COCA's Only a Matter of Time Workshop

Only A Matter Of Time: The Basics of Time Management (Registration Deadline: January 25, 2010)

Date of Workshop: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 5:00-6:30 pm in the upstairs COCA conference room (816 S. M.L. King Jr. Blvd.). General Public: $10. COCA Members: Free

Register here.

Time is the ONLY resource given to everyone in equal measure. Everyone in the world has the exact same 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 52 weeks a year, and almost of all us feel we can't get everything done. But the real problem isn't just running out of time. We allow too many interruptions and distractions to hijack our valuable time, leaving us with less time to devote to the things that are truly important.

This workshop will:

Explain the four-quadrant time management system that helps you identify the things that are important rather than the things that are just "urgent"

Provide you with a 30-minute weekly organizing process that will empower you to plan your week and actually accomplish your goals

Help you strike a balance among the various roles you play in life and the various responsibilities that go along with each one

Give you a method for dealing with unexpected challenges, opportunities, reasons and excuses for not doing what you planned to do

About the workshop leader: Randi Atwood, Associate Director, oversees programs, publications, and information technology for COCA. She also occasionally teaches theatre courses at Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Theatre Management and has been an independent theatrical director, Equity stage manager, grant writer, and website designer. It's no wonder Randi's an expert in time management.

Mike Pate's Still Sticking Around-Thank Heavens

He has been a friend to this community in many, many ways. Through his association with the Knight Foundation, but also through his wise counsel to leaders in local government and leaders of non-profit organizations.

But with the new changes at the Knight Foundation, Mike Pate will no longer be "local staff" for the their initiatives. The changes at the Foundation are not negative in any way, except that one. And, I have been assured that Mike will not leave Tallahassee and intends to make this his home in perpetuity.

But, it's a good opportunity to say thank you. A BIG thank you. Quietly perhaps because his help has often been quiet, seeking no credit for his own work. In writing, definitely, because this tool we use to communicate has been an integral piece of his world. Genuinely, because he is nothing if not genuine.

I do not plan to miss him, because I need his advice and am grateful he will be still be here.

It is just a good time to take the time to say thanks. So, thanks, Mike, from COCA, from all of us you have touched with important funding, often leading others to do the same.

And, thanks Mike for being the go-to guy for sage counsel and a sharp, witty comeback. And, just thanks for making Tallahassee a better place.

Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit Reception and Awards Ceremony

A public reception and awards ceremony was held on Friday, December 4th for the 2009 Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit. See the photographs taken during that event by clicking here.

The exhibit is now hanging in City Hall Gallery, on the second floor of City Hall. The show will remain there until January 7th, 2010. It is free to the public and open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parking is available in Kleman Plaza.

Special thanks to Assistant Superintendent, Shannon Lynch for stepping in at the last minute to hand out awards. Thanks also to Jo Marie Olk, Leon County Schools' Curriculum Development Coordinator and Fine Arts Developer for being there in support of the students and teachers

We are so appreciative for The Raa Middle School Strings Ensemble who provided the music for the opening reception. The student performers were: Sharon Davis, Chase Grim, Alex Haywood, Samantha Humphrey, Shelby Mantay, Angelina Mitchell, Inteser Mousa, Austin Peppers and Anna Russian. Their Musical Director is Victor Fernandez.

Congratulations the 2009 Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibition awards winners and their teachers.

Middle School Winners

1st Place

Jamesse Williams, Nims Middle School

Walter Thorner, Art Teacher

2nd Place

Destiny Bartels, Raa Middle School

Teresa Coates, Art Teacher

3rd Place

Rhea Donna Reyes, Fairview Middle School

Jason Glisson, Art Teacher

Honorable Mentions

Yasemin Altun, Fairview Middle School

Jason Glisson, Art Teacher

Ryan Crawford, Raa Middle School

Teresa Coates, Art Teacher

Casey McKinless, Gretchen Everhart School

Judy Jecko, Art Teacher

High School Winners

1st Place

Tommy Cooper, SAIL High School

Sheri Nilles, Art Teacher

2nd Place

Karla Vincent, SAIL High School

Carucha Bowles, Art Teacher

3rd Place

Mahvish Nisa, Rickards High School

Jeff Distefano, Art Teacher

Honorable Mentions

Tifani James, Florida State University School

Debi Barrett-Hayes, Art Teacher

Catherine Keckler, Home School

Anne Keckler, Art Teacher

John Skinner, SAIL High School

Dominic Gheesling, Art Teacher

Mayor's Award

Best of Show

Todd Jones, Lincoln High School

Marilyn Proctor-Givens, Art Teacher

Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibition

The Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit for 2009 showcases youthful talent and imagination through 82 pieces of student artwork. Forty-one elementary, middle and high school art teachers submitted work on behalf of their students for the show. And, the entries represent 30 different area public, private and home schools. The dedication and professionalism of our area art teachers is evident in the quality of the student artwork on display in the gallery.

A public reception for the exhibition begins at 6:00pm on Friday, Dec.4th in the City Hall Gallery. The awards ceremony will start at 6:30pm with Leon County Superintendent of Schools Jackie Pons acting as master of ceremonies. It promises to be an evening of great pride for the students and awe-inspired admiration for those who see the show.

The exhibit is now hanging in the City Hall Gallery, 300 S. Adams St., second floor. The show will remain there until January 7th, 2010. It is free to the public and open Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:30pm. Parking is available in Kleman Plaza. For more information about this or any upcoming exhibitions, please contact Amanda Karioth Thompson (amanda@cocanet.org) or Clint Riley (clint@cocanet.org) at COCA, (850) 224-2500.

Meet Erica Thaler, the newest COCANut!

As Development Director, Erica is overseeing fundraising for COCA’s mixed-use project, The Arts Exchange (www.the-arts-exchange.com).

Erica worked in radio for more than 20 years in broadcast media sales, integrated marketing, and management. Most recently, Erica worked at WFSU-TV and radio (NPR and PBS affiliates) securing corporate underwriting, grants, and event sponsorships.

She also served as the General Manager of the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestras (now known as the TYO) where she discovered her passion for non-profit work and a commitment to arts advocacy. She now serves as a volunteer for the Tallahassee Bach Parley and is an enthusiastic violin student.

A graduate of UCLA with a degree in Political Science, Erica is a San Diego native, but proudly calls Tallahassee her home, along with her husband, two kids, and four Hungarian Vizslas.

Please join us in welcoming Erica to the COCA team.

Link Round-Up from the Arts (Out of Town)

The Mystery of Music
What about it has such power over human beings?

"We know what a pop song or an opera aria means because the words tell us—but how do we know what a symphony means?"

The Wall Street Journal
October 17, 2009

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Questions on Diversity
by Michael Kaiser, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

"The more I consider this thorny issue, the less I am convinced that the arts world has worked hard enough to dissect the true costs, benefits and implications of recent diversity efforts."

The Huffington Post
November 6, 2009

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First and Last Competitors Have the Edge

"For actors at auditions, musicians at competitions or anyone else whose work is sequentially judged against that of others, a nagging question often arises: Would I rather be the first person to be evaluated, or the last?"

Miller-McCune
October 20, 2009


Seen an article that might be of interest to the local arts community? E-mail randi@cocanet.org.

Art: 21-season 5

I’ve been watching the PBS series with relish and, as is the goal of this brilliant program, the episodes have sparked a philosophical discussion in my household. One of the focuses this season is on artists who work collaboratively on large scale pieces. This is not a new method of working. Artists have been employing this system throughout history often times with an apprenticeship element. Many successful contemporary artists such as Dale Chihuly and Damien Hirst (among many others) are well known for conceiving an idea, then handing the reins over to a team of people to execute it. The final piece is invariably attributed to the artist who originated the concept and not to those who made it manifest. In situations such as these, the question becomes, where does/should the ownership of the artwork lie? What do you think? To see full episodes visit http://www.pbs.org/art21/ or check your local PBS listings.