Dear members –
Time flies by and my term as FMBAA President has come to an end. I am pleased that the last two years for FMBAA have been reasonably successful. The Covid-19 pandemic tested our organization. I like to think we passed that test. Last season our only ‘events’ were the receiving days for the shows. But, we saw more paintings entered in our shows and many sales.
One of my first events being president was hosting the 2019 Student Scholarship Show. I marveled at the students’ willingness to fearlessly ‘put it out there’ with their art. Last week, my last event as President was to host the 2021 Student Scholarship Show. And again, they did not disappoint. Check it out on the web.
One of the Cypress Lake art instructors in attendance, Marguerite Petcher, was, herself, a recipient of an FMBAA student scholarship. And her grandmother was an active member of our organization. This should make us all smile. FMBAA has been a fixture on this island for many decades.
Hopefully, with vaccinations on the rise, many members who were unable to come to Florida last season will be able to return. Like all families kept apart due to the pandemic, I hope the FMBAA family can come together this upcoming season.
Finally, I must say thanks to all of you for your support and efforts to keep FMBAA a vital center of art in Fort Myers Beach and its environs. And I wish the new FMBAA board, Officers, and incoming president, Star Sherwood, all the best for the 2021-2022 season.
Stay safe,
Tom Flaherty