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The Brandon League of Fine Arts has had a lot to celebrate this year.

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By Cheryl Kuck

Published: December 27, 2006

Brandon, FL - Brandon, FL - In September, the league was the recipient of the 2005 Brandon News-Brush Strokes Awards for Ongoing Support of the Arts, and Roxanne Tobaison received the award for Arts Organizational President of the Year.

Extending its outreach for members, the league re-established the high school arts scholarship fund in corporate partnership with PSMI-tmseys. The league and PSMI-tmseys also developed a groundbreaking program of gallery exhibition and artwork sales in three of its corporate locations.

Additionally, the league began another revolving exhibit opportunity with Bay Area Cardiology.

New philanthropic community contributions were established with a communitywide paint-out resulting in funds that supplied 500 art tote bags donated to All Children's Specialty Center.

There have been record-breaking sales of works exhibited by members at exhibitions, while the annual Members Show and Artworks 2006 set patron attendance records.

Interesting free monthly teaching programs and demonstrations brought many visitors and renewed interest in league activities. An improved Web site provided opportunities for members to show what they do without the great expense of an individual Web address.

The outgoing board of directors and all committee chairmen should be congratulated on the various initiatives resulting in phenomenal new growth with 32 new members joining the league this year.

At the annual Christmas party, Eric Routen, a Brandon High School senior and son of Tribune
Neighbors columnist Barbara Routen, who is also a music teacher, played holiday music while members reminisced about the year's accomplishments and installed the 2007 board of directors.

Beginning his choral musical training at Nativity Catholic School, Eric has been in Brandon High Aquilla for the past three years. He received the GFWC Brandon Service League's Reynolds Bryan Scholarship, is a three-year member of the Florida Music Educators Association All-State Reading Choir, is a member of the National Honor Society and Christian Fellowship of Students. At the party, he also celebrated having just learned of his acceptance to Notre Dame University.

In a highlight of the evening, Pam Patton, outgoing president, introduced her father, Bill Reeves, the newly elected incoming president, saying amidst much laughter, "I'll be happy to work as his program chairwoman. After all, he's been telling me what to do for 36 years!"

To cries of, "Where is her editor," this columnist attempted the following poem, which outgoing league newsletter editor Jeff Gardner read:

'Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the garret,
A lone artist painted,
But there was no one to share in it
No critiques, no applause,
No patrons did come
To see if I was either artist or bum
Who can be an artist true,
The one who the public comes to view,
Working through day and night with no one to see,
Thank heaven the Brandon League is there for me!
God bless all artists…every one.

Cheryl Kuck writes about the arts

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