For all the things that have changed since the morning of Sept. 11, volunteerism is one thing that hasn't. People who give of themselves somehow find the strength to keep giving and giving.

        This is especially true in the arts. From the largest to the smallest groups, volunteers devote time and skills so that arts throughout our region do more than survive. They thrive.

        This year, we asked readers for suggestions on whom we should recognize in the annual Thanksgiving column. Here are some of the people who made a difference.

        • The Taft Museum of Art has closed for 18 months of renovation,but the museum will take art to elementary schools with Galleries on the Go starting in January. The program took two years to develop, led by Pat Ries and the education committee of Helen Baker, Jeanne Groom, Sharon Johnson, Pat McCurrach, Jody McMillin, Susan Workman and Jaye Yorio.

        • Fiber artist Monica Kleimeyer volunteers for the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati as coordinator for a program with hospitalized and inner city children through Art Links.

        Kindergarten and third-graders at Winton Place Academy learn how to spin wool, weave a rug, dye yarn and make holiday ornaments. Ms. Kleimeyer spends hours in the playroom of Shriners Hospital for Children, helping kids paint a fall leaf with fabric paint and print it on a festive tablecloth.

        • A community came together to make Covington's Millennium Mosaic Benches project a reality. Dozens of people, young and old, gathered day in and day out for the arduous — though joyful — task of creating mosaic murals to decorate park benches with scenes from their neighborhoods.

        They researched Covington architecture, designed scenes, learned to cut and apply mosaics. It was a long-term, community-building process spearheaded by Covington Community Center.

        • Michael Kovasckitz says the Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum “exists today because of Brenda Lugar Morress' passion and vision. Long after her original dream of the center became a reality, she remains devoted to bigger dreams.

        “Brenda developed an arts-oriented programming philosophy designed to expose the broadest possible cross-section of the community to both visual and performing arts” including a gallery and small library that has children's programming and arts projects.

        “Like many volunteer organizations the Carnegie Center has suffered from volunteer fatigue. It is consistently Brenda and her insistence that immediate challenges not obscure long-term goals, who can be expected to lead the charge over the next hurdle.”

        • Regardless of what Rowland Dietz is doing on any given day, you can be sure he's championing the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

        Says CCM Dean Douglas Lowry : “Rowland is one of those rare individuals whose honesty and convictions about the arts are only surpassed by his generosity toward them. His steadfast service to CCM and the pivotal role he plays as part of our family is an example to us all.”

Thanks from the theater

        A pair of embryonic theater companies have huge thanks to their volunteer support.

        • Don Sherman, director of this spring's planned Midwest Black Theatre Festival, calls Valerie Williams “the glue” holding the project together. She's volunteering full time, assisting in every aspect of planning from auditions to creating a data base to finding sponsorships.

        • “Theater professionals have been amazingly generous with their time and talent” to Women's Theatre Initiative, says founder Kristin Dietsche. She calls the efforts of Regina Pugh and Aiden Sims “crucial.”

        “Regina has not only lent her acting and directing skills to our reading series, she's been instrumental in shaping our play-selection process. Aiden is a junior at School for Creative and Performing Arts, studying both acting and technical theater.

        “She has enthusiastically shared both these talents, working long hours as volunteer assistant stage manager on (WTI debut) One Flea Spare last summer with the highest level of professionalism.”

        • The Wednesday Ladies can be found from 10 a.m. to noon every Wednesday at Cincinnati Art Museum where Rosemary Gardner, Prudence Hassan, Arlette Merritt and Janet Vormbrock, among other things, assemble new membership packets and prepare renewal mailings (about 1,000 per month.)

        On one of their more memorable Wednesdays, they shared a space with a group of Tibetan monks visiting for a week of performances. When staffers stopped in, they saw the women teaching the monks to stuff and sort.

        • Jeanne Rape has been involved with Cincinnati Opera since its days at the Zoo. (The opera moved to Music Hall in 1972). As coordinator for artist hospitality, opera staffers rave about her “true Cincinnati-style welcome. The warmth and care Jeanne and her committee put into "meet-and-greets' helps set the tone for working relationships throughout the season.”

        • The Janus Project in Oakley pulled up stakes and left the region last spring, but its volunteers were a big reason why artistic director Jay Apking returned.

        Ashley Pizzato sees that three Janus shows travel to Loveland every year by taking charge of producing. Sara Ellerhorst, Flo DeWitt and Ann Jaroszewicz are all “devoted to helping children gain exposure and appreciation for the arts,” says Mr. Apking.

        Ms. Ellerhorst has even put together a booklet for parents in her Indian Hill community explaining how they can volunteer their time in the arts and what their children get from the arts.

        • At MUSE-Cincinnati's Women's Choir, Laura Talarek leads non-singing members in a variety of tasks and projects. She recruits, coordinates ushers, ticket sales and MUSE merchandise.

        She also organizes staffing for concerts, mailings and is co-chair for the regional choral festival MUSE and Cincinnati Men's Chorus will host in July.

        • Bernice Weisman has volunteered two days a week since 1979 in Cincinnati Art Museum's Department of Prints, Drawings and Photographs. “A passionate collector of Japanese prints, she has shared her knowledge to help the department recatalog its collection of 19th- and 20th-century prints,” says curator Kristin Spangenberg.

        • Kathleen Wade is the volunteer Women Writing for (a) Change couldn't do without, says associate director Pauletta Hansel. “Kathy's efforts have largely initiated the volunteer circle of women who support the writing circles. She has organized and inspired volunteers in fund-raising, newsletter production and the work of the board of trustees.”

        • Volunteer thanks are all in the family at Children's Theatre. Jerry Louiso, brother of artistic director Jack, was commandeered to drive to Syracuse in April to pick up the carved piano used in last spring's The Piano Lesson. Mary Jo Katona, mom of the theater's marketing director, donated her time to oversee the theater's summer S.T.A.R. program for teens.
       

Heroes abound

        • Fred Lane isn't so much an arts volunteer as an arts hero, according to visual artists in Cincinnati's Brighton neighborhood. Andy Marko is just one of many who send heartfelt thanks to the Brighton landlord who has “permitted, fostered and encouraged both semantics and S.S. Nova (in the newly renovated Mochbee Art Center) to grow. He's a real saint!”

        • Enjoy the Arts thanks the folks at the Margaret B. Rost School for more than 15 years of service. Part of the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Rost School serves west-side young people from ages 6 weeks to 22 years.

        “Annually, a team of 40 youth assist ETA by labeling and preparing the bulk mailing of bi-monthly Artifacts calendar. Regardless of disability, each student participates in the process . . . ETA is proud of this partnership and truly grateful to instructor Rich Gilby,” executive director Lisa Mullins says.

        • Ephraim Roth celebrates 50 years with Cincinnati Civic Orchestra this year, concertmaster for 25 of those seasons. “Ephraim's service has strengthened and expanded the role of community-based music making in Cincinnati, increasing the access to quality performances for all the members of our community,” music director Laurence Bonhaus says.

        While Mr. Roth has performed in 500 free concerts with Cincinnati Civic Orchestra, he's also played 40 seasons in other Cincinnati community orchestras. “Every Thursday night it is my privilege and the privilege of each of our members to chat with him as he enters the rehearsal room, to make music with him, to be mentored by him, and, most wonderfully, for each of us to count him as our friend.”

        • Art Links says thanks to “awesome” graphic designer Linda Mitchell who is responsible for the logo, letterhead and invitations for special events for the last four years. “Linda is the ultimate volunteer,” says exec director Linda Tresvant.

        • Playhouse in the Park thanks Barbara Gloeckner for always being there no matter what she's asked. She's been called on to stuff envelopes, dress up like a Munchkin to promote The Wizard of Oz, and helps out at nearly every special event.

        She's always ready to provide a home-cooked meal for actors and running crew during closely booked weekend performances. (She's known for her meatloaf.) This year she added representing the theater's volunteer organization, the Prompters, on the board.

        As event chair for this year's Abracadabra, Amelia Crutcher was the equivalent of a full-time Playhouse staffer. She volunteered hundreds of hours and coordinated a 50-member committee.

        • Kathy DeLong, Deborah Gale and Jane Tuten are indispensable to Cincinnati Symphony fund-raising series Parties of Note and Parties of 1/2 Note.

        • Bernice Katz ended a 20-year stint on the Contemporary Dance Theater board earlier this year. “She's been a stalwart worker, assisting with flier and brochure designs, editing text and giving intelligent advice,” says artistic director Jefferson James.

        Ms. James also sends thanks to Web master, company photographer, Performance and Time Art Series volunteer and CDT treasurer Alan Bratton.

Parents behind scenes

        Moms have a funny way of starting to volunteer for school projects because of their kids then staying on long after the kids have graduated.

        • Look for Judy Schwing at Dawn Meyer School of Dance long after her daughters have gone on to college. “Like most volunteers, my mom does not recognize that she does phenomenal things each and every day,” says daughter Julie. “Special people like her never hear "thank you' enough.”

        • Sue Kirkpatrick says Chris Stubbins' volunteer days begins at 8 a.m. when she goes to work for Children's Theatre and ends at 11 p.m. when she leaves Sycamore High School. “Chris' youngest child has graduated and she's still there eight hours a day being the best volunteer a program could ask for.”

Committed to theater

        The show just doesn't go on at dozens of area community theaters without dozens of cast and crew and support staff committing to every production. It adds up to hundreds of thousands of hours through the course of a season.

        For many of these volunteers, community theater is a lifetime commitment.

        • Shirley and Bernie Berg have been involved in community theater for more than 50 years, 40 of them in Cincinnati with Stagecrafters. At 79, Mr. Berg is an actor, producer and director and Mrs. Berg was stage manager for every show he directed.

        Mrs. Berg says community theater is the perfect retirement activity. “It's a wonderful way to get involved with people from all walks of life. Seniors are the backbone of community theater.”

        Stagecrafters also sends its affection and thanks to Moe Levinstein. He's produced 31 productions and, at 83, is still helping to build sets. Every June, he keeps time for the adjudicators at the annual ACT-Cincinnati competition.

        • Bill and Stella Brinkmann have done a lot of jobs for Village Players of Fort Thomas for more than 30 years (from maintenance to ordering supplies to production assistance) and maybe the toughest is being in charge of season tickets for 20 years. They handle every call and every change of reservation and coordinate with the individual ticket chairs for each production.

        • Don and Mary Haas and Ron and Freida Houck, with the late Mario Pitacco, pooled their own money in 1987 to put a down payment on a real home for Footlighters Inc. in Newport.

        When it was time to do much-needed repairs and renovations last summer, they were right there, “gathering materials, up on ladders, repairing and painting and finding the people to do the work we couldn't do, all the while directing, performing and building the set for the fall production Guys and Dolls.”

        Footlighters say thanks for providing the troupe its “life blood.”

        • Edward Spencer is another retiree who has found full-time volunteer work in community theater. Throughout his adult life he acted, directed, stage managed, worked lights and sound, built and painted sets. These days he keeps the books and updates the membership and mailing lists for Beechmont Players. In October, he spent a week building a set and a couple of Sundays later he went back to tear it down.

        “People often tell me they can't believe my dad is as old as he is,” says daughter Marcia. “I figure he's been lucky enough to have two loves, my mom and the theater, and both have kept him young.”

Devoted to dream

        • At Loveland Stage Company, Pat Furterer, Caroline Hall, Chris Jones, Ray Karle, Jerry Viox and Dave Welsh are devoting thousands of hours to a dream.

        The dream is to transform the long-unused Crist Theater into a community arts center and a home for the theater. The dream is getting closer, and his friends give particular credit to retiree Mr. Karle who has worked 10-12 hour days planning the work schedule, purchasing materials, removing debris, washing down the building's interior, painting walls and, oh, yes, constructing a stage.

        “He had help all the way,” they agree, but Mr. Karle “is a truly unsung hero of Loveland.”

        • Jill Davis moved here from Minnesota in 1996 and joined Lebanon Theatre Company to meet people. “She's done nearly all the publicity for our capital campaign and our shows, sends out all the press releases, takes photos of every show, meets with designers to develop posters and programs. She got us onto the Web and in her free time updates our site!

        “At the moment she's working with other groups in Lebanon to write a historical pageant for our town's Bicentennial. Jill makes our stars shine brighter with her elbow grease,” Amy Edington-King says. • Showbiz Players president Bunny Arszman says they are “truly blessed” to have brother-sister team Tony Otte and Irma Lewis “work tirelessly to make sure that our sets are consistently among the best in community theater.”

        • “Selfless” is a word that comes up a lot when people talk about Dan Dermody. While he's primarily affiliated with Mariemont Players, he designs and builds sets practically nonstop, including Southern Discomfort last summer for New Edgecliff.

        • Jim Burton is a founding member and current board president of the new FireBird Theatre in Mason. He's worked onstage and offstage for 30 years, volunteering with Mason City School drama and art departments. He believes an arts community should step forward and volunteer for community projects.

        For the past 18 years, he has helped set up, book acts and stage manage the city's Christmas in Mason festival. Health problems have slowed him down a little this year, but his wife, Linda Wilt, assures that he's doing better and getting back up to speed.

        • Deidre Dyson earns her thanks not just for designing and painting sets for many community theater groups. “Many of us have learned from her because she includes us in her design process and that has instilled confidence for us to work on our own,” says Barb Hoffman.

        • And a big thanks to Tracy Botos, Joy Sharp and Beth Boland for taking their turns in the thankless job of coordinating all the judgings for every show produced by ACT-Cincinnati member groups each season.

        Every year, 22-25 member theaters produce an average of three to five shows, and each show gets three judges. The job includes everything from mailing packets, to listening to complaints to scheduling to filling in during emergencies to compiling Orchid nominations and overseeing the presentation portion of the annual awards banquet.

Alternative settings

        • Dr. Reed Hughes, a young Hamilton veterinarian and off-hours musician, wanted an alternative to performing in noisy, smoky bars. He became one of the co-founders of Fitton Center's Music Cafe, which showcases acts every month in the center's theater.

        He and singer/retiree Mark Finfrock, who helps set up the programs and promotion and works backstage, get Fitton Center's thanks for making the cafe possible.

        • Septogenarian and Web master Thomas Buck has designed Web sites for arts companies, including Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Emery Center Corp., the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall and a new site for former Cincinnati Ballet dancers Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev.

        • Ensemble Theatre loves Chet Cavaliere for his fiscal abilities and his tantalizing marinara sauce. “Chet's belief in our mission and his support of our location and programming are blessings indeed,” says producing artistic director D. Lynn Meyers.

        • Sherry Masters led the Queen City Stencilers in creating a three-dimensional mural to welcome families to the new Ronald McDonald House, a 500-hour project. She's also found time this year to paint murals for Anderson Hills United Methodist Church, the Summerside Methodist Church and Batavia YWCA.

        • Glenn King uses art in her volunteer work at Children's Hospital Medical Center. She painted the mural used during recent construction and designs posters and three-dimensional works that nurses use in teaching safety.

        • Urban Appalachian Council started working with Tom Law in 2000, when Mr. Law asked for the council's help in putting together an Appalachian film festival,“Telling the Story.”

        He returned the favor this year by putting together the film aspect of the council's multimedia festival Voices from Home. “Tom labored diligently and patiently behind the scenes on publicity, technical support and moral support,” says project coordinator Pauletta Hansel.

        “I don't know how many hours he put in. He accepted very little credit and no compensation, not even for expenses he incurred.”

        • Summerfair Inc. calls Don and Janice Yost “extraordinary volunteers.” The Yosts coordinate and schedule entertainment for the Youth Arts Fest that includes gymnasts, storytellers, face painters, dance troupes and singing groups and they're there for every performance.

        They write and produce a monthly Summerfair newsletter, coordinate a yearly membership reception and the annual picnic, and spend a lot of time encourgaing people to join. “Their infectious spirit is priceless,'' event administrator Kevin Reynolds says.

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