The Rowan Arts Council held its annual meeting and sponsor volunteer appreciation party May 21 in the F&M Trolley Barn.
The 2009 Zimmerman Award was awarded to Eleanor Qadirah, president of Rowan Blues and Jazz Society. The award is given for outstanding volunteer service to the arts and significant contribution to the quality of life in Rowan County.
Qadirah, a Rowan County native, left the area in her youth to study and teach. She returned in the 1990s and immediately became involved in serving the community through the arts. She felt that Rowan County needed more opportunities to experience great jazz and blues and to learn more about those musical genres.
The presentation stated, “Eleanor worked tirelessly and with great dedication, tenacity and skill to create and build a blues and jazz festival of national significance while never forgetting to include music education for our children and youth.” The Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival is in its 11th year.
The Zimmerman Award is named in honor of Joan Zimmerman, president of the Rowan Arts Council 2002-2008, for her service to the arts. Previous recipients are Floyd Walcher, president of Rowan County Concert Association and Dale Higbee, president and founder of Carolina Baroque.
The 2009 Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Anne Cave, current board president, who has worked in many capacities in service to the Rowan Arts Council.
In other business, the membership elected new board members: Kimberly Etters, Don Moore and Anne Waters. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Rowan Investment Company and F&M Bank for their outstanding corporate support of the Arts Council and the community.
In her annual report, Anne Cave thanked the many volunteers and sponsors for making this a wonderful year for the Rowan Arts Council and cited a 300 percent increase in membership. She also listed 15 organizations that received grants from the Arts Council and thanked them for their service to the community.
The over 100 guests were encouraged to view the displays set up by grant recipients and to enjoy refreshments and music provided by the Salisbury Swing Band.