SOPA’s Charter Board members: Greig Steiner, Ron Wilcocks, Chris Wood, Lynette Johnson with Fund-raising Consultant Rene Moquin

The Supporters of the Performing Arts, SOPA, Inc., has begun a second phase in its campaign to raise funds for the construction of a performing arts center on the corner of Manford and Community Drive. In its first phase, the overture, it raised $1.3M. The curtain is now going up on Act I with additions to the SOPA Board, additions to the SOPA professional staff, a new market survey by AMS Planning and Research, and a preliminary meeting with the performing arts community leaders to share common interests and concerns about the design and usage of the proposed PAC.  Future articles will report on each of these Act I aspects.

The SOPA Board usually meets with its two advisors from the Town of Estes Park: Town Trustee, Dorla Eisenlauer, the official SOPA Board Liaison; and Mayor Bill Pinkham, who is taking a special interest in this project.

The SOPA Board, itself, is well supplied with experienced leaders in the performing arts, in local business enterprises, and in the tourism industry. Many know Chairman, Christopher E. Wood as past president of the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, (FAGR) and a fine vocalist, but his business acumen is even more impressive. He advanced from “housekeeping” at McGregor Mountain Lodge to successful co-owner and manager in just a few short years and continues to expand his list of regular patrons.

Similarly, the treasurer, Rod Rawson, who has a BA in accounting, is the owner and busy manager of Help-U-Sell Mountain Realty, with experience specifically in fund-raising on the Ronald MacDonald House Board.

The secretary, Lynette Johnson, comes by her useful language skills legitimately with an MA in English and Linguistics and plenty of teaching experience. As president of the Oratorio Society, she knows the intricacies of making local performances come to life.

The newest Board member, now helping the treasurer as CPA and Tax Consultant, is James Broomfield, a retired accountant from California, and a former Chief Financial Office/Controller for several industrial companies.

Greig Steiner, with a degree in Technical Theater, serves on the Design Committee. He brings business experience from running his own art studio, the Greig Steiner Gallery and Design Studios; and a phenomenal wealth of stage experience in choreographing, directing and designing stage sets all over western U.S.A. He also has designed a number of building projects in Estes Park, including the Courtyard Building.
Jerry Rutledge (not pictured), SOPA’s Summer Resident Liaison, is the retired CEO of four nationally known insurance companies and federations. He has also served as director of various charitable boards and foundations in Minnesota. Growing up with and later managing his family-owned Loveland Heights Cottages, he understands the local tourism industry well. Jerry is a major donor to SOPA.

Ron Wilcocks, who serves as VP of the EPURA Board, also gives tremendous energy and enthusiasm to the SOPA Board even though he has been very busy expanding his own successful shops to a chain of three: Earthwood Artisans and Earthwood Collections on W. Elkhorn; and, now, Earthwood Gallery in Boulder. He was awarded the US Local Business Association Best of Estes Award for 2008. Ron believes that the PAC will help all facets of our business community be more successful in both good  and bad economic times.
While everyone in the community, indeed in the whole global economy, is waiting to see how the present economic downturn affects his/her own financial outlook, the SOPA Board will continue to develop its contacts, its grant-writing efforts, its operating plans, its marketing strategies, and its membership.

Watch for a form to be offered at any of the upcoming local Christmas concerts for those who are not registered on SOPA’s data-base to receive informative updates and newsletters. SOPA’s mission is to build a performing arts center worthy of the growing arts community in Estes Park. Together, we can bring more and better entertainment and prosperity to this precious home we share in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.