Five Ringers Keep Olympic Spirit Alive

We all know about three-ring circuses, but here’s a Five Ring Club.

And, is it exclusive! Don’t try to crash. To be a member, one would have had to have worn a VVIP (Very Very Important Person) name tag and have served as a VVIP host or hostess in last summer’s Olympics, escorting kings, foreign dignitaries and celebrities and translating Los Angeles for out-of-towners.

The Five Ringers are so new that they are in the throes of adopting a constitution and by-laws.

But everyone likes a party, and the Ringers took time out to host a champagne garden party at the home of Dolores Shine Kerr to honor Vilma Pallette, who recently received the Volunteer Action Award from President Reagan for her work as Olympics Volunteer Services Manager. While others were in the limelight (and attending Olympic functions), remember, Vilma was usually directing volunteers hither and yon.

At the affair Mrs. Pallette (wife of Dr. Ed) was presented a handwritten copy of the telegram the club sent her after the presidential recognition and, in part, it reads: “No one better than you exemplifies the spirit of true volunteerism. We observed you giving of your time gladly, dutifully concentrating on the job to be done with no regard for personal reward or gratification.”

So far, nearly 55 of the 180 VVIP hostesses have joined. Among themselves, they speak 22 languages. We hear they’re prepping for the Seoul Olympics. Volunteers do have fun.

The Permanent Charities Committee of the entertainment industries was exceedingly happy with its success this week. It accumulated an overage of $305,000 in its mid-year campaign for $600,000 headed by Elton H. Rule. Another $600,000 is due to be distributed in December.

Mary G. Albright, PCC board chairman was on hand at the 385 North Restaurant on La Cienega with a barrage of celebrities, including Anjelica Huston, Patty Duke, Robert Stack, Robert Hays, Richard Kline, Bob Mandan and Troy Donahue, for the announcement.

PCC provides funds to 37 different groups for human care, including programs for research, patient care and professional and public education. Thirty seven groups will split the $600,000, with United Way receiving the largest portion--$411,450. The $305,000 in restricted funds has been given to 20 of those 37 for specific purposes.

Receiving the largest restricted grants were Dr. Guy Juillard’s immunotherapy cancer treatment research at UCLA, $75,000; United Way/Children’s Institute International training project on child sexual abuse, $42,000; Dr. Gordon Fain’s retinal research at Jules Stein Eye Institute, $25,000; and the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California’s counseling of youngsters, adults and families in regard to the transmission of AIDS by blood transfusions, $20,000.

Mrs. Stafford Grady tells us it’s time for the changing of the guard: Mrs. Donley L. Brady becomes the new president of the Social Service Auxiliary, succeeding Mrs. Robert Ganey, who moves to first vice president. She’ll be assisted by other vice presidents--Mmes. Richard B. Goethals and Basil B. Gallagher.

And the Los Angeles Orphanage Guild met at Jimmy’s for luncheon with Cardinal Timothy Manning, back from Rome. Mrs. Laughlin E. Waters is turning the presidential gavel over to Mrs. Robert J. Liechti, who will have backup from Mmes. Frank B. Davidson, William T. Ingram II and Waters--all VPs.

Ray Marshall, formerly of Acapulco Restaurants, will turn into a master chef himself Saturday when he hosts the Pasadena Art Workshop’s Fiesta Fantastica at his home. It will be a nice chance to see Ray’s library of more than 3,500 cookbooks, some dating to the 16th Century.

Guests, too, will bid on more than 30 items, including culinary adventures in San Francisco.

Funds will benefit the Rowe Giesen Memorial Fund, established by the workshops to fulfill Rowe Giesen’s dream of developing creative abilities through art. More than 14,000 children benefit from workshop programs annually.

They’re calling themselves the “Fabulous 500.”

At an afternoon garden party at the Bel-Air estate of Glen and Gloria Holden they met for cheer and to announce themselves as a new support group for the Assistance League of Southern California.

According to Mrs. James L. Le Sage of Encino, patron chairman, members (individuals, corporations and foundations) will donate $500 each, and the results will enhance league community services, including the day nursery, family service, the Girls’ Club and Operation School Bell, which provides new outfits for needy children during the school year.

In case you don’t know, Monday is Howard and William House Day. Mayor Tom Bradley and Newport Beach’s Mayor Philip Maurer have made double proclamations.

Thus, celebration! And, it’s double. Newport Beach launches the festivities at 8 a.m. at the Hotel Meridien with the Newport mayor as host. Then, Bradley hosts the noon luncheon in the Grand Hall at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The honorary committee saluting the Houses includes Messrs. and Mmes. Nick B. Williams, George Pfleger, Fred O’Green, Finn Moller, James Ludlam, Clement Hirsch, Stafford Grady, Richard Flamson and Robert Adams; and George Page, and Mmes. Burton Bettingen, Thurmond Clarke, Lillian Disney.

The Houses are being honored for their caring that has led to the development of new techniques in surgery and research for the hearing-impaired.

Well-versed China traveler Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson will speak on “Footsteps of the Marco Polo Silk Route” on Wednesday at Memorial Hospital of Glendale’s 30th anniversary luncheon at the Castaway Restaurant.

State Sen. John Garamendi is in the salute spot Thursday evening in the New Tower of the Century Plaza. Valerie Harper, Dennis Weaver and master of ceremonies Assemblyman Richard Katz will join Southern Californians in the tribute.

A host of Caltech Associates dined and toured Baxter Art Gallery the other evening, among them Mrs. Ulric Bray, Georgina and Preston Hotchkis, Paco Lagerstrom, Andy Campbell, Judith and Willis Longyear and their sons Ulric and Will, Eleanor and Mac McLain, Reva and John Pashgian, Ruth and Bud Smoot. Weston Naef, curator of photography for the J. Paul Getty Museum, spoke.

Civic Leader Georgie Van de Kamp, mother of California’s attorney general, was feted Thursday evening in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton by Alternative Living for the Aging. It was the group’s fourth annual achievement awards dinner.

ALA operates a storefront matching service at 7563 1/2 Beverly Blvd. for seniors who wish to share housing. It also runs two cooperative houses where older people share large residences, thus creating second families for themselves. ALA plans to break ground soon in Santa Monica for its first new construction, a senior shared apartment community.

Bernie Stearns was installed as president of Nightingales at their 38th annual June installation at Virginia Country Club. The junior organization to the Children’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary also presented a check for $39,250 to the auxiliary.