The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce paid tribute to four community leaders at its annual dinner and meeting - the 104th - held in the Palm Court Ballroom at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg.
Annette Howard, who has been instrumental in the redevelopment of 22nd Street S, received the Chairman's Award.
Two awards were presented for outstanding contributions to the betterment of the community, to Carl M. Kuttler Jr., president of St. Petersburg College, and David Welch, a former City Council member who serves on numerous community boards.
Bill Protz of Catalina Marketing Corp. was presented the Paul L. Getting Member of the Year Award for his involvement in Chamber and other community activities.
Other duties kept me from staying for dinner, although I was able to visit during the social hour, where attendees included newlyweds Marcus Ibarguen and Cara Castle, Megan Bower, Barry Rothstein, B.A. Safley, Lisa Mets, Betsy Owens, Chris and Liz Stiles, Jay Fleece, Terry Brett, Brad and Christine Weigle, Leslie Ann Curry, Tony Collins, Karen White, Jean Krause, Doug Linder, Debbie Fischer, Janice Mobley and Najwa Hahn.
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Tuesday evening's reception for Karen White, the new vice president and campus executive officer at USF St. Petersburg, was a who's who of city business, cultural and political leaders, who crowded into the Marly Room and spilled into the outdoor courtyard at the Museum of Fine Arts.
The occasion also was to greet the 51 newly hired faculty and 10 additional staff.
"Welcome to the University of St. Pete-," Mayor Rick Baker said before correcting himself in remarks addressed to White and USF president Judy Genshaft. Whether accidental or deliberate, his slip of the tongue elicited laughter.
Others making brief remarks were Bill Habermeyer, representing sponsor Progress Energy; Don Shea, of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership; and Andy Barnes, of the St. Petersburg Times. The latter two were event co-sponsors.
Among the guests were White's predecessor Bill Heller, Jeff and Rita Wilkinson, Russ Sloan, Phil Graham, Fran Risser, Evelyn Craft, Herb Snitzer and Carol Dameron, Stephanie Goforth, Royce Haiman, James Bennett, Howard Ross, Karen Dunlap, Maria Scruggs-Weston, Mary D'Amico, David Welch, Ray Arsenault, Ron Hill, Roy Binger, Mancy Loehr, Bob and Martha Bruce, Ken Welch, Debora McFarlane, Lewis and Helga Andrews, Dr. Jim and Sunny Endicott, Roger Zeh, Al and Nancy Karnavicius, Bud and Mary Evertz, Marilyn Armstrong, Dar Webb and Clint Page, Guna and David Carr, Bob Haiman, Gus and Frances Stavros, Frank Farkas, Mary Wyatt Allen, Bruce and Mary Ann Marger, Peter and Dr. Susan Betzer, Bob Stewart, Ted and Jean Wittner, Donna Fleece, Andy and Betty Corty, Vern and Elise Farnsworth, Lee Manwaring Lowry, Robert Stackhouse and Carol Mickett, Tony Collins, George and Linda Rahdert, Jim Gillespie, Bill and Hazel Hough, John Collins, Alicia Bryan, Earnest Williams, Debbie Sembler, Connie Kone, Darryl LeClair and Katharine Ann Lake.
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Another assignment kept me away from the 90th anniversary celebration for the St. Petersburg Woman's Club on Sept. 12, where Joan Jaicks was chairwoman and Tilley Isley coordinated food.
Mrs. Jaicks provided details of the festivities, which included the club's most venerable members: Loretta McClleand, who celebrated her 103rd birthday July 4; Grace Post; and Maxine Winkiepleck.
Scott Taylor Hartzell, who writes articles about historic St. Petersburg for Neighborhood Times, entertained the group with anecdotes about news events in 1913, the year of the club's founding.
Its clubhouse on Snell Isle Boulevard was built in 1929 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
President Joanne Walker introduced past presidents, including Vera Brantley, Mary Barton-Skwarek, Bernice McCune, Marguerite Dawson and Lorraine Danna.
Other participants were Tilly Isley, Judy Meserve, Phyllis Powell, Beverly Nahon, Jeanne Nelson and Faith Keir.
Edie Pace, who celebrates her 90th birthday today, was present for the party; friends report that she remains an active sailor in the St. Petersburg Yacht Club's Salty Sisters group.
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That evening, more than 500 people attended the opening of three new shows at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.
Natasha Nickodem reported details of the event, which featured Imaginary Gardens: Joan Fontcuberta Mapping Dali's Landscapes, Galuchka: Dali's Russian Muse and Icon and Salvador Dali: Hand-Painted Dream Photographs, Selections From the Permanent Collection.
Respective curators for the exhibitions were William Jeffett, Peter Tush and Joan Kropf.
Director Hank Hine greeted guests, who were able to meet Fontcuberta.
Others attending were Eleanor Morse, Tom and Mary James, Bill and Hazel Hough, Emmanuel Roux and Jennifer Hardin, Karen White, Jim and Jeannine Hascall, Chris Allen, Mary Wyatt Allen, Katherine Franckle, Chris Fraser, Hal Freedman and Willi Rudowski, Dr. David and Cindy Law, Dr. Norval Marr and Ardith Rutland, Bud Rutland, Beau Rutland, Melissa Rutland, Ron and Pat Mason, Dr. Allen and Janet Root and the museum's director emeritus, Marshall Rousseau.
Other bay area venues were represented by Emily Kass, director of the Tampa Museum of Art; John Schloder, director of the Museum of Fine Arts; Margaret Miller, director of the USF Contemporary Art Museum and Graphicstudio; and Joanne Weber and Maureen Zarimba of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota.
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday
ANGELS AFTER DARK: Holiday gift mart benefits children's ministries at First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. Dozens of vendors offer arts, crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday gifts. Noon-9 p.m. Bank of America Tower, 200 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 560-4872.
Sept. 30
CHISELERS: Organization for preservation of historic Tampa Bay Hotel and grounds. 10:30 a.m. Tampa Yacht & Country Club, 5320 Interbay Blvd.
- Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
