FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council recently elected officers for the 2009-10 year.
They are Joe White of Maccesfield, president; Suzanne Coker of Pinetops, vice president; Johanna Owens of Tarboro, secretary; and Roland Clark of Tarboro, treasurer. Each will serve two-year terms.
"I am excited about the coming year," White said. "I come in behind a line of people who did outstanding things, and I have been fortunate to learn from them. It has been a great pleasure working with Johanna on the executive board for the past three years. I am very glad she has agreed to remain on board as secretary so I can continue to benefit from her wisdom.
"I am also excited to have Suzanne as our vice-president. She has wonderful energy and enthusiasm. I hope she will agree to step up and take the position as president when my term is up. I think it is very important to have past, present and future presidents working together.
“One thing I would like to focus on is bringing town and county leaders, other organizations and business people together for a roundtable discussion concerning events that can bring more people to our area. We live in a wonderful place and I would like to see what can be done to promote it and bring people here not only to visit, but to live.
“I would love to see all of us combine our resources and work together. In these economic times we all know how difficult it is to fund a project or event.
“ I would also like to continue working on membership. I especially want to see more young families join ECCAC. We have focused on programing for children and older adults and that has proven to be a service the community has appreciated.
Our Summer Art and Manners camps have been very popular. I would like to possibly add a Young Historians program to get our youth involved and excited about our rich history and our wonderful bounty of historic sites. Some very exciting things have happened right in our own back yards and I would like to see kids get the opportunity to learn about them and develop a passion for the place they live.”
Leaving the board after two three-year terms are Jessie Smoot of Tarboro, who served as president and as treasurer; and Ann Cobb of Pinetops who served as president and as secretary.
“Representation across the county has been a board priority and the appointments of Brenda Tanner from Pinetops and Bessie Cooper who lives near Lawrence will help maintain a presence in those areas where we hope to build up membership and program participation,” said Buddy Hooks, executive director. “Committees will include individuals from other communities in other corners of Edgecombe.”
