Reception to honor outgoing Director Barbara Courtney on Jan. 28

As part of its process to select a new Executive/Artistic Director, the Orcas Center Board of Trustees will host “conversations with the community” for each of the three final candidates. The community conversations will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, January 11, 12 and 13, from 2:30 – 4 pm on the CenterStage. All members of the community are invited to any one or all three of these gatherings.

Each day, one of the candidates will mingle with community members and then, through a moderated session, respond to questions posed by community members. This session will provide the Orcas Center Board and Search Committee members an opportunity to observe how the candidates respond to the community’s concerns and will take such concerns into account when making their final deliberations.

The Search Committee consists of Orcas Center Board members Eska Wilson (President), Dimitri Stankevich (Vice President), April Duke, and community members Diane Berreth and Lance Evans. “We have three very strong candidates and are excited to introduce them to our island, community members and our wonderful cultural center,” said Wilson.

The Orcas Center Board also invites community members to a reception honoring outgoing Executive/Artistic Director Barbara Courtney on Friday, January 28 at 6 pm in the Madrona Room. The reception will precede the 2011 season opening performance with Mariachi Huenachi, an award-winning high school mariachi ensemble from Wenatchee.