Editorial: Support those who make you smile — and think

A letter from Tom Murdoch, membership chair of the Board of Orcas Center went out to its membership in January saying, in part:

This year, more than ever, we are relying on your membership support to continue our quality programming. Your membership provides the power that makes everything happen.

In response to community feedback, our goal is to continue to offer “SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE” … a rich and varied collage of events to meet the diverse interests of the Orcas Island audiences we serve.  A quick glance at our 2009 Program Guide highlights the range of offerings that makes us a gathering place for people of all ages, traditions and cultural interests.

Your continuing membership and sustained financial support is vital to the Center.

FACTS:

• Box office revenue covers only about 20% of our operating costs.
• We are committed to keeping ticket prices affordable.
• We have diligently budgeted our expenses to the bone.
• Each seat in the house must therefore be substantially subsidized by our supporters.
• Members receive significant ticket discounts (up to $9 per ticket).

For these and a thousand other reasons why Orcas Center is important to our community, your membership renewal is absolutely critical… and more than ever in these difficult times.

Orcas Center not only brings entertainment, joy and reflection to our community, it brings our community together – for fun and entertainment, yes, but also for meetings, for rehearsals, for memorial services, for discussions, and for art and craft exhibits, just to name a few of its functions.

The Center is a tribute to past islanders who created a forum for these activities, and it provides a platform for the staging of future artists to learn the “art and craft of community” and for present-day performers, island-born and world-renowned, to give their unique and heartfelt gifts to our island community.

The Orcas Center has done its utmost to bring a variety of performances that meet our different tastes to the island. It truly does offer Something for Everyone, and whether we go once a year or are season ticket holders and make every event, it’s a simple but specially way to say thank you to the folks who offer this to us.

To paraphrase Pogo: We have met the artists, and they are us.

Anyone can add membership to their volunteer and patronage support of the Center, for as little as $10 for students and $25 for the general public. Plus there are opportunities to help foot the bill for the events you support the strongest

Simply call the Center at 360-376-2281, ext 1; or renew on-line at www.orcascenter.org/MembershipForm.htm.

Your rewards will be shared — and priceless.