Tulsa World, Okla., Danna Sue Walker Column: April Showers Bring Aviator Ball, Designer Showcase

By Danna Sue Walker, Tulsa World, Okla.

Feb. 11–Every little boy’s dream used to be to grow up to become a cowboy or an astronaut.

The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetaruium is combining those fantasies with “Space Cowboys,” its fifth Aviator Ball gala on April 28.

Flights on unique aircraft will be among the items on the auction block when auctioneer Ed Vierheller takes the floor.

Live entertainment by Jack Spratt and The Ambassadors will focus on the Oklahoma Centennial celebration.

The past, present and future will be highlighted through Will Rogers impersonator Doug Watson, former Gov. Frank Keating will speak on the Oklahoma present and the future will be represented with information about Oklahoma’s Burns Flat Space Port facility.

Guests will get a preview of “Astronaut,” the new Bertelsmeyer Planetarium presentation, opening to the public in May.

Proceeds will help fund educational programming for the Sherman and Ellie Smith Hangar One Museum and the James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium.

Katheryn Pennington, TASM executive director, noted that each year the Aviator Ball’s goal is to raise $100,000, 10 percent of the annual operating budget. As a result of last year’s event, the museum was able to hire an additional educator.

Lamar Miller, Oneok Inc. senior vice president and Aviator Ball patron chairman, said, “I support the educational programs because they reach out to all families. TASM maintains a scholarship fund so rural and economically challenged school districts may benefit from the science exposure at the museum and planetarium. This is a hidden jewel for northeast Oklahoma.”

Glenn and Judy Wright are 2007 Aviator Ball honorary chairs. Glenn, TASM’s first president, grew up in Tulsa.

“I want future generations to know about Tulsa’s vivid aviation history so they will value their heritage and understand Tulsans’ sacrifices,” he said. “It just made sense for me to be involved and for TASM to use the aerospace artifacts to teach the kids about math and science.”

“Space Cowboys” committee members include Susan Eck, event chairwoman; Helen Inbody, event vice-chairwoman; Lamar and Pam Miller, patron chairs; Barbara Smallwood and John Esposito, auction chairs; Carol Webb, entertainment chairwoman; Donna Dundee and Julia Moore, food chairwomen; Charlene Pennington, decorations chairwoman; Fred Parkhill, beverages and cigars chairman; Loretta Chisum Jones, operations chairwoman; and Don Davis, security and parking chairman.

Major contributors include Sun patrons James E. Bertelsmeyer, Martin Foundation and McGill Foundation. Jupiter patrons are BKD LLC, Ray and Linda Booker, Kivisto Family Foundation and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology.

Saturn patrons are Brothers & Co., Bank of Oklahoma, Helicomb International Inc., Oneok Inc., Parkhill’s Liquor and Wines, QuikTrip Corp. and Trust Co. of Oklahoma. Uranus patrons are Larry and Janet Anduss, Espo Construction, F&M Bank and Trust Co., Hille Foundation, Leinbach Co., Mingo Aerospace, Omni Air Transport, and Tulsa Community College. Neptune patrons are Adams Hall Asset Management, Caprock Equities, Graber & Associates, Gary Goss, Bobbi Hunt, McKee & Bowker CPA Inc., ONB Bank and Trust Co., Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, Lee and Grace Raney and Allen and Barbara Smallwood.

Tulsa-area restaurants are providing appetizers, dinner and desserts. Guests will enjoy complimentary wine and beer, have a smoke in the cigar tent, and receive a complimentary party photo.

The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium’s mission is to educate young people in math, science and technology using an aerospace environment.

The Aviator Ball funds fieldtrips for public, private and home-schooled students; summer camps; a robotics club for ages 9-14; Boy and Girl Scouts merit badge workshops; Camp Fire USA emblem workshops; overnight camps; mini camps; an aerospace art competition; and a student flight lab.

Museum tours and hands-on experiments are designed to motivate students to experience math and science at an early age, Pennington said.

For reservations to the Aviator Ball, call 834-9900, ext. 112. Tickets are $75. The museum, 3624 N. 74th East Ave., is a nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.

The home known as the Million Dollar Bungalow is this spring’s Designer Showcase 2007.

The Flannigan/Herrington home, 2202 S. Madison Ave., in Maple Ridge’s Sunset Terrace, will be open to the public from April 27 to May 20.

Thanks to the support from the community, patrons and designers, proceeds from the Designer Showcase benefit the Foundation for Tulsa Schools.

The home will be available for private parties beginning April 7. It is a unique place for wedding showers, receptions, dinner clubs, business functions or graduation celebrations.

The cost is $400 for the first 25 people and $12 per person thereafter, with a maximum of 250. Party hosts must provide catering and clean up.

Decorators, committee members, and corporate and individual patrons viewed the home prior to its transformation at the recent Patron’s Empty House Party. Showcase chairwoman Stephanie Horne and coordinator Paula Dellavedova greeted everyone along with designer liaison Michael Beard and Rachel Maze, FTS executive director.

The Mediterranean-style home has five living areas, four bedrooms and four full baths. The domed room, referred to as the Palm Room, has a marble floor, four wall niches, and is flanked by marble columns.

Showcase designers are Susan Murray, Lea Sutton, Hari Lu Ames, Lynn Knight Jessee, Corey Van Cleave, Debbie Zoller, Marilyn Dallarosa, Erin Harp, Susan Eddings, Tom Roberts, Robin Rodgers, Andrea Garner, Sally Davies, Jason Hale, Joannie Sibole, Kathleen Mowry, Jane Butts, GK Griffin, Jeff Evans, Brenda Rice and Gina Miller, Ginni Jacobs and Jolene Stevens, Pam Cooper, and Jennifer McMahon.

Corporate sponsors include the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Williams Cos., Tulsa People, Tulsa World, Chase Bank, Frederic Dorwart Lawyers, KTUL channel 8, The Gardener’s Elves, Hardwood Floors of Tulsa, AEP-PSO, Samson, Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, Jackson Family Foundation, First Fidelity Bank, Helmerich & Payne Inc., Summit Bank, The Hesser Group Morgan Stanley, Nadel and Gussman, MidFirst Bank, Lobeck Taylor Foundation, Lorene Cooper Hasbrouck Charitable Trust, Julie and Tom Adelson Family Fund, Medcenter, Gable & Gotwals, East Tulsa Dodge, Coco & Rose Salon, Royce Myers Art Ltd., Triad IMS, Camille’s Sidewalk Caf[ 191] at KingsPointe Village, TNT Security Systems and Union Bank.

Patrons are Jennifer and Steve Allen, Lea Ann and Steven Anagnost, Joy Bankoff, Dee Ann and Marty Beal, Mary and Roger Blais, Suzie and Tony Bogle, ‘K’ and Tim Caldwell, Cristie and George Carstens, Jamie and Sharon Cash, Katherine and Rich Castleberry, Candice Cheeseman, Carri Clark, Roberta and Stacy Clark, Jacquelyn and Donald Cohn, Valerie and Patrick Conway, Stephanie and Robby Coon, Dedee and Craig Cottrell,Valerie and David Craig, Tamela and Bill Doyle, Judy and Bill Doyle, Catherine and Gentner Drummond, Ruth Ann Fate, Debbie Gladd, Kelly and Chuck Greenough, Norma Harris, Susan Harris, Catherine and Steve Hickman, Stephanie and Greg Horne, Katy and Brian Hunt, Martina and David Jelley, Conny and Nick Lucas, Coe/P.A. McGinley, Tom and Stacey McKeon, Beverly Monnett, Bill Kellough, Kay and Royce Myers, and Kara Gae Neal.

Patrons also include Patti and Phil Richards, Shea and Bruce Roach, Susan and Bob Rorschach, Paula and Phil Scalzo, Beverly and Richard Schafer, Jenelle Schatz, Michele and D.C. Smith, Marilyn Strange, Donna Swank, Barbara and Dave Sylvan, Susie Thornbrugh, Beverly and Mike Tolson, Nancy and Bryan Van Doren, Susan and Bill Walker, Peter M. Walter, Sheryl and Bob Wiruth, Robert W. McGregor, Joanna and Dennis Wulf.

This year’s steering committee includes Kay Myers, Julie Adelson, Suzie Bogle, Roberta Clark, Katy Hunt, Suzanne Kneale, Julie Robards, Kim Smith, Ann White, Sara Younger, Tamela Doyle, Angie Lucas, Beth Pielsticker, Lorie Stonebarger, Holly Park, Beverly Tolson, Monica Martin, Dyana Harrison, Catherine Hickman, Sandy Gardner, Valerie DeMarco, Amy Duck and Shea Roach.

For more information, call 902-0809. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Advance tickets will be available beginning April 1 at The Market, Williams-Sonoma, Windsor Market, Summit Bank, Barnes & Noble (5231 E. 41st St. location) and participating designer locations.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tulsa World, Okla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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