Guild Elects New Officers, Chooses Endowment

At the June meeting of the Franklin County Arts Guild, new officers were elected for the 2017/18 fiscal year: Nancy Wallace, President; Joe Butler, Vice President; Margie Gallagher, Secretary; Denise Miller, Treasurer, and Pat Bishop, Public Relations.

A big THANKS! goes to the 2016/17 board members, who work hard for the Guild, often with long hours and no recognition: Mark Ledbetter, President; Joe Butler, Vice-President (thanks for serving another term); Diana Lamb, Secretary; Susan Anderton, Treasurer, Margie Gallagher, Public Relations. 

Ensuring the Future of the Scholarship Fund

In addition to supporting the efforts of working artists and amateur artists in the community, the Franklin County Arts Guild is committed to encouraging up-and-coming art students who plan to pursue a career in the arts or in arts education. It awards scholarships annually, and many of our fundraising efforts support that. To ensure that the Scholarship Fund continues and grows, the Guild membership voted to establish an endowment with the Community Foundation. This long-term commitment will provide a greater return on the monies we currently have and, in a short time, should be self-sufficient. 

Does this mean we can stop giving to the Scholarship Fund? Absolutely not! It just means that the Fund should outlive us all and, hopefully, we can give even more scholarships over time. This endowment with the Community Foundation also has the advantage that the Foundation manages the paperwork required. A big thank-you goes to Margie Gallagher for researching and recommending the endowment.

Getting Better and Better

This last year was very busy for the Guild, with strong gallery sales, the best Arts & Ales ever, a new Art Supply Exchange set up (thanks to Frances Perea), a new website (thanks, Kim Phillips), and exhibit opportunities like Trails and Trilliums and the Winchester Wriggle. Next year promises even more: renovation of the gallery, a new student gallery and meeting space... and we need YOU to be involved. Don't wait: send an email now to tell us what you're interested in.

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