The Meaford Hall and Culture Foundation has many things to be thankful for.  Our donor's, sponsors, patrons, partners and volunteers who dug deep into their pockets this year, for both dollars and time, to assist the foundation in its mandate.   Our vision for the foundation is to be the catalyst to ensure Meaford is the premier destination for arts and culture in the Southern Georgian Bay Region.  

As 2009 draws to a close, I am reminded that it was a year to be thankful.

For the foundation, in its fourth year of operation, this was a year of change and growth.  In our daily endeavors we are mindful of the pressures on local business and individuals with the many ongoing requests for support for a wide variety of deserving causes. The foundation is grateful for the many donations from individuals and corporations and we expect this will continue as we develop solid relationships with our donors through careful stewardship of their contributions.

In 2009, we were proud to support four collaborations with Georgian Bay Secondary School, in which many talented young people took over the Opera House stage to participate in truly professional experiences.  The second annual GBSS Idol finale provided opportunities from performing, to full technical support of the production; GBSS drama students performed An Idiot's Guide to High School and a foundation sponsored mentorship program featured a workshop and performance of the GBSS string ensemble with the internationally renowned Emperor String Quartet.  The GBSS Symphony was a gold winner in the Kiwanis Music Festival and the foundation supported the professional CD stage recording they required to enter the Provincial competition.

The Murder Mystery & Fundraiser Dinner held in June brought some old Meaford characters to life, courtesy of the Grey Bruce Arts Collective.  The Blue Water Saloon (the Rotary Pavilion) was suitably tarted up to provide the capacity crowd some great western who-done-it entertainment, great ribs and an auction that raised $10,000 which will support programming at Meaford Hall.   

The Meaford International Film Festival (MIFF09) celebrated its third successful year with the usual Four Nights - Four Films - Four Parties!  There are some wonderfully talented people out there writing simply great stories - four of which we celebrated Labour Day weekend.  We started in the far reaches of Kazakhstan, then to the south in Mississippi, back over the pond to the United Kingdom and a touching finish in Japan.  The stories brought to us were thought provoking and provided that 'peek-a-boo' look into someone else's life.

A new initiative for the foundation in 2009 was MyFilmStudio, which gave nine students an opportunity to learn about film making.  We were able to partner once again with the Grey Bruce Arts Collective.  This two week course led by professional faculty resulted in three short films conceived, directed, filmed and edited by the students and faculty. They premiered at MIFF09 and were well received by the audience.  This has now created the Pomme d'or Award, sponsored by Barbetta Orchards, which is presented to a deserving student who shows initiative and leadership in the program.  This program spawned a partnership with the Municipality of Meaford and the Chamber of Commerce, in which the winner of the Pomme d'or will produce a tourism-focused film to be shown on both parties' websites.  From simple ideas, wonderful opportunities have spun out for the youth in our community.

Our traditional Christmas Celebration on November 28 brought a twist to the silent auction fundraiser.  The evening consisted of entertainment by Peter Appleyard and the Voices of Showtime thanks to the sponsorship of Donna Shortt of BMO Nesbitt Burns and Kevin Almond of Ferguson's Funeral Home.  The Unique Boutique featured over 90 items, with something for everyone from decorations, to unusual and fun packaged experiences.  The hard work put into this very special event by the volunteer committee cannot be underestimated, and was truly appreciated.  We raised $13,000.00 from this event and will use it to support programming and equipment needs in Meaford Hall.

I am thankful that I am able to work with such a dedicated group of people and am very excited about next year and what 2010 will bring.  Our Plans for the Future include:

* Securing sponsorship for performances in the Opera House and continue to bring in unique cultural experiences.

* Present our signature events, the annual Christmas Celebration and the Meaford International Film Festival.

* Support learning opportunities for all ages related to arts and culture

* Invest in equipment and infrastructure in Meaford Hall.

* Encourage and collaborate with community groups to promote arts and culture within our       community.

And finally, with great appreciation, a thank you to the staff of Meaford Hall and our volunteers!  There is a cast of many, many hands that work tirelessly to bring our patrons the performances, films, and culture that play out onstage and into our lives every day.

Barbara Patton