The Nelson County Arts Council will recognize the volunteers on which it relies so heavily at a Volunteer Recognition Gala at 3 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Pekin, N.D., Community Center.
This year's gala is called "Gone Fishin'" to honor Supporter of the Year Becky Flaagan, who loves fishing as much as she loves the arts, a news release from the Nelson County Arts Council said.
Flaagan's involvement in the Nelson County Arts Council goes back to the 1993 art show in Pekin, locating artwork created by Pekin-area homesteaders and more. A visual artist herself, Flaagan recognized how the arts could help bring a renewed energy to the community and give her neighbors the opportunity to explore the arts in their own backyard, a news release said.
She served on the founding board of the Pekin Arts Committee and continued to serve on the board of directors of the Nelson County Arts Council until 2005. While serving on the Board, she was a driving force behind the development of a strategic plan in 2000 for the City of Pekin with a focus on the arts. She continues to volunteer for all the events that she can.
The Volunteer Recognition Gala, open to the public, will recognize 99 other individuals and businesses and 34 artists who donated artwork to the Winter Art Auction to help cover the cost of the Stump Lake Fine Arts Youth Camp.
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The NCAC also will recognize businesses for their sponsorship during the past year: Allen Gleason Construction, Tolna, N.D.; Berg Insurance, McVille, N.D.; Bergstrom Electric, Inc., Grand Forks; Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Tolna; Klemetsrud Plumbing and Heating, Devils Lake; McVille State Bank; Nelson County Farmers Union; Michigan N.D., Implement, Inc.; State Bank of Lakota, N.D.; SunLac Inn, Lakota; and Widseth Smith Nolting, Inc., Grand Forks.
Farm Bureau-NoDak Mutual Insurance, Hardware Hank and Nelson County Abstract of Lakota will sponsor the afternoon of fun and entertainment. Paul Odden and Terry Huso of McVille will play and sing a few cowboy songs and Terry Jacobson of Hannah, N.D., will recite some of his farm poetry.
McVille Floral, Oxton's SuperValu, Friends and Neighbors Café of Tolna, and Dwight and Sandy Elfman, Stump Lake Park managers, have donated door prizes.
The annual NCAC meeting for members and the public will follow the gala. If you are interested in the financial standing and future programming of the organization, you can stay for the short business meeting and election of new board members.
