Photo provided by Dallas Opera

This Friday Cindy’s also going to chalk up another honor. She’ll join the illustrious list of recipients of TACA’s Silver Cup Award along with the Dallas Opera’s main man John T. Cody Jr. (pictured) at the Anatole.

The luncheon is presented by Chase and Neiman’s. Ticket info is available by calling 214-520-3930.

Just in case you’re wondering who are the people behind the scenes making this shindig happen, here you go:

CHAIRMAN — Rebecca Fletcher

COMMITTEE — Naomi Aberly, Carrie Becker, Barbara Bigham, Lucy Paige Billingsley, Diane and Hal Brierley, Nita Clark, Mary McDermott Cook, Janie Cooke, Garry Cox, Linda and Bill Custard, Mason S. Custard, Barbara Daseke, Cammy Davis, Arlene Dayton, Suzanne Droese, Lynne Duncan, Jane Dunne, Jennifer Eagle, Gwen Echols, Bess and Ted Enloe, Heather Esping, Ann Fielder, Nancy Halbreich, Ann Hobson, Marguerite S. Hoffman, Kaki Hopkins, Jennifer Houser, Lisa Kazor, Elizabeth Malakoff, Lynn McBee, Janie and Cappy McGarr, Geraldine “Tincy” Miller, Cynthia R. Mitchell, Joyce Mitchell, Lisa Ogle, Karol Omlor, Barbara Baker Page, Nelda Cain Pickens, Caren Prothro, Serena Young Ritch, Catherine Rose, Deedie Rose, Lizzie Routman, LeDée Sachs, Deborah Scott, Peggy Sewell, Abigail Sinwell, Margaret Flanagan Solomon, Gigi Sussman, Ann Swisher, Andy Teller, Michelle Thomas, Merry Vose, Sarah Weinberg, and Marnie and Kern Wildenthal

CHANCE TICKET COMMITTEE — Chairman Amy Campbell, Kimberly Alexander, and Tamara Campbell

Remember the purpose of the award is to “recognize and honor business volunteers and businesses in North Texas whose support has had significant impact on the region’s arts and cultural environment in 2009.”

Categories include:

• New Initiatives Award — The New Initiatives Award recognizes businesses for a new initiative with a single focus involving one or more North Texas arts and cultural organizations. This award is applicable to businesses initiating programs within the last three years. Given in the following categories: Small Business, Mid-size Business, and Large Business.
• Arts Education Award — The Arts Education Award recognizes outstanding business support for arts education programs supplementing and enhancing the core curriculum of North Texas schools.  Given to one company only.
• Arts Partnership Award — The Arts Partnership Award recognizes businesses that have demonstrated leadership and provided outstanding overall support for at least three years to one or more North Texas arts and cultural organizations. To be eligible, a business must have been supporting the arts continuously since 2006 (or earlier) and must presently support the arts. Given in the following categories: Small Business, Midsize Business, and Large Business.
• Leadership Award — Recognizing exceptional long-term leadership, vision and commitment by an individual in encouraging and developing business-arts alliances. To be eligible, a nominee must be a chairman, vice chairman, president, chief executive officer, owner or principal partner of a business.

Presentation of the awards will take place at the Fairmont on Saturday, May 8, with Lisa and Larry Glasgow co-chairing.

Why is this reminder on SweetCharity? Well, it seems that the government is about as non-profit as they come.

Every year, PETA receives complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for “backyard dogs,” who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

• Keep animals inside. This is especially important to remember when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or coat on walks.
• Don’t allow your cat or dog to roam freely outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started. You should increase animals’ food rations during the winter because they are burning more calories to keep warm. (Ed. note: Be safe and thump the hood of your car a couple of times to stir the possible resting kitty. Or better yet, open the hood and take a look.)
• Keep an eye out for strays. Take unidentified animals inside until you can find their guardians or get them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• Wipe off your dogs’ or cats’ legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them while cleaning themselves. (Ed. note: Remember anti-freeze may be good for your car, but it’s deadly for animals.)
• When you see dogs left outdoors, provide them with proper shelter. Details on how to provide housing can be found at HelpingAnimals.com (Ed. note: I couldn’t locate the info, and have asked Robbyn to send the exact place on the website where the info is. When we get it, we’ll update this post.)

UPDATE: According to Robbyn, here are some ideas for outdoor shelters:

• Building a shelter for dogs: http://www.peta.org/pdfs/ABC_doghouse72.pdf#xml=http://www.petasearch.org/texis/search/pdfhi.txt?query=doghouse&pr=helpinganimals&prox=page&rorder=1000&rprox=1000&rdfreq=0&rwfreq=1000&rlead=1000&rdepth=0&sufs=2&order=r&cq=&id=4b74ae237
• Declare a winter watch for animals: http://www.helpinganimals.com/animalsHome_gi_coldWeather.asp

Lesson learned: During these chilly days, it’s still important to be out and about. But if you have any sign that you may be coming down with a cold, flu, Ebola virus, or whatever, stay at home in bed.

Trust me — this is a gift that is better not given.

Pass the Puffs, please.

ShopTalk gals, heads up on this one. Here’s a real deal: Think about heading to the Salvation Army Thrift Stores and Goodwill stores. You’ll be amazed what bargains can be had! (Please note: we rarely use exclamation points.) Yes, everything from baby blankets to duvets can be had for a pittance, but they can invaluable to someone who is facing a very chilly Christmas Eve and winter. Plus you’ll be supporting two non-profit organizations that are year-round heroes.

And, no, SweetCharity is not on the take with Jack Boles or any other group. We just thought you’d want to know.

1. Tonight you may find trick or treaters on your doorstep. If you don’t want them, leave your porch lights off. If you want to see them, have candy available or you’re likely to have some pouting faces under those masks. SweetCharity makes anyone over the age of 12 sing Christmas carols.
2. After the little people in funny outfits are gone, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour. You’ll earn yourself an extra hour of sleep.
3. Check the batteries in the fire/smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.