Posting Date: April 6, 2009
Volunteers honored for service to College of the Arts
By Cheryl Anderson Brown
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Flourish Luncheon Committee |
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Theatre and Performance Studies Advisory Board
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Visual Arts Advisory Board |
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Dance Advisory Board and Friends of Dance |
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Dance Advisory Board |
Photographs by Cheryl Anderson Brown |
The First Annual Flourish Luncheon Committee was honored as “Board of the Year” at Kennesaw State University’s annual All Boards Day on April 3. Chaired by Mike Feldberg of The ColorSpot in Smyrna, the committee was selected for its successful fundraising efforts in behalf of the College of the Arts.
"I am so excited we all won this great award from the university recognizing our achievements," Feldberg said. "Dean Joseph Meeks and his staff made chairing an event as easy as it gets."
Last year, Joseph Meeks, dean of the college, asked Feldberg to form a committee to transition the college’s annual benefit gala into a daytime event. Feldberg had served on the benefit committee when it was led by his parents, Mike and Elaine Feldberg, in 2006 and remained involved under Bill and Linda Pinto in 2007. For the new luncheon committee, he decided to ask an entirely new group of people to assist him. He recruited Mike Russell of Elite Telecom Services, Jan Russell of the Marietta Museum of History, Kathryn Kennelly of KPK Commercial Services and Traci Newman of Wachovia.
In less than a year, the committee was able to raise more than $100,000 for scholarships and student-learning initiatives.
“It has been a complete delight to work with the entire board,” said Meeks. “This has been an exciting time for me in having the opportunity to work with the new leadership in the community and the passion and energy they all bring to the projects you embrace. I'm forever grateful to members of the board for the magnificent work they have done and are continuing to do for the College of the Arts.”
The luncheon was so successful that plans are already underway to present a Second Annual Flourish Luncheon on Sept. 1 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. This year’s event is being chaired by Mike Russell, Jan Russell, Kathryn Kennelly and Mike Feldberg continue to serve on the committee. They are joined by new members Steve Byrne of Mauldin & Jenkins and Chris Martin of WellStar.
“I am excited to see what we can do this year and in the years to come for the College of the Arts,” said Feldberg.
KSU’s All Boards Day celebrates the many volunteer boards who advise and assist the various units and programs at the university. During the event, they have an opportunity to learn about the most recent developments and to meet together.
The College of the Arts usually has a strong presence at the event. This year, members from five arts boards attended: Flourish Luncheon Committee, Dance Advisory Board, Theatre & Performance Studies Advisory Board, Visual Arts Advisory Board, and the newly formed Friends of Dance. Some boards offer academic and professional advice and assistance while others help raise money.