The wonderful people and businesses in our community stepped up and filled the house with 348 attendees, a 20% increase over last year, to make this year's Mardi Gras Ball the best ever.  Against a backdrop of difficult times in the economy, we exceeded our financial goal substantially by raising over $67,000, for the Community Conscience "Under One Roof" organization that maintains and supports the Human Services Center at 80 Hillcrest Drive.  This will all us to not only continue but to expand the quality of the free services provided to our 12 not-for-profit resident organizations.

The night was filled with music, food, ceremony and the energy and excitement of the wonderful people who attended.  Guests were welcomed by our lovely volunteers and then escorted to complementary photographs with our celebrity look-alikes, Marilyn Monroe (Susan Griffiths) and Clark Gable (Ralph Celli).  They then entered the Champagne Reception highlighted by our intriguing and extensive Silent Auction with over 200 items from A to Z that filled the senses.  Background music for the Champagne Reception was Dixieland Jazz provided by Westlake Village's Riverboat Dixie Band.

Then on to our wonderful dinner, which began with the support of Thousand Oaks Police Commander Keith Parks, followed by an invocation by Ventura County Fire Dept. Chaplain Larry Modugno.

Master of Ceremonies Carl Bell introduced the 11th Anniversary Mardi Gras Ball King and Queen, Louis "Skip" Padberg and Pat Paulucci who were crowned by last year's awardees, Fred and Marge Wilson.  They were recognized for their devotion and many years of dedicated service to our Community and the Organizations supported by Community Conscience.

Our main event the "Louisiana Live Auction" run by professional auctioneer Joe Mendicina, offered Hawaii Vacations, a complete Bedroom Suite, wonderful objects of Art, Fantasy and Excitement and a 100th Anniversary Harley Davidson Motorcycle among many other enchanting items.

A special addition this year to the ballroom, a "labor of love" by our Decorations Committee, was our New Orleans "Balcony of Honor."  It was created to replicate the wonderful and beautiful balconies of Bourbon Street in New Orleans and to honor the not-for-profit agencies that reside "Under Our Roof" for their service to the Communities we live in.  Twelve large Balcony paintings hung from the ceiling with the signs and logos of these 12 not-for-profit organizations.

Thank you to all the sponsors, donors, table hosts, volunteers, attendees, and agencies.  A special thanks goes to the members of the Mardi Gras Ball Committee for making this a most memorable and enchanting evening.

Meet Carl Bell, Our Mardi Gras Ball Master of Ceremonies

A zesty guy with an "ebullient personality," that is what Westlake Magazine called Carl "Bell" Belichesky in the August 2002 issue.  Boundless energy is what we needed for Mardi Gras Ball 2003 and that is what we got from Carl as our master of ceremonies.  Carl, his wife Tracy, daughter Lindsey, and son Cody have been residents of Oak Park since 1990.  He is a USC Graduate with a degree in journalism.  He became intrigued with journalism at a very young age, inspired by Dr. George Fishbeck the witty weatherman so many of us remember.  Carl got his start with small TV stations in El Centro, Yuma and then Monterey, hopping from news broadcasting to weather reporting to sports announcing.  Carl joined KCOP TV a predecessor to the current KCAL, as was their weathercaster for 12 years.  He won the 1989 and 1992 Associated Press award for "Best Weather Segment" and in 1993 and 1997 was awarded the Radio and Television News Association's Golden Mike for "Best Weather Segment."  Today Carl is the "National Spokesperson" for Bosley Hair Restoration.  Take a close look is it real?!!!  Bosley is in its 29th year with over 140,000 surgical hair transplantations, the most experienced practice in the world.  We will see more of Carl on TV as he conveys their message.

Carl is also a Mortgage Loan Consultant with Horizon Mortgage Bankers in Westlake Village.  He consults, and educates each client and looks at their total financial package to find the best loan tailored to their personal circumstances.  He feels as a mortgage planner his role is to help is clients select the home loan best suited to their overall long and short term financial and investment goals.  He is definitely a "big picture person" and offers the total package to whatever he does.

Carl also learned from his good friend and colleague the late "Jerry Dumphy" to be accountable, to be a good citizen and to "say it like it is."  He is a good citizen and very active in our community.  He has been the host at many fundraisers, golf tournaments, award banquets and many other community functions.  We were very fortunate to have Carl as our Master of Ceremonies.  His wit and enthusiasm helped make Mardi Gras 2003 the best ever.

Thank you Carl from all the Trustees of Community Conscience and the 12 non-profit agencies we support.

Major Sponsors of the Mardi Gras Event:

P.T.S. Home & Office Furniture

Reeds and Sons Furniture

F.B. Productions -- Program and Invitation Printing

Blue Cross of California

Los Robles Regional Medical Center

California Oaks State Bank

Tom and Connie Hardy

Point Mugu Federal Credit Union

Santa Barbara Bank

Staples, Inc.

Premier America Credit Union

Special thanks to Jean FitzPatrick, Cindy Brand, Soroptimists and all our wonderful volunteers for volunteering their time and efforts.  Matthew Biniaz of Image Art of Westlake Village and Chuck Rogers for photography, Minolta Business Systems of Woodland Hills for printing and Terry Moerler for the use of a transportation van.