NOOL held a successful Benefit/Event Oct 13, 2019 at the remodeled Harcourt Mansion owned by John & Anya Rudd. Hardy appetizers were followed by a catered buffet, desserts with open bar of wine and beer. Six CIM members performed numerous opera selections accompanied by pianist Germain Fancois. NOOL V.P. Greg Polyak MC’d, & NOOL CEO Carole Roske thanked the audience for their attendance and the Rudd’s for opening their magnificent home for the benefit. CIM Head of Voice & Opera Dean Southern thanked NOOL for their dedication to helping Opera in N. Ohio and planning such a fine event. Guests toured the magnificent home and luxurious multi- tiered gardens and flowing streams.
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.
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.
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.
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.