Tip of the hat to outgoing directors

The Burbank Chamber of Commerce ushered in the St. Patrick's Day weekend with an Irish-themed fundraiser on Friday evening. Presented as "Monte O'Carlo Night," this annual gala gives participants the opportunity to tip their hats to the chamber's outgoing board of directors and formally welcome in the new board.

Among those mingling at the pre-dinner cocktail party and silent auction were city officials along with community and business leaders including Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gary Olson, his wife, Sharon, and son Kyle; City Manager Mary Alvord; former Mayor Bill Wiggins and his wife, Marilyn; and former Burbank city manager and now Deputy Los Angeles Mayor Bud Ovrom.

Also attending were former Mayor Michael Hastings and his wife, Kathy, Burbank Unified School District Supt. Greg Bowman, school board member Ted Bunch, Terre Hirsch, Angela Burnett, Tom and Shelley Bruehl, David and Kim Nos, Lisa Rawlins of Warner Bros. and Lucy Burghdorf, Victor Gill and Dios Marrero of the Bob Hope Airport.

The executive committee members installed were Mitchell Thomas as chairman, Scott Rife as chairman-elect, Rich Roche as past chairman, Don St. Clair as vice chair membership, Sunder Ramani as vice chair special events, Tom Smith as vice chair internal operations, Tony Tartaglia as vice chair governmental affairs and Marcia Amoroso as treasurer.

Also installed were the chamber's board of directors that included Charles "Bud" Alleman, Alan Arzoian, Jon Baker, Barry Burnett, Darin Chase, Ray Cruickshanks, Michael Cusumano, Dr. Boyd Flinders, Joan McCarthy, Jack O'Neill, James O'Neil, Whit Prouty, Dr. Keith Sanneman, Scott Scozzola, Atef Taher, Jeanne Vlazny and Yumiko Whitaker.

A highlight was a tribute to T.J. Baptie, who has served as a member of the chamber board for more than two decades. Baptie, who is the vice president of community relations for The Walt Disney Co., is retiring this year. Incoming chairman Mitchell Thomas asked the assemblage to join him in congratulating her on this milestone and recognizing the strong impact she has had on the chamber and the city throughout the past 23 years.