Fine Art Guild honors founding club members

Photo by Donna Ritchie

The Canyon Lake Fine Arts Guild conducted its Annual Meeting on Dec. 5 in the Holiday Bay Room at the lodge with festivities for more than 100 of its members. In addition to the business meeting, the holiday gathering consisted of a tri-tip and chicken dinner, music video presentation, live music and dancing, all at no charge to its members.

Original club founders, Mavis Schaffner, Ken Cable, Carol Vaughn and Art Zasio, were honored for their contributions to the club almost two decades ago. Mavis Schaffner, the first Guild president, shared how the club began with a fundraising concert by the Inland Valley Symphony in 2001. The event was so successful that they formalized into a non-profit POA sanctioned club. Over the years, the music evolved into choral groups, show tunes, swing, jazz and pop music.

A highlight of the meeting was Larry Garland’s video with a clip from each concert over the past three years followed by videos of the upcoming 2019 season, including tribute artists for Garth Brooks, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Buffett, Rolling Stones, Doobie Brothers and Neil Diamond.

The members of the 2019 Board of Directors were introduced. The new directors are Ron Martel, President, Bonnie Dubbs, Vice President, Larry Garland, Corrie Tutt, Shari Skidmore, Rhonda Pilto and Jim Lafferty. The Guild has completed a three-year transformation that includes a lineup almost exclusively of renowned tribute performers, available for the same ticket prices of $25 general admission and $45 VIP Reserved seating for each event. Over the past three years, membership has doubled and attendance has been at full capacity.

This past year, the Guild donated $25,000 to the POA for the Amphitheater, which is still under construction but is expected to be completed in January. The Guild is now leading a project to upgrade the sound and lighting for the Holiday Bay Room at the lodge in 2019. More information about the Guild, visit its website at canyonlakeguild.org.