All in the Family
The volunteer group at the Eastern Shore Art Center feels like a big happy family and speaking of family, we do have some volunteers that actually are related. “The Sisters,” as they are known far and wide, are Betty Bowdoin and Margie Gewirtz. Betty and her husband Allan, who was born and raised in Birmingham, retired to the Eastern Shore in 1990, finally landing in Fairhope in 1994. Betty immediately began volunteering in the bookstore at the Library and at the front desk at ESAC. When he wasn’t golfing or fishing, Allan also helped out at ESAC by hanging the exhibits.
Margie came to Fairhope twenty years later and immediately followed in Betty’s footsteps, giving her time both at the Library and ESAC. After several months, it was Kate Fisher who “volunteered” Margie to take over as coordinator for the Front Desk volunteers. These days, the dynamic duo can be found working the first shift in the Gift Shop most First Fridays.
Welcoming Visitors to the Eastern Shore Art Center
The Eastern Shore Art Center is blessed to have a long list of highly capable volunteers who happily staff the front desk and the gift shop Tuesday through Friday every week and during the First Friday Art Walks. Margaret Neely and Holly Parks do a masterful job of organizing the calendar for these volunteers. The front desk and gift shop volunteers greet and welcome visitors from near and far to our wonderful Fairhope treasure. This month we also want to give a special shout-out to Claude Gatlin who has been at the desk multiple times during the month of August and who has generously filled in at the last minute when needed. Claude also recently worked with the City of Fairhope on ESAC’s behalf to have new lighting installed in our parking lot. Claude has agreed to serve as chairman of the newly formed “Facilities Committee” that will assist the staff in ensuring a well-maintained facility. If you are interested in serving on the committee or finding out more, contact Bryant Whelan.
We will highlight more of our front desk and gift shop volunteers in next month’s newsletter.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
The ESAC Outdoor Art Show held in conjunction with the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival will take place March 17-19, 2023. Volunteers will be needed for the front desk and gift shop for all three days of the festival. We will also need help with hospitality for the artists and decorations for the art center plus a group to help with the Friday artist reception as well as set-up and clean- up for all events in the art center.
Volunteer Coordinators / info@esartcenter.org
Front Desk – Margaret Neely
Gift Shop – Holly Parks
First Friday Art Walk / Special Events – Winky Dowdle
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