From the Desk of the Director of the Ashtabula Arts Center

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2928 West 13th St. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 phone: 440-964-3396 Search This Site: January/February: Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Editor’s Note: The following article appeared in last year's January-February issue of Arts Center News. It is being reprinted in this edition because the message remains the same and very important. On December 1, Women's Service League held the very successful Theater Arts Ball, and the Arts Center's appreciation for WSL’s dedication and support is profound and steadfast. Thank you!! Recently I was watching the TV program "20/20" with the topic of charitable giving in America. The program interviewed some wealthy Americans and their children about their charitable giving habits. It also talked about charitable giving in general and who gives in America - one of the most generous nations in the world. It told of an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show where Oprah gave every person in her studio audience $1,000. As she announced this giveaway, the elation of those in the audience was immediate - but Oprah had a "catch". This gift was not to be spent upon the recipient's family. Elation turned to puzzlement on the faces of most in the studio audience. Oprah's goal was to have her gift be turned into other gifts - and it worked!! Many from that studio audience were interviewed a time after the "gifting" show. These individuals reported the good inner feelings they had experienced from giving to others and helping those less fortunate or in need. What's my point? Giving to others, monetarily or through actions and deeds, is indeed a personally enriching experience. The Ashtabula Arts Center (AAC) is very fortunate that we have had a dedicated, steadfast group of volunteers over the years who have enriched themselves, the Ashtabula Arts Center and the arts in general through thousands of hours of hard work towards various projects. This very dedicated group - Women's Service League of Ashtabula County (WSL) - has raised close to $500,000 for programs, scholarships, and financial assistance to the AAC. Several special gifts have been bestowed upon the AAC by Service League - to name a few: our outdoor sculpture "Together We Dance Alone", art supplies, artists' fees, theater equipment, dance costumes and many more. The hard working members of WSL through venues that include the annual Theatre Arts Ball and Dining For The Arts raise monies for the benefit of the AAC and other arts-related groups in our community like The Good Life Singers and the Ashtabula Area Orchestra. Past projects have also included the Green Door Follies and the Geranium Sale. Thousands of hours have been expended to make each and every one of these projects very successful. Founded in 1964 by the women representatives of the Board of Trustees of the Ashtabula Fine Arts Center, this not for profit group was formed to assist both the Fine Arts Center and the Ashtabula Playhouse with volunteer responsibilities, fundraising projects and special gifts. When the Fine Arts Center and the Playhouse merged in l968, WSL focused its support on the Ashtabula Arts Center. The support of the WSL throughout the years has been and continues to be of vital importance to the Arts Center. I cannot imagine where the AAC would be today if not for the dedication and commitment of this wonderful group. WSL always welcomes new members, and membership in WSL is open to anyone interested. Giving and helping others through membership in Service League includes making scholarships/ financial aid available to those in our regional community who might not otherwise be able to participate, helping to underwrite special classes for youth from our area who have behavioral problems or learning disabilities, assisting in the AAC's ability to maintain lower ticket prices, etc. There is no doubt in my mind that the Ashtabula Arts Center would not be what it is today without the commitment, dedication and hard work of the members of Women's Service League. The AAC as a whole extends its deepest appreciation to each and every individual who is today or has been in the past involved with WSL. These giving individuals have already experienced the knowledge that Oprah was sharing with her studio audience the day of her “gifting" show. We invite you to be a part of it. If you want to get further involved, please call me at the Arts Center at 964-3396. Thank You!!