Invitations ready for Gala

The 2007 Laird Memorial Hospital Foundation Gala committee wants you – to attend the annual Gala on Saturday, February 3, 2007 in the National Guard Armory on Stone Road.

The theme for the gala is Hooray for Hollywood, and it promises to have all of the glitz, glamour and excitement of the biggest Hollywood premieres of all time. Those attending will be able to recall their favorite classic movie stars and feel just like they are part of those glorious days of movie history past.

The road to any successful event begins with invitations, and according to the committee, the invitations for the gala have been stuffed and are ready to send out. Volunteers gathered Thursday to stuff the thousand or so invitations to the festivity, and they will be sent out accordingly so people can begin to make their reservations for the big night.

Sally Beane, a multi-talented Kilgore resident who is always willing to lend her talents to worthy causes, has once again chaired the invitations committee. Mrs. Beane, a tireless civic worker who donates countless hours throughout the year, has undertaken this job for the past few years and very expertly sets the stage for those attending the gala by creating an invitation which makes the receiver want to purchase tickets immediately.

“There are many facets to making the gala a success,” Phyllis Schleier, co-chairman with Amber Abell, commented. “Sally sets the stage perfectly each and every year by creating a theme-oriented invitation that is elegant, exciting and very expertly promotes the theme for that year. We are greatly indebted to her for her hard work, which must be culminated during the height of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.”

Mrs. Beane, a noted artist in the East Texas area, said it was her pleasure to do what she can for the local hospital.

“Of all of the fund raising activities we have in Kilgore every year, I truly believe the Laird Memorial Hospital Foundation Gala is at or near the top of the list,” she said. “It is important for the residents of Kilgore to have the best medical care possible, and by attending the gala and supporting our hospital we allow the administration and board of that facility to give us that expert care we all desire.”

No hint was given as to the nature of the invitation by either the co-chairs or the designer

herself, but if history repeats itself, and we truly believe it will, then the piece that is mailed to Kilgore and area residents will be a truly magic keepsake that is treasured well past the February gala date.

And, hospital officials want residents to be sure and realize that not only those who receive invitations are able to come to the gala.

“The invitation list is comprised of those who have attended the gala over the past few years and is in no way meant to exclude any person or persons who want to attend the festivity,” Kathleen Brown, a Laird Hospital Gala employee commented. “As long as there is seating available, anyone who wants to purchase tickets is eligible to attend the event.”

She was very emphatic about making sure that people realize that the guest list is not only open to those receiving invitations.

“The Laird Memorial Hospital is all of Kilgore’s hospital to support, not just people who are on an invitation list,” she said. “I cannot stress enough that this event is open to any person who wishes to purchase tickets. The only way a person will not be able to come is if they wait until all of the seats are sold and then try to buy tickets.”

Beginning this next week, reservations will probably begin to fill very fast for the gala, according to organizers, so those who want to attend should not wait until the last minute to purchase their tickets or tables.

“Because of the interest we have already received from potential attendees, this year the reservations could fill up very quickly,” Brown said. “So, we are urging people to get their names on the roster as quickly as possible so they will not miss out on the social event of the season.”

Patrons of the gala are also reminded that the car raffle tickets are now available for sale at $100 each. The vehicles for this year include a Ford Fusion and a Ford F-150 pickup. Those tickets are available from any one of the hospital foundation members or at the hospital administration office.

The Laird Behavioral Health Center will be the beneficiary of the hospital gala this year. This facility, which aides elderly people with a variety of services, has been such a wonderful asset that it is needing to be expanded. So, the funds raised from the gala will go to help offset the cost of adding additional beds to the Laird Behavioral Heath Center.