On Thursday, March 20, 2014 the Opera Society celebrated the first day of spring with the Mad Hatters Luncheon and Election of Officers for 2014-2015 in the grand ballroom of the Josephine S. Leiser Opera Center. Thirty-eight guests donned their tea attire and maddest hats and were treated to a spectacular garden party straight from the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Guests were greeted with a beautiful display of jewelry and handbags by All Things Fabulous by Lisa Cooper and Collections by Maureen Jacobson as they sipped pink champagne with fruit and brie, and enjoyed the gifted Ann Rentoumis on piano.
True to theme, the room was decorated as the Mad Hatters garden party. Each table setting was a unique creation, loving designed and all donated by committee members; Barbara Parent, John Kovacs, Lianette Marquez, Susan Cordes, and Helena Caplan. Hats off to all of you!
A brief a brief business meeting was held prior to lunch to elect the new slate of officers for The Opera Society 2014-15. The slate as follows was unanimously elected:
Co-Presidents: Ruth Molina and Eric Koskoff
First Vice-President – Ways & Means: Liz Hopwood
Second Vice-President – Membership: Karen Mathieson
Third Vice-President – Public Relations: Betty Young
Corresponding Secretary: Linda Balent
Recording Secretary: Ted Belloise
Co-Treasurers: Gary Loft and Ann Clark
Kim Naimoli catered a magnificent lunch featuring: Tarragon Chicken Salad; Baby Greens with pecans, feta cheese and lemon vinaigrette; Lemony cucumber and prawn open face sandwiches; Goat cheese, walnut & roasted pepper finger sandwiches; Cupcakes, Chocolate covered strawberries and tea.
John Kovacs, our Mad Hatter introduced our very special guest judges for the Mad Hatters Hat Competition: Frances Herrera, Interior Designer; Brian Hero, Vice-President, Broker, ONE Sotheby’s International Realty; and Jason Hughes, General Manager of Classical South Florida. The winners in the hat competition were as follows:
Fit for a Queen – Vintage/Regal – Carole Nugent
Tea Time – Spring Tea Hat – Elaine North
The Mad Hatter – Whimsical/ Fun – Ann Rentoumis
A delightful time was had by all. Special thanks to committee members Barbara Parent, John Kovacs, Helena Caplan, Susan, Cordes, Lianette Marquez, and William Riddle, and to Ann Rentoumis, our pianist and Kim Naimoli for catering the event.
Enjoy the superb photos taken by Betty Young.
Karen Mathieson – Event Chair
