letter from the OCAF board of directors

​Dear Valued OCAF Members,

We are writing to acknowledge and respond to our dedicated OCAF members and express our

sincere gratitude for the concerns you’ve recently shared. We are listening and taking your feedback seriously. As a Board of Directors, we are committed to serving OCAF’s mission, renewing trust, and working collaboratively with artists, members, donors, and volunteers to steer the organization toward a positive and sustainable future.

   ● Actively reviewed each letter we’ve received from our members.

● Engaged outside professional nonprofit consultants to 1) conduct a board governance and

Most immediately, we have:

culture assessment that ensures we are accountable, effective, and employ best practices in board leadership and 2) determine the best way to engage our members in meaningful dialogue by October 31st. Please stay tuned for exact dates/times on how you can engage in forward-facing and mission-centered conversations and continue providing thoughtful feedback in the coming weeks.

   ● Worked alongside staff to ensure a successful leadership transition with an intentional focus on OCAF’s mission.

  ● We offer our deepest appreciation to Dr. Cyndee Moore for her service and the many hours she invested in the OCAF mission. The board fully and graciously applauds her dedication. Dr. Cyndee Moore has resigned from the Board of Directors.

In closing, please note these leadership changes:

● With unanimous support from the board, Brock Toole is now the Board Chair.

● Lou Rex is the immediate point person for upcoming events and day-to-day OCAF

 operations.

  We appreciate your support as we navigate this time with renewed commitment to our vision to “enrich lives and build a vibrant community through the arts.” Together, we will emerge from this period stronger, more responsive, and better equipped to positively impact our community. We

  

acknowledge the support and dedication shown for this organization and its mission by each of you.

Respectfully,

OCAF Board of Directors

In the interest of transparency, please note our new email address, where you can send correspondence to the entire Board of Directors at board@ocaf.com. Board members will receive your correspondence individually from this email.

Mission

    The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Inc. (OCAF) promotes cultural arts and artists and provides art education to the citizens of Oconee County and the northeast Georgia area.

OCAF was created to enrich lives and help build a vibrant community through the arts. OCAF maintains a vision to inspire creativity, learning, and personal growth through visual arts exhibitions, art education, cultural events, and community collaborations

Vision

Brock Toole, Chair Business Owner

Judy Marable

Athens Tech, Adult Education

  Ryan Hammock, Treasurer Pinnacle Bank

Mike Hamby Business Owner

Amy Wraga, Secretary Artist

Darius Johnson

University of North Georgia

Dr. Gary Adcox

University of North Georgia

Abbey Duhé

Staff Counsel at McKesson Corporation

Justin Cofer

Oconee County Schools

Delena Brockmann Piedmont Athens Regional

Kim Keegan

Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation

Betty Walton Fox’s Pizza

Jim Norton Artist