Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005 | 8:23 a.m.
Theta Theta Omega and Kappa Xi, both Las Vegas chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., presented a Founders' Day program and luncheon at the Golden Nugget on Saturday. In keeping with the sorority's 97-year tradition, the organizational colors of pink and green were used for the silk flower centerpieces at the tables for more than 300 attending members and guests.
Planned as a tribute to the 16 founding women at Howard University in Washington, D.C., who dared to dream and create the worldwide organization, the event featured keynote speaker Barbara A. McKinzie, sorority president-elect and current chief financial officer of the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
McKinzie spoke of the enduring legacy of tutoring, mentoring, scholarship and service that characterizes membership and chapters into the 21st century.
Leading the lengthy program was Billie Knight Rayford (president of the Theta Theta Omega chapter), joined on the dais by Lavonne Lewis (the Far Western Regional director) along with luncheon co-chairwomen Kenyatta Neal-Johnson and Flora Murphy Shaffey with Darlene Hancock, Levonna Williams, Barbara Kirkland, Alberta Mitchell, Frances Perry and Donnyss Rucker.
Honored with the sorority's prestigious Thelma Tyree Award was Jacqueline Caffey for her exemplary service to her chapter and the community at large. In the spotlight as well were attending women who have given 50 or more years of service, among them Lois Ice, Elsie Bryant, Bertha Pendleton, Willa White, Annette Craighead and Miriam Campbell.
Theta Theta Omega, slated in May to celebrate its 40th anniversary as a Las Vegas chapter, serves as a mentoring organization to the 28-year-old Kappa Xi chapter at UNLV and A.K.A.-Teens, a service and scholastic organization for young women.
Among the women present at the Founders' Day luncheon was Adrienne Hester with her mother, Patty Hester, and nieces Jaslynne Jones and Sierra Hester, who chose to wear soft pink ensembles for the occasion. Seated at the luncheon table with the Hester family were Sandra Bass and her sister Karen Stewart as well as Celeste Brown and niece Jamie Lynn Brown.
Seen greeting friends nearby was County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, later joined onstage by fellow Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald for city and county proclamations honoring the sorority.
Others supporting the festive occasion included Jacqueline Hoggard, Ina Dorman, Rose Coker, Ouida Brown, Ida Gaines, Diane Hendricks, Terria Oliver, Lois Bolden and Patricia Bailey Green.
Bolognini honored
Maestro Ennio Bolognini was remembered with great fondness and respect during the Dec. 29 "Bolognini Competition Alumni Recital" at UNLV's Doc Rando Hall. Born in 1893 in Buenos Aires, the legendary cellist-composer-conductor was a true Renaissance man who brought great flair to his music and beyond. He was a pilot and co-founder of the Civil Air Patrol, a daring automobile racer in his original Duesenberg, an avid sportsman and a noted linguist.
A Las Vegas resident and prominent Strip musician, Bolognini originally came to Las Vegas for retirement in the 1960s and instead dazzled audiences and entertainers alike with his performances. In 1976, Arnold Shaw led the Las Vegas Music Teachers Association as it initiated the Bolognini Scholarship Fund and Competition. Bolgnini died in 1979.
The legacy endures with funds provided for Bolognini Competition winners to continue their musical studies.
The first "Alumni Recital" ever presented featured classical music performances by Michael Leavitt (piano), Stephanie Larsen (violin), Lisa Maresch (piano), Raymond Sicam III (cello), Abe Gumroyan (violin), Alexandria Le (piano), Michelle Gott (harp), Emily Holden (violin), Michelle Lee (piano), Scott Jackson (violin), Allyson Clark (violin) and Victor Ngo (piano), all young students who attended Clark County schools and are now studying music at various universities and conservatories across the nation.
A pre-concert dinner was held with Dorothy Bolognini, widow of Maestro Bolognini, attending as honored guest. Supporting the "Bolognini Competition Alumni Recital" was Dr. Paul Hesselink, dean of the Nevada School of the Arts, joined by benefactor Bernice Fischer as well as Doris and Larry Chase, Hannah Waterman Shields, Mary Straub, Karl Reinarz, Karen Gott and Dr. Marcia Neel, to name just a few.
St. Rose blooms
One of the community's most beloved events is the Mardi Gras Ball, in its 48th year, and scheduled to be presented Feb. 5 by the St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and Health Foundation at Bellagio in its new tower.
This year's theme is inspired by Shakespeare's words, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Shakespeare wrote "Romeo and Juliet" during the same decade when Rose de Lima, for whom the hospital is named, dedicated her life's work to God.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival and Nevada Ballet Theatre are supporting the creative development of the gala.
A splendid evening, gourmet dinner and spectacular auction items are just part of the magic planned for this evening to benefit the community outreach services of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals in our community. For reservations and other details, call St. Rose Dominican Health Foundation at 616-7630 or go to www.mardigrasball.org.
archive
