I didn't see my sum posted so here it is again:
Thanks to Bill MacLeod, Scott Engel, James Haseker, Milan Scholz,
"GIS Gal N Texas, and Debra Rodriguez.

 My original question:
 do any on you know of a way to turn off or eliminate the"X" on the
upper
right corner of a dialog?  I'd like to prevent my clients from using
that to
close a dialog.

Of course the answer was simple: in  the dialog properties select the
Closable
property to False.  Now don't I feel silly!