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Whew. For a minute there I thought it might have been “Just My Imagination,” but three top-level staffers have confirmed that the Temptations will headline the 2011 Colorado Symphony Ball.

“We’re in show business, so of course our gala should offer the best show in town,” explains Tracy Tajbl, the symphony’s vice president for development. “We raised the bar last year by bringing in Tony Bennett, and with $100,000 in corporate support already in hand, it looks like we’re well on our way to equal or beat the $650,000 raised in 2010.”

For anyone questioning the wisdom of presenting Motown music for a crowd more accustomed to Beethoven or Bach, Tajbl says there’s a method to the madness.

“Symphonic music is timeless, and so is Motown. People say they don’t care for symphonic music without ever having heard it. So by bringing in a group like the Temptations, who are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we hope to entertain our loyal supporters and attract those who might not have had any exposure to the symphony. That’s the way you build new audiences.”

The May 7 event will once again be at the Sheraton Denver Downtown with Jason Hurley, the symphony’s director of special events, serving as the mastermind. Hurley isn’t afraid to push the envelope, and so guests can expect many pleasant surprises in terms of food and decor.

He doesn’t want to tip his hand quite yet, but says that top-tier ticket holders will enjoy perks like a VIP lounge with top-shelf beverages and hors d’oeuvres on a par with last year’s raw bar. A representative from the $50,000 Presenting Sponsor will have the honor of introducing the Temptations.

Marketing vice president Margaret Williams said that Michael and Tauna Dowling, Kevin and Leeann Duncan, John and Carolee Hayes, Gary Lutz and Margaret Johnson, Heather and Mike Miller and Willie and Sarah Shepherd make up the evening’s host committee, while Julie Gordon and Lindsey Wiseman are co-chairing the auction and decor.

For additional information, call Hurley at 303-308-2475.

Making a difference.

Beth Klein, a Boulder attorney who is a leader in the global effort to end human trafficking, has been named one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s eNews.

News of the honor coincided with a trip she made to Israel, where she was part of a delegation formed in support of demand-side legislation proposed by members of Israel’s legislative branch, the Knesset, and others.

Earlier this year, Klein was invited to speak about human trafficking at Yale and at a national gathering of Demand Abolition, an advocacy organization that seeks to end the demand for sex trafficking in the United States. Klein is a member of Demand Abolition’s national steering committee.

She is working with state Senate President Sen. Brandon Shaffer to draft anti-human trafficking legislation and raise funds to support a sustainable, anti-trafficking police task force in Colorado.

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter