Our Purpose
AHA! formed September 10, 1975. Since then it has evolved and grown into an organization with a broad base of support for cultural and artistic events and programs. We support a vital, active cultural life as an integral component of our community;we enjoy our life as a community and take pride in our heritage and we encourage the creative spirit. In addition to our cultural and artistic enterprise for adults we support special projects for children as well, in and outside the school environment.
AHA! TODAY
There are currently over 160 active members and donors of AHA! We receive additional, hands-on help from many volunteers and financial support from our business community. AHA! has recently become a United Way organization.
Our Board of Directors is a diverse group which brings a broad range of talents and expertise to AHA!
Future projects in planning include expanding our newsletter to a quarterly publication, establishing an Artists Registry, increasing our grant allowances, and to further develop educational programs for adults and children.
AHA! BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
Peter Corum, President, peter.s.corum@wellsfargo.com
Peter runs the # 10 home mortgage team in the nation with Wells Fargo. He received his BS in Accounting from Case Western Reserve and passed his CPA exam. He is Managing Partner of Town Run Common, A Creative Community, and the Crofts, an equestrian community in Shepherdstown. He hosts a local radio show “Community Impact" on WRNR 740 am.
David Heatwole, Vice-President, myartbrokers@yahoo.com
His education in commercial art and illustration allows David to tell stories. He works in pencil, charcoal and pastels, David is editor and publisher of The Main Artery, a news publication on the art scene in the Eastern Panhandle. He also has radio program and sells real estate for REA Realty.
Tanya Godfrey, Secretary, godfrey@charlestownlaw.com
Tanya, a WV native, is an associate at the law firm of Kratavil & Amore. She is a graduate of WVU School of Law, a Concord undergrad, and served as counsel for Chaper 13 Trustee, Federal Court, Charleston WV.
Maria Rabinowitz, Treasurer, Maria.Rabinowitz@gmail.com
Maria graduated cum laude from Shepherd University with a B.S. in Accounting and a minor in English, and is in the final stages of obtaining her CPA licensure and is currently working in the KPMG Federal Tax Service Practice. Maria served eight years in the Army National Guard as a heavy-equipment operator. She enjoys cycling, hiking, and travel.
Other Board Members:
Elizabeth Frater Allen allen_ef@frontiernet.net
Betty is an artist who makes her own paper. She then prints, paints, and assembles her art work, often a collage. She served as secretary of AHA, has curated many exhibits at the Boarman Arts Center and The Fire Hall Gallery. She is the AHA Historian.
Tish Appignani Tish322@frontiernet.net
Tish is from Kansas where she worked on arts programming to serve educational and cultural needs of young people. She developed programs for at-risk youth and the Art Ark, a mobile art unit that traveled to schools. Tish is involved in organizing children’s arts activities for AHA.
Carol Carmichael ccbirdie@frontiernet.net
Carol is retired as district manager with Catherine’s Inc. after 25 years. She was responsible for as many as 20 stores and supervised 150 employees. Profitability, inventory control, HR management, staffing, visual presentation and training were her responsibility. Seventeen years ago she took on additional supervisory responsibility when she met and married Mike, "the wild Canadian." All in all, her day job was much easier!
Mike Carmichael ccbirdie@frontiernet.net
Mike is the wild Canadian, retired from the Royal Canadian Merchant Marine. He is a photographer and uses photos to make collage pieces on his computer and printer.
Bill Drennen bill@billdrennen.com
Bill is a native West Virginian; he studied architecture at Yale; he holds an MA in Humanities; served with the U.S.Navy in Panama and Vietnam; a film-maker, he founded Communications Corps, Inc in Washington, DC. He is an author and realtor; he served as Commissioner of History and Culture for the state of WV. He served as president of the Jefferson County Historical Society.
Gil Narro Garcia, Program Committee chair, gilnarrogarcia@comcast.net
Gil is a career federal civil servant (28+ years!), and educator. He is Senior Research Analyst, Institute of Education Sciences. His interests are gardening, landscape design, and as a sculptor he uses materials from nature. His motivation is a desire to help improve the human condition and the environment.
Quincy Northrup, Arts in Education coordinator, TAC program, qnorthrup@gmail.com
Quincy holds a graduate degree in Dance from George Washington University, has performed and taught widely in modern dance and classical dances of Asia. She is a member of a small professional chamber choir in Washington, DC. She is the president of a small family foundation that supports arts programs for underserved children. She oversees the granting of money to teachers of the arts in Jefferson County Public Schools for special classroom projects.
Sue Pellish suepellish@frontiernet.net Sue served as director for United Way-Jefferson, Berkeley, and is now a private consultant for non-profit organizations. Her broad knowledge of the non-profit world in invaluable.
Richard Raymond richard_raymondpreservation@yahoo.com
Rich is museum curator for the HF National Historical Park. He was curator of the first Save America Treasures Grant/ White House for objects. He was Illinois artist in residence in textiles, and Illinois State Fair artist in residence, graduate of U. of Illinois. Rich studied art in France and now brings his vast knowledge and expertise to AHA.
Ron Widmyer rwidmyer@msn.com
Ron was educated at Carnegie Mellon U as an engineer, worked as a farmer in Jefferson County. He has taught science & computers at Shepherd U and in public schools. He served as president of AHA for 3 terms.
Beverley Johnson BeverleyJohnson@mris.com
Beverley is an RN, retired, and sells real estate for ERA Boliver & Charles Town. She is an excellent chef, an active member of St. James Church, Charles Town, and is known as” the lady with the hat.”
Evie Lotze roxleyfarms@citlink.net
Evie is an author and social scientist, with a Ph.D. in psychology. She participated in the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program in Moscow, training Russian psychologists in Western approaches to psychotherapy. Most recently she has completed a book on Work Culture Transformation. She and her husband own Roxley farms where they raise all-natural black angus beef.
Pam Parziale pamoren@frontiernet.net
Pam is a studio potter with her husband Ren. She has served on the WV Commission on the Arts, director of Arts Advocacy, a state-wide lobbying organization for the arts, and was state director of Arts Action WV. Her articles on the arts have been published in numerous arts related publications. She was recognized in 2005 for life-time achievement in the arts by Governor Manchin.
Paul Pritchard PritchardP@aol.com
Paul is a renowned conservationist, author, and a member of the Humanities Council, Washington DC; he received the first Albert Schweitzer Prize in the Humanities presented at Johns Hopkins University. Pritchard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and a Master of Science in Planning. He is a decorated Vietnam veteran.
Other AHA folks who are important to know!
George Seffers george_seffers@hotmail.com
The Writers Group meets every other Friday at the Fire Hall Ggallery, led by George. His regular column “AHA!” appears in the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper.
Elizabeth Wheeler ewheelerwv@yahoo.com
Liz is responsible for developing the Cultural Plan for Jefferson County.
Nan Broadhurst" nan@stillpointdesign.net
Nan is an artist, graphic designer, and writer. She works on the AHA cultural data base project.
