From the Executive Director

Hats Off to the Arts Gala a Success!

The Foundation’s mission says in order to expand artisan entrepreneurship and create a vibrant economy; we develop and train artists and artisans, provide them with business development skills, explore new markets, communicate success stories and raise funds to support these efforts. So, it should be no secret that a successful fundraising event is a vital component to the long term sustainability of the Tamarack Foundation. In our 6^th year, we continue to receive generous support from individuals and businesses who understand the importance of our mission.

On Saturday, September 19, we hosted Hats Off to the Arts the annual Tamarack Foundation Artisan Auction and Gala under “the big top” of the Tamarack Conference Center.  This event has proven to be one of the best ways to engage the support of a large group of individuals and businesses in the community. This year’s event was no different with nearly 200 guests attending and including artists, craft artisans, and volunteers. The event raised $82,500 with the auctions contributing $18,000 toward the net of $56,000.

Ringmaster and Master of Illusion, John Slicer, led the guests through a magical evening of savory delights and handmade beauty.  The gourmet buffet under the direction of Greenbrier trained Chef Jamie Henderson featured West Virginia produce, protein and specialty products  The décor transformed the conference center to a sophisticated circus complete with a tent and table top dancing elephants. The vignettes of entertainment highlighted the variety of performing arts celebrated at Tamarack and led to many interesting conversations. Guests were invited to take a sneak peek of the new permanent exhibit of the WV Musical Hall of Fame while musicians performed on multiple stages. The live auction highlighted collectable works as auctioneers Zan George and John Slicer shared the artisan’s unique perspective on the importance of the Foundation to their business and their art.

Tremendous gratitude is given to our generous sponsors. They make it possible to leverage additional support for our mission. Thank you Artisan Sponsors: Crichton Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors; DiTrapano, Barrett & DiPiero; Dickirson Corporation; HNTB; Mountain State University; Spilman Thomas and Battle; Stonewall Group; and, WV Public Broadcasting. Craftsman Sponsors: Ann Bradley & Randy Cox; and, United Bank. Apprentice Sponsors: Abrams & Byron; and, Buzz Products, Inc.  The support of our additional Patrons and Friends, too many to name, make a difference in our ability to provide emergency funding and vital business training to our state’s artisan entrepreneurs.

A special thanks to all the artisans of Tamarack and those who are their voice on the Artisan Advisory Board who shared their ideas, time and talent for the good of the Foundation.

The evening also recognized three individuals for their excellence and dedication to promoting and fostering arts in West Virginia. The Tamarack Foundation Fellowship is the highest level of award by the Foundation and for the third year, presented $2,500 to each of the following new recipients: Lori Doolittle, Ceramic Artist, Richwood; Karen Vuranch, Performing Artist, Fayetteville; and, Ron Hinkle, Glass Artist, Buckhannon. These artists join a distinguished list of past recipients.  To learn more about the Fellowship program or to make a gift of support to continue this important award, visit our website or contact me.

Plans are underway for an exciting event in 2010 to continue our efforts to tell our story and secure funding that will enable the Foundation to serve a vital component of our state’s creative citizens and small businesses. Stay tuned. To see photographs from this years’ event, check out our web site at www.tamarackwv.com/foundation .

Charitable Giving a Part of Estate Planning

Clint Bryan Will Always be a Special Part of Our Foundation

Clint Bryan has a special relationship with Tamarack and its artists.  It began before the first shovel of earth was turned and even before he knew he would be the architect for the Tamarack building in Beckley.  It’s a relationship that will last for many years, even after Clint’s death in June of this year.

At his presentation before the architectural selection committee, Clint said that everything he had done in his career  in his lifetime led him to the moment when he would make that presentation.  He said that designing the building and working with the West Virginia artists involved in Tamarack was a gift in his life. 

He never forgot that.  He went on a few years later to design the Conference Center, sharing more of his creative spirit with state artists and with every guest who enjoys the Caperton Center.  This summer, he left a portion of his estate to the Tamarack Foundation to carry on its work.

“Everyone who knew Clint knew he was a special person,” said David Dickirson, treasurer for the Tamarack Foundation and a member of that Tamarack building selection committee.  “For his friends and everyone who knew him at Tamarack, it has always been clear that Tamarack and the Caperton Conference Center were the pinnacles of his career.”

“This generous contribution is touching and a wonderful way to know that Clint is still sharing his gifts,” Dickirson said.  “What is even more special is that he recognized he had a way to continue supporting West Virginia arts and artisans with a legacy gift like this.”

Dickirson said that what exceeds the monetary value of Clint’s gift is that it offers us a reminder that the ultimate gift of spirit is to remember an organization in your estate.

“Many of us give to our churches or to special organizations regularly during our lifetimes, but we don’t always remember that we can make a provision in our wills to continue our support,” he said.  “Clint is reminding us that when something is important to us, we can make an ultimate gift in this way.” 
          

Consider Giving to the Foundation in Your Will

 
The Tamarack  Foundation has been asked to serve as a committee member of LEAVE A LEGACY of Central Appalachia. Together with the local planned giving council,   they are promoting the idea to donors to remember a special organization or cause in their wills.  During an October public awareness campaign, these organizations encouraged people to either make or update their wills and reminded them to consider charitable giving as part of their estate planning.

“When someone includes an organization like ours in a legacy gift in their will, it ensures that their support for that organization and their community will continue beyond their lifetime,” Sally Barton, Tamarack Foundation executive director, said.

LEAVE A LEGACY of Central Appalachia says estimates show that more than 70 percent of households nationwide contribute to charities every year, but less than six percent plan for charitable bequests.  As the organization points out in its October newsletter, “If only six percent are including their favorite charities, causes and nonprofits in their estate plans, a great percentage of the public is not aware of the phenomenal impact they can have on making a difference in the lives that follow with a gift after their death.”

“If someone is interested in including the Tamarack Foundation in their estate plans, I would encourage them to notify their financial advisor and feel free to meet with me to learn about those artists and craftspeople who would benefit greatly from their generosity,: Barton said.  “Because estate gifts are not immediate contributions, it’s best to consider a general contribution to meet the needs of the Foundation so the gift can be used in the most effective and responsible way.”

You May be Eligible for Tax Credits

The Tamarack Foundation competed and received a limited number of state tax credits for those donors or businesses interested in receiving a 50% tax credit for their charitable gift. The Foundation has $15,000 remaining in West Virginia Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits that it can distribute to individuals and businesses for qualifying contributions to the Foundation.  And, if contributions reach that level by March 1, 2010, the Foundation may be eligible to receive even more.

“The purpose of NIP is to increase charitable giving to West Virginia programs that depend on philanthropy to meet their missions by allowing us to apply for tax credit vouchers that we can distribute to generous businesses and individuals whose contributions meet the program standards,” Sally Barton said.  “In turn, those businesses and individuals earn credits to reduce liability for the Corporate Net Income Tax, the Business Franchise Tax or Personal Income Tax.”

Barton said that contributions can be made in cash, personal property, real estate, stock and designated in-kind professional services.  The minimum eligible donation is $500

NIP adds another dimension to charitable contributions to organizations such as the Tamarack Foundation that offer services to help build and strengthen West Virginia communities, Barton said. 

“Arts, education, health and community service organizations whose purposes are based on improving communities benefit from this tax credit,” she said.  “The Tamarack Foundation includes all of these components in its mission and programs.”

If you are considering making a year-end gift, please contact Sally Barton at 304-926-3770 to learn if you can take advantage of the available NIP tax credits.

For more information about the facts of the program, see the Quick Facts on the Tamarack Foundation Web site at (www.Tamarackwv.com/Foundation).

Artisan Profile

Mark Schwenk in his Own Words
 

Mark Schwenk is a photographer by education, but a blacksmith by heritage, following in the steps of his German ancestors and American grandfather.  He is a co-founder of Frog Valley Artisans, Ltd., a growing arts collective in the Eastern Panhandle where artisans and artists have the opportunity to work individually and cooperatively in art and artisan projects.

I believe in the mission of the Tamarack Foundation and the work the Foundation is doing to help artists in West Virginia.  And, as a member of the Artisan Advisory Board, I can spread the word that by being part of the artist community we can all help each other.

If the board can help other artists become more community minded and understand there are many artists who are in the same situations that we are in, then we strengthen our community.  We can help one another in many ways.  One of those is by volunteering for the Gala, contributing our time and our work toward helping to raise funds for the programs of the Foundation.

I was glad to be able to contribute a sculpture to the Gala’s live auction and to be there at the event.  It’s important to me to talk to people about my work and to have that personal interaction that comes from meeting the people for whom you are working or the people who are considering purchasing a piece of your work.  It’s that one-on-one conversation that really helps sell your work.

My commitment to encouraging other artists to be involved in helping the Foundation with its work comes from the fact that I have personally benefited from their dedication to helping artists.  Not just once, but twice in my career.

I was a recipient of an artist relief fund medical grant a few years ago when an illness threatened to be career ending.  A hip injury came at a time when I had some gallery contracts but no large contracts.  Fortunately, the Tamarack Foundation provided me with the grant that helped with high medical expenses.  If I had not had the help to pay for them, I might have had to stop working at a time when my career was just building.

Last year, I received a Fellowship Award grant that allowed me bring an important piece of equipment, a large power hammer, to my shop in Berkeley Springs.  I bought the hammer from the blacksmith who taught me my skills.  When he retired, he offered to sell it to me. The grant was all the more welcomed because the hammer is the one I learned blacksmithing on.

As any artist knows, your equipment – large or small – becomes a real part of you.  You know the quirks of the machine and what makes it operate best.  You know it as an extension of yourself as you are working.

Because I know the benefits of the Foundation’s work, I can speak personally about how valuable it is.  I hope that I can help other artists understand that working with the Foundation and helping to raise awareness of what it does and raise funds for programs like the artisan relief fund will help others who may need relief. 

You never know who might need help, but you can be a part of making sure that another artist can get help when it’s needed.

In the News

Theresa Currence of Rupert, Greenbrier County, was selected to design the next four-year series of Governor’s Mansion ornaments.  Theresa’s ornaments for this year, which are on sale at Tamarack, the West Virginia State Museum Shop and on-line at www.Tamarackwv.com, are 3 ¼” frosted glass balls with a scene of the foyer in the Governor’s Mansion hand painted on each one.