Letter from the President
Dear Royal Dames,
It is so difficult for me to believe that my term as your president has come to an end. What a wonderful, successful and memorable time it was.
Our Fall Membership luncheon, beautifully organized by Betty Koontz and her lovely daughter Michelle, was a perfect way to begin our year.It was great fun reconnecting with our friends after the long summer. In addition, we welcomed many new and talented members to our orgnization.
Our 40th Anniversary Ruby Tiara Ball under the chairmanship of Anna Tranakas and Elise Gates in addition to their hard working committee was a spectacular and magically organized event. This gala was enjoyed by all while at the same time raising funds for RGI. What a wonderfully elegant evening it was!
The fabulous parties hosted this year by Linda and Doug Von Allmen, Sharon Gustafson and Barry Florescue, Dr. Nicholas and Anna Tranakas and Carol Harrison, Sharron Navarro and Silvia Mansons, Judy Droder and Zola Keller gave us a tremendous opportunity to get to know one another a bit better. We celebrated our accomplishments and continued to focus on our mission of raising funds for cancer research.
In spite of this “economically challenged year” the Royal Dames were able to present Dr. George Hanbury, President of Nova Southeastern University with a check for $160,000 at our gala spring luncheon! Linda Haury and Jo Anne Lewis did a sensational job of chairing this event.
A thank you to all our hostesses, members, board of trustees and our officers who were here for me all year: Lorraine Thomas with membership and more; Nell Lewis McGuire for overseeing all of our fundraisers; Pat Rowe keeping us on track financially; Sandy Romanovitz getting us the recognition in the media we so deserve; Ann Rentoumis and Linda Haury taking care of remembering and thanking everyone; Linda Balent, our super recording secretary; and Sharron Navarro, our past president, for all her wisdom and guidance. I could not have done it without all of your love and support.
The Royal Dames were not the only ones recognizing the uniqueness of our members this year. The 1000+ Plus Club Women of the Year luncheon honored Dr. Nell Lewis McGuire, Pat Rowe, Carol Nugent and Silvia Mansons. Our own Robin Hirschman was crowned Mrs. Florida US 2010. Lorraine Thomas was honored by Children’s Home Society and Women in Distress, Linda Von Allmen, Janet Davis, Rita Case, Arlene Pecora, Summer Robertson and Julie Saumsiegle and yours truly were named amongest the 100 outstanding women in Broward County.
These were merely a few of the awards and recognitions our Dames received for their selfless work in our community. There were so many more.
We welcome all of our new members who have added much to our membership and have energized us. I wish the board of Trustees under the fine leadership of incoming president Janet Davis a wonderful and fun year.
I encourage you all to volunteer for one of the Tiara Ball committees. This year’s ball promises to be fantastic under the direction of Sharon Gustafson and her two lovely daughters Susan Rindley and Shannon Brooks.
I will always treasure my year as your president and consider you all “my favorite Dream Team.”
Have a safe and blessed summer.
Warmest regards,
Marietta Glazer
Royal Dames Celebrate Their 2009
Spring Membership Luncheon
by Sandy Romanovitz, Photos by Kevin Lane
Our Spring Membership Luncheon was chaired by Linda Haury and JoAnne Lewis and held at one of our favorite restaurants, Capital Grille at the Galleria in Fort Lauderdale.
As we arrived we were warmly greeted by our lovely and cheerful registration ladies, Mary Kay Follin, Betty Koontz and Peggy Sudbrink.
Besides being a membership luncheon, there was another twist. JoAnne and Linda chose a theme – “Go Green.” Our luncheon chairs were so creative in keeping with the green theme, we were treated to Green Apple Martinis “appletinis,” a delicious organic champagne and iced tea served during the reception. The dining room looked so pretty with centerpieces on each table displaying crystal bowls in the shape of an apple set atop a mirrored rectangle and filled with, what else, green apples! These centerpieces were compliments of 
Carol Harrison and Barbara Lefka. In addition, at each seat was placed a very attractive useful recycled bag procured by Janet Davis from Whole Foods entitled “i love my home planet earth”. The bags contained gifts from Neiman Marcus which Janet was able to obtain as well. Thank you Carol, Barbara and Janet! A very big thank you as well to Renee' Quinn. Renee' is responsible for the donation from Premier Beverage of all the wine, champagne and those delicious "appletinis!"
As we were seated for the luncheon Royal Dames President Marietta Glazer welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. She spoke of the remarkable year we have had and offered special appreciation and gratitude to Nell Lewis McGuire, Vice President/Ways and Means, with whom she worked so closely throughout the year. Marietta recognized and expressed her appreciation as well to the members of the Executive Board and Board of Trustees for all of their hard work and accomplishments of this past year. As everyone knows, our Ruby Tiara Ball was a wonderful success, thanks to Chairs Dr. Jason and Elise Gates and Dr. Nicholas and Anna Tranakas. It was also noted that Royal Dames’ smaller fund raising events were successful in adding a little more to the coffers and what fun they were for everyone who had attended.
Marietta thanked the luncheon chairs Jo Anne Lewis and Linda Haury for the fabulous Go Green Luncheon and invited them to the podium to be applauded as they were presented with colorful spring bouquets.
Membership Vice President Lorraine Thomas introduced and welcomed new Royal Dame Members Debbie Day, Debbie Dolchin, Mary Kozaras and Julie Saumsiegle. Lorraine also announced the new Life Members Diana Kelly and Mary Kozaras. The ladies were all presented with lovely pink roses.
The new 2010 Tiara Ball Chairs, a mother and daughters team Sharon Gustafson, Shannon Brooks and Susan Rindley were announced. Sharon, Shannon and Susan, so appropriately dressed in white, each took a turn in enthusiastically informing everyone with details about the Ball and that the theme for this year’s Tiara Ball is “The White Ball-White Out Cancer!” They encouraged everyone to sign up to either chair or be a member of a committee.
Dr. George Hanbury, President and COO of Nova Southeastern University, was in attendance. Dr. Hanbury accepted a check from the Royal Dames in the amount of $160,000 for the Rumbaugh–Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research. In accepting the check Dr. Hanbury thanked us for our untiring efforts and reported a new $100 million dollar building program that will include a new and expanded facility for the Institute on the Nova campus. Dr. Fred Lippman, Chancellor Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division, was also in attendance and spoke of some of the new patent-pending protocols developed at the Institute.
Marietta, as outgoing President, in her most unique and generous fashion showing her appreciation presented to every Board Member a beautiful silk scarf. As she called each individual member up to the podium to receive her gift, she described the colors in the scarf and quoted a sentiment for each color to match the different personality characteristics of the individual. It was amazing how the colors were so apropos to each person. Unique indeed!
The Executive Board Members and Board of Trustees Members for the year 2010-2011 were announced.
Nell Lewis McGuire, Vice President/Ways and Means, presented Marietta with a gold tiara pin surrounded with diamonds on behalf of the membership. Marietta was very touched and expressed her appreciation.
It is notable that in addition to the gourmet cuisine and desserts, this beautiful luncheon was topped off with “Go Green Chocolate Martinis!” Nice touch – and yummy!
Last, but not least, Robin Hirschman, a long-time member of the Royal Dames, a past president and a ball chair had just days before been crowned Mrs. Florida United States 2010 at the pageant in Orlando. To the delight of everyone, Robin arrived at the luncheon in her brilliant Mrs. Florida crown and the official Mrs. Florida United States 2010 Banner. This title will qualify her to attend the Mrs. United States Pageant in Las Vegas in July. She’s going for it! Good Luck, Robin, you’ll knock ‘em dead!
Congratulations Jo Anne and Linda on an environmentally friendly, fun and elegant luncheon!
A Greek Lamb Bake to an Ocean Side Clam Bake
by Sandy Romanovitz, Photos by Kevin Lane and Sandy Romanovitz
There’s been some “smokin” hot fundraising by us Royal Dames this past year for cancer research!
Anna and Dr. Nicholas Tranakas and with the help of daughter Marie and son Anthony in the Greek style as only they can held a Greek Feast/
Lamb Roast in their beautiful home. The event was catered by Taverna Kyma, owned by the Tranakas’ cousin, Caliope Tsialamanis. In addition to the roasting of the lamb, Nicholas’ specialty, there were other authentic Greek dishes too numerous to list here, but so incredibly delicious everyone just raved – and indulged. We enjoyed cocktails and a lovely Greek red wine, and, as a big surprise, a belly dancer, Roberta Albuquerque, who was so gracious as to invite those who wished to dance with her. Too much fun!
Dr. George Hanbury, President and COO of Nova Southeastern University, was also in attendance accompanied by his wife, Jana. Dr. Hanbury thanked everyone for their years of support and shared the exciting news of a $100 million dollar building project that will include a greatly expanded Rumbaugh-Goodwin Cancer Research facility. Dr. Hanbury expressed the hope that the driving mission of the Royal Dames…..
to find a cure for cancer, would be enhanced and realized with their continued funding and the breakthrough therapies being discovered over the past two decades.
Thank you Anna, Nicholas and Family for the exposure to so many aspects of delicacies of Greek cuisine, drink – and the dance! OPA! We were all Greek for a night!
HOT! HOT! HOT! Carol Harrison, Silvia Mansons and Sharron Navarro sure do know how to throw a clam bake! The clam bake was held at the Surf Club on Harbor Beach – and what a night it was! We began our sultry evening with, of course, everything tropic. Carol, Silvia and Sharron had set the mood with adorable and fun “beachy” decorations and the centerpieces were brightly colored containers of sand with battery votives and shells inserted and arranged in the sand. So cute! We were all dressed in cool, fun and tropical attire as we imbibed in our favorite tropical cocktails, or whatever your pleasure, delicious hors d’ oeuvres, enjoying a barefoot walk in the sand and partying to the keyboard sounds of Les Blachut.
Carol, Sharron and Silvia welcomed everyone and thanked Annette Ross, President of the Harbor Beach Property Homeowners Association for donating Harbor Beach Surf Club for the event. Bankie Benton announced that she and her husband Bill were offering a vacation at their lovely home in Virginia for auction and encouraged everyone to bid. Kathleen and Tom Topor won! Have fun you two, it’s a beautiful home in a gorgeous location!
She then acknowledged Harvey Young. Harvey, on behalf of the Royal Knights of Chivalry, presented the Royal Dames with a donation of $2,000 in support of the Clam Bake. Sharron, speaking for all of us, expressed our appreciation.
After all this we got down to the serious business of what a clam bake’s all about. We donned our bibs and dug in! Gorgeous whole steamed lobsters, marinated chicken, baby back ribs, corn on the cob, wonderful salads and followed by dessert of tasty and juicy watermelon.
The night proceeded to get even hotter as we started dancing! It was a great way for some of our new members and potential new members to experience first hand how the Royal Dames raise money for cancer research – and have so much fun doing it! Thanks Carol, Silvia and Sharron for a FUN, FUN, FUN evening! The Ark Restaurant provided the delicious clambake. Thank you Navarro Security for the use of the golf cart!
Ruby Tiara Ball Wrap-up Luncheon
by Sandy Romanovitz, Photos by Sandy Romanovitz
Scott Schaefer, Director of Catering, on behalf of Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six arranged a Tiara Ball wrap-up luncheon at their Pier Sixty Six Top. They underwrote this luncheon as appreciation for the numerous occasions we Royal Dames have held spring and fall luncheons and Tiara Balls using their hotel as our venue.
As we enjoyed delicious cuisine overlooking the spectacular views of Fort Lauderdale, our President Marietta Glazer and Vice President/Ways and Means Nell Lewis McGuire 
congratulated our Ruby Tiara Ball Chairs, Elise Gates and Anna Tranakas on a wonderfully successful Tiara Ball. Anna and Elise were praised for providing such a beautiful gala within the parameters of a very limited budget; and that we were looking forward to proudly presenting Nova Southeastern University Rumbaugh–Goodwin Institute for Cancer Res
earch a check reflecting our fund raising efforts throughout the year at our Spring Membership Luncheon.
Scott was in attendance and we sincerely thanked and applauded him for being so accommodating on our behalf throughout the year and for the lovely wrap-up luncheon.
Champagne and Music
by Sandy Romanovitz, Photos by Kevin Lane
Carol Harrison graciously hosted a chamber concert in her beautiful home for a first time innovative fund raiser benefitting the Royal Dames. Nell Lewis McGuire, Royal Dames Vice President/Ways and Means in partnership with Station Manager Douglas Evans of Classical Radio 89.7 organized this most enjoyable classical home concert. As the champagne flowed and butlered hors d’ oeuvres passed, we were en-raptured by the bravura of Robert DeGaetano at Carol’s magnificent grand piano as he performed works of Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninov as 
well as his own original music. Robert DeGaetano is a world class concert pianist who has played to standing ovations in major concert halls around the world.
Thank you, Carol, for your warm and gracious hospitality. Also, we express our appreciation to Classical Radio for providing us with the musician Robert DeGaetano; and our gratitude to Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six for underwriting this “classical” evening for our enjoyment.
An Update From
Dr. Appu Rathinavelu
by Sandy Romanovitz, Photos by Kevin Lane
We are in the process of finalizing our claims with the patent examiner and hopefully that will lead to the approval of, at least one of the drug compounds from the first application. Approval of the patent protection is the major event that is expected to occur between now and in the next few months. Dr. Margules and his patent attorney have been working very diligently with the patent office and strategically overcoming several hurdles. Secondly, in collaboration with RGI Dr. Miro Gantar of FIU is submitting a grant proposal for identifying anti-cancer compounds from Cynaobacteria that are growing in Florida Everglades. Hopefully all these efforts will come to fruition soon.
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Kaye Lynn Northcutt |
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