NATIONAL ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION
GALA DINNERS
FALL 2005 GALA DINNER
On October 27, 2005, the National Orchestral Association held a Gala dinner at the Lotos Club in New York City honoring Burton R. Rubin, Esq., who is Of Counsel to Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP (a major international law firm), as well as longtime Officer and Director of The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company. He is a former President of the Board of Trustees of Woodmere Academy, was the first non-graduate member of the Board of Baruch College Leadership Fund, and a longtime patron of both the New York Philharmonic and The Lincoln Center Theatre.
He has also been involved with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood through the Koussevitzky Society. Mr. Rubin has also been a longtime supporter of Tufts University where, in his undergraduate days, he put his years of training and love of music to use, supplementing his income as leader of Burt Rubin and the Swingers, playing saxophone, clarinet, and flute.
FALL 2002 GALA DINNER
On October 3, 2002, the National Orchestral Association held a Gala black-tie dinner at the Union Club in New York City honoring Tom McClain, Chief Executive Officer of Navitaire, Inc. (a leading provider of software and services that enhance airline operating profits).
Tom McClain has been a loyal supporter of the NOA, and sponsored an extremely successful NOA luncheon for business leaders in New York in 2001. His accomplishments in the airline industry, and his commitment to the arts made him a fitting honoree for the NOA’s 2002 Gala. We were delighted to be able to recognize Tom’s many achievements, and to host an evening that paid tribute to this extraordinary executive.
FALL 2001 GALA DINNER
On October 4, 2001, the National Orchestral Association held a Gala black-tie dinner in New York honoring Steven B. Allnatt, Director of Public Affairs and Employee Communications for American Express Travel Related Services of Salt Lake City.
The Board of Directors of the National Orchestral Association chose Mr. Allnatt as its honoree at the Fall Gala in order to recognize his many accomplishments, including his commitment and support of many worthwhile civic and cultural organizations. Mr. Allnatt and American Express have generously supported the activities of many of Utah’s leading cultural institutions, including the Utah Opera Company, the Salt Lake Acting Company, and the Utah Symphony. In addition, Mr. Allnatt and American Express have supported the important work being done by the Park City Arts Foundation, which recently received a significant grant from American Express. The National Orchestral Association is most grateful for Mr. Allnatt=s support, and that of American Express in helping to make the NOA’s musical outreach programs available to students in Utah. The Association is proud of its affiliation with American Express, and is pleased to have had this opportunity to recognize Mr. Allnatt=s leadership role in Utah's cultural life.
FALL 2000 GALA DINNER
On September 19th, the National Orchestral Association held a gala black-tie dinner at New York's exclusive Lotos Club honoring Thomas E. Lazour. The Board of the National Orchestral Association was pleased to be honoring the many accomplishments of Mr. Lazour, who is District Director of Civic and Promotional Affairs for Delta Air Lines in Salt Lake City.
A native of Worcester,
Massachusetts, Mr. Lazour began his career in 1973 as a Customer Service Agent
for Delta in Boston, where he later became a marketing representative for the
company. In 1988, he assumed responsibilities as Delta's Marketing Manager for
Walt Disney World, and in 1990 was named District Marketing Manager for all of
Southwest Florida. Following his success in Florida, Mr. Lazour became District
Marketing Manager in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was later promoted to key
management positions in Corporate Communications and Olympic Marketing based in
Atlanta. In 1996, Mr. Lazour was named Regional Manager for International
Relationship Marketing for Delta in London, England, and in 1999 was elevated to
the newly created position of District Director of Civic and Promotional Affairs
for Delta at its strategic hub in Salt Lake City.
The Board of Directors of the National Orchestral Association chose Mr. Lazour as its honoree at the Fall Gala in order to recognize his many accomplishments, including his commitment and support of many worthwhile civic and cultural organizations, such as the George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Center for the Performing Arts in Park City. His work on behalf of the Eccles Center has had an important impact on Park City and the surrounding communities. Mr. Lazour and Delta Air Lines have also enabled National Orchestral Association musicians to come to Park City and Sundance for educational outreach visits and concerts in both communities. The National Orchestral Association is most grateful for Mr. Lazour's support, and that of Delta Air Lines in helping to make these musical outreach programs available to students in Utah.
SPRING 2000 GALA DINNER
On May 10th, the National Orchestral Association held a gala black-tie dinner at New York's exclusive Lotos Club honoring John J. Gilbert. The Board of the National Orchestral Association was pleased to honor the many accomplishments of Mr. Gilbert, who is President of the Ruffy Corporation, a diversified real estate and investment firm established in 1923.
Mr. Gilbert is also widely known in the corporate world as an early champion of stockholder rights. He and his late brother Lewis D. Gilbert were instrumental in winning rights for individual shareholders to submit resolutions and attend annual meetings. Their work on behalf of shareholders was affirmed in the famous Transamerica Decision (1946), which upheld Justice Biggs' controversial ruling giving rights to individual shareholders to submit resolutions for consideration at annual corporate meetings. Mr. Gilbert is also widely known for his philanthropy, and serves as President of the Lewis D. and John J. Gilbert Fund for Corporate Democracy, and is the Founding Trustee of the Lewis D. and John J. Gilbert Foundation. Mr. Gilbert is proud to be a supporter of The GRADS Foundation, Inc., which grants rewards and assistance to deserving students from economically depressed communities. Mr. Gilbert's other recent philanthropic efforts include sponsoring programs that bring the joy of clowns to underprivileged children and the elderly.
The National Orchestral Association was delighted that Mr. Gilbert's daughter, Mrs. Margot Gilbert Frank, acted as dinner chairmen for the May 10th gala. Mrs. Frank is a noted educator and philanthropist who is well known for her charitable endeavors on behalf of numerous organizations in the Denver area. She is currently a member of the committee which will be raising over $62 million to rebuild the University of Denver's Music and Theatre School. Mrs. Frank has been active in organizations devoted to the prevention of child abuse, and has been instrumental in raising money for the National Jewish Research Center, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. We were also pleased that Mr. Allan Frank, a distinguished attorney and philanthropist, joined his wife as a dinner co-chairman.
