Special to The Star
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
The Meridian Council for the Arts has tapped new leadership for the upcoming 2010-11 year. Serving as President will be Melinda Perry, a local arts educator. Not only has Perry been active with the MCA, she has contributed her talents and energy to other arts organizations in Meridian, including the Meridian Little Theatre.
A teacher at Clarkdale Elementary School, Perry holds a B.S. and a Masters Degree in elementary education from Mississippi State University. Perry is beginning her 24th year as a teacher. She served as the co-project director for the Whole Schools Initiative at Clarkdale, has been on the board of the Meridian Council for the Arts for the past five years and also serves on the board of Meridian Little Theater, where she has been stage manager for the past 18 years.
First Vice President will be Richelle Putnam, published author and talented musician; and Wayne Rawson, a local photographer, will be Second Vice President. Rounding out the leadership slate for the year will be April Hawthorne as Secretary; and Ann McKee as Treasurer.
Outgoing President Debbie Martin reflected on the new board choices. “We are so fortunate to have excellent volunteers who are so thoroughly committed to the arts in our area,” she said. Martin brought major changes to the MCA during her tenure as president, including the new logo and the revitalized website.
Other new board members, 2013 Class, include: Susie Johnson, Zena Limerick, Edgar Hernandez and Leigh Barber. Replacements for the 2011 Class are Shea Brewer Leake and Edie Simmons. Replacements for the 2010 Class are Cindy McDaniels, Joe Coxwell and Dixie Pigford Tibbets.
Returning to the board are Leslie Lee Marshal, Wayne Rawson, Kirk Thompson and Ann Williams. Moving to the auxiliary board are Bob Bresnahan, Gloria Johnson and Kris Gianakos.
The MCA fosters and promotes diverse art and cultural organizations, events, education and individual artists in Meridian and Lauderdale County through leadership, partnership, collaboration, grants and services. The MCA was designated the local arts agency for Meridian and Lauderdale County by the Meridian City Council and the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors in 1978.
In a county with a population of more than 76,000 the council serves more than 100,000 people a year through its Community Art Grants Program, the annual Threefoot Festival, workshops, and other co-sponsored special events each year. More information on the Meridian Council for the Arts can be found at www.artsmeridian.org.
