By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
=Longtime Turnage Theaters Foundation treasurer Ed Mann was honored for his service during the organization’s annual membership meeting Tuesday.
Mann, who has stepped down from the board of directors, received a framed certificate, and a plaque in his honor was unveiled at the conclusion of the meeting. The plaque, affixed to the front of the Turnage stage, joins one in honor of Jerry Smyre, another driving force behind the restoration and reopening of the historic theater.
Along with Mann, retiring board members Marcia Griffin and Marsha Hackney were presented certificates for their efforts on behalf of the foundation. The board also welcomed Bill Lord, Deborah Page Wright, Melina Mengie, Sandra Swan, Lori Champion Melton and Bob Schultz as its newest members.
The other members of the foundation board are president Jon Tingelstad, vice president Sadie Fowle, secretary Alma Friedman, Shirley Phillips, Mary Jane Cooke, Paige Harris, Neal Partrick, Jeffrey Phipps, William Rianhard, Helen Sommerkamp, Ernie Uhr and Rose Bailey.
“It’s been a good year, but the theater does continue to struggle financially,” Tingelstad said in his opening remarks. “We all continue to be good ambassadors for the Turnage, working to generate funds. … It’s essential that we follow up and see if we can get corporate, business and philanthropic funds.”
Tingelstad said the foundation has 598 members going into the new year, and he stressed the importance of everyone getting involved.
“We’re going in the right direction,” he said.
Schultz, Mann’s successor as treasurer, addressed the members and remarked that although the theater struggled financially in 2009, board members and staff “did an excellent job of controlling expenses.”
Among the budgetary goals for 2010 are increasing membership numbers, pursuing more fundraising opportunities and generating more ticket sales. Schultz said Scotty Henley, whom he called a “jack of all trades,” is working to book shows that are in line with “the wants and needs of the community.” Henley is the Turnage’s executive director and technical director.
In his remarks, Henley praised fellow staff members Katherine Buchholz and Alice Blackwell for their efforts in keeping the Turnage Theater up and running. Buchholz is the theater’s box-office manager, and Blackwell serves as administrative assistant.
“Without these two ladies’ dedication and excellent skills, the theater would have a whole different level of challenges,” he said.