2008 Board Election
Dear GALA Members,
The following names and bios have been submitted to the nomination committee to fill five spots as "At Large Board Members" for the next three years.
If you are in good standing (dues are paid and up to date) with GALA, then you are eligible to vote.
They are:
1)Judith Rundel- Born and raised in the New York City area, the arts – in its many forms – was a natural part of my life. I started music lessons at four years old and continued with piano and violin lessons throughout school. I spent my Saturdays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and visited the many other wonderful museums throughout the city that showcase all aspects of art. I was treated to great performances in theatre and ballet with family or on school outings. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Information Systems, I moved to Jacksonville, Florida where I worked for ten years as a marine estimator/contractor negotiator and another five years as a specialist in mortgage lending. Attending performances of the Jacksonville Symphony and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival (initially known as the Mayport Jazz Festival) kept me connected with the performing arts. In 1995 my husband, Michael, and I moved to Franklin County. I have worked at the Franklin County Public Library since 2002, and became Director of the library in 2007 after receiving a Master of Science in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University in 2006.
Although the availability of museums and performance halls that showcase the arts is limited, there are many people in this area that are connected to the arts. Making connections with these people – fine artists and musicians - and creating opportunities for exhibits and performances has become a focus for me. I have been involved with writing and administering grants that brought cultural music and arts into the library. I am now involved with the Ilse Newell Fund for the Performing Arts which presents a concert series of quality musical events in Apalachicola. In the past couple of years, the reception following most concerts has become a venue for exhibiting fine artists. I am encouraged by the opening of the Apalachicola Museum of Art at the historic Fry Conter House and the Cotton Exchange building which just last month became the “wet room” for the many Plein Air artists that captured the beauty of this coastal community on their canvases.
I would welcome an opportunity to work with the Gulf Alliance for Local Arts in creating more opportunities for artists – both fine and performing – to share and exhibit the products of their talent. It is my hope that we can also provide opportunities for the youth of this area to become acquainted with the arts during their formative years so that the beauty of art can become a natural part of their lives as it was for mine.
2)Liz Sisung- Let’s start with how my husband, Jim, and I found Franklin County. In January 1980 we both retired from our professions ( I taught Math for 14 years and Jim, Executive Director of the Kansas National Education Association) in order to purchase a sailboat and use it as our home as we cruised the waters of the Atlantic. During this time on a short land trip with friends to explore the offerings of the Franklin County area we located a piece of property on Highway 98 in Eastpoint and thought it would be a pleasant place to live if and when we decided to swallow the anchor. In 1985 we sailed up to Apalachicola and began
some remodeling of what we called our fishing cottage. Soon it became apparent that we had indeed swallowed the anchor as we
became more and more involved with the community. We started with the Eastpoint Volunteer Fire Department. A handful of us were able to
raise $34,000.00 in a year and a half in order to build the Fire House/ Community center.In 1987 I became involved with Franklin County Literacy as a tutor and then the treasurer and continue this work today. In 1989 I acted in my first play with the Panhandle Players. Today I am the President and continue to act from time to time. I am also active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Apalachicola and participate in the programs of the Bay Chorale Society in the Else Newell concert series. In both the church and Bay Chorale I get to enjoy my love of music through singing. In all of my interests “Community” is a key element. The Fire department and Literacy give a direct benefit to the community by way of a service rendered. The Panhandle Players work to involve members of the community in the panhandle in various aspects of the performing arts. I see GALA as a further extension of community involvement in a wider area of the arts and would be most pleased to work with GALA Board members to achieve the goal of community involvement in the Arts. I also believe that I posses leadership and organizational skills that would be a benefit to GALA.
3)Kimberly Shoaf- I was born in Panama City and grew up here in Port St. Joe. After graduating from Troy State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism I returned to Port St Joe and went to work at the Star Newspaper. Now I work for the St Joe Company as a Marketing Consultant for Local Colors and Windmark Beach. I am married to Andy Shoaf of Port St Joe and we have two dogs. I teach the Upper Elementary Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church. I have worked on Plein Air as a volunteer from the very beginning, three years, and I loved working with all the other volunteers and artist. I would be very honored to serve on the GALA board if elected.
4)Patty McCartny-
5)Kay Wheeler-
6)Ed Springer - I was born and grew up in Iowa. I graduated from the University of Iowa and taught English and Social Studies in the state for five years. During that period I staged school productions, coached and ran intramural sports programs, in addition to my teaching responsibilities.
I left teaching to pursue a career in publishing. For thirteen years I was a publisher?s representative for Doubleday Publishing Company. I worked territories based in Iowa, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Eventually, three other Doubleday reps and I decided to form our own rep firm, Southern Territory Associates. Our group covered the entire Southeast and much of the Southwest. We prospered for twenty-eight years then decided to sell the group to our employees since the three of us had reached retirement age. Our rep group remains a successful venture today. During my years in publishing I lived in Des Moines, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. I retired in 2001 and moved to Apalachicola in 2004 where I share a home with my wife Candace and three pets. I have three children and three grandchildren. I have always been interested in art, both as an observer and as an amateur painter. While residing in Atlanta, I took art classes through the High Museum of Art painting in both oils and watercolor. Since moving to Apalachicola, I have studied with Alice Jean Gibbs and enjoyed learning to work in pastels. I am truly impressed with the accomplishments of the Gulf Alliance for Local Art in the Plein Air Art Program. It was very well done and provided a great base to build on for art experiences on the Forgotten Coast. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this community-minded effort to foster the arts in our area.
7)Gloria Austin-
8)Dolores Lowery-
9)Sandy Yarbrough-
10)Libia Taylor- "I was born and raised in Colombia, South America and came to the USA to attend college in 1984. I have been in-tune with the arts since my teens years visiting museums, galleries and anything that would allow me to feel and see the artist’s vision in creating a piece. Bucaramanga and Bogota in the ‘80s was a hotbed for a revival of the visual arts more so than performing arts, and it was inspiring to be there as a teenager.
11)Leslie Fedota-
12)Cathy Hobbs-
Please vote only for FIVE nominees and email the names back to boyd@theportfinewine.com
Any vote cast by a person not currently in good standing with GALA will be rejected.
Final deadline to receive votes WILL BE July 27th at 12:ooam eastern time. Any votes received past this time will be rejected.
If you not sure about your membership status you can log onto the GALA website at www.gulf-arts.org or contact our membership chairman Debbie Van Zant at dvanzant@gtcom.net and she can assist you.
Thank you for your continued support of GALA.
Boyd Pickett
Vice President
The following names and bios have been submitted to the nomination committee to fill five spots as "At Large Board Members" for the next three years.
If you are in good standing (dues are paid and up to date) with GALA, then you are eligible to vote.
They are:
1)Judith Rundel- Born and raised in the New York City area, the arts – in its many forms – was a natural part of my life. I started music lessons at four years old and continued with piano and violin lessons throughout school. I spent my Saturdays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and visited the many other wonderful museums throughout the city that showcase all aspects of art. I was treated to great performances in theatre and ballet with family or on school outings. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Information Systems, I moved to Jacksonville, Florida where I worked for ten years as a marine estimator/contractor negotiator and another five years as a specialist in mortgage lending. Attending performances of the Jacksonville Symphony and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival (initially known as the Mayport Jazz Festival) kept me connected with the performing arts. In 1995 my husband, Michael, and I moved to Franklin County. I have worked at the Franklin County Public Library since 2002, and became Director of the library in 2007 after receiving a Master of Science in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University in 2006.
Although the availability of museums and performance halls that showcase the arts is limited, there are many people in this area that are connected to the arts. Making connections with these people – fine artists and musicians - and creating opportunities for exhibits and performances has become a focus for me. I have been involved with writing and administering grants that brought cultural music and arts into the library. I am now involved with the Ilse Newell Fund for the Performing Arts which presents a concert series of quality musical events in Apalachicola. In the past couple of years, the reception following most concerts has become a venue for exhibiting fine artists. I am encouraged by the opening of the Apalachicola Museum of Art at the historic Fry Conter House and the Cotton Exchange building which just last month became the “wet room” for the many Plein Air artists that captured the beauty of this coastal community on their canvases.
I would welcome an opportunity to work with the Gulf Alliance for Local Arts in creating more opportunities for artists – both fine and performing – to share and exhibit the products of their talent. It is my hope that we can also provide opportunities for the youth of this area to become acquainted with the arts during their formative years so that the beauty of art can become a natural part of their lives as it was for mine.
2)Liz Sisung- Let’s start with how my husband, Jim, and I found Franklin County. In January 1980 we both retired from our professions ( I taught Math for 14 years and Jim, Executive Director of the Kansas National Education Association) in order to purchase a sailboat and use it as our home as we cruised the waters of the Atlantic. During this time on a short land trip with friends to explore the offerings of the Franklin County area we located a piece of property on Highway 98 in Eastpoint and thought it would be a pleasant place to live if and when we decided to swallow the anchor. In 1985 we sailed up to Apalachicola and began
some remodeling of what we called our fishing cottage. Soon it became apparent that we had indeed swallowed the anchor as we
became more and more involved with the community. We started with the Eastpoint Volunteer Fire Department. A handful of us were able to
raise $34,000.00 in a year and a half in order to build the Fire House/ Community center.In 1987 I became involved with Franklin County Literacy as a tutor and then the treasurer and continue this work today. In 1989 I acted in my first play with the Panhandle Players. Today I am the President and continue to act from time to time. I am also active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Apalachicola and participate in the programs of the Bay Chorale Society in the Else Newell concert series. In both the church and Bay Chorale I get to enjoy my love of music through singing. In all of my interests “Community” is a key element. The Fire department and Literacy give a direct benefit to the community by way of a service rendered. The Panhandle Players work to involve members of the community in the panhandle in various aspects of the performing arts. I see GALA as a further extension of community involvement in a wider area of the arts and would be most pleased to work with GALA Board members to achieve the goal of community involvement in the Arts. I also believe that I posses leadership and organizational skills that would be a benefit to GALA.
3)Kimberly Shoaf- I was born in Panama City and grew up here in Port St. Joe. After graduating from Troy State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism I returned to Port St Joe and went to work at the Star Newspaper. Now I work for the St Joe Company as a Marketing Consultant for Local Colors and Windmark Beach. I am married to Andy Shoaf of Port St Joe and we have two dogs. I teach the Upper Elementary Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church. I have worked on Plein Air as a volunteer from the very beginning, three years, and I loved working with all the other volunteers and artist. I would be very honored to serve on the GALA board if elected.
4)Patty McCartny-
5)Kay Wheeler-
6)Ed Springer - I was born and grew up in Iowa. I graduated from the University of Iowa and taught English and Social Studies in the state for five years. During that period I staged school productions, coached and ran intramural sports programs, in addition to my teaching responsibilities.
I left teaching to pursue a career in publishing. For thirteen years I was a publisher?s representative for Doubleday Publishing Company. I worked territories based in Iowa, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Eventually, three other Doubleday reps and I decided to form our own rep firm, Southern Territory Associates. Our group covered the entire Southeast and much of the Southwest. We prospered for twenty-eight years then decided to sell the group to our employees since the three of us had reached retirement age. Our rep group remains a successful venture today. During my years in publishing I lived in Des Moines, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. I retired in 2001 and moved to Apalachicola in 2004 where I share a home with my wife Candace and three pets. I have three children and three grandchildren. I have always been interested in art, both as an observer and as an amateur painter. While residing in Atlanta, I took art classes through the High Museum of Art painting in both oils and watercolor. Since moving to Apalachicola, I have studied with Alice Jean Gibbs and enjoyed learning to work in pastels. I am truly impressed with the accomplishments of the Gulf Alliance for Local Art in the Plein Air Art Program. It was very well done and provided a great base to build on for art experiences on the Forgotten Coast. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this community-minded effort to foster the arts in our area.
7)Gloria Austin-
8)Dolores Lowery-
9)Sandy Yarbrough-
10)Libia Taylor- "I was born and raised in Colombia, South America and came to the USA to attend college in 1984. I have been in-tune with the arts since my teens years visiting museums, galleries and anything that would allow me to feel and see the artist’s vision in creating a piece. Bucaramanga and Bogota in the ‘80s was a hotbed for a revival of the visual arts more so than performing arts, and it was inspiring to be there as a teenager.
It was my dream to be an art historian or curator, so to pursue and understanding of the creative process while still in Colombia I took four semesters of Communications and one of Anthropology. However, when I emigrated to the U.S., practicality induced me to graduate from University of Nevada Las Vegas with a BS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1991.
I have been an admirer and collector of art for over twenty years now. I have visited numerous galleries and museums in the USA, South America and Europe; anything from co-op artist galleries to the MOCA in Los Angeles, High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Louvre, British Museum, El Prado, Uffizi Gallery, etc and have participated as a friend and donor for GALA since it’s in Gulf County.
My motivation in supporting the arts for our area is to create an outlet where artists can thrive and express themselves, a space for the audience to be exposed to the arts and gain the joy and creativity that comes from being surrounded by art as part of daily life.
I have lived in the area since 1995. My husband and I own and operate Boardwalk Realty which from its inception has had a space and heart for supporting GALA and thrilled to be contributors to Plein Air for the Forgotten Coast.
I offer myself as a business-minded individual with a great love of the arts and understanding that a community needs the arts to prosper and be engaging. GALA is the conduit to bring our area to the forefront as a place where artists and the community coexist and flourish."
11)Leslie Fedota-
12)Cathy Hobbs-
Please vote only for FIVE nominees and email the names back to boyd@theportfinewine.com
Any vote cast by a person not currently in good standing with GALA will be rejected.
Final deadline to receive votes WILL BE July 27th at 12:ooam eastern time. Any votes received past this time will be rejected.
If you not sure about your membership status you can log onto the GALA website at www.gulf-arts.org or contact our membership chairman Debbie Van Zant at dvanzant@gtcom.net and she can assist you.
Thank you for your continued support of GALA.
Boyd Pickett
Vice President
