RSVP Magazine February 2010 by RSVP Magazine

February 2010

U of M Law School Gala Liberty Bowl Presidents' Gala Playhouse on the Square Opening Toast for Toys Gala Germantown Arts Alliance Gala Q&A with Kevin Kaminski

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CONTENTS

Contents February 2010

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 A questionnaire answered by Dr. Hershel P. Wall, one of UT Health Science Center’s greatest advocates.

U of M Law School Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law opened its doors at its downtown location to a soldout crowd.

12 U OF M LAW SCHOOL GALA DJ Raiford, Paula Raiford and Marcus Grandberry

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 & 20 As soon as the school bell rings, this high school history teacher turns into a relic hunter. She’s taking “green” to a whole new level, one glass bottle at a time. StreetSeens spotlight Guion Benkin and Albert Sidney Witherington III.

38 PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE OPENING Tabatha Stephens and Michael Mobley

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22, 34 & 36 F E B R UA R Y 2 010

Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Q&A with Coach Kevin Kaminski of the Mississippi RiverKings.

Liberty Bowl Presidents’ Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

4 RSVP

Arkansas and East Carolina fans united at The Peabody for a gala that salutes the Liberty Bowl presidents.

20 STREETSEEN Albert Sidney Witherington III

Playhouse on the Square Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Playhouse on the Square pulled up the curtain on its new theatre.

RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

48 TOAST FOR TOYS GALA Lisa and Ken Bodmer

A trek across the city’s party landscape.

Toast for Toys Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis requested that guests bring toys for admission to its gala at the Pink Palace Museum.

Germantown Arts Alliance Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Germantown Arts Alliance members celebrated four Arts and Humanities Awards honorees.

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

We Are Not Amused Dennis Phillippi takes a trip down memory lane as he watches Libertyland fade into the darkness.

LIBERTY BOWL PRESIDENTS’ GALA Shell and Kathleen Blakely

50 GERMANTOWN ARTS ALLIANCE GALA Aaron and Jaimee Cooley

Cover Photo Celeste and Mike Longo at Liberty Bowl Presidents’ Gala Photo by Don Perry

Volume XV

Number V

February 2010 PUBLISHER

Roy Haithcock EDITOR

Leah Fitzpatrick CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kelly Cox Jonathan Devin Dennis Phillippi Lesley Young ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Aker s PHOTOGRAPHERS

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Chris Pugh

RSVP

Nathan Berry Roy Haithcock Don Perry Steve Roberts

Ruth Cassin

Libby Huff ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

ACCOUNTING

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 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 Copyright 2010 Haithcock Communications, Inc.

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Photos from LaurĂŠl and MMissoni Spring/Summer Collections

From the Editor

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

RSVP

hat gives? Starbucks has raised its prices, Conan O’Brien is leaving “The Tonight Show” and Haiti has undergone a devastating earthquake. While the first two points in the aforementioned sentence might affect your pocketbook and your opinion about a certain TV network, the last of the three makes the other inconveniences seem inconsequential. Proudly, I must commend several Memphians for organizing impromptu donation drives for the Haitian relief effort, which is a start to helping the recovery process for hundreds of thousands left injured, homeless and without loved ones. Often times, it’s just as easy to turn our heads when harsh realities arise. But, pretending the “ugly” things in life don’t exist won’t make them go away any faster. For instance, poverty stares us head on every day in this city, and just as much as we might ignore it, the problem will still remain unless something is done to fix it. I realize that almost no problem can be solved overnight, but the light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter with each baby step (Remember What About Bob?) taken toward a resolution. Personally, I made a decision last year to give back to the city in a hands-on way. Thankfully, my job at RSVP has put me in touch with so many nonprofits, enabling me to hear and sometimes see firsthand what various organizations do. I eventually chose to volunteer for Literacy Mid-South, which is a place illiterate adults can go to learn how to read. Not only are the organization’s services free to its participants, but it supplies private tutors and offers classes at all reading levels. Best of all, I have fun, and so do the students (most of the time!). Keep reading the rest of this issue because I promise there’s some fun stuff. Oh, I almost forgot to answer everyone’s questions about how the new U of M Law School and Playhouse on the Square buildings look inside. They’re fabulous, so go see for yourself.

Leah Fitzpatrick editor@rsvpmagazine.com

SIGNATURE MEMPHIS

Dr. Hershel P. Wall Assistant to UT President/Former Chancellor, UTHSC Memphis/Church Health Center and Urban Child Institute Board Member

HOBBY: Trying to raise roses. FAVORITE ALBUM: ABBA Gold. PERSONAL HERO: Dr. Scott Morris. FAVORITE AUTHOR: Joseph J. Ellis. FIRST JOB: Working on the family farm. CHILDHOOD AMBITION: To be a physician. YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: My children. FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: France, where I

RSVP

HISTORICAL FIGURE YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH: George Washington. WORDS OR PHRASES YOU OVERUSE: To make

a long story short (I usually fail!). ONE THING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I went to Desert Storm 1990-1991. WHERE YOU TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS:

Lunch at Charlie Smith’s Country Club (Wiles-Smith Drug Store). BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Being a successful cheerleader for the Memphis Medical Center and the UT Health Science Center. YOUR MANTRA: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”—Winston Churchill.

photo by Steve Roberts

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

met my wife.

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F E B R UA R Y 2 010

U OF M LAW SCHOOL GALA

EVENT

U of M Law School Gala The Grand Opening

O Michael McLaren and Courtney Clothier

Mariann Rutherford and Nick Vescovo

RSVP

ne North Front Street, the new location for the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, went “blue,” Tiger blue that is, for the school’s once-in-a-lifetime opening gala. The black-tie affair had been months in the making, and all the preparations showed, from the number of attendees (in excess of 1,800 people) to the gorgeous flowers (from Holliday Flowers) at every turn throughout the four-story building. The Honorable Diane Vescovo and the Honorable Robert “Butch” Childers co-chaired the event that drew a who’s who list of U of M Alumni Association members and area dignitaries. Lots of current students were also in the mix, with several students volunteering their time at 16 stationary tour stations to provide historical and current facts about the law school. Students from the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music contributed their musical talent to the occasion, as did Kallen Esperian, Tom Bryant, the Gene Rush Trio, Chris Parker, Kelley Hurt, Knight Brass, Alexis Grace and Paula and Raiford’s Disco. Even Judge Childers entertained with an Elvis impersonation, complete with bodyguards. Festivities were called to order at 6 o’clock, when VIP ticket holders ventured to the fourth floor for a reception sponsored by SunTrust Bank. Though it was rainy out, guests still made their way to the glass windows for a view of the beautifully lit Hernando de Soto Bridge. After an hour or so, partygoers trickled down to the lower three floors to join other ticket holders for tastings by 16 restaurants and caterers. Lots of beverage stations were on hand between the food stations, and needless to say, Champagne toasts were the order of the night. The formal program took place in Wade Auditorium, a space filled to the brim with those eager to hear Dr. Shirley Raines (the U of M president), Dr. Kevin H. Smith (the U of M Law School dean), Charles Tuggle (the Capital Campaign chairman) and David Bronczek (president and CEO of FedEx Express) present the “Countdown to Downtown-Vision to Reality.” Dr. Raines admitted that convincing someone to give up the building that once served as a U.S. Customs House, a court house and a post office was a Herculean task and thanked the project management team for meeting every Friday at 2 p.m. to see the undertaking through. “Universities don’t often meet on Fridays, but we certainly did,” she said. “This was all about our students, who are the real dreamers and personify our ‘Dreamers. Thinkers. Doers.’ motto.” See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Jay and Julie Patterson

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Don Perry

Lynn and Chancellor Arnold Goldin

Jim Shackleford and Nathan Shaver

Justin and Bethany Ross

Ryan Pryor and Madeline Bertasi

Dr. Bob Canady, Dr. Shirley Raines, Dr. Rosie Bingham and John Davis

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EVENT U OF M LAW SCHOOL GALA

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EVENT U OF M LAW SCHOOL GALA

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F E B R UA R Y 2 010

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STREETSEEN

Guion Benkin Reduce, Reuse, Rehydrate

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

RSVP

he’s not exactly an artist, at least in the trained sense, but that hasn’t stopped Guion Benkin from putting her creative stamp on the most unlikely canvas—glass bottles. A stickler for hydration, Benkin came up with the idea to repurpose landfill-bound bottles after she and her husband found themselves going through a case of plastic water bottles a week. Out of the switch from plastic to glass came the birth of the Re-Hy Bottle Co., an athome operation specializing in engraved bottles for multiple liquid uses, like olive oil, infused spirits, water and hand lotion. Why glass? Benkin loves the transparent quality, the fact it doesn’t contain toxins found in some plastics and because liquids seem to taste better inside it. Perhaps the biggest draw is that she’s reusing bottles, which is more sustainable than recycling, that are donated by participating Project Green Fork restaurants, McEwen’s on Monroe and many individuals; Benkin notes that Re-Hy’s 34 ounce and baby bottles are new. “People love that we’re taking bottles that would have gone to a landfill for a million years and giving them a second life and making them useful,” she smiles. “It’s gotten to a point now where we come home and find that our neighbors have left bottles on our doorstep.” Starting Re-Hy (her husband is involved whenever time allows) hasn’t been without challenges. Learning how to use an engraving machine took about a year, and figuring out what kind of tops would fit various sized openings took some research. Once she worked out the kinks and mastered her designs of cityscapes, flowers, houses, inspirational quotes, logos and monograms, Benkin tested Re-Hy’s products at the Memphis Farmers Market. That first trial run was in October 2008, and nearly a year-and-a-half later, she’s still selling to market patrons, at Miss Cordelia’s and even to a yoga studio and Chi Omega’s national office. She shares, “We were just searching for something meaningful to us, but these bottles have become so meaningful to others because of the personalization involved.” While Re-Hy can churn out a couple of hundred bottles a week, Benkin knows that quantity isn’t always feasible, especially with a 5-month-old son. The next phase will be an online presence and figuring out how to meet increasing client demand. “The local and regional outpouring of support has been unexpected, which shows people do want to go green,” Benkin says. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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STREETSEEN

Albert Sidney Witherington III Digging Up History

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

RSVP

eople who run and lift weights usually do so to reach a fitness goal, but Albert Sidney (“Sid”) Witherington III engages in physical activity to metal detect faster. “You’ve got to be able to move real quick and dig a lot of holes, and it takes some skill,” he explains. “But, no one can out metal detect me.” Not your average detectorist, Witherington has dug up nearly every Civil War campsite in Germantown, Collierville, Moscow, LaGrange and Grand Junction, Tennessee, amassing a collection of Civil War artifacts and coins that caught the attention of WKNO, which recently filmed him for “Southern Routes.” His Germantown High School history students, fellow enthusiasts at the Memphis Metal Detector Club and the numerous historical societies he’s involved in have been impressed for years, and for good reason. To date, he’s unearthed more than 7,000 bullets, more than 1,000 Civil War buttons and 105 Civil War belt buckles, to name a few of his common finds. He adds, “I do have several items of which only one has ever been dug, like a silver star and a Lincoln artifact. I also have the rarest Confederate spur and Union belt buckle, as well as one of the rarest gold coins and Confederate buttons.” Named after Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, the highest ranking officer killed during the Civil War, one could reason that Witherington was destined to appreciate war memorabilia. He even knows of 10 relatives that fought for the Confederacy and has eight of their letters from the battlefield in his possession. Though war relics are at the heart of the collection, he’s just as happy to show off an old Peabody hotel key or a William Henry Harrison log cabin token. To keep track of previous hunts, Witherington charts his searched sites on homedrawn maps and records his excursions on a calendar. He also draws pictures of some of the artifacts he uncovers and has amazingly kept records like these for 21 years. “I can graph each year what I’ve done,” he says. “For example, I have found an average of 30 bullets a month going back to 1989.” Asked if he can still find that many bullets today, he says it’s getting more difficult, however he’s always hoping to search new territory. Witherington admits that 99 percent of the time he’s allowed on other’s property but jokes there are still a few Germantown homeowners he’s trying to outlive to gain access to their land. Just don’t ask him to give up his favorite spots. “A good spot for metal detecting is kind of like a fishing hole—you don’t want to tell people,” Witherington says. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photo by Steve Roberts

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ONSITE

Onsite

Harbor Town Dog Show Le Bonheur Ornament Decoration Toast with Tallulah Artists’ Showcase Mother, Daughter/Family & Friendship Tea

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

Terry Lynn at Artists’ Showcase

Dr. John Morris with Rip and Nicole Haney at Artists’ Showcase

RSVP

Seth Keller, Jodi Rump and Dawn Good at Harbor Town Dog Show

Kym Clark and Patrick Akers at Harbor Town Dog Show

ud Island canines who couldn’t quite cut it for Westminster had the opportunity to strut their stuff in the Sexiest Walk, Owner Look-Alike and Silly Pet Tricks contests during the eighth annual Harbor Town Dog Show at Nursery Park. Held to raise funds for the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, this year’s festivities offered pet-related vendors, a children’s area with drawing tables, a hot dog stand and a green room boasting VIP seating and gourmet food. Kym Clark of WMC-TV 5 served as mistress of ceremonies, Eva Lynn Bishop, Melodie Moore, Allyne Luciano and Dr. Sheryl Lane directing each of the 10 contests. at Mother, Daughter/Family & Friendship Tea Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center’s Teen Council members, along with Madison Hotel representatives, gathered at Le Bonheur to decorate close to 200 glass ornaments with holiday and Memphis themes. The ornaments were then displayed on the Madison’s Christmas tree, where they were available for $25 sponsorships, all funds benefiting Le Bonheur. Ornaments were shipped to each sponsor at the beginning of the year as a keepsake. Scott Blake hosted a Victorian Village Inc. Friend-raiser at his home that brought the group 42 new memberships. Dubbed Toast with Tallulah, the event had Tallulah Bankhead’s spirit in attendance, thanks to Savannah Bearden, as well as guests outfitted in ‘40s attire. Martinis and hors d’oeuvres were the order of the night, which included music by Brennan and the Boys. Jordan and Marie Pizano Firtik Creative Aging Mid-South supporters invaded at Mother, Daughter/Family & Friendship Tea Lichterman Nature Center for the second annual Artists’ Showcase. Joyce Cobb, Michael Jefry Stevens, Diana Stein, Nora Tucker and many more filled the live entertainment bill, and Corky’s barbecue and Boscos’ beer were also offered. Morris Auction Group was responsible for the silent and live auctions that raised money for the nonprofit that helps improve the quality of life for seniors by providing them arts experiences. The Tiara Tea Society’s third Mother, Daughter/Family & Friendship Tea benefited Savanna Chappel, who is visually impaired. The Mid-South Young People’s Orchestra, directed by Dr. Sheryl Lane, and harpist Melodie Moore blessed the occasion with their talent. Les Passees’ blind puppet also performed, and St. Jude patient Aminah Patterson was made an honorary angel princess. Story and photos Submitted and by Lesley Young

Michelle Stubbs, Aubrey Greer, Emily McElravey and Alexis Barganier (Front); Josh Spotts, Ian Fennessy and Jordan Greer (Back) at Le Bonheur Ornament Decoration

Jocelyn Jones, Nora Tucker and Jewell Rosenberg at Toast with Tallulah

Peggy and Dr. LaVerne Lovell with Linley Schmidt at Toast with Tallulah

VOX POPULAR

Vox Popular Q&A with Kevin Kaminski

he Delta might be best known for its music, but the Mississippi RiverKings are slowing incorporating hockey into the regional fiber. Coach Kevin Kaminski, now in his second season with the team, feels blessed to be sharing his native sport with Southerners and hopes to guide the RiverKings to a championship trophy in the ultimate Central Hockey League (CHL) face-off, the Ray Miron President’s Cup. RSVP editor Leah Fitzpatrick met with Kaminski after one of the team’s practices and saw his winning vision (he earned his 200th career coaching victory last year and was named CHL Coach of the Year) put into practice, and let’s just say, the former professional hockey player can still work his magic on the ice.

RSVP: Is there a particular person or event in your life that got you interested in hockey? Kaminski: I think it’s just a way of life in Canada. It’s a religion up there. My mom and dad had skates on me when I was 21 months. Every community back in Saskatchewan, like Churchbridge, which is a little less than a 1,000 people, has an indoor rink. If we weren’t on the ice, we were on a pond or playing street hockey. Minus 34 or 40 below, it didn’t matter. Mom or Dad would have to get us to stop playing at 9 or 10 at night to get us in bed for school. That’s just the way it was.

with the Blazers, called me that. I’ve always liked the physical style of play, as you can tell by my face. There was this one time when I was playing, and the goalie went out to play the puck, and I ran him right over. It wasn’t the last time I did that. You know, I was always told to take the body, so from there on in, I guess I got the nickname “Killer,” and it stuck. I went on to lead some leagues in penalty minutes and still have some records in penalty minute areas. It didn’t matter if someone was big or small, I fought them. I always made sure that I was involved in controversy. Loved it! I guess I was a little intense.

RSVP

Kaminski: We played on teams starting at age 5. As time went on, I played in the Major Junior Leagues and moved away from home when I was 15. When I moved away, the school was bigger than my hometown, so that was a culture shock. What happens when you move away from home is you move into what’s called billets, so you move in with a family. The first year I moved in with my uncle and aunt, and then the next year, I moved in with my trainer and his wife. It was many lonely nights of missing your friends and parents, but it paid off because I got drafted to the Minnesota North Stars (48th overall) after my first year of Major Junior Hockey.

Kaminski: [Laughs] I’m just like that on the ice. I’ve only been in one off-ice fight in my life, besides my brother. My brother and I fought every day, so that doesn’t count. Photos by Don Perry

F E B R UA R Y 2 010

RSVP: You’re scaring me over here! RSVP: When did you start playing on a hockey team?

RSVP: Do you remember your first game as a professional player? Kaminski: My very first game was when I was 19 in the Montreal Forum when I was with the Minnesota North Stars. To me, that was such a thrill because growing up in Saskatchewan, every Saturday night was Hockey Night in Canada. Who usually played were the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens at that forum. You kind of grew up with that history in your living room. When I was 19 and playing there, it was absolutely amazing and a dream come true. RSVP: How did you earn the nickname “Killer?” Kaminski: Kelly Chase, a former player, and the assistant coach

RSVP: Did you know that one day you would become a hockey coach? Kaminski: I was told by Barry Trotz, who coaches the Nashville Predators— that’s who we won the Calder Cup with—and some other people that I would make a good coach. You know, I’ve run hockey schools and just enjoy kids and teaching. To tell you the truth, I wish I was still playing, but unfortunately, I had to retire due to concussions at 30. So, I retired when a doctor told me on my birthday, “You can’t play any more because after the next one, you might not be able to remember your name or your family.” I guess you

could say it wasn’t a good birthday. RSVP: How many concussions did you have? Kaminski: Lots, too many to add up. I once took a puck 75 miles dead on that shattered my whole face. I’ve got two plates, 12 screws and lost a little bit of vision, and they said if it was another half an inch, I would have been done. I came back after that, but the next year, I took a bad elbow to the jaw, and that was kind of it. I was on medication for over two years, and every time I tried to skate or ride the bike and got my blood pressure up, my head wanted to explode. That was tough when I was told I couldn’t play anymore

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because hockey’s what you grow up living for. But, things worked out really good, and I got an assistant coaching job in the American Hockey League with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks under Mike Babcock, who coaches the Detroit Red Wings now and is the coach of the upcoming Olympic team. I learned so much from Mike. Just his teaching, developing, motivation and his absolutely relentless work ethic to get better every day was outstanding. Going from being a player to the other side, I know I learned from the best. RSVP: What initially attracted you to the head coaching job for the Mississippi RiverKings?

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Kaminski: Well, I was in Youngstown, Ohio two years before in the same league, the Central Hockey League, and the Youngstown team, the Steelhounds, got terminated from the league. Coach Kevin McClelland, who was here, got a job in Colorado, so there was a couple of jobs that came open, one here and one in Corpus Christie, but I had just accepted the job here before Corpus called me. I was obviously glad to get the job here. When I was in Youngstown, Mississippi was our closest game, and that was 14 hours, so we played here all the time. That made me familiar with the area, and I got to know the general manager.

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RSVP: Were there any immediate changes you felt you needed to make when you became the RiverKings coach? Kaminski: Well, I got two veteran players with Louis Dumont and Derek Landmesser, and last year, we only had three returning players, Darrell Stoddard being one of the three, from the year before

because a lot of guys went overseas. So, I brought in a lot of my guys from Youngstown and others through my connections, and it worked. We had a very successful season last year, and now there’s a lot more players with that foundation we built. We have 19 players for this season. RSVP: How would you define your style of coaching? Kaminski: I’m very demanding without being demeaning. I teach and develop with lots of video and a lot of chalk talk, and I don’t think I’m asking too much when I ask guys to compete like it’s their last shift. As the guys know, we want the grease and the grit. We want work ethic, hard hitting and just the toughness when teams play against us. Obviously, you need the speed and the skill too, and when your skilled guys are competing and paying the price by putting their bodies on the line as well, that becomes contagious and rubs off on everybody. You get 19 players doing that, and you’re going to be successful. RSVP: How do you think the team has evolved since you became coach? Kaminski: This year, we’ve been a little inconsistent with our play, yet the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I’ve felt we made some good strides. It’s a mental toughness part of the game ‘cause we’ve beaten every top team in the league, then when we play teams below us, we struggle. Why? I don’t know…not competing, not working hard enough, thinking it’s going to be easy or whatever. I keep telling the guys that the league is way better than it was last year, and you can’t afford to take a shift off. Any team can beat anybody

RSVP: What’s your proudest moment so far as a coach? Kaminski: It makes me proud when everyone, all 19 guys, are on the same page and have bought into the demand of the work ethic and the demand of the winning ways we want to teach here. When you get everyone on that, you can get so much accomplished. Just like the last game in Tulsa, our goal was to not have more than 25 shots a game, and in today’s game with all the penalties now, that’s really good. We only allowed 21 shots, so guys were paying the price by blocking shots and just working both ends of the ice. When you do that, you get results, and that’s what we’ve got to demand in the locker room on a consistent basis. RSVP: What was your reaction to finding out you’d been selected the CHL Coach of the Year last year?

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Kaminski: Our goal is to finish the second half here really strong. We were Northern Conference champions last year, and we’d like to keep that. The main goal is to win the Ray Miron President’s Cup. If you get there, you give yourself a chance to get after the title, whether it’s hot goal tending or some guys getting the confidence to go for it all. Let’s not hope…I want to know we’re going to get there and know going into playoffs that we’re on a high.

RSVP: What are some ways you and the players promote the team in the community? Kaminski: Every Monday, we have the Coach’s Show at O’Charley’s in Southaven, and it airs at 7 p.m. on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. The guys also go out and do meet-and-greets to chat with the fans and go out to schools for the kids. I know with the Maddox Foundation we do so much charity work and are always involved in that. On February 10, we will be at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, and we’ll also be at T.G.I. Friday’s on the 10th in Southaven. Then, we have the Booster Club Poker Tournament on February 28 at Southland Park, which was lots of fun last year. RSVP: If there’s any advice you could pass on to kids wanting to become hockey players, what would it be? Kaminski: Get out, have fun and play. Hockey provides great exercise and is a good way to meet people, and I think hockey is a blast. On Mondays, two of the players teach clinics at Desoto Civic Center from 6-7:15 p.m. and 7:30-8:45 p.m. Any ages can come, but younger kids are usually in the first session and older ones are in the second session.

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RSVP: What are some of your team’s biggest goals for this season?

Kaminski: It was an honor to get voted amongst your peers [the CHL coaches], so I guess it was the feather in the cap. However, I’d trade that award for the President’s Cup any day, but it was really nice to get the award. Like I said, I had two really good years there in Youngstown, and last year was another great season here.

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LIBERTY BOWL PRESIDENTS’ GALA

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t wasn’t Inauguration Day, but the presidents—the AutoZone Liberty Bowl presidents, that is—were out in force on New Year’s Day in anticipation of this year’s bowl bout to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Each year, Liberty Bowl presidents offer a gala dinner with dancing and music to precede the excitement of the Mid-South’s premiere football game. The 2010 Presidents’ Gala, held at The Peabody, exceeded expectations as the group awaited kickoff between this year’s opposing teams, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the East Carolina Pirates. Gala guests arrived in tuxedos and evening dresses wrapped up tight against the cold, windy evening. Most wore basic black, but subtle hints of Arkansas red and East Carolina purple and gold were noticeable in bow ties, cummerbunds and other accessories. Many strolled along the mezzanine with cocktails in hand while a sea of red-clad Razorback fans mixed in the lobby below. The evening began in the Continental Ballroom, where libations were offered at several bars while guests listened and danced to the dueling pianos and cover classics of Hudson and Saleeby. Across the ballroom, circles of sports fans enjoyed a slide program highlighting moments from past bowl games. The crowd moved to the Memphis Ballroom for a delectable dinner served on white linen with music-themed centerpieces by Lynn Doyle gracing the tables. Dinner included steak and fried chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and vegetables, Caesar salad and chocolate mousse cake. Newly elected Memphis Mayor A C Wharton then charged the ballroom with an energetic welcome speech and invocation, and emcee Harold Graeter introduced a parade of dignitaries and their escorts before Andy Childs and his band flooded the room with dance music. After dinner, headliner Eddie Money took the stage for a spirited performance before being awarded the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award, which was presented by 2009 AutoZone Liberty Bowl president Kevin Kane. Money, who has sold more than 28 million records, is best known for hits like “Take Me Home Tonight,” “Walk on Water” and “I Wanna Go Back.” As the evening drew to a close, partygoers headed back out into the cold, which was perhaps a foretaste of game weather the following day, but the Razorback and Pirate fans alike had to agree that the heat of a good football game is worth the chill.

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Josephine Circle Christmas Luncheon Four Seasons/Memory, Inc. Christmas Party “Rev’s” Dinner

osephine Circle members and guests celebrated with

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Racquet Club of Memphis. Barbara Harris organized the annual December gathering, which highlighted the group’s 15 new members. The décor featured lots of poinsettias and nutcrackers, and the singing group Take Note, with the Josephine Circle’s own Mary Barbara Harris and Gretchen Reaves at Josephine Circle Christmas Luncheon

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Kathy Llewellyn and Justin Lohman at “Rev’s” Dinner

tickets for a Christmas basket were also sold, with proceeds going toward several interest-free loans and scholarships that the club provides local college students. Julia and Rush O’Keefe opened their home to a good cause—those fighting Alzheimer’s—by hosting the Four Seasons/Memory Inc. Christmas Party. Party Tenders supplied the delectable goodies for an afterF E B R UA R Y 2 010

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Kines and pianist Betty Carol Germany. “S Seriously Fun” also brought its trendy fashion pieces to the event for guests to Christmas shop. Ten percent of proceeds from shopping purchases went to Four Ann Newell and Wanda Barzizza at Josephine Circle Christmas Luncheon

Debbie Baker and Jane Lambert at “Rev’s” Dinner

Seasons/Memory Inc. The Woman’s Exchange held its much-anticipatRev’s” Dinner to a group of 100 festively-attired ed “R supporters at the Exchange Tea Room. Becky Entrekin served as the event chair and helped present a truly Rev” Bailey reprised his chef’s hat memorable night. “R for another year, preparing a menu of beef tenderloin, asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, baked potatoes and crème brûlée. This year, the group selected the Heart of the South Girl Scout Council as its beneficiary. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick Lola Llewellyn, Becky Entrekin and Scottie Cobb at “Rev’s” Dinner

Betty Cotton and Mary Louise Herzog at Josephine Circle Christmas Luncheon

Frank Taylor, Herbie Krisle and Grace Bartee at Four Seasons/Memory, Inc. Christmas Party

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Forrest and Layne Wilson at Attorneys for Change Holiday Party

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Mayor A C Wharton and June West at Leadership Memphis Holiday Party

rue Story Pictures and The Recording Academy®, Memphis Chapter presented The Music InterviewsSeries One to highlight the Bluff City’s musical contributors. The release party held at Memphis College of Art’s Rust Hall featured a wine tasting with paired foods and three short documentaries about Marguerite Piazza, Sid Selvidge and the late Jim Dickinson, whose memory was honored at the event. True Story Pictures’ founder and executive director, Joann Self Selvidge, said of the evening, “The purpose is to preserve personal histories for future generations and help people learn more about Memphis.” The Attorneys for Change Holiday Party secured its place on legal eagles’ social calendars for a second year. A group of sponsoring attorneys and The Adams Foundation hosted the party and charity auction at the Clark Opera Memphis Center, where the band Yes No Maybe performed alternative rock hits for foundation supporters. A red carpet was also rolled out for the occasion that offered eats ranging from a mashed potato bar to a giant dessert buffet. All proceeds help the Shelby County Drug Court Foundation provide a yearlong program of therapy and treatment for nonviolent adult offenders with drug-related criminal charges. Leadership Memphis, a nonprofit that promotes community leadership, rounded out 2009 with a Leadership Memphis Holiday Party at Central Station. Alumni, current class members and guests gathered inside Hudson Hall for lots of socializing, cocktails and appetizers by A Party Waitin’ To Happen. The organization’s annual corporate sponsors for 2009-2010 at the Leader level are FedEx, Team Trek and the Urban Child Institute. Story by Leah Fitzpatrick Photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Don Perry

Nika Jackson, Ekundayo Bandele, Tracey Zerwig Ford and Wendy Harns at Leadership Memphis Holiday Party

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Playhouse on the Square Opening Breaking New Ground

P Barbara Standing and Ken Hudson

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layhouse on the Square’s founder and executive producer, Jackie Nichols, first made his desire for a new theatre known about five years ago, and he didn’t sit around hoping that some day his plans would come to light. Instead, Nichols actively began campaigning for the project, raising $12.5 million for the beautiful modern venue that opened this January on the corner of Union and Cooper. Whitney Jo, Playhouse’s managing director, applauded Nichols’ efforts, saying, “Jackie is a visionary. He dreams things up and makes them happen.” To thank the community for giving Playhouse a new home, Nichols and his staff threw a four-night celebration: a Media Party, a Construction Workers’ Party, a Major Donor Appreciation Party and the grand finale, a Playhouse Alumni Party. Each festivity drew a unique mix of talented actors, musicians and theatre fans, which illustrates just how embedded the arts are in Memphis. Though the auditorium, a space Nichols called “personal and intimate” being that it seats only 350 people, wasn’t quite finished by party time, no one seemed to mind. Instead, guests relished the chance to go on behind-the-scenes tours to view the work in progress before it was completed for the upcoming production of “Pippin.” While the original Playhouse theatre across the street will remain up and running, it is the new 38,000-square-foot facility that will not only hosts plays, but also performances by Ballet Memphis, Opera Memphis and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Nichols added that Playhouse has been a real gem to this city and gave numerous toasts to the organization’s staff, actors and support system. After briefly mentioning his mission to continue raising funds for the endowment phase, he enthused, “Now it’s time to party!”

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A Trek Across the City’s Party L andscape Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Christmas Musical Brunch

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It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas at the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary annual seasonal party. Held at the U of M Holiday Inn, the organization’s Christmas Musical Brunch was a feast for the senses with plenty of great friends,

Joan Alperin and Doris Hill

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Mariangela Romano Schardt and Hilda Mullen

Betty Carol Germany and Tommie Pardue

Dickens Christmas” feel. the “D The musical portion of the agenda certainly lived up to its hype, and the proof came when several standing ovations were given. Auxiliary member Charlotte Neal and her husband, Bob, kicked off the set by singing some beloved Christmas favorites, with Charlotte saying, “Lots of times Christmas is just about Santa, but it’s more than that.” The Houston High Choir,

directed by Dr. Billy Rayburn, followed the Neals, who were accompanied by Betty Carol Germany. From classics like “Silent Night, Holy Night” to the beautiful “Ava Maria,” the award-winning group impressed. Carol Wolf, the outgoing auxiliary president, joked, “If the choir didn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, then you have no hope.” The real reason for the afternoon though was to remind everyone of the giving season. Wolf announced that the auxiliary had met its pledges and gave Major Rhea Dawn Woodcock a check for $9,000 to put back into services for the Salvation Army. Doris Hill chaired the brunch, and Tommie Pardue, who also led the group in a closing song, made all the arrangements for the music program. Others showing their support were Hilda Mullen, Mary Nelson, Dianne Champlin, Fran Jabbour,

good food, holiday tunes and shopping. As is tradition, the female membership mingled in the foyer, catching up on Christmas plans and perusing the lovely assortment of bazaar items set up by Major Janeen McConnell. The action picked back up in the ballroom that had been decorated with wreaths and Christmas tree centerpieces, available for a $35 donation, adorned with miniature gifts and candy canes. Several much larger Christmas trees with faux snow underneath adorned the stage area, providing a perfect backdrop for

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Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Honoree Lester Gingold is a past president of the Memphis Cotton Carnival and the Better Business Bureau, founder and publisher of The Best Times and a board chairman of the Memphis College of Art and the American Cancer Society. During World War II, he served in the Combat

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Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

English-Speaking Union Christmas Party

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The Memphis branch of the EnglishSpeaking Union held its annual Christmas party at the University Club. The guests’ charming conviviality brightened the wood-paneled ballroom as much as their sparkling holiday attire or the ele-

Betty Hewitt with John and Marcia Dunlap

Engineers overseas, where he made the photographs of General Patton’s fatal car wreck that are displayed in the Patton Museum. Attending the ESU fete with his wife Joyce, an artist, Lester showed his own creative flair in a batik cummerbund. He is currently working on a book. The English-Speaking Union is an international, inclusive organization that was founded in 1920 with the belief that when people who share a Mary Lawrence Allen and Mary Alice Quinn

gant, 20-foot Christmas tree that anchored the room. Members gathered not only to celebrate the season but also to honor one of their own, Lester Gingold, with the Hugo Dixon Award for outstanding service to the ESU and the Memphis community. The award’s namesake began the Memphis chapter of the ESU in 1954 and, along with his wife Margaret, permanently enriched cultural life in Memphis by making possible the

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common language come together, they quickly discover how much they have in common, regardless of nationality or background. Today, the ESU continues to promote scholarship and global understanding through the effective use of English. Among those present were Sharrel and Dr. Frank McGrew, Jon Thompson, John Robertson, Dr. Andrew Wells, Tommie Pardue, Charlotte Neal, David Gingold, Nancy Cole, Marguerite Piazza, Shirley Condon, Mary Jo and Bo Myhr, Ann Huckaba, Leslie Hanna, Martha Roper, Marcia and John Dunlap, Presh Gill, Betty Hewitt, Eula and Rob Horrell, Rosemary and Lynn Ballinger, Barbara Wright, Mack Pepper, Mary Lawrence Allen and Mary Alice Quinn.

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Duration Club Holiday Luncheon Throughout the year, members of the Duration Club volunteer their time, effort and funds to assist the mentally challenged in their community. But, one day out of each year they take time out to relax, socialize and celebrate their annual

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Anderson, Dianne Ramsey, Dale Lusk, Helen Scott, Frances Dear, Sarah Witte, Ruth Farris, Dorothy Smith, Phyllis Pollard, Jo Orman, Dee Davenport, Ruthie McCallen, Gladys Hamilton, Sandra Simank, Maureen Kolb, Donna McManus, Isabelle Strong, Gerry Thomas, Helen Byrd, Annemarie Bobay, Libba Byrd, Judy Freeman, Joan Moore and Mary Nelson. Story and photos by Lesley Young Helen Byrd, Annemarie Bobay and Libba Byrd

lunch at their festively decorated tables complete with poinsettias and Christmas-colored bouquets. Members and their guests were treated to the soulful sounds of gospel singer Jackie Johnson, a former cohort of the famed Rufus Thomas. The Duration Club began in 1945 as a volunteer organization for veterans and their families during WWII. Eventually it turned its focus

Tis the Seasonâ&#x20AC;? marked the theme of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;T day at the Memphis Symphony League Christmas

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Julia Williams and Gloria Nobles

Memphis Symphony League Christmas Luncheon

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Judy Freeman, Joan Moore and Mary Nelson

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accomplishments at a special Holiday Luncheon held for members and friends. This year the club hosted the get-together at the Germantown Country Club for a special day of wining, dining and jiving. To celebrate the season, most of the ladies wore red, holiday-themed sweaters and yuletide brooches, while enjoying

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Luncheon. From the bell necklaces passed out to attendees at the entrance to the colorful ornaments that filled hurricane vases, the gathering remained true to the festive spirit. Symphony league members and their guests ventured to the Memphis Country Club for the occasion chaired by Billie Jean Graham and hosted by Gloria Nobles. Before lunch, vocalist Debbie Kines, with the accompaniment of Betty Carol Germany on the piano, filled the reception room with joyful song. Orange blush drinks were passed around during this time, and Joyce Hurst sold symphony memberships at $50 for a couple and $40 for a single. Nancy Lou Jones, the league president, welcomed all to the luncheon, declaring December a “season for merriment, fun and celebration.” As guests savored a meal of chicken crepes,

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Toast for Toys Gala Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis

TOAST FOR TOYS GALA

hen the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis (BGCM) put out a call for locals to help make children’s Christmas wishes come true, Memphians responded by bringing 220 toys (each

valued at $25 or more) to the annual Toast for Toys Gala. Held at the Pink Palace Museum, the festivities resembled Santa’s workshop, complete with a stocking stuffer and an ornament making station. Skateboards, dolls and stuffed animals in hand, 270 guests,

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outfitted in business and cocktail attire, braved the winter chill to

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support the cause. Other ways attendees showed their generosity were by purchasing sponsorships in increments ranging from “Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire” ($1,000) to “It’s a Wonderful Life” ($20,000) and by buying $15 raffle tickets for a chance to win a Chanel gift basket or a cigar humidor courtesy of board member Fred C. Smith, made an appearance to help spread the Christmas cheer and thank numerous donors. In light of the holiday, organizers decorated tables with present boxes and brought in lots of yummy edibles, including tacos Camilla and Matt Brinner

with all the fixings, meatballs, pasta, garlic rolls, mini shortcakes,

cookies and brownies. Buster’s Liquors & Wines served up a whiskey

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plied a cigar station. Tunes came compliments of Party Planet. By night’s end, partygoers contributed more than $47,000, which will benefit the nonprofit in providing more than 5,000 kids, ranging from ages 6 to 18, a healthy and safe environment for afterschool education—the gift that keeps on giving. Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick See all the party photos at rsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP Kyle and Andrea Wiggins

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EVENT GERMANTOWN ARTS ALLIANCE GALA

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Germantown Arts Alliance Gala Arts and Humanities Awards

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here couldn’t have been a more fitting setting for the 17th annual Germantown Arts Alliance (GAA) Gala than the Clark Opera Memphis Center, which has had many arts patrons and performers grace its doors since opening in 2003. As is tradition, four MidSoutherners who have displayed exemplary contributions to furthering the arts and humanities were honored with bronze medals. Elaine Dudley chaired the affair that kicked off with a celebratory cocktail reception in the lobby. As guests mixed and mingled, the Germantown Symphony Orchestra delivered a repertoire of classical favorites, lending an air of elegance to the evening. An array of silent auction items were stationed nearby, and a beautiful spread of fruit and cheeses by Wade and Company tempted the hungry. Lilies and bells of Ireland accented the hors d’oeuvre table, providing a pop of color to the décor. The action soon moved to the event hall, where Tad Foote welcomed everyone to the ceremony. Bill McGaughey gave the invocation before dinner, and harpist Bill Butner entertained the crowd. Terri Walker of Walker Auctions controlled the floor as the guest auctioneer, but the moment all had been waiting for came when the 2009 Arts and Humanities medalists were announced. These individuals were Delores Kinsolving-Patron of the Arts; The Lugar Foundry-Visual Arts; Dan McCleary-Performing Arts; and Perre Magness-Literary Arts. Cummins Mid-South, Fidelity Investments, Pat and Thane Smith and Pegasus of Germantown served as the medal sponsors. An advocacy and funding organization, the GAA has contributed more than $900,000 to arts projects and groups in Germantown since 1993. Linda Stephenson serves as the GAA’s current president.

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By Dennis Phillippi

WE ARE NOT AMUSED

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eventeen or so years ago, my wife and I bought our first house. As it turns out, it’s still our house. From what I’ve read, a lot of people trade up at some point, but we have a lot of reasons why we haven’t. We’re cowards. We’re allergic to debt. We’re too lazy to move all of our stuff. Oh yeah, and we love our neighborhood. We live in beautiful, crime-free CooperYoung. It’s a neighborhood of oddballs, kooks, charmers and refugees from neighborhoods where they don’t have those. We have people who drive a trailer crawling with monkeys around. We have hippies who should’ve retired from hippiedom decades ago. We have true neighborhood pride. And until recently, we had Libertyland. Our street dead-ended into Libertyland. Any time we headed east for any reason, there was Libertyland. For the first 12 or 13 years, Libertyland was a going concern. The lights were lit, the rides were moving and the crowds were crowds. Okay, the crowds-being-crowds thing ended a long time before Libertyland did, but there were still people. Whenever we were getting gas, we would watch kids riding the rickety vintage-looking cars that they could’ve just as easily outrun. We could see the waterslide, the Pippin and the village that greeted every visitor to Libertyland since it opened in 1976. The park closed back in the fall of 2005, beginning a process of sad decay that became a kind of haunting for Midtowners in general, and Cooper-Youngers in particular. Libertyland may have been a dinky amusement park by almost any measurement, but for many of us, it was part of the fabric of Memphis. Every fall, the Mid-South Fair would roll into town from wherever fairs go when they’re not in town, and Libertyland would become a vibrant living thing. The rides at the fair were varying degrees of terrifying, mostly because of their operators, and the rides at Libertyland seemed safe and reliable by comparison. The comparison being that the fair’s rides were run by guys who looked like they slept outside using a post hole digger for a pillow, and the rides in the park were operated by kids who looked like they had learned to do the job that afternoon in a training session that lasted as long as their attention span could bear, which was probably shorter than the ride itself. Nonetheless, at least the rides in the park were always in the same place and therefore had little risk of a vitally important bolt falling out along Route 9

somewhere outside of Cape May, New Jersey. We would always go to Libertyland last at the fair, partly because it was our favorite part, and partly because we would do the waterslide last and likely end up soaking wet. Half drunk, bloated with fair food and soaking wet…that was the fair to us.

Whenever we were getting gas, we would watch kids riding the rickety vintagelooking cars that they could’ve just as easily outrun. In another life, I hosted a kid’s TV show, and every summer we would do a couple of appearances at Libertyland. The park would be overflowing with kids, the weather would be Memphis-in-the-summer brutal, and tempers ran short. Those were times we all remember fondly. We were rocking Libertyland, man. A good friend of mine used to take his daughter to see the singing and dancing shows at Libertyland. They’re the only two people I know who ever went to those shows, but they loved them. They went over and over, summer after summer. They knew the kids’ names. They knew the tunes. His daughter genuinely thought she was going to be a Libertyland song and dance girl. Hell, I think he thought he might become one. I didn’t grow up here, but my wife and friends all remember going to Libertyland when

they were teenagers, doing typical teenage things at a small amusement park, often at night. If you’re a native, or like me, you’ve been here long enough to be thought of as one, Libertyland is in your memories. Sadly, that’s where it will always have to be. A few weeks ago, I was gassing up my wife’s car and across the street I saw backhoes tearing down the village. I stood there watching as they methodically obliterated the charming little area where you could get an air-brushed tee shirt or a piece of honest-to-God handmade fudge. I started to jokingly text people, but then a feeling of true sadness came over me. We all knew the day would come when they would finally bulldoze the place. It had become a sad ghost, a slowly withering skeleton. But actually seeing it happen brought on all kinds of nostalgia. A few days later, my wife and I turned off of East Parkway into the entrance to the fairgrounds that won’t be fairgrounds ever again. Looking to our right, we could see right through where Libertyland used to be, all the way to Southern. All that remained, and all that remains today, were the Pippin, the husk of the Carousel and trees. I never noticed that there were so many trees in Libertyland. The Revolution, the looping steel roller coaster, is supposedly awaiting reconstruction at a park in Pennsylvania. The Rebellion water slide is at Ghost Town in the Sky, which seems appropriate. And the Pippin, from what I’m told, belongs to the Save Libertyland people. Personally, I’m hoping they can work out something to have that rickety death trap moved to Graceland. We all have fun Pippin memories, but the fact that Elvis dug it is the only thing that has prevented it from being blown to toothpicks before now. Progress moves forward, and before you know it, there will be things we like where Libertyland used to be, but for now I encourage you to swing by and have a look before all signs of our own amusement park vanish as completely as Maywood.

Having never lived in Memphis during the Libertyland heyday, it’s hard for me to reminisce with Dennis Phillippi, but who wouldn’t want to ride a “rickety death trap” of a ride called the Pippin? If Elvis liked the ride, I can too, so count me in for moving it to Graceland. After all, you’re never too old for cheesy fun.

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Fraternity Smiles

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1950-51

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he Beta chapter of the Phi Kappa National Fraternity planted its roots in Memphis in 1922. Young men from Christian Brothers High School, Central High School and East High School were actively involved in the fraternity whose founding principles were brotherhood, faith in God and scholarship. PHOTO COURTESY OF WALLACE WITMER JR.

VA L

U VI EN S F SIT TI OR

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.

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