While 2018 Crystal Charity Ball Chair Claire Emanuelson was settling into her office, 2017 CCB Chair Pam Perella was putting on the finishing touches of the year with a reception for her committee on Friday, December 15, at her Beverly Drive home.
Originally scheduled for Thursday, December 14, the occasion was postponed to Friday due to the funeral service for Ruth Sharp Altshuler just blocks away at Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Claire Emanuelson and Pam Perella
Pat McEvoy and Shelle Sills
While the talk at the team was highlighted by the impressive event honoring Ruth, Shelle Sills summed it up by saying that the service had been an inspiration to do more for the community.
Charley
Meslissa Macatee, Bevin Shaw and Cindy Ethel
Beth Thoele, Patti Flowers and Leslie Diers
Elizabeth Gambrell, Sara Lee Gardner and Susan McSherry
Still there were other topics filling the Perella home site. Nine-year-old Yorkie Charley was the perfect host wagging his tail as he wandered throughout the guests, who reciprocated with pats and strokes. In the library a life-size Santa stood in the window. With a flip of the switch, he waved to drivers buy. Not back for a gent, who had been part of 2017 CCB First Husband Vin Perella’s childhood…Melissa Macatee reported that the first printing of her book, “Steeples of Texas,” was such a success, a second printing was on the horizon. In the meantime, she has two weddings in her future — daughter McBride Macatee will be waltzing down the aisle to wed Madison Oden in April and son George P. Macatee V will marry Kailee Wilson in June… Robyn Conlon was receiving congrats on her birthday… Pam Busbee arrived late into the festivities due to a retirement party for a 17-year staffer at her mid-rise… Caren Kline was all smiles with her mom, Bettye Whiteman, who had arrived from New York for the holidays… 2019 CCB Chair Pat McEvoy looked great despite having surgery the day before. She maintains that husband Charles McEvoy doesn’t realize what he’s gotten into as 2019 CCB First Husband… And then there was Vinnie Reuben, who after years of scrambling to match guests with tables and juggling all types of names behind the scenes was bidding a fond farewell at an active CCB member. She and husband/Neiman Marcus NorthPark Czar Malcolm Reuben were moving to California on Christmas day. Still, Vinnie the loyal CCB-er said the Reubens would still pop up for CCB in the years to come. Despite Vinnie’s protest for a going-away luncheon, her pal former CCB Chair Cynthia Mitchell had a book commemorating the Reuben’s years of friendship.
Pam Busbee and Christie Carter
Bettye Whiteman and Caren Kline
Kim Miller and Robyn Conlon
Vinnie Reuben and Cynthia Mitchell
As the ladies left to prepare for the holiday, Pam admitted that she hadn’t even begun to start planning for the holidays. A former CCB chair upon hearing Pam’s lament smiled and said, “Don’t worry. You have a great excuse.”
The next item on their agenda will be the selection of the 2018 beneficiaries. Stay tuned. That announcement will soon be announced.