A Letter from the Director: Anne Morris
My fellow Executive Director, Lauren, and I look at each other often and say “I’m so glad I don’t have to do this alone!” We highly recommend the co-leadership model! We are also lucky to work with our talented staff, who support all our programs, share their great ideas, bring so much creativity to their work, and generally make a huge impact in the ways that the public participates with Dance Project.
Like all nonprofits, we are also supported by a Board of Directors, who are indispensable. From financial support to advice to overseeing finances to helping out with our programs (we have a hands-on board!), this small but mighty group helps to make sure that Dance Project has a vision for the future and well-founded plans to help us get there.
I want to recognize one of our long-time board members, G. Alex Smith, who served as Board President starting in 2016 and rolled off the board in the last year.
Alex joined the board in 2015, but had a long history with Dance Project, as a dancer in the Van Dyke Dance Group for many years, and then a supporter of the Festival’s activity in Boone, NC. Alex saw Dance Project through the tough transition after founder Jan Van Dyke’s death, as Lauren and I stepped in to lead the organization, and was steadfast in his belief in us and in Dance Project. He played a crucial role in rebuilding our Board and in realizing opportunities for growth for the organization, such as expanding our employee handbook, revamping our process of bringing in new board members, and creating and maintaining our executive board committee. Before the pandemic, Alex drove down from Boone regularly for board meetings and events, he eagerly volunteered to be the “bouncer” outside our sold-out Spring Showcase performances, and took his role as Board President seriously, welcoming new board members into the group, working as a “cheerleader” to energize the Board, and challenging me and Lauren to be bold and confident leaders. He did all of this while working as a dance artist and managing a successful tiling business, “Installations by Alex”!
Thank you, Alex, for your leadership and for the time, energy, and spirit you have given to Dance Project over the years! We are so grateful for your belief in us, and your care for dance in NC.
Sincerely,
Anne
Photo credits – From the left: Anne Morris, Elizabeth Minehart, Laverne Davis, George Gibson, Carley Swaim Walker, G. Alex Smith, (front right) Lauren Joyner.
