Donors, Sponsors, & Volunteers

Volunteer Training Recap

Thank you to all those who helped make last night's (April 24) volunteer meeting something truly special. In 2006, more volunteers, donors, workshop attendess, and audience members came to Centrum for life-changing experiences than ever before in the history of the 35-year-old history of the organization. And if last night is any indication, 2007 will raise the bar even higher.

Kicking off the volunteer seminer, Sally Rodgers presented an orientation for new volunteers in the southern wing of Building 204. Afterward, Centrum's newest volunteers joined with returning volunteers in the northern wing to sample fruit and cheese and crackers, while enjoying wine. Then, Sue Ammeter, Daniel Barnes, and John Allen gave presentations on how best to assist Centrum audience members who are living with visual, physical, or hearing disabilities. We are so grateful to all of our presenters and the volunteers who donate their time, energies, and skills to making the extraordinary, life-changing artistic events possible at Centrum.

The number of volunteers grew from 282 in 2005 to 335 in 2006 as community members gave a total of 7,900 volunteer hours in remodeling  artist housing, taking tickets at performances, stuffing envelopes, registering workshop participants, and fundraising. "That's a 23% increase in volunteer hours," said volunteer coordinator Sally Rodgers, "and it's interesting how closely that growth corresponds to the overall increase in Centrum revenues.

"I am in awe of this community's generosity," says Centrum's executive director, Thatcher Bailey. "There is no arts institution in the Pacific Northwest blessed with anywhere near this same relative level of support."

                                                                                                                     

April 2007 Letter from the Director

As I write, 82 fifth-graders are exploring marine life and artistic expression as part of “Waterworld,” one of Centrum’s most popular youth programs. Presented with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, this program—attracting teams of young artists and scientists from distant reaches of the state—speaks eloquently to the Fort’s mission of creativity and discovery.

As always, creativity and discovery are underlying themes in the next issue of Experience. Available in May, the next issue explores different ways that cultural traditions are revitalized through artistic innovation and transformation.  Details about summer performances are also included. Advance ticket sales for Centrum donors begin April 16. Review our website to plan your summer entertainment.

Dinner with the Professor!

On a beautiful Friday evening, April 20, twenty successful bidders from the 2006 Gala Dinner & Auction enjoyed drinks and dinner with Russell Johnson, "the Professor" from Gilligan's Island, who had a long career in film and television.

Johnson, along with his wife, Connie, met with the bidders before dinner for drinks. In the living room of the Bailey House on Discovery Road, Johnson talked about being shot down as a pilot during World War II, about going to acting school on the GI Bill, and about the early  days television and movies. He also talked about how he turned down the role of the Professor twice before accepting it.

Johnson also starred in a number of motion pictures, including one of the first-ever 3D films, It Came From Outer Space. He appeared in other films with such luminaries as Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, and Ronald Reagan. Now, he remains proud of the fact that his character, the Professor, helped many children to get excited about science.

Thank you! to all those Gala attendees who bid on this experience. Your generosity supports Centrum programs and scholarships. Without your support, the experiences in the arts that take place each month at Centrum would simply not happen.

Print Archive Celebration

Thanks to partnership with Fort Worden, several dozen prints made by Centrum artists in residency will be displayed in the Fort Worden houses on Officers' Row.

On the evening of Wednesday evening, April 18, Centrum community members came together to celebrate the framed prints while enjoying cheese and crackers, glazed meatballs, breaded shrimp, fruit, and wine.

In addition, contemplative juggler Thomas Arthur gave a special performance. In a beautiful, synchronized choreography of sound, rhythm, motion, and light, Arthur didn't just juggle: he explored human relationships with objects, how objects affect us, and how the natural world is affected by humans.  

The evening also served as an introduction to Centrum's newest resident partner organization, Corvidae Press, a consortium of 40 northwest printmakers.

Centrum Seeks Development Director

Centrum is seeking a Development Director to develop, nurture, and manage over 1,500 individual and institutional relationships to inspire $1,200,000 million in annual charitable giving. If you're interested in joining a dynamic and passionate team, read more at The Centrum Information Center blog.

Record-Breaking Generosity

Over the last three years, Centrum’s overall revenues have grown from $1.80 million to $2.45 million, an increase of 36%. Revenue projections for 2007 are pinned at about $2.7 million. We have diversified earned revenue streams generating an increase of $450,000 or 44% from 2003.

While public sector contributions have declined by 2%, private sector giving is up 64%. Over the last 12 months Centrum donors have provided a record-breaking $1,145,819 in contributed support. Thirty-four individuals and institutions—giving $5,000 or more—accounted for almost 80% of that total. The other 979 donors gave an average gift of $235. The fifteen members of the Centrum board contributed a total of $141,000.

This is amazing generosity. The students, artists, audiences, and staff applaud you!!!

Help Us Plan for Growth

"Fort Worden has a precious legacy and there is now the chance to build on that legacy in ways that serve those whose lives have already been changed by experiences at the park, and to open up that opportunity for learning and transformation to millions more. We must imagine what we do on an entirely different scale. We must understand that our commitment to change is a commitment to changing the way people live on this earth. Our vision must be audacious, for the opportunities before us are extraordinary and the challenges daunting."

This is the last paragraph of our draft Plan for Growth. We would love your input on the whole document. I hope you will comment with  ideas, concerns, and questions. This whole endeavor is about listening to, learning from, and engaging  members of the myriad communities that gather at Centrum and Fort Worden. Thank you for taking the time to read...

Download plan_for_growth_07.doc

Annual Volunteer Training Meeting

Centrum's annual volunteer training meeting is slated for Tuesday, April 24, at 4 pm. Experienced volunteers, please plan to arrive at 4:30. The meeting takes place upstairs in Building 204, and refreshments will be served. RSVP Sally Rodgers at sally@centrum.org, 360-385-3102 x128. Hope to see you there!

Early Ticket Buy Date!

Tickets to Centrum's summer events go on sale to donors April 16, at 8:30 am. Call us at 360-385-3102, x117 or swing by the Centrum office at Fort Worden State Park! On tap this summer is a full bevy of legendary perfoming artists, including South African teaspoon guitarist Hannes Coetzee, the Birmingham Sunlights, the Yahoo! yodeler, and lineups of jazz, blues, and fiddle legends that include over a dozen Grammy Award winners and National Heritage Fellows. We'll see you here! 

In Progress: Waterworld

Donors, sponsors and volunteers are critical to the success of our school-age workshops. This week (April 1-6), we have nearly 70 fifth and sixth graders from throughout Washington here at Fort Worden exploring the intersections between art and marine science. The program is called Waterworld, and it is produced in conjunction with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.

We're posting daily photo updates from the Waterworld workshop on Centrum's youth website. We encourage you to visit and see what your support enables here at Fort Worden.

Thank You!

Centrum thanks Carole and Jim Franklin, two of the newest members of the Centrum Visionary Circle. Both Carole and Jim are retired high school teachers and active Centrum volunteers. Thank you for your generous support of Centrum programs, performances, and scholarships. Without donors like you, Centrum's life-changing experiences in creativity would not happen.

Centrum Visionaries (individuals whose estate plans include legacy gifts to Centrum)

Anonymous

Patricia Farmer

Carole and Jim Franklin

Marvin and Mary Hoffert

Gary Kennedy

Paul and Robin Lichter

Jean and Keith Marzan

Timothy and Kirsten Spencer

The Welland Family

Joseph and Renate Wheeler

Rick and Debbie Zajicek