GOOD EVENING. 

I AM ROCHELLE KOENIG, PRESIDENT OF THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER WESTON AND A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE WESTON PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

I AM PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

WESTON ARTS AND CULTURE HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS.  WE HAVE ESTABLISHED NEW LEVELS OF SUCCESS IN EVERY EVENT WE HAVE PRESENTED.

AT OUR SEASON KICKOFF, NAMED “A TASTE OF THE ARTS IN WESTON”, WE FEATURED FANTASTIC WESTON PERFORMERS, PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR, OFFERED REFRESHMENTS, AND WE ATTRACTED AN OVERFLOW CROWD.  BASED ON THIS COMMUNITY INTEREST AND RESPONSE, WE PLAN AN EVEN LARGER KICK OFF THIS FALL.

LAST SEASON WE PRESENTED TWO OUTSTANDING SHOWCASES FOR ARTISTS — ONE FOR ADULTS AND ANOTHER FOR STUDENT ARTISTS.  BOTH ENJOYED TOTAL CAPACITY AUDIENCES.  PRIZES FOR EXCELLENCE WERE AWARDED TO SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ALL GRADE LEVELS.  THE ARTS COUNCIL ALSO HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE WESTON ART GUILD, AND TOGETHER WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREATER ARTISTIC CREDIBILITY IN WESTON.

THE SIGNATURE CONCERTS OF THE WESTON PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY ARE RECOGNIZED AS WORLD CLASS CONCERTS AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY HUNDRED OF ENTHUSIASTIC MUSIC LOVERS AND CONTINUE TO STEADILY GROW IN POPULARITY.  AN ADDITIONAL SUMMERFEST CONCERT WILL BE ADDED FEATURING THE CZECH MORAVIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND THE SYMPHONY OF THE AMERICAS..

THE POPULAR WESTON FOREIGN FILM SERIES WAS A COMPLETE SELL OUT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HELD ON MONDAY NIGHT.  THE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED FROM 4 TO 5 FILMS FOR NEXT SEASON.

AND THE FANTASTIC ART WALK AND SHOWTIME, IN ONLY ITS SECOND YEAR, BROUGHT MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE TO THE TOWN CENTER.  THE STREETS WERE FILLED WITH COLORFUL TENTS DISPLAYING A VARIETY OF ARTWORK AND PERFORMERS ENTERTAINING THE CROWD THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THE ARTS COUNCIL COMMUNITY ARTS ON-LINE CALENDAR NOW RECEIVES CLOSE TO 7,000 HITS A MONTH.  ADDITIONALLY, WE DISTRIBUTE 2,000PRINTED CALENDARS EVERY SIX MONTHS.  WE THANK OUR CALENDAR SPONSORS WESTBOUND MEDIA AND COMMUNITY BANK OF BROWARD.

ALL OF THIS SUCCESS AND THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR FORESIGHT.  RECENTLY, I SUBMITTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT SEASON.  I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR MOST VITAL SUPPORT.

AGAIN, I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER WESTON; THE WESTON  PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY; AND THE M ANY VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENHANCE OUR CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE TO PLACE WESTON AMONG THE PRE-EMINENT SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES.