The CSC Gala Happenings

As the 2008 Gala activities wind down, I've been reflecting on the entire experience. I started working at the CSC back in late November, and I think I actually had my first Gala meeting on my third day on the job.

It was at that meeting that I met Kelli and Chris McDonald, the co-chairs for this year's Gala. My first impression of them was that these were extremely competent, capable people, and they not only instilled confidence in me, but they made me feel confident that I could be an asset to them for the Gala.

That impression was completely on target. Kelli and Chris were amazingly helpful throughout the entire process of organizing the Gala, contributing to the auction, officiating the meetings. The word "helpful" doesn't really do them justice. They were the Gala.

Kelli had actually worked on the Gala in a staff capacity in the past, so she knew exactly what needed to be done from all perspectives. Linda Domeyer once mentioned to me that Kelli was extremely organized and schedule-oriented, but when she was on the staff, she was hesitant to solicit auction items. When she told me this, I laughed, because Kelli must have called me 100 times to ask if she could help with anything, including making solicitation calls. I think this is the mark of a true leader--someone who is willing to step outside of their comfort zone to make something great happen. Kelli and Chris embodied that characteristic.

So I want to thank the two of them for everything they did to make the Gala happen. If you see them at mass, I invite you to express your gratitude as well. Knowing how humble those two are, they'll probably shrug it off and say that it wasn't a big deal, but it is. It really is.