Orcas Center unveils new moves at annual meeting

Submitted by Cynthia Abolin, Orcas Center Board of Trustee

New things are happening at Orcas Center and you’ll want to be in the loop!

Come to Orcas Center on March 12 for the Annual Meeting, when members new and old — and not-yet-signed up — can find out why we call ourselves Orcas Center and what our plans are for the future.

Since last fall we’ve contacted 700 of our members so that they can renew their membership.

We also want to reach those who may be new to the island or not yet acquainted with the island’s non-profit Center for arts and culture.

Our membership has built, maintains and supports our beautiful facility on Mount Baker Road, just north of Orcas Island Schools.

We are a community center for the performing arts with a large variety of uses:

• Performances: most recently, “Mary’s Wedding,” “Sea Stars,” and “Enchanted Forest” – and coming up – “Monty Python’s Spamalot”

• Rental spaces for parties, memorials, rehearsals and meetings

• Classes in yoga, aerial silk acrobatics, painting and theater production; and collaboration with the Orcas School District’s Theatre as Literature classes (this year producing Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”).

• Lectures and presentations such as “Orcas Currents” talk with Hedrick Smith; and Jonathan White’s launch and reception for his book, “Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean.”

There are many ways to be part of this great organization. We could not operate without the multitude of volunteers we have – We love them!

At our annual meeting, we’ll vote on new board members, get updates from three Orcas Center Board President, Tom Fiscus, three committee chairs, and the Interim Director, Margie Doyle. We’ll also get an update on the search for a permanent Executive Director.

Our members are all valued and welcome always. We hope past members will renew and get reacquainted. We appreciate you all and want you to be a part of Orcas Center.

Call Orcas Center at 376-2281, or visit its website at http://orcascenter.org/membership/, or come to the center on Mount Baker Road.