Submitted by Bedford Center for the Arts
On hand for Bedford Center for the Arts’ 2016 annual meeting and dinner were Charlotte and Linda Christen, wife and daughter of the late Jerry Christen who founded BCA in 2000, along with former directors and board members and many people who were involved in the organization’s programming.
President Elizabeth Hacala explained that BCA will transform from its broad “Arts for All and All the Arts” programming approach toward a narrower focus of its very successful Photo Group. During the business meeting current members voted unanimously in favor of the change, and thanked Elizabeth Hacala for her contributions.
Bob Bass, BCA Board member and Director of the Photo Group, gave a brief report about the many and varied activities of the Photo group over the last year. The steering committee presented Bass with a small oar in recognition for doing “such a great job paddling the photo group boat over the last several years.”
Several former BCA Directors spoke movingly about the organization’s history and its impact on their lives. Mindy Pollack-Fusi read a letter that she wrote to Jerry Christen at the birth of BCA, in which she talked about what BCA could be and what role she could play in making it something that brought the Arts to Bedford’s residents. Donna Hoffman, former president of the BCA Board, reminded listeners of some of the many projects that BCA hosted – from its elegant balls to classes, and play readings, birdhouse building. BCA accomplished roughly 90% of its early visioning goals.
Lee Vorderer reminded everyone about BCA’s leadership through its history, from Jerry Christen, Donna Hoffman, and Robert Shaw to Julie Turner and Sing Hanson and Elizabeth Hacala, detailing the special gifts that each brought to the health and well being of the BCA. Her final words, that what begins tonight is “chapter two of the BCA’s story,” was enthusiastically endorsed.
New board members were elected for staggered terms over the next three years, including Bob Bass, Bob Bicknell, Marv Goldschmitt (Vice-president), Joe Gallagher, Ed Gray (Secretary), John Harris, Deb Lannon (Treasurer), Mark Levinson, Helena Long, Charlie Mazel (President), and Dennis Rainville
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