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Northern Ohio Opera League

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NOOL History

The Cleveland Opera League came into being to help Cleveland Opera. COL basically did the same thing NOOL does today but gave funds only to Cleveland Opera as it’s “Little Board”. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were given with $200,000 being given in its last year of existence. The COL had over 400 hundred members and started the famous Opera Spring Balls and Fashion Shows.

When Cleveland Opera merged with Cleveland Lyric Opera and went into what is now a 9 year hiatus the COL was closed.

Out of it many of the same members especially Francis & Alice Gross started NOOL. The difference was to help Opera survive and thrive in the greater Cleveland area instead of being tied to only one opera company. As you can see by our photos we have held many events to raise money for this fine cause. House parties and Masquerade Balls, Dancing With the Dinosaurs, Opera Spring Ball, while smaller venues such as Dances at the Yacht Club, Tea Dances, Lobster Bakes are more for the enjoyment of paying members or guests versus raising money. So while smaller than the original COL NOOL still has its goal of helping Greater Cleveland area opera survive.

NOOL is a completely volunteer operated Non-Profit with no salaries or financial reward to any of its members. Costs to run a program are all done through member dues and guest ticket sales, silent auctions and donations to our various events. Grants are being sought for future event programs.

So please contact us if you wish to join us, host a house party that all guests will to tell their friends , “That was the best house party I have ever been to”, or attend one of our events.

Sincerely, Greg Polyak

EMAIL US


NoOhioOperaLeague@aol.com

Donors/Sponsors/People of Recognition

Mary Hamlin was NOOL’s President for 7 years before her passing in 2017. She also led the local chapter of Daughters of the British Empire, was a Board Member of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation and the personal British Garden caretaker for decades. She was a proper, gentle lady who helped NOOL in its early years with steadfast devotion to Opera. Such dedicated board members should always be remembered. She is pictured below with her husband Clive during NOOL’s Dancing With the Dinosaurs Benefit at the Cleveland History Museum.

Clive Hamlin & wife NOOL President Mary Hamlin.

John Ingold and Phyllis Donnelly Ingold. This couple have been worker bees in numerous organizations for decades including the Cleveland Opera League and Charter members of NOOL. In many instances they maintained address lists, created fliers and invitations as well as reserving venues, ordering meals and almost everything else needed to create benefits. John was more of the administrator, set up and tear down worker for Phyllis while Phyllis was the creative half of the partnership. No one ever donated so many silent auction items as John and Phyllis. Fussy how everything gets done their personal friendships helped fill many a venue.

John Ingold and NOOL Membership Chairlady Phyllis Donnely-Ingold.

Greg and Marcia Snavely Polyak. This couple were on the Cleveland Opera Board and Charter members of NOOL. Marcia is locally famous for her piano playing just about every benefit gig and party. Most often she donates her professional playing abilities helping each organization make a profit. She is known to have music put in front of her moments before playing it for the professional. This sight reading ability allows her to play just about any style of music making her a very busy pianist for so many groups they can’t all be listed. But being a professional musician continually since age six was only half of her story as she was also a Chemist for 40 years.

Greg is a worker bee having been the following: V.P., Secretary, NOOL Webmaster/creator as well as NOOL’s Facebook web page master, 2nd V.P., event Chair, Master of Ceremonies, usually hired the entertainment, helped with event set up and tear down and more. Together they always Donated Silent Auction items as well as buying many of other silent auction items at every single benefit. Greg is also on numerous other nonprofit boards doing similar work on each board be it an Orchestra, Arts, Ethnic, International Grant group or Wine Tasting Society. With 10 kids, 20 Grandkids with 2 more arriving in 2019 they are the Energizer Bunnies of Cleveland’s nonprofits.

Greg Polyak and Marcia Polyak

Important Donors/Sponsors: There are a number of ways to donate to NOOL. There is Cash, Silent Auction Items, Membership dues at different levels, Hosting a benefit in one’s home, and providing Prize money or by Paying stipends to entertainers. The list will never be perfect. It contains names of people who have donated over many years to those who have donated for shorter periods of time but in larger ways. So please excuse any failures, exclusions or other wrongs but feel free to contact me for additions or corrections. Additions to the list will continue making it a living expanding praise of thanks. To be continued.