a presentation to the city aldermen. This was on a Friday, and the meeting was scheduled the following Tuesday.” Interestingly enough, Pidgeon and

To make a suggestion or pitch a story idea to Eugene, feel free to e-mail him at eugenepidgeon@rsvpmagazine.com.

STREETSEEN

Dennis Eleogram Master of Stone

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uch like a postman, Dennis Eleogram braves the elements for his work, however he’s lifting much heavier packages as a stone carver. This time of year, Eleogram bundles up for the chilly temps at his outdoor covered studio in Shelby Forest, but his best defense perhaps is the smile that never leaves his face as he manipulates his chosen medium. This artist truly devotes himself to his profession, which he delved into initially for therapeutic relief. “I was going through an emotional crisis in 1979 and was over at a friend’s house moping,” Eleogram recalls. “My friend said that when he got like that he banged on stone.” Eleogram used that friend’s advice and began pounding on stone with a steel mallet and chisels, finding that the process got his mind off of things, or at least allowed him to channel feelings. Direct carving soon turned into a hobby, but it fell to the wayside when Eleogram became a massage therapist in 1984. Four years later, he resorted to the old hobby again as a refuge during another difficult time. But this time, the hobby turned into something more after a fateful trip to Christie Cut Stone Company to purchase supplies. While at Christie Cut, Eleogram was asked by the former owner’s son, Bond Christie (now the current owner), about his purpose for the stone. Eleogram said he was just going to carve on it, and the next thing he knew, Christie had mentioned that the company was looking for a stonecutter. Eleogram volunteered that the job sounded fascinating, but admitted he had no experience with pneumatic tools (air powered tools), only a chisel and mallet. When Christie responded that the company just wanted someone who understood the limitations of stone and that the rest could be taught, Eleogram began reassigning his massage therapy clients and started at Christie Cut within two weeks. Ironically enough, he had popped into the Christie Cut office in 1974 to look for a job, but at the time there were no openings. So, from 1988 until 2003, Eleogram worked as a stonecutter/carver at Christie Cut, where he learned to apply geometry to various types of stone. With measurements and numbers, he realized any material could be appropriately cut, and the instruction he received on pneumatic hammers and chisels under the late Fred Christie remains invaluable to him today. He visually learned how to carve, and found out quickly how important knowing subtraction is in this field since you don’t get a second chance when working with natural objects. After taking a position as a caretaker of a private property in Shelby Forest in 1999, Eleogram began the transition to independent artist by training young men at Christie Cut how to do ornamental carving so that he wouldn’t leave with a guilty conscience. He says he made the move because it enabled him to work from home as a stone carver and gave him the opportunity to be a better father considering that he wasn’t dead tired at the end of the day. Looking around at Eleogram’s exquisite realist works of art in alabaster, limestone and marble at his studio in the woods today, it appears the country life and the freedom to carve whenever and whatever he pleases has suited him. Though he has produced many pieces depicting human faces or anatomy, as well as architectural elements from address markers to column capitals, the One A Day Project remains his latest focus. The project arose when Eleogram needed cash fast and thereby decided to do chiselcarved studies of animals that only take a day to complete. So far, he’s done 43 animals—the Dr. Seuss-imagined lorax being the most unusual one—and has a sea turtle in the works in the accompanying photo (see Dennis Eleogram Sculptures on Facebook for more examples). Never thinking he would carve animals, he simply says he began researching their anatomy and realized he could do the project, and coincidentally, these animals appear to be just at home with their surroundings as their maker—the stone master. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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STREETSEEN

Sarah Petschonek Spinning a New Type of Volunteerism

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or Sarah Petschonek, the president and CEO of Volunteer Odyssey, taking a normal approach to volunteering holds no appeal. Take, for instance, the fact that Petschonek did 30 consecutive days of volunteering in November 2012 for an effort called Mission Memphis, and then followed that experience the next month with a cross-country volunteer trip she organized and blogged about. She took her deep passion for philanthropy a step further last February when she ushered in Volunteer Odyssey, an organization that provides customized volunteer experiences to Memphians, namely to job seekers. Commenting on how she came up with the name, she says, “Since I think about volunteering as a lifelong journey and something that’s supposed to challenge you, I kept coming back to the word odyssey.” Petschonek adds that the compass incorporated in the organization’s logo, which can be viewed on volunteerodyssey.com, symbolizes that people should stand out from the pack or make a statement wherever they go. In this case, volunteerism is the implied avenue for making a statement. Volunteer Odyssey upholds the notion that good deeds shouldn’t be relegated to a single location, which is why Petschonek opted to only have a meeting space (located inside the Start Co. office in Playhouse on the Square) for the organization, and not a stand-alone building. Coffee shops are also a regular spot for meetings, but the bulk of the action occurs in the community, specifically at the 27 nonprofits that Volunteer Odyssey pairs participants with for a weeklong volunteering/ blogging tour of the local nonprofit scene. Volunteer Odyssey especially likes to showcase the “little guy,” including the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry (in the background of the photo at right), which enlists volunteers to deliver food and basic necessities on bikes to the homeless. Petschonek mentions that Urban Bike is a group that she personally enjoys donating her time to, and clarifies that each organization she sends a volunteer to is one that she has prescreened and volunteered for herself. “We look for places that have quality volunteer experiences,” she emphasizes, “but we’re not a static list of volunteer experiences. Sometimes if we have a blogger with a specific interest, I’ll reach out to a group, but people reach out to us, too.” More importantly, Volunteer Odyssey wants its participants to be engaged in experiences they enjoy, aiming to make the clearest path possible for them to do so. For instance, one man with a Ph.D. in medieval studies in England wanted to do something related to that area, so Petschonek contacted the National Ornamental Metal Museum so he could do some blacksmithing. Examples of other volunteer experiences have included helping out with the dessert hour on Sunday evenings at the Dorothy Day House, handing out tickets and taking donations at the Indie Memphis Film Festival and assisting in the greenhouse at the Memphis Botanic Garden. These examples are just a glimpse, however, into the varied activities that participants can do throughout the course of their Odyssey Week, which entails volunteering at a nonprofit for five hours a day, followed by roughly three hours of social media/blogging—part of the storytelling piece that Petschonek feels is a vital and compelling component. “The stories and specifics are how people connect—we want volunteers to become a catalyst for more people to volunteer,” she says. For those who don’t have a week to give, Volunteer Odyssey rolled out programs for corporate teams and congregations, as well as VolunCheers, a monthly happy hour where people can enjoy an adult beverage while doing a simple volunteer task. Just RSVP on the Volunteer Odyssey Facebook page for any posted VolunCheers events, and remember that there’s no wrong way to give back. As Petschonek says, “Find something you like, and you’ll keep doing it.” Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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EVENT

Bell Tower Gala

BELL TOWER GALA

Benefiting the CBU Schol arship Fund

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Abigail Lockard and Rebecca McLaughlin

Kelly Hawkins and Rob Albernaz

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uests entering the second annual Christian Brothers University’s Bell Tower Gala were photographed in their finery and welcomed by the university’s president, Dr. John Smarrelli Jr., as they walked the red carpet. Held at Hilton Memphis, the event gave alumni like Bob Crone (Class of 1956), who was there with his wife, Stella, the opportunity to catch up with old friends. “The people who are honored well deserve it, and this gives the alumni a chance to mingle,” he said. Brothers from both CBU and CBHS attended the event, including Brother Joel McGraw, former assistant principal at CBHS, and Brother Chris Englert, the current president of the high school. Some of the other brothers from CBU in attendance included Brother Tom Sullivan and Brother Dominic Ehrmantraut. Following the cocktail hour, student ambassadors, including Sarah Abdullat, Evan Munler and JD Wolfe, directed people into the Tennessee Ballroom, where tables were adorned with towering threefoot vases, some filled with dozens of red roses and others with delicate orchids suspended in water. Guests were treated to a dinner that began with heart of romaine salad with Parmesan crisps and candied shallots with red wine and Champagne vinaigrette dressing, which was followed by herb-crusted chicken with rosemary jus, warm fingerling potato salad and glazed carrots and sautéed greens. A dessert consisting of a strawberry torte with a vanilla panna cotta shooter and chocolate crunch bar completed the meal. Following dinner, Methodist Hospital president and CEO Mitch Graves, who also is chairman of the CBU Board of Trustees, addressed the crowd, and the CBU president also made remarks. “Enter to learn, learn to serve,” Smarrelli said, quoting the hallmark of a Christian Brothers University education. Brother McLaughlin received the Carroll T. Dozier Award for Peace and Justice for his work beginning the movement for racial equality at CBHS 50 years ago. Dr. Paul Pender (Class of 1950) and his wife, Kathleen, also enjoyed the festivities. Additional honorees were Joshua Shipley (Class of 2001), who was named Distinguished Young Alumnus, and Susan Spencer (Class of 1983), Distinguished Alumna. Distinguished Alumni are nominated and selected by the National Alumni Board, a group of alumni who represent CBU alumni from around the globe. Matthew Johnson, board president, made closing comments, after which the Flying Monkeys took the stage to entertain the crowd.

See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Kevin Morgan and Jill Albright

Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Baxter Buck

Jeff and Susan Spencer

Ed and Lisa Murphy

Rachael and Stephen Russell

Di and John Randles

Rosalyn Twillie, Kenneth Burnett and Regina Holmes

Joyce Turner and Jesse Turner Jr.

EVENT BELL TOWER GALA Teddi and Frank Niedzwiedz

Matt and Chelsea Johnson

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Anne Kenworthy with John and Kim Sanders

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Frank and Jane Estrada

Moya and Daniel Dent

George and Jennifer Weske

Eric and Susan Welch

EVENT BELL TOWER GALA J A N U A R Y 2 0 14

Donna and Jerry Freeman

Ted and Lisa Bruno

Brenda and Dan Brandon

Ryan Mitchell and Anna Birg

Matt and Kalli Harrell

Alvin Siow and Phyo Aung

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Robin Carmichael and Eric Barnhart

Josh and Sharon Shipley

Maria and Brad Lensing

Lynne Marie and Leigh Becker

Matt Brint and Maria Dopico

Dick and Flo Gadomski

Michelle Pleasant and Giovanti Palacio

EVENT Mark and Martha Nicolas

Nancy Lanigan and Michelle Griggs

Agnes Bertelsen and Joe Mattson

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BELL TOWER GALA Kristen Crone and Donna Crone

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Pete and Karen Viotti with Katherine and Mark Baricos

Andrew Stevens and Mary Margaret Volmar

Hannah Evon and Elisa Marus

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Vox Popular Q&A with Diane Terrell

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RSVP: How did you hear about the executive director position for the Memphis Grizzlies Caritable Foundation and Community Investment?

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Terrell: I actually heard about it from a friend, and it’s kind of ironic because I had been thinking for a couple of months about what I wanted to do next. And, I had finally landed on the fact that I wanted to run a nonprofit, a foundation, and so my friend said, “Oh wow, do you know that Jenny Koltnow [the former executive director of the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation] just left?” I also knew Elliot Perry from my work at Memphis City Schools, and I called him, and he said, “As a matter of fact, we’re about to post the position.” We then began talking about it, and that started the process. It was a long process, and I think the reason for that is they were still trying to figure out what this new position would entail, and were still working out the details of the merger between the Community Investment team and the Foundation. I think during that time, too, not only were they figuring out the roles and responsibilities, but the kind of person they wanted in the role. RSVP: Do you know why the decision was made to merge the Community Investment team and the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation? Terrell: There are philosophical and practical synergies between the work that the Community Investment team had been doing and continues to do and the work of the Foundation, so it actually made perfect sense to merge them and to better leverage the popularity and prestige of the Grizzlies organization to do good. Being aligned allows us to maximize our impact out in the community. RSVP: How has your previous position with the Memphis City Schools Education Foundation helped prepare you for this role? Terrell: I think everything I’ve done my entire life has helped to prepare me for this role. I started my career as a broadcast journalist, and I had a passion even then for social change and how we could raise consciousness about important events as a catalyst for change. I do believe that was the beginning of my articulated desire to be a community change agent. At FedEx, I had

Photos by Don Perry

hile the Memphis Grizzlies continue making a name for itself on the basketball court, Diane Terrell helps the team stand out off-court as well through her work as the executive director of the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation and Community Investment. Passionate about both education and social change, Terrell came on board in October of last year ready to take on the newly formed role, which came about following a merger of the Community Investment team and the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation, because she wanted to be part of a nonprofit that advocates for making a difference in the lives of children. As RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Terrell at the organization’s headquarters next to FedExForum, she learned that the new entity is doing just that by continuing to exercise a commitment to mentoring at-risk youth, not to mention awarding funds to charitable partners to help them build their own programs. Since January is National Mentoring Month, Terrell encourages all to attend one of the events being held by the Foundation in conjunction with this month.

oversight responsibility for the corporate social responsibility strategy, so I became active in the Memphis community, and, of course, FedEx is very interested in education reform, as was I. Then, when we were successful in bringing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to town, I left FedEx to become more involved in that effort. The way I see it is that from the very beginning I’ve been trying to pull levers for change, but from an ever shrinking or diminishing distance. I started out as a journalist very far removed from those levers, and with each career change, I’ve gotten closer and closer. And, the interesting thing about Memphis, because obviously I’m not from here and I had a decision point about whether I was going to stay or go back to the East Coast, is the ability to sort of see the distance between your efforts and outcomes or impacts. In New York, you would never see the difference you make; there’s too much complexity, too many layers. I don’t want to suggest that our issues aren’t complex, because they are, but I think the size of the city and the degree of involvement of the citizens make it far more transparent a process. RSVP: When you came on board, were there any immediate plans you wanted to implement or any changes you felt were needed? Terrell: I wouldn’t say there are any changes that need to be made, but I’m still in my first 90 days, and during this period I am working on refining the mission and vision of the two organizations. I’m pretty certain that we will be working differently and will be focused slightly differently to reflect that new mission and vision. The Foundation, however, will remain committed to its single focus, which is mentorship. I think we have the ability as we grow that mission to evolve the defintion of mentor and the community’s understanding of the importance of mentoring. RSVP: Can you tell me more about the mentoring program? Terrell: Our engagement with mentoring is kind of threefold. We actually developed a mentoring program called TEAM UP Mentoring, and it’s a rather unique concept in that it pairs groups of three mentors with teams of nine students. We partnered with Facing History and Ourselves to develop a curriculum

RSVP: Is there a target age for the children that are in the mentoring program? Terrell: Our TEAM Mentoring program focuses on middle school kids, but our funding is not limited to any age groups. Now, all of our funded partners have to meet the standards of effective mentoring, called Elements of Effective Practice, and that’s actually codified by mentoring.org. So, something else we bring to the table is sort of that best practices framework that all of our funded and non-funded partners take advantage of. RSVP: Currently, do you know how many mentors are involved in the program? Terrell: We have 160 scholars and 55 mentors in our TEAM UP Mentoring program. Every year we have two recruiting campaigns: one in January, which is National Mentoring Month, and another one in June. One of them is to

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that is outcome based, so while mentoring tends to be a lot about developing relationships, this program has a curriculum that really correlates to success in the classroom and success in life, and is more structured. One of the reasons why we developed the team approach is because we have more children in need of mentors than we have mentors. So, it’s really a system of efficiency and economy in one way, but it also allows us to take the principles that are at play in the arena—teamwork—and apply them to our mentor program. We also run the Grizzlies Mentoring Alliance, a group of 32 mentoring programs, some of which are funded by the Foundation. We fund mentoring programs across the city and provide resources like tools, information and training to others that we don’t fund. In addition, we try to work with our corporate partners to develop corporate mentoring programs. The idea really is to make sure that every child has access to after-school opportunities that include mentorship, whether it’s through our TEAM UP Mentoring or through some of our funded partners, many of whom offer very creative takes on mentoring. We partnered with New Ballet Ensemble, for example, so while it’s a mentoring program, it’s a mentoring program that’s attached to an arts program.

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recruit mentors for our TEAM Up program specifically and the other is a much broader outreach where we’ll actually refer mentors that we recruit to our partner organizations.

grit is the new tipping point in education, that that’s what it takes to be successful in your educational career—that “stick-to-itiveness.” I thought that’s so ironic since “Grit and Grind” are the hallmarks of the team as well.

RSVP: Are there any special events that the Foundation is doing in association with National Mentoring Month?

RSVP: How closely do you work with the players?

Terrell: Some of the things we’ll be doing are the following: the “Move for Mentoring” Zumbathon that is free to the public on January 4 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Streets Ministries; the Grizzlies Mentoring Night on January 14 at the Grizzlies Game; Imagine Memphis, which is open to Leadership Memphis alum and GMA high school youth, at the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum on January 14 from 4:45-6:45 p.m.; and the GMA Quarterly Networking Breakfast on January 23 from 9–11 a.m. at Streets Ministries with the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, which will be doing a Stewards of Children presentation.

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RSVP: What is the time commitment for a mentor?

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Terrell: For our mentoring program, it’s about 90 minutes once a week, and every program has a different commitment. We ask our mentors to commit to a full school year, but we have a great retention rate. The truth is that once you start mentoring, it’s very difficult not to continue. Just as an aside, I started mentoring about five years ago to help a high school senior through the college admissions process, and she graduates from CBU next week, so it’s great. RSVP: What is the relationship between the Foundation and the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School? Terrell: The Grizzlies Foundation is a founding sponsor of the Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School. Its mission is to prepare young African-American males for success in college and life, and that resonates strongly with our own mission to ensure all young people have access to positive adult role models focused on helping them achieve academic success. It’s also consistent with the values of the Grizzlies organization, lending the power and prestige of the team brand to support aspirational programs for youth development. RSVP: How do you think sports and community giving relate to one another? Terrell: I think sports are a great platform for community engagement, and we see that every single day. Players are role models, whether they like it or not. There’s really an incredible ability for the team, for its players, to leverage that influence to make positive social impacts. And, to a certain extent, all the values that you see on any good sports team—the collaboration, the discipline that is required to be successful, the grit and the grind—translate into the building of a strong community as well. I read an article the other day where somebody said that

Terrell: They probably wish they didn’t see me as often because I’m always asking for something. Part of the role of the Community Investment team is to support the players’ work in the community, so we have a very active dialogue going on with the players around their personal passions for community service and how we can support them. We also come up with ideas that help them have a greater impact in the community. RSVP: Have any of the players come to you with a unique idea about something they wanted to do in the community that you’ve been able to help facilitate? Terrell: It’s the holidays, so the players already have established giving programs during this time of year, which means that not a lot of ideas are getting introduced. I think the time for ideation and innovation will come back after the holidays when we hope to sit down with individual players to help generate new ideas. Most people are aware right now of the work that Zach [Randolph] and Tony [Allen] do, giving away a lot of food baskets and winter clothing, the basics for living. Marc [Gasol], Mike [Conley] and Mike [Miller] are all very involved with St. Jude. Quincy [Pondexter] is someone who is constantly looking for new and great ways to engage the community, and some of that is just his personality, but he has an awful lot of energy for community giving. I think we’re far enough along in the evolution of sports philanthropy that they [the players] all understand that they have a legacy to build in whatever community they’re playing in, and all of them have taken that very seriously. RSVP: Why do you think the Foundation will continue to be beneficial to the Memphis community from here on out? Terrell: First of all, I think mentoring will only grow in importance. One of the Foundation’s roles is to raise awareness about the value of mentoring, and we’re in the process of really trying to quantify that value. One trend that’s happening across the nation with respect to mentoring is that we’re beginning to attach measurable outcomes to the effort. As we move the whole practice of mentoring again to a more systematic measurable one aligned to academic success, I think that we’ll be able to increase the value of all of our mentoring programs. The benefits are just undeniable—a child cannot have too many positive adult role models. Our mission is to see that we surround each child seven days a week with as many positive adult role models as we can. So, our leadership position on mentoring in the community, I think, will continue to keep us relevant.

DIVORCE THE RICES WROTE THE BOOK. They really did. Larry Rice and Nick Rice are co-authors of The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice. Published by the American Bar Association the book is recognized as the standard reference for divorce lawyers across the nation. This year’s 25th anniversary edition contains over 900 pages of insight, experience and techniques. Lawyers seek out Larry’s expertise. He has given over 200 lectures on divorce practice to lawyers both nationally and internationally. As the only Super Lawyer in the Mid-South certified as a Family Law Specialist, Larry spends most of his time practicing law with the Rice Divorce Team. A third generation lawyer, Nick Rice grew up with the law. After graduating from CBHS and UT-Knoxville, Nick clerked in the family firm while attending the University of Memphis Law School. Nick has lectured on several occasions and was recognized as one of Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars. The Rice Divorce Team is a practice group within Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC. The team is exclusively committed to family law - from prenuptial agreements to final decrees, from parenting time to property division and everything in-between. The team includes Jennifer Bellott, Jan Lentz, Erin O’Dea, Andrea Schultz CP, Teresa Brents, Carla Baker, Susan New ACP, Stacey Pipkin, Cyndy McCrory, Jessica Farmer, Tracy Cermack, Jennifer Bicknell, Cortney Sharp, Ada Askew, and Ken Schultz. The team applies generations of experience, nationally recognized expertise, and up-to-date technology to lead their clients through negotiations, mediation, arbitration or litigation. Hundreds of lawyers reviewed, contributed to and helped refine the system used by the Rice team. The depth of The Rice Divorce Team’s personnel provides the ability to tailor representation to each client’s individual needs and goals. While the team is proud of courtroom success, their greatest satisfaction often comes from obtaining a quiet settlement favorable to their client. Divorce is difficult. Divorce is made worse by misinformation. The Rices’ guide for clients, “About Divorce,” is available to you at aboutdivorce.com.

275 Jefferson Avenue Memphis, Tennessee 38103 901.526.6701 larry@ricelaw.com • aboutdivorce.com

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A MAGICAL NIGHT AT OVERTON PARK

EVENT

A Magical Night at Overton Park Benefiting the Overton Park Conservancy

I Steve Cantor and Karen Leibowitz

Larita and John Mitchell

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t was indeed a magical night as more than 400 park supporters gathered on a crisp autumn evening for Overton Park Conservancy’s second annual fund-raiser: A Magical Night at Overton Park. As they approached the entrance, guests were dazzled by the transformation of the park’s beautiful formal gardens. The space was aglow from trees with twinkling lights, hundreds of candles and huge globes surrounding two large tents. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings of the tents, providing additional soft illumination. It was a casual evening for folks to mingle, sip wine, beer or soft drinks and take full advantage of the comfortable vintage furniture placed around the area. Among the tasteful decorations were Victorian birdcages and centerpieces of lilies and hydrangeas that graced cocktail tables draped with black linens. Chef Ernie Mellor and his catering firm, A Moveable Feast, outdid themselves by proffering a sumptuous cocktail buffet. Curried deviled eggs, marinated grilled chicken kabobs with ancho chile peanut sauce, meatballs, roasted red pepper and goat cheese tarts, grilled shrimp with a barbecue remoulade, spinach and artichoke squares and zucchini rounds with feta cheese tickled the crowd’s taste buds. Between the tents, a large array of desserts and coffees were presented to please the sweet lovers and warm up the guests. Each tent featured live entertainment, with New Orleans jazz group Breeze and the female-fronted group Jamille “Jam” Hunter and Mood Swing performing just the right smooth sounds for the evening’s festivities. Presenting sponsors included FedEx, Classic Party Rentals, Independent Bank and the Memphis Zoo. Many dedicated volunteers contributed their time and energy, and Melissa McMasters, the Conservancy’s director of communications, could not have been more thrilled with the event’s success. She said that attendance was up by 150 attendees from last year’s inaugural Magical Night and that more than $17,000 was raised in ticket sales for park operations and bench and paver donations for the planned bicycle and pedestrian plaza. Supporters are already organizing a 2014 encore!

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Melissa Taylor and Jeffrey Goggans

Story by Ruth Cassin Photos by Don Perry and Roy Haithcock

Sabrina and Jason Hoke

Melissa Duong and Yuki Namba

Kena and Anthony Perry

Gigi Wischmeyer and Kim MacQueen

Corina Campos, Tina Sullivan and Margaret McLean

Scott and Sarah Newstok

EVENT Belinda Anderson, Chris Peck and Kate Duignan

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Greg and Jenny Jardine

A MAGICAL NIGHT AT OVERTON PARK

Bill and Anni Walker

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Amy and Cameron Mann with Carrie and Kyle Wagenschutz

Mitch and Monique Jackson with Rachel and David Harvey

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David and Lana Davenport with Tanya and Trey Ray

Julie Cloar, Lauren Wiener and Stacey Greenberg RSVP

Katie Wassmer, Amanda Mauck and Melissa McMasters

Tee Cloar, Warren Oster and Charles Ferryman

EVENT Jarrett King and Lauren Anderson

Ally McNatt and Oguz Onat

A MAGICAL NIGHT AT OVERTON PARK

Julianne and Rob McCorkle

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Bari Metz and Caleb Tinkler

Elizabeth and Mike Rodriguez

Stephanie Bennett and Dave Valdini RSVP

Linda and Ward Archer

Katie and Thomas Midgley

Kathy Simonetti and Larry Tolbert

Ronnie Gilmer and Michael P. Hoots

Joseph and Laura Beth Davis with Emily and Cort Percer

Dr. Tim Jancelewicz and Erica Jancelewicz

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RSVP ROOM VIEW Interview by Suzanne Thompson | Photos by Steve Roberts

Top: Brown paint used on the sides of the tray ceiling adds emphasis, and the surface of the ceiling is highlighted by an Italian blown glass chandelier. Above: Memphis artist Donna Blackard used tones of brown and cranberry to decorate the hallway in a one-of-a-kind design.

he American Society of Interior Designers recently honored Jill Hertz with the organization’s State Award for Best Residential Singular Space for her work redecorating a living room, wet bar and adjacent vestibule in an East Memphis home. Hertz, president of Jill Hertz Interior Design, says when she undertook the project, the décor was rustic, with flagstone covering the fireplace. Her client, a lifelong friend, told her that the space was never used for anything more than a pass-through area toward the kitchen, but that would soon change. With its new facelift, the entire area boasts a whimsical feel, filled with bright colors and fixtures that delight the eye. The once drab fireplace has been redone with sparkling iridescent glass made by Hirsch Glass in a pattern called Purple Haze. A painting and the mantel it hung over were removed, and the hearth was replaced with white marble in a brick pattern, which is accentuated by the sunlight that streams in from uncovered windows. The cabinets beneath the built-in bookcases, located to the sides of the gas-burning fireplace, were natural oak, but at Hertz’s direction were given a platinum faux finish. A stunning chandelier of Italian hand blown glass hangs above the seating area, where a table with a multi-colored Lucite base that was made by an artist in Israel serves as the centerpiece. The wet bar, which previously served as a closet, is ready for entertaining, and horizontal stripes painted by local artist Donna Blackard of Donna Blackard Design make the walls pop, drawing attention to the light fixture made of two pieces of solid crystal. The hallway leading into the room from the foyer functions as a transition area, and the walls are covered with a delightfully unique pattern, also painted by Blackard. All of these enhancements have helped transform the room that once was hardly given a second glance into a modern-looking haven and a favorite spot for the family to relax.

RSVP ROOM VIEW Homeowner: My husband and I sat down with Jill and bounced some things off each other. I said, “I can’t stand the mantel and the stone.” We never hung out in this room, and we wanted to turn it into a place we would enjoy. Hertz: I came back with three design schemes. RSVP: How did you decide on a design? Homeowner: My husband wanted a comfortable place to put his feet up and watch TV. That was the basic criteria. And, we wanted to be able to seat a lot of people comfortably and to use the bar. Hertz: Really, I started with the floor plan to see how the room was going to be used. I began with [the idea that] form follows function, so I looked at the TV, the hallways, etc. RSVP: What was the next step for this room?

Hertz: It’s actually a wall covering that’s exclusive to designers and architects. We wanted to accent the ceiling and the light fixture. When you do a ceiling treatment, it allows the room to have a continual flow. RSVP: How were the accessories in the room chosen? Homeowner: Most of them are things that I have collected through the years, like when you’re traveling and something catches your eye. Sometimes I take a picture and send it to Jill and ask where she thinks it would fit. It’s nice when you look at a piece and you remember where you were when you got it. RSVP: The wall coloring in the bar area is very unusual. Tell me about that.

Hertz: Art. Instead of just hanging art on the wall, we decided to put the art on the walls themselves. And, this Lucite table [though not on the wall] is art.

Hertz: I felt we needed something dramatic in there, and I really wanted to use those colors. I like horizontal stripes. I also thought it would look great to have horizontal lines running around where the staircase went.

RSVP: How did you select the painting that is hung on the wall?

RSVP: When you were telling the artist who painted the hallway what you wanted, did you tell her you wanted that exact pattern?

Hertz: I thought of Robert Rector. David Lusk Gallery represents him here in Memphis. Homeowner: I went to a lot of different Web sites, and there was something I liked about a couple of the artists he [Lusk] represents, so I went to his gallery and looked around. RSVP: Did you select this painting specifically? Homeowner: No. He [Lusk] didn’t have this in his gallery. It is an older painting. Hertz: David was going to New York and asked me about colors. I was really open but wanted something large and light with a little color. This is from Rector’s Hidden River series. RSVP: What was used to surface the ceiling?

Hertz: Not really. I’ve never done this before. Nobody else has this. I don’t repeat things for people. We wanted something that was flowing, but not necessarily focal. It has kind of a Kandinsky quality to it. RSVP: What is the color combination in the hallway? Hertz: It is a cranberry color and a very rich, mink brown. RSVP: How long did it take to complete this room? Homeowner: From the time we first met with Jill, it was about eight months. Hertz: From my world, it was pretty fast. We had to strip, demo and paint, and this was pretty big because the fireplace was full stone.

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RSVP: Where did you begin when you decided to remodel?

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Left: The sectional sofa and area rug reflect the client’s love of all hues of purple, which are enhanced by the iridescent glass surrounding the fireplace. Below: Painting the walls of the wet bar with horizontal stripes accentuates the unique shape of the room.

EVENT

Red Boa Ball

RED BOA BALL

Benefiting the American Red Cross

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Paula Forrest and Shirley Rice

Tonie Reynolds and India Weaver

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ed footlights shone up an oak tree beaconing guests toward the front doors of the Memphis Botanic Garden as the fourth annual Red Boa Ball began. Many women, and a few gents, fittingly accessorized their evening wear with red boas. Others left off the boas and opted for red dresses and gowns, while their escorts wore colorcoordinated red ties and the occasional red cummerbund. As guests, some of whom included Jennifer Jaudon, Nicole Fox, Barry Yoakum, Julie Eads and Dan Tucker, enjoyed the cocktail hour, servers passed through the crowd with light appetizers. Several stations with educational messages about the Red Cross and its work were set up around the foyer, and many guests visited each one, which was required as part of the scavenger hunt that qualified them for the chance to win a prize awarded at the end of the program. While partygoers made their way to a dinner sponsored by Coletta’s Restaurant, they also browsed silent auction items in the hallway that led toward Hardin Hall. Beth and Sam Bomarito were among the many table sponsors at the sold-out event, and they hosted guests Jo Turnage, Caren McCoy, Sara Rogers, Tomika Jones and Kelly Acree. A live auction followed dinner and included offerings such as dinner for eight at Café Society, month-long passes to Memphis in May with a two-night stay at the Madison Hotel and 18 tickets to the Fourth of July Redbirds game in the AutoZone box. Presented by Drexel Chemical Company, the benefit featured the ever-popular Soul Shockers, whose appearance was sponsored by Baker Donelson. Just moments after the band took the stage, the dance floor was full, and afterward, Just Red: The After Party took place in the Goldsmith Room, where music played on to keep the dancers on their feet. Local deejays Paula Raiford and Robert Raiford of Paula and Raiford’s Disco spun tunes, and guests who took a break from dancing enjoyed a buffet provided by Local Gastropub. DJ Scotty B finished out the festivities, keeping everyone entertained until the wee hours of the night. One of the late-night guests at Just Red, Ken Hall enjoyed the tunes and stayed on the dance floor. “The After Party was a great addition to the Red Boa Ball,” he said. “It brought together a fun cross-section of revelers to support a good cause.” See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Shanna Courtney and Rhonda Bagwell

Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Baxter Buck

Destiny and Justin Herter

Alice Higdon and Brooke Tweddell

Rick Brillard and Sharon Douglas

Shelby and Yaulonda Slater

Rhonda Patterson, Jennifer Jaudon and Nicole Fox

Colleen Wilson and Jodi Runger

EVENT Jerry and Mary Sharp

Stephen Powell and Dr. Candace Thompson

Jim and Karen Martin

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RED BOA BALL Kevin and Julie Clarkson

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Ricky and Catherine Harris

Leigh and Wes Butler

Julia and Steve Hellums

Candice and Hayward Anderson

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EVENT RED BOA BALL Don and Denise Carpenter

Henry and Brandy Aden

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Joe Weatherly and Brittney Crawford

Chris Kirtley and Dare Estok

Nancy McCown and Dan Tucker RSVP

Sandra and Chuck Rutledge

Suzanne Doss and Daniel Reid

Sharon and Phil Bollinger

Debbie Sterbin and Bill Beck

Shannon Williamson and Jake Bramlett

Garrett and Kai Marshall

TOY BASH E V E N T

Toy Bash Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis

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Story by Suzanne Thompson Photos by Baxter Buck

Tracy and Mark Jarrells

Knox Shelton and Evelyn Young

Jon and Donna Van Hoozer

Jorene and Steve Bargiacchi

Lawrence and Yolanda Britt with Tamara and Terrence Thomas

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Carolee and Stewart Carlin

Paige and Scott Smith

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Doree Woods and Dustin Taylor

rigid December temperatures didn’t keep partygoers away from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis’ annual Toy Bash, held at Minglewood Hall. Guests, who had donned their gay apparel, were greeted by cheerleaders from the University of Memphis and a group of band members who played Christmas carols on their horns. After checking in at registration, revelers paused to lay toys beneath a towering Christmas tree. The toys, which spilled out in all directions, showed the generosity of people who had come out in the cold to support the cause. Packages, wrapped in silver paper and trimmed with blue ribbons, sat by the sides of the doorway, adding to the merry atmosphere. Mark Jarrells, a board member of the BGCM Buckman Club, and his wife, Tracy, mingled with friends Carolee and Stewart Carlin. “The cheerleaders are new this year,” Tracy said. “It just looks so great in here–so festive.” Some guests enjoyed a scotch and bourbon tasting thanks to Corkscrew Downtown Wines, and the Bacardi Family Foundation provided a special holiday cocktail. Buster’s Liquors & Wines donated spirits for the three open bars. A silent auction gave shoppers the opportunity to bid on items including hula hoops, gift baskets and a tower garden. Event planners thought of everything, and to make sure football fans didn’t miss out on the SEC Championship game, the game was on in the 1884 Lounge. A photo booth with a unique twist was also on hand. Guests who made a donation at the photo booth had their photo taken with the option of uploading the picture to a big screen in the 1884 Lounge, which constantly revolved a slideshow of the night’s pictures. Young men and women from the BGCM Technical Training Center were responsible for making and serving appetizers, and Wade & Company Catering provided a Tex-Mex fajita bar and a macaroni and cheese station. For those who wanted a little something sweet, chocolatier Phillip Ashley Rix served his designer chocolates. LadyBugg Bakery also served cupcakes, cake pops and cookies. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts provided doughnut holes. Libbee and Chris Hebert and Libbee’s brother, Steve, and sister-in-law, Rosemary Fergus, enjoyed the affair, as did David and Carol Van Hoozer, who also turned out to support the BGCM. And, adding to everyone’s excitement was the DMP Band, which played Motown hits and, of course, a few rockin’ Christmas tunes to keep dancers on their feet.

Clay Carruth and Chelsi Williams

EVENT TOY BASH J A N U A R Y 2 0 14

Katherine and Floyd Benson

Steve and Teresa Williams

Chris and Shanti Bradley

Caprice and Terry Morgan

Guy and Leigh Guasco

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Melissa Duong and Yuki Namba

Megan Nichols and Scott Alvarado

Vanessa and Charles Griffin

Claire Rossie, Harold Miller and Claudine Nayan

Erica and Eric Callan

Fharon Hicks and Melanie Jackson-Hicks

TOY BASH E V E N T Amy and Joe Carney

Chenita and Antonio Harris

Sarah Dixon and Shawn Apple

Thomas DuBose and Bralyn DuBose

Naira Umarova and Gulam Umarov

Dave Miller and Sarah Echols

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Holly Ciancioso, Victor Culbreth, Dawn Delapp and Kevin Alger

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Dr. Kristen Vicknair and John Watson

Hannah and Mike Moton

Scot and Libsey James

Stacey and Phil Richards

Pat and Carol McGarrity with Larry and Sharon Pennington

Linda Krogh and Tom Wong

Leigh Blanchard and Jim Moton

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ONSITE

Onsite I

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Strut! Memphis

GrowMemphis Fall Garden Party

Adapt A Door “5” Auction and Party

MFM Harvest Celebration

The stylish, trendy and fashionably inclined all gathered together for the annual Strut! Memphis fashion show. Presented by Mercedes-Benz of Memphis, also the event location, and Laurelwood Shopping Center, this fabulous fund-raiser benefited the Community Legal Center, which devotes itself to providing fair and equal access to justice for all. The night kicked off with cocktails served by some local celebrities: City Mayor A C Wharton, County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Julia Gibbons, City Councilman Steve Mulroy and City Councilman Lee Harris. With drinks in hand, guests perused the many items up for grabs at the silent auction. As bids were placed, the fashion show get started in a big and unconventional way as a flash mob of swing dancers shimmied and jitterbugged their way down the catwalk and into the crowd, signaling the start of the show. Premiering hot fall looks, models strutted their stuff to show off chic boots, elegant jackets and gorgeous printed dresses.

Those with a green thumb and those who just enjoy delicious fresh food gathered at Stone Soup Café for the second annual fund-raiser for GrowMemphis, an organization dedicated to turning vacant lots into flourishing gardens that bring together communities. Guests got into the spirit with some spirits provided by the general manager of Joe’s Wines & Liquors and coowner of Big River Bitters Company, Michael Hughes, who handed out a signature cocktail that included gin, absinthe and refreshing green beans. There were also a slew of prominent chefs such as Justin Fox Burks and Amy Lawrence, the creators of the Chubby Vegetarian blog and the hit cookbook The Southern Vegetarian, serving up some out-of-this-world grub that included delicious deviled tomatoes. Jennifer Chandler, writer of Simply Salads, Simply Suppers and Simply Grilling, was there handing out pimento cheese tartlets with pepper jelly. Jake Miller of Cultivate Memphis had everyone coming back for seconds with his autumnal tamales with Newman Farm pork and spiced pumpkin seeds. Upstairs, guest checked out silent auction goodies like a custom built chicken coop. Paul Yacoubian, a GrowMemphis board chair, said that the purpose of the benefit was “to get our mission out there to friends, supporters and gardeners to share their stories and build momentum.”

All too often, we are at fault for consuming without creating. Luckily, Memphis Heritage used its fund-raiser, the Adapt A Door “5” Auction and Party, to bring to light the beauty of restoration and recycling. Dedicated to promoting historic preservation, Memphis Heritage comes into contact with many salvageable items in its daily mission to uncover and renew architectural history in our city. Doors, specifically, are one of the common items that are saved in the line of duty. These doors are offered to artists, woodworkers or anybody with an artistic vision for these pieces, and then following a transformation, these doors are auctioned off at the event. Held in Howard Hall, some of the highlights from the reincarnations included Richard Carr’s exquisitely refined two-toned liquor cabinet. Team ANF Architects brought its A-game with a recycle station cabinet—a door transformed into a counter with slots for different recyclable items. The night, though, was not complete without the excitement that built around ShadowCon’s ornate game table. This favorite included a map of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth framed by two chessboards ready for personalized War of the Ring battles. Winner of Best Door was brg3s Architects for its gorgeous “Lounger with Table” piece. One hundred seventy-five guests attended this wonderful event, and more than $14,000 was raised for Memphis Heritage to continue preserving the history of Memphis.

Dressed in their best boots and flashiest belt buckles, guests arrived ready for the hoedown at the Central Station Pavilion as the Memphis Famers Market hosted its annual Harvest Celebration, themed this time as the Barnyard Ball. Features included music by the delightfully twangy Rice Drewry & 3 Degrees, a “Boots and Buckles” contest, square dancing and clogging performances, a cake walk and enough delicious food and drink to really celebrate the close of another great season for the MFM. Guests helped themselves to the abundance of fare supplied by local favorites like Mosa Asian Bistro, David’s Catering, The Elegant Farmer, Alchemy Memphis and Rock’n Dough Pizza Company, to only name a few. Since no party is complete without libations, the MFM quenched thirsts with several spirits, one of which included a delicious Scottish Ale made by the locally-based High Cotton Brewing Company. A silent auction and a live auction rounded out the activities and had everyone bidding for hot items like a Retroglide bike from Outdoors Inc.

Story and Photos by Rachel Warren

Bo Lessley and Susan Kitsinger Lacey Dougher and Dr. Yanco Gavrizi Pat and Paul Crum Brian Swope and June West

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Adlfo Bermudez, Ellen Ramson Bermudez and Meg Jones

Mary Beth Harris and Karen Hall

Shawn Mitchell and Kara Williams

Chris and Helen Bird

Gabby Salinas, Julia Kueter and Caroline Mitchell Carrico

Jeff and Cindy Holland

Kori Hamner, Dana Peterson and Carly Pass

EVENT

Chefs’ Celebrity Gala

CHEFS’ CELEBRITY GALA

Benefiting the Memphis Child Advocacy Center

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Diana Preston and Yendry Alvord

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rea companies and individuals alike banded together to support the Memphis Child Advocacy Center by sponsoring tables at the 24th annual Chefs’ Celebrity Gala. Declared a joyous occasion by perennial chair Carol Prentiss in the program, the culinary-heavy event invites respected philanthropists and/or business leaders to volunteer as celebrity servers, who then are instructed by chefs on proper food presentation and how to describe the menu offerings. Last November, the gala returned to the U of M Holiday Inn, where hundreds of guests convened to begin browsing nearly 100 auction items on display during the cocktail hour. So, while patrons mixed and mingled, they could decide whether to bid on a one-year membership to the Jewish Community Center, a trip to The Verandah Resort and Spa in Antigua, a Yazoo Brewing Company gift package, dinner for six with the former Manassas High School football coach, Bill Courtney, and his wife or a Dinstuhl’s Fine Candy Company tour for 15 people, plus 15 percent off same-day purchases. Of course, no silent auction in this town would be complete without a nod to music, so items like a brass music stand from Amro Music and a School of Rock birthday party, tee shirt and wristband, were among some of the silent auction items as well. The doors to the Grand Ballroom opened at 7 p.m. for a fivecourse dinner that is always looked forward to by partygoers. This night, the menu featured the following: an international cheese board; a seafood martini; intermezzo of blood orange sorbet with a marzipan star presented in florescent ice; Chateaubriand Provençale of chargrilled black angus filet with Bordelaise and Choron sauce, carrot ribbon-wrapped asparagus and basil, grape tomato and potato vol-au-vent (a small hollow puff pastry); and hazelnut Mousseline Napoleon covered with bourbon coffee ganache and crème caramel. Frederick Wildman and Sons and Star Distributors provided wine to accompany the courses, and guests were given Cupid boxes containing twice chocolate-dipped strawberries to take home. Keeping with tradition, “Teddy Bear Surprises” were also up for grabs during dinner, and were displayed in front of the stage for guests to select from. Each one had a different colored balloon tied to it to signify the amount—$250, $500 or $1,000—that the surprise gifts the 82 teddy bears held were worth. Gifts ranged from jewelry and catered dinners to weekend getaways and one-of-a-kind artwork. Not only did the purchase of these teddy bears help toward raising nearly $250,000 for the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, but the event ended on another high note when Andy Childs and his band performed. For those who missed out but would like to support the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, check out the Works of Heart Auction on February 8 at the Memphis College of Art. See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Bryce Haugsdahl, Brenda Gaines-Oliie and Herb Lane

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David and Holly Shotsberger

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David and Melanie Martin

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Carolyn Carter, Lori Denton, Christy Hart, Tracy McNeil, Traci Hale and Brenda Brown

Marilyn Kain and Edward Nowakowski

Anita Howald and Sarah Trouy

Kathy and CV Bodine

Robyn and Geoff Diaz

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Ross Wooden and Amber Bryant

Jenna and Ed Wallis with Kelley Jordan

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Art for Hope

Rock the House Luncheon

Charlotte Neal Tribute Dinner

Life Choices Benefit

By opting to shop local at the 12th annual Art for Hope, some 250 Memphians helped countless children and families of Hope House, as 40 percent of each purchase went toward funding services that improve the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS. The event, presented once again by Medtronic, took place a whole month before Christmas at the Clark Opera Memphis Center so that attendees could get a jump on their holiday shopping. From jewelry and sculptures to paintings and photographs, the affair offered an array of options for the art lover’s wish list, with some of the creations coming from Paul Edelstein, Dennis Eleogram, Ken Lecco and Joy Routt, to name a few of the 40 participating artists. With all that shopping, many attendees worked up an appetite for Heart & Soul Catering’s delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres, which patrons enjoyed as Purple Strings performed. Total, $18,000 was raised this evening for Hope House.

While listeners tuned in to the Ronald McDonald House Radiothon on 98.1 The Max and NewsTalk FM 98.9, other supporters gathered at the organization’s headquarters for the Rock the House Luncheon, which kicked off the two-day live event. Those attending the luncheon had the opportunity to tour the “home-away-from-home” for families with children receiving medical care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and many enjoyed a barbecue lunch with all the fixings provided by Rendezvous. Being that it was Halloween, several Ronald McDonald House employees dressed in costume, which seemed to counterbalance the seriousness of the “live studio” manned by some 50 volunteers in the Bob Hudson Community Room.

Four Seasons/Memory Inc. honored one of the city’s finest volunteers when it hosted the Charlotte Neal Tribute Dinner at the University Club. Not only was Neal recognized for contributing to Four Seasons/Memory Inc.’s mission to assist those fighting Alzheimer’s, but representatives from groups ranging from the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to the Memphis Symphony League and the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary touted Neal’s extraordinary generosity. Jon Thompson emceed the dinner, which doubled as a benefit for Four Seasons/Memory Inc., and couldn’t have been more proud of the woman of the hour, saying, “Tonight, we’re honoring a friend and volunteer extraordinaire.” Making the night even more special was a musical tribute by Hudson & Saleeby, a song performed by Neal’s husband, Bob, and the awarding of the Memory Maker Award to Neal by the Four Seasons/Memory Inc. president, Mary Jane Criss.

The Life Choices Benefit Dinner took place last fall at the U of M Holiday Inn. The night began with a special VIP hour and a patriotic rendition of the national anthem sung by Brandy Bramlett. Son of former president Ronald Reagan, Michael Reagan was there as the night’s illustrious keynote speaker. Shelby County Mayor Mark Lutrell was also present and delivered a moving prayer devoted to the importance of children in our lives. More than 300 guests enjoyed a fullcourse dinner provided by the U of M Holiday Inn as they watched a special video titled You Named Me No One about unborn babies. The event raised $60,000, which will help Life Choices continue its work within the community as a “safe, confidential and free pregnancy help medical center.”

Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Story and Photos by Rachel Warren

Story and Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Shirley Wilson, Lee Rose, Ronald McDonald, Deenean Wilson-Henderson and Vaida Myrick

Brannon Howse and Pat McClerkin Pat Wood, Mary Jane Criss, Charlotte Neal and Ron Walter

Fatima Spencer and Philmore Epps

David Kustoff and Bill Watkins

Chuck Whitley and Don Smith Billie Jean Graham and Marcia Dunlap

Erick Vasquez, Kristi Frisch, Hubert Thompson and Victor Rocha

Lindsay Morrison, Ken Lecco and Paul Milem

Caron Byrd, Jane Nash and Kim Edwards

Jon Thompson, Don Hutson and Bob Neal

Sue Parker, Peter Winterburn and Jan Winterburn

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Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence Open House

Best Buddies Inaugural Gala and Casino Night

SPAYtacular Gala and Silent Auction

The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence held an Open House that brought together nonprofit leaders, nonprofit sponsors and news media to mingle within the organization’s new location at 1919 Lynnfield Road and to celebrate the group’s rebranding efforts that include a new logo and Web site design. Alliance CEO Nancy McGee explained that these efforts were done to raise a clearer awareness of what the Alliance does when she said, “Many people don’t realize that we offer a wide array of services including training and education, consulting (inclusive of grant writing) and research and advocacy.” The Alliance also gave a big welcome to Amanda Nelson, the new director of consulting. About 100 guests were given a tour of the building, which included new offices, a separate conference room equipped with white-walls for writing and a large meeting room with two big screens for presentations.

Last February, thanks to the efforts of two mothers, the international volunteer organization, Best Buddies, opened an office in Memphis. Best Buddies serves to create friendships, employment opportunities and leadership development for people with developmental disabilities. On November 2 last year, the new Memphis branch held its Inaugural Gala and Casino Night at Hilton Memphis. In addition to the hundreds of items up for grabs during the silent and live auctions, Vegas-style casino games were the biggest draw. The event, which was emceed by Chris Todd and included entertainment by Super 5, raised $87,000.

Tucks was the special guest of the day, as he greeted visitors at the door of the Jack Robinson Gallery in his dapper sweater and droopy ears. After all, the seventh annual SPAYtacular Gala and Silent Auction was an event for dog and pet lovers. Held in November at the downtown gallery, the “Barkin’ Brunch” serves as the largest fund-raiser each year for Mid-South Spay and Neuter Services, a nonprofit that offers affordable spay and neuter services to area pet owners. The brunch included breakfast items and other noshes, mimosas and Bloody Marys, entertainment by Vanessa Winter and Deering and Down and close to 100 auction items, many of which included dog treats and other pet goodies.

Story and Photos by Lesley Young

Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis Annual Grants Showcase and Volunteer Recognition During the past 17 years, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis has awarded $7.2 million to 420 programs in the Mid-South in an effort to improve the lives of low-income families in the area. Then, on November 5, 2013, the organization announced its latest grantees, a collection of 29 local nonprofit programs and advocacy and research programs that received $625,000. “The Annual Grants Showcase and Volunteer Recognition allows us to share the collective impact our grantee partners are making in the community,” executive director Ruby Bright said. The evening, which was celebrated at One Commerce Square in downtown Memphis, included food stations as well as the awards ceremony, program and information booths about the various grantees and partners. Story and Photos by Lesley Young

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Bryan Thames, Jason Gibert, Dale Sanford and Ben Knoernschild

Katie Pemberton, Alexis Amorose and Debbie Newsom

Nika Jackson and April Simmons

Shawn Roberson, Carrie Burke and Mike Watson

Tammie McKuhn and Zachary Kerr

Ashley Webb and Will Macon Mimi Blanton, Avery Blanton and Jeannette Jordan

Amanda Nelson, Nancy McGee and Burt Waller

Harrison McIver and DeJuan Hendricks

Kate Phillips, Kate Mueller and Ida Griffiths

Molly Foreman, Brandy Sims and Elle Perry

Carolyn Chism Hardy, Lori Guy and Kathy Story

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AFTER HOURS

After Hours A photo collage of the latest business happenings

Chickasaw Oaks Village Holiday Open House

Amy Gibson and Brenda Higgins

Lindsey Cross and Sheridan Cross

Lindsay Jakubauskas, Cindy Gambrell, Carol Furrs and Mary Lynn Harper

Meg McCord and Julie Saxon

Renee Pembroke and Cindi Marshall

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Elizabeth Gibson, Christy Muller and Ava Jett

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James Chiropractic Holiday Open House

Dr. Bobby Myers, Tyler Myers, Madison Myers and Mae Myers

Leslie and Melvin Johnson

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Dr. John Leite and Dr. Lisa Clark

Dr. Emily Forsdick and Michelle Griggs

Molly Fitzpatrick, Lindsey Wilkerson, Robin Thomas and Marlena Shorter

AFTER HOURS

After Hours A photo collage of the latest business happenings

Bud Davis Cadillac Benefit for Porter-Leath

On A Whim Holiday Open House

Social Holiday Open House

Liza Easley, Layne Vogel, Rachael Ellison and DeAnn Gabrick

Carmen Bond and Camille Mueller

Becky Trahan, Paula Chapman and Mercy Trahan

Laine Park, Missy Rainer and Emily Kay

Caroline Caruthers and Sandy Jackson

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Jan Thompson and Betty Waterhouse

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Southern Grace Holiday Open House

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Germantown Arts Alliance Arts and Humanities Gala

Facing History and Ourselves Dinner

arts, which it very well did this

A string quartet from the Germantown Symphony Orchestra played as guests mingled during the cocktail hour at the Germantown Arts Alliance’s 21st annual Arts and Humanities Gala, an annual awards dinner that was held last fall at Ridgeway Country Club. Partygoers enjoyed a dinner of filet of beef, along with asparagus and potatoes. Medalists who were honored during the event included Pat Smith, Levi Frasier, Tom Fox and the Bar-Kays, with member James Alexander receiving a standing ovation as he accepted the award on the group’s behalf.

About 750 people, including a host of dignitaries, attended the Facing History and Ourselves Dinner held at Hilton Memphis. After a dinner of salmon and spinach-stuffed chicken breasts, potato pancakes and green beans, Memphis City School Superintendent Dorsey Hopson was one of several speakers who addressed the crowd. “I want to applaud this organization, which not only has the will, but the skill in such a way that enriches our students,” she said. Facing History works with schools and teachers to educate children about combating anti-Semitism and prejudice.

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Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

Robinwood Retirement Resort opened its doors and offered the talents of its chef, Karen Roth, at the sixth annual Creative Aging Mid-South’s Artists’ Showcase. Guests and residents enjoyed prime rib and a variety of side dishes, along with several choices for dessert. Several performers, including Joyce Cobb and her band, jazz musicians Breeze Cayolle and Bob Sunda and Jewel Jones and her band, provided entertainment. Creative Aging Mid-South aims to promote vital aging through the

Story and Photos by Suzanne Thompson

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Levi Frazier Jr. and Deborah Frazier

Karen Karmel and Erin Ostrow

Sue Atwood, Obie Sue Thomas and Laura House

Jack and Pam Mitchell with Chandler-Grace Lynn Michael and Alex Huggins

Judge George Brown, Jean Jackson, Lillian Brown and Dorsey Hopson

John Morris and Peggy Seessel

Bernie Brown, Elaine and Bill Dudley and Joy Nichols

Yvonne Fournier, Beth Bradley and Judge Kathy Gomes

Ruth Williams, Betsy McStay and Taylor Moore

Hal Lansky, David Less, Bob Merlis and Jody Stephens

Steve Cohen and Beanie Self

John Nemeth and Scott Bomar

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If someone might dare to dispute that “Memphis Is Music,” that argument was put to rest when the Memphis Music Hall of Fame inducted its class of 2013 at the Gibson Beale Street Showcase Lounge. It was a nostalgic night for family and friends as they played tribute to musical icons no longer with us, such as Johnny Cash, Albert King, Rev. H. Herbert Brewster, Sid Selvidge, and Phineas Newborn Jr. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame also honored two producers: the late Roland Janes and Knox Phillips (son of Sam Phillips), both of whom are unsung heroes of Memphis music. Living legends Carla Thomas, David Porter and Kay Starr were inducted, as well as three groups of performers: The Blackwood Brothers, Memphis Jug Band and the Bar-Kays. Marked by short biographical videos of the 13 inductees and frequent musical performances, the awards ceremony moved briskly along, and many guests, performers and honorees lingered to attend an after-party in the building. The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum presented the evening, during which inductees each received a Mike Curb Award (known as “The Mike”) provided by songwriter/music executive Mike Curb and the Curb Family Foundation.

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Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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1 Loud noises 2 Ripen 3 Nervous system 4 Heating pad (2 wds.) 5 Regions 6 Bro.ʼs sibling 7 Pitiful 8 A vacation (2 wds.) 9 Hook 10 Daily publications 11 Popular Olympian Picabo 12 Bitty 14 Goof 21 Moves speedily 23 Sychophant 24 South American country 25 Adolescent 27 Bullfight cheer 29 Neitherʼs partner 30 Heavy freight barges 31 Lipinsky who is the youngest athlete to win a gold medal in the Winter Games 33 Security 34 Took to court 36 Shaun known as “The Flying Tomato” 37 Skater Bonnie who has won most medals awarded to an American at the

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Winter Games 38 Wading bird 39 No 40 Car fuel 42 Pro 44 Totals (2 wds.) 45 __ Rico 46 Brush up on 47 Recording 48 Country that has won the most Winter Olympic medals 50 Site of 2014 Winter Olympics 51 Dangerous gas 53 Country in SE Asia 55 Electroencephalograph (abbr.) 58 Wear 60 Both 61 Flying down to __ 62 Cozy room

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RSV PHILLIPPI

By Dennis Phillippi

A FRIENDLY REMINDER R

ecently, I was talking to a woman I know, a woman I consider a friend, and she said that she had “something like 30 ‘friends’ on the Facebook.” Now, let’s set aside that she repeatedly referred to it as “the” Facebook, and focus on the “something like 30.” My first question was how long she had been on “The Facebook,” and she replied, “Something like three years.” It was the first time I had noticed how often she said “something like” a lot, but that’s not the point. I don’t know how long I’ve been on Facebook, but I have something like 2,000 “friends.” Why do I have so many more than she has is a fair question. It could be because I’m sort of in the public eye, but more likely it’s because I accept pretty much anyone who asks. Free of the burden of having to worry that one of these people will post something incredibly stupid about the president and get me in trouble at work, coupled with the fact that I never, ever read anyone else’s updates, I have no reason not to accept everyone. It makes me feel special to have all of these “friends.” Plus, I’ll be promoting a new book in the spring, and maybe those 2,000 people will come through. These aren’t real friends, of course. As long as I can remember, the definition of a real friend is someone who will help you move or paint. If I posted on the Facebook that I needed help moving, I feel confident that virtually none of my “friends” will be showing up on Saturday morning to start moving furniture. Most everyone I know has that friend they’ve had since junior high that they routinely refer to as their “best friend.” I have one, my buddy John, whom I’ve been friends with since I was 11. He was the best man at my wedding. I talk to him, on average, about every two years. He lives in my old hometown, and we just don’t have a lot of reasons to communicate. The truth is, he isn’t my “best friend,” but it’s hard to find the right verbiage to use when talking about your

longest standing friend. That’s an unwieldy phrase, and “my oldest friend” is misleading as well, because my oldest friend is Ms. Dorothy, who is in her seventies. And she, by the way, still enjoys a few Manhattans and hanging around a bar with a bunch of other “friends.” That’s another entire branch of friendship: people you know from where you drink. It’s only natural when you spend time like I do at the local watering hole watching sports that you will fall into conversation with others doing the same thing, and out of that can grow real friendships. I have genuine, real-life friends, the kind who would visit me in the hospital, and that I met while disagreeing with them about Kobe Bryant. If you spend enough time at the same place, you will

If I haven’t put your number in my phone so I can give you grief when your team is losing when we’re not together, then we’re not really friends. eventually become friends with the people who work there, and through the years, many of those people have become true friends as well. Here’s one easy way to tell if you’re actually a friend of mine; ask yourself if I have your number in my phone. Chances are, if the answer is no, then the answer is no. In this new age of communication, I have become an inveterate texter. If I haven’t put your number in my phone so I can give you grief when your team is losing when we’re not together, then we’re not really friends. If you know me, or have ever read practically anything I’ve ever written, then you know my wife is my best friend. We’ve been living together, starting with a very cramped apartment, since we married in June of 1986. You did not read that wrong. Any of my other closest friends would not be close friends, if friends at all, had we

lived together for a miniscule fraction of that time. When people ask me how it is that we have been married so long, I always say that it is because we never had kids. It’s a good line and always gets a laugh, but I always follow it with the truth: She is my best friend. Even though we have long since passed the point where we know every single one of one another’s stories, we are still able to scramble up something to talk about, even if it’s just something that one of us read or saw on the TV that the other hasn’t. I will usually append that she’s my best friend, and she has all the girl parts, but that’s just a bonus. There are two other people I invariably refer to as “my best friends to whom I am not married.” It’s an odd distinction to make as an adult. When you’re in elementary school and you make your first “best” friend, it’s more politics than social awareness. Once you have a “best” friend, then you can begin attracting satellite friends, until you can pick a better “best” friend. As an adult, it takes years to become someone’s “best” friend, which, of course, means you would help them hide the body. My wife has had a number of “best” friends throughout the years at work. Some of these have stuck, but for the most part, when one or the other of them has moved on professionally, the distinction loses some validity. Having rarely had a “workplace,” I don’t accumulate work friends. I accumulate people who have jobs somewhere that I rarely have to hear about. Maybe that’s the real definition of a “friend.” Someone who, regardless of how taxing it may be, you’re going to politely listen to them talk about things you don’t care about and make commiserating noises where appropriate. And who will help you move a couch. I have “something like” four of those.

Dennis, it is heartwarming to hear that your wife is your best friend. We are certain that there will be some Phillippi fans out there hurt to hear that they do not qualify as “real” friends, but we, personally, are relieved we don’t have to help with the body. We salute the four that fulfill your qualifications; they must be a special bunch.

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Nurses Making Some Noise

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he photo above appears in The Legacy the Future: A Centennial Portrait of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with a caption that reads “For recreation, UT student nurses formed an orchestra at Baptist Hospital, where they were housed. Because their exhausting duties included washing, folding and replacing hospital linens in addition to their studies, playing music was a relaxing outlet.” PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105 or e-mail the photo and caption to editor@rsvpmagazine.com All photos will be returned promptly.