At the Rowan Arts Council’s annual meeting June 26, in-coming president Anne Cave made three special presentations.
Joan Zimmerman, out-going president, was presented with a “Lifetime Service to the Arts” award for outstanding volunteer service to the Rowan Arts Council and significant contribution to the quality of life in Rowan County, North Carolina. She was given a trophy of original art by Robert Toth.
As a way of continuing to acknowledge her work with the Arts Council the board has established the “Zimmerman Award” aka the “Zimmy.” This award will be presented yearly to a Rowan County volunteer who has contributed significantly to the arts in Rowan County.
This year’s “Zimmy” was given to Dr. Dale Higbee for his many years of work with the Carolina Baroque and also to Floyd Walcher for the years he has worked with the Rowan County Concert Association.
All three awardees were given framed certificates and gifts including original art, tickets to Piedmont Players Theatre, the Salisbury Symphony, Rowan County Concert Association, a print from Waterworks Visual Arts Center and a lifetime membership in the Rowan Arts Council.
A plaque is being created to hang permanently in the Arts Council office which will be updated each year with the name of each year’s Zimmerman award recipient.
Thursday’s meeting honored representatives of the all-volunteer affiliate arts organizations. Certificates and gifts were presented for Janet Isenhour, president of Carolina Artists, Dr. Dale Higbee of Carolina Baroque, Eleanor Qadirah of Rowan Blues and Jazz Society and Floyd and Jo Walcher of Rowan County Concert Association.
Joan Zimmerman stated that the Arts Council Board wanted to acknowledge the hard work and importance of those organizations and to show appreciation for their all-volunteer leadership. She gave an overview of the 2007-2008 year citing the successful Art on Easy Street festival, the move to the arts district and various grants, exhibits and programs.
In other business, members elected new directors to the board. Elected were: J.R. Dunkley, Shirl Hull, Barbara Richmond and Bruce Wilson. Continuing on the board are Anne Cave, Jonathan Church, Brenda Gariepy, Alba Gonzalez, Ed Hull and Lee Toth. Rotating off are Jill Burch and Karen Garrison.
Officers elected were: presidentnAnne Cave; vice-presidentnBruce Wilson; secretary n Lee Toth; and treasurernEd Hull.
Certificates of appreciation and gifts were given to board members and volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication and service to the Rowan Arts Council.
The Rowan Arts Council can be reached at 704-638-9887, by e-mailing rac@rowanarts.org. The web site is www.rowanarts.org.
The Arts Council will be closed June 30nJuly 4th for vacation and holiday.
Normal hours are TuesdaynFriday, 10 a.m.n2 p.m.