It’s been Magical…Thank you Auburn!

A Special Farewell Message from B. Bunny Blackenwhite…

It’s time to say goodbye! Auburn’s Black & White Ball has been truly magical, and there are so many to thank, I’m scratching my ears, I don’t know where to begin to thank Auburn. 

Planning Auburn’s Black & White Ball is like building a small city. It starts with the Steering Team, who devote an incredible number of volunteer hours and effort to make sure every aspect of the Ball is successful. They begin working in January by selecting the theme. Then the brainstorming starts – decorations, ambiance lighting, bands, sponsors and marketing concepts. Committee Chairs are selected (most return year after year after year) and begin assembling teams to implement everything from security to sanitation, logistics to libations, headquarters to hospitality, and ticket sales to transportation. It takes an army of volunteers and thousands of hours, all working with a passion for this incredible event that has grown over its 18 year history to be THE PLACE TO BE in Northern California on a Saturday night in August!

It’s impossible to recognize every person that had a part in creating this great event. But I do want to thank each one of you – the guests who attended; the volunteers who worked endless hours setting up, tearing down, and working during the Ball; the restaurants who generously served food in this trying economic time; the Sponsors, whose financial support made Auburn’s Black & White Ball possible. Some of them have been with us since Year One, and I would like to personally acknowledge Rich Mussetter of Mussetter Distributing, who wrote the first check ever to proudly sponsor Auburn’s first Black & White Ball, and Norma Harris of Harris Industrial Gases who has also been a proud sponsor every year since the Ball’s inception. There are many other long-time sponsors, including Gary Capps of The Capps Group and Marilyn Welz of Marilyn’s Fashion-a-tions, whose loyalty to the Ball deserves to be recognized. This is not to discount the wonderful participation of all our sponsors over the years who proudly displayed rabbits in their storefronts, or decorated their windows in Black and White themes, or became sponsors so their employees, families and friends could purchase discount tickets. We appreciate and want to honor each and every one of you who participated and enjoyed “The Ball.”

It’s been an honor and a privilege, from this rabbit’s perspective, to be able to work with some of the most outstanding people and organizations in this community. The Auburn Police and Fire Department, service clubs and individuals devoted their time to the many aspects of this great event. It took literally hundreds of people lending their support all of whom I would like to publicly thank for their colossal efforts. This year’s veteran Steering Team – Paul and Sherry Gilbert, Ron Solomon, Dave Rosenthal, Rosie Mietzel – you have been wonderful to work with. You know the toll it takes and time commitment – and you were here again this year supporting me in a way that only you can understand how good it feels to know someone “has your backside.” To everyone who worked invisibly behind the scenes – thank you for an incredible job.  For the commitment of our local restaurants, caterers and volunteers working during the Ball – my deepest gratitude. To all who attended – thanks for supporting Auburn’s Black & White Ball!

And finally, Bruce Cosgrove – our own Superman. When you saw lights burning in the Chamber office at 11 p.m. it wasn’t the cleaning crew – it was Bruce making sure every “T” was crossed, and “I” was dotted to ensure we gave you all the best experience possible at The Ball.

From the very beginning the Chamber of Commerce envisioned the Black & White Ball would be something very special for Auburn. That vision became a reality, with more than 400 community volunteers contributing their time and talents to create a magical evening for all.  Chamber of Commerce business members including local retailers, industry, manufacturing, and professionals in banking, finance, promotion and marketing came together to make the ball an enormous success. It truly was a showcase of the best of Auburn.

I have enjoyed a wonderful 18 years as the Ambassador for Auburn’s Black and White Ball.  I have participated in golf tournaments, wine tasting tours, fashion shows, preview events, radio, newspaper, magazine and television interviews – all to promote this wonderful event that gave so much back to the community. The Ball drew an estimated 70,000 people to Auburn over 18 years, to discover its beauty, great restaurants, and friendly people. It raised nearly one million dollars that was distributed to local charities over the years,  including the Auburn Symphony, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Foundation, the Arts Council of Placer County, Auburn Community Foundation, Auburn Boys & Girls Club, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospice, Food for Families, Auburn 49er Lions Club, Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center as well as the Auburn Chamber of Commerce with funds that helped produce community events including Auburn’s Family 4^th of July, Auburn Community Festival, Shopper’s Expo and December’s Festival of Lights celebrations. The Ball supported local businesses including motels, sign companies, banks, printers, graphic artists, restaurants, caterers, florists, lumber and equipment rental yards, newspapers and local food and beverage distributors.

Auburn’s Black & White Ball started in 1992, with the theme, “It’s Magic.” Sue Kusel and Paul and Sherry Gilbert had a beautiful idea, created one evening over dinner, to start an event that would promote businesses and the community in a very unique way – with a giant street party! The idea was taken to Bruce Cosgrove at the Chamber and the rest is history! Bud Pisarek created me – B. Bunny Blackenwhite in 1992, as a mascot (I prefer Ambassador) for the Ball, and my 20 foot tall “cousin” has proudly stood at the Clock Tower, The Ridge Golf Course, and this year at City Hall for weeks prior to the Ball, as a sign of “a wonderful evening to come.” It’s truly been a magical journey through worlds of fantasy, the somberness of 9/11, moves to the airport, uptown, downtown and the fairgrounds this year with “It’s America, Anywhere USA.”

Ball patrons have been treated to a 60-foot cruise ship across Lincoln Way, a two-story castle constructed at the clock tower, an airplane moving down Rickenbacker Way carrying Sister Swing to their stage on Earhart, a Speakeasy during “The Gatsby Ball,” a time tunnel and lighted orbs along New Airport Rd. for “2001 Space Odyssey,” lighted martini glasses for “007 Bond”, giant paper-maché masks for “It’s Carnivale,” dinosaurs and movie sets for “Hollywood – You Ought To Be In Pictures” – the sights have been memorable year after year.

The sounds of musical acts included The Edloes, Blood, Sweat and Tears, David Martin’s House Party, Hip Service, Steely Scam, Funkengruven, Mumbo Gumbo, Power of 12, Orchestra D’Soul, Love Train, Ronny & the Classics, the Doo Wah Riders, Little Texas, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, Clean Slate, Casino Royale, Innersoul, Papa Doo Run Run, Elvis, Cher, Neal Diamond and Buddy Holly tributes, The Parrotheads, Mike Branson, David Swart, Dr. Gehlbach and the Jazz Practitioners, John Skinner Big Band, Everyday Joe, Phat Catz…and everyone’s favorite and all-time repeat performer – Tainted Love!

Restaurants served tri-tip, sushi, corn-on-the-cob, tacos, crepes, cakes, cookies, lobster bisque, crème brûlée, pulled pork, prime rib, seafood, chicken skewers, corn bread, yogurt, smoothies, quesadillas, crawdads and other delectable, savory morsels representing their fine restaurant and catering menus, all at their own expense.

Our guests came in formal attire, shorts and t-shirts, tennis shoes and high heels. Costumes for each year’s theme became the early “buzz” in town – “What are you going to wear to the Ball this year?” Marilyn Welz and Linda Robinson organized fashion shows showcasing unique black and white apparel and creating an early promotion for the event. Some years it would be “Black and white – wear what you like.” Other years it was Hollywood TV and movie characters, or Bond villains and heroines, Roaring 20’s Gatsby guests, or medieval and magical costumes. But it was always unique!

You’ll notice I am talking past tense. Yes, it is time for B Bunny Blackenwhite to retire and take a rest. The event organizers came up with a slogan a few years back – “Fun Like This Comes Along Once In A Lifetime…That’s Why We Do It Every Year!” I would like to tweak my recent byline by saying “FUN LIKE THIS COMES ALONG ONCE IN A LIFETIME…THAT’S WHY WE’VE DONE IT FOR YEARS!!!”

It’s been a wonderful 18-year ride, but as with all good things, it must come to an end. The financial toll of producing Auburn’s Black & White Ball is difficult and risky in a weakened economy, and the Chamber of Commerce feels it is best to say goodbye to the Ball, for now. But you never know when I may pop back out of my magical hat and say “It’s time to bring back this incredible, one-of-a kind event that very few small towns would ever consider taking on.” Only Auburn has the volunteer strength, commitment, and vision to achieve something of this magnitude. 

For now, it’s goodbye. I’d like to quote two of my favorite TV show host friends, Johnny Carson and Red Skelton…“And so it has come to this: I am one of the lucky people (Bunny Rabbit) in the world; I found something I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come to you all these years and entertain you. I bid you a very heartfelt good night. May your day be filled with happiness. Goodbye for now and may God bless.”

With loving memories,

B Bunny Blackenwhite

  Become a friend of BBunny Blackenwhite on Facebook!