Children’s Museum Takes Step Towards the Future

BJ Kirkpatrick News
Children’s Museum Takes Step Towards the Future

Commerce Texas | April 26, 2018

Silent Auction provides an opportunity to be involved with the Museum’s future.

The 2018 Silent Auction for the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum will be a pivotal event for the Museum. The event is set for Monday, April 23 in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus. The bidding begins at 6:00 PM and closes at 8:00 PM.

The Museum continues its challenges as it deals with issues involving the current building site. In June 2017, Texas A&M University-Commerce announced that the Museum could look forward to a new site at the location of the previous University president’s home. The Museum would join a proposed agricultural complex at the site.

Finalization of this exciting proposal includes a new building for the Museum’s future. The 2018 Silent Auction will initiate an active step toward raising the $3 to $5 million needed for the new building.

“We will need support from throughout northeast Texas to make the proposed building a reality”, said Sharline Freeman, Director of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. “I envision our visitors – parents, grandparents, students and children – engaging to help us achieve what appears be a Herculean task. I do think it can be done. This year’s Silent Auction is a new beginning.”

Guests at the auction will find a variety of items for bidding as they enjoy a fun and festive evening out with friends and neighbors. Items include floral arrangements, furniture, home accents, original paintings and artwork, collector’s items, holiday décor and jewelry, as well as unique experience packages, and much more.

An exciting part of this year’s Silent Auction will be the raffle. A number of ways exist to purchase raffle tickets include purchasing them from Museum board members, at State Farm Insurance in Commerce, in person or by calling the Children’s Museum – or even by purchasing them at the door on the night of the event. With the support of the community this year’s raffle will include three items. These will be cards totaling $1,000 sponsored by Alliance Bank, Cypress Bank, Guaranty Bank and Trust, and Inwood Bank; a 60” TV donated by 10-2-4 Ranch; and a Yeti package donated by Commerce Veterinary Clinic. Raffle tickets are $5 or 5 tickets for $20.

The Market provides another venue for shopping. With family recipes of hot sauces and barbecue sauce, the Market will also have an assortment of baked goods and other culinary delights. Popular items from the Children’s Museum Gift Store will also be available. The Museum accepts checks, cash and credit cards.

“There are so many ways to support this event. Donate an item for the auction, purchase a raffle ticket, or visit the Museum Market. We request community support by attending and participating in the bidding of more than 300 items,” said Donna Tavener, Museum board president. “We hope that this year’s Silent Auction will be a great event as the Children’s Museum moves toward a new building.”

Call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at (903) 886-6055 to donate an item, purchase tickets or with any questions.

 

Texoma Area ATHENA Award Nominees Announced

BJ Kirkpatrick Austin College, News
Texoma Area ATHENA Award Nominees Announced

SHERMAN, TEXAS

Austin College officials have announced the nominees for the 2018 Athena Leadership Award and Athena Young Professional Leadership Award, with the recipients to be announced April 27 at noon at the College. Tickets for the luncheon celebration at Austin College in Wright Campus Center’s Mabee Hall are available at https://www.picatic.com/athena2018for $25 per person. In addition to the award presentation, the luncheon will include a keynote address by Kate Murphy, senior child welfare policy associate for Texans Care for Children.

This year’s ATHENA Leadership Award honorees are Stephanie Chandler, director of community investment for United Way of Grayson County, Inc.; LuAnn Daniel, founder and chief executive officer for Women Rock Inc.; Deborah Estes, education consultant; and Tonya Price, chief nurse officer for Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center.

ATHENA Young Professional Leadership nominees are Amber Pilcher, banking services manager and regional retail manager for Landmark Bank Denison;  Kristina Quinlan, member services and events director for Sherman Chamber of Commerce; and Melanie Truxal, Main Street coordinator for the City of Denison.

The regional event, which honors women leaders who work or live in Grayson, Fannin, or Cooke counties, is sponsored by the Austin College Center for Community and Regional Development and the College’s Texoma Women Get Connected program, in partnership with United Way of Grayson County. The ATHENA Leadership Award® is presented to individuals who have attained and embody the highest level of professional excellence in their business or profession, devote time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential. ATHENA Young Professional Leadership nominees are emerging women leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession; provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community; and clearly serve as role models for young women both personally and professionally.

The luncheon also serves as a final session of the morning’s Nonprofit Symposium, which begins at 8 a.m. in Wright Campus Center, Room 254, and will feature information about grant writing, public policy as it pertains to nonprofits organizations, and fiduciary responsibility. The morning events are free and open to the public, but require registration, also athttps://www.picatic.com/athena2018.  

Event sponsors and table sponsors are needed for the event. Sponsorships benefit the College’s Social Entrepreneurship for Poverty Alleviation (SEPA) summer intern program, which partners with local nonprofit organizations. For more information, please contact Trish Jennings at 903.813.2042 or tjennings@austincollege.edu.

The ATHENA Leadership Award Program is administered by ATHENA International, a non-profit women’s leadership organization, along with licensed host organizations and sponsors. Over 6,000 awards have been presented in the U.S. and around the world since the program’s inception in 1982. Recent recipients include Condoleezza Rice, Billie Jean King, Pat Summit, and Gabby Giffords. A list of all known local recipients is included on the Austin College Athena Award website.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Lisa Thomas to perform Native American Concert at Chrystal Opry House

BJ Kirkpatrick Entertainment, News
Lisa Thomas to perform Native American Concert at Chrystal Opry House

Sherman Texas | April 14, 2018

Lisa Thomas will perform a Native American Concert at the Chrystal Opry House located at Melody Ranch on April 20, 2018.

Lisa Cheryl Thomas has performed internationally as well as in various venues throughout the United States, including Edmonton, Alberta and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and Cuzco, and Lima, Peru as a 2017 Fulbright Scholar, the Smithsonian NMAI, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  She has earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree and her research and lecture recitals regarding Native American Classical Piano Repertoire have awakened a new enthusiasm and interest in this music.

She is an accomplished performer and has recorded three CDs of the solo piano music of Arthur Farwell on the classical international London label, Toccata Classics.  Her CDs have garnered rave reviews in Fanfare Magazine and International Record Review.  She has a busy performance schedule and also presents many lecture recitals.  She was the center attraction for the Ruidoso, New Mexico Winter Concert Series in December of 2014.  Her unique concerts incorporate Piano, Native American Flute, Drum, Poetry, and Dancing, all I Native buckskin and fancy shawl regalia, with an atmospheric Native artwork and life slide presentation.  We look forward to having perform at the Chrystal Opry House on April 20th.

Chrystal Opry House is located at 1977 White Mound Road, off of Hwy 902 just Southeast of Sherman, Texas between Howe and Tom Bean.  Doors open at 6:30 pm. An authentic Native American meal will be served following the concert.  Advanced tickets must be purchased by April 18th.  Contact Lisa Thomas – Artist@IvoryArtists.org or call 214.763.8028 or Contact Bill Hayes at 903.546.6893.  Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.