Member News

It’s time to get excited about your vision and time to get to work! Connect your creativity to the community by submitting your work to our Members Exhibition – Different Strokes.
Call for Artists: Different Strokes – Members Exhibition
Exhibit July 9 – August 28 • We invite our current members to submit one work following the theme “Different Strokes” to be displayed in the main gallery during this two month-long group exhibition and asks artists to reflect on their unique styles and approaches to making art. Our diversity as a community is what makes us strong and our perspectives and viewpoints for making art are just as important.
We will host an onsite opening reception on Friday, July 9 at 6 p.m, our first in-person opening reception in over a year and a half! The opening reception is free and open to the public and will feature awards at $250 for Best in Show, $125 for 2nd Place and $75 for 3rd Place.
Artwork drop-off: Monday, June 28, 2021
Dia de los Muertos: A Juried Exhibition
Exhibits October 1 – 30 • Back by popular demand! More about reveling life than remembering death, this unique day encourages us to connect with loved ones while reflecting on the ties that bind the past to present. The family and the community play integral roles in this cultural celebration, so the congregation of local art to honor the deceased maintains the power of community in the Dia de los Muertos tradition. Each artist explores their own interpretation of this rich holiday, and bring to light not only the honor associated with death in Mexican culture, but also remind us of the vivacity and significance of the lives of our loved ones who have passed.
To help alleviate financial stress caused by the pandemic, we are waiving all submission entry fees for member artists to submit to our Dia de los Muertos exhibit in October 2021. You may submit one, two or three artworks.
Deadline for online submission: Friday, September 17, 2021
Experience live theatre with our 2021-22 season!
After a year and a half of innovative online and outdoor theatre, indoor theatre returns to the Alliance this August! Our season is full of unique, high-quality, affordable entertainment from outrageous comedies to sweeping dramas to an immersive theatrical experience that will span every space at the Alliance.
Discovering SoulCollage®: An Introductory Workshop – Onsite
Saturday, June 26 • SoulCollage is a contemplative and insightful process of self-discovery. It gently opens you to a new way of exploring your inner wisdom. It is a practice by which you can communicate with the unique aspects of yourself while you deepen connections with self and others – all while engaging your creativity! Using simple tools – scissors, glue, magazine images, and mat board – you create cards that are uniquely yours.
Art & Soul of Black Broadway with Tim Wright – Online Art Lecture
Thursday, July 8 • Discover the musical heritage of Washington, DC’s U Street – also known as Black Broadway – from jazz to hip hop to punk and go-go. Through a vast collection of intimate, moving, neighborhood photographs, we will “walk” the streets and back alleys and learn how murals, theatres, music venues and memorials embrace the history of this amazing neighborhood. Also enjoy a complementary and diverse playlist that will match up with the murals and venues.
Couples Dance Connection – Onsite Class
Saturday & Sunday, July 10 – 11 • This workshop is designed to teach couples how to connect with each other through nonverbal communication. Couples will learn the importance of leading and following and how to honor each other through touch and movement by learning exciting dances like swing, rumba, salsa and bachata! You must bring a partner to participate in this fun class.
Zati Basket Weaving Workshop – Onsite
Saturday, May 15 • Baskets, though often used for decoration today, have for thousands of years served as useful containers, custom-made for the task at hand. In this workshop, learn to weave a basket from yarn and natural materials on a flat tapestry loom and surprise yourself with the shaping of a basket.
Playing with Pastels Workshop – Onsite
Saturday, July 17 • Pastel is an increasingly sought after medium for its beauty, vibrancy, durability and endless possibilities for technique and style. Whether you’re a beginner who wants to explore this medium, or an experienced pastelist who wants a fresh perspective, this step by step workshop is for you.
Recycled Assemblage Jewelry Design – Onsite Workshop
Saturday, July 24 • Turn your unused jewelry into something, fun, beautiful and new! Create a statement necklace by sorting through your jewelry box, using bits and pieces of old, broken or forgotten treasures and found objects to assemble into your own, one of a kind repurposed creation. Broken jewelry is great for crafting local artist and instructor Jayne Baker will show you just how to twist it into something inspired and gorgeous for you to wear and enjoy.
Landscapes: Painting with Thread (Ages 14+) – Onsite Workshop
Saturday, August 7 • Shape and spawn a 3D mini-landscape from embossing imported paper, painting a landscape with watercolors, and stitching portions of the project – a truly unique way to create! This class is suitable for ages 14 or older and attendees must be able to thread a needle and hand stitch
A Woman of Style: Mary Cassatt – Online Art Lecture
Thursday, August 19 •Mary Cassatt depicted the “New Woman” of the 19th century from the woman’s perspective. Cassatt often created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children. Although Cassatt did not explicitly make political statements about women’s rights in her work, her artistic portrayal of women was consistently done with dignity and the suggestion of a deeper, meaningful inner life. She was described as one of “les trois grandes dames of Impressionism” alongside Marie Bracquemond and Berthe Morisot and her work was compared to that of her good friend Degas, as they both sought to depict movement, light, and design in the most modern sense.
Alliance for the Arts • ArtInLee.org
239-939-2787 • 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
Membership • Donate • Classes • Exhibits • Theatre
Janet & Bruce Bunch · The Claiborne & Ned Foulds Foundation
Leigh Frizzell Hayes · Mary Lou & Richard Helms
Meisenberg Family Trust · Jon & Megan Romine · Arthur Zupko
And incredible people like you!

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Prepared for Summer Storms
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 21, 2021) — Each year, Edison and Ford Winter Estates prepares the site for possible hurricanes and other storms that may hit the area. At the beginning of hurricane season, storm shutters are placed on many of the buildings and on windows of the historic homes not used for viewing.
Due to the historic nature of the property, if a hurricane is predicted to hit Fort Myers, additional storm panels are placed on homes and other structures. Fragile, high-priority items are removed from the historic homes and moved to the museum where possible. Antique automobiles that are housed on the riverside of the property may be moved to offsite storage. Porch furniture is moved indoors or to more secure locations and Mina Edison’s piano in the Edison house may be moved to the museum.
Care is also taken to protect the historic gardens. Throughout the year, horticulturists and landscaping specialists trim as needed to minimize damage to trees and shrubs. Photographs and inventory records are documented prior to storms.
During the summer months, thunderstorms are likely. In the event of rain, Edison Ford continues normal operating hours; however, if there is lightning within a 10-mile radius (the site is equipped with a lightning detection system) or severe weather warnings, the riverside of the property will be closed and tours of the grounds will be suspended until the threat has passed. Guests may remain in the museum and lab until weather conditions improve.
Edison Ford is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; however, if a storm is predicted, visitors are advised to check the website at EdisonFord.org or call 239-334-7419 for tour schedules and operating hours.

Greetings!
Being the Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts for over 35 years, each season brings with it renewed energy and excitement, but launching our highly anticipated 2021/2022 season feels like something new altogether.
After a year and a half of innovative online and outdoor theatre, indoor theatre returns to the Alliance this August! Our season is full of unique, high-quality, affordable entertainment from outrageous comedies to sweeping dramas to an immersive theatrical experience that will span every space at the Alliance.
Experience it all with a season subscription and receive up to $36 in savings! If you plan on attending multiple shows, we have a variety of flexible subscription packages that will fit any budget and offer you more freedom in your schedule.
As you know, ticket prices alone cannot cover the costs associated with producing great live theatre. Please consider making a gift to support your favorite local non-profit theatre company!
We can’t wait to see you in our theatre – keep scrolling to see the full season!
Bill Taylor
Producing Artistic Director
[email protected] • 239-939-2787
10091 McGregor Boulevard Fort Myers, Florida 33919
The Chechens, winner of the 2019 Bruce and Janet Bunch New Play Contest Award, by Phillip Christian Smith and directed by Bill Taylor
August 5 – 15 • Beautifully written, The Chechens is an intense, funny and vital production. Set in modern day Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic, rumors are going around that “certain people” are being rounded up and held in a camp on the East edge of town. Can one family protect their little brother who may or may not be the next target? Will they turn him in? Will they go so far as to honor-kill him? What prevails in the end-religion, politics or love?
Men on Boats, mostly a comedy by Jaclyn Backhaus and directed by Rachael Endrizzi
October 21 – 31 • Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. Men On Boats is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. The outlandish crew encounters disaster, conflict and harrowing adventure along the way. Keeping with the tradition of Backhaus’ acclaimed play, the cast is composed entirely of women.
The Roommate a comedy by Jen Silverman and directed by Stephen Hooper
December 9 – 19 • Sharon, in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. A dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off.
The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe and directed by Sonya McCarter
January 8 – 30 • The Colored Museum has electrified, discomforted, and delighted audiences of all colors, redefining our ideas of what it means to be Black in contemporary America. Its eleven “exhibits” undermine black stereotypes old and new, and return to the facts of what being Black means.
This is an immersive theatrical experience where audiences will travel throughout the Alliance gallery and campus to visit each “exhibit.” Ironically, the theatre will be the only space not used for the production.
Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Bill Taylor
February 17 – 27 • A “softhearted comedy freckled with dark reflections” (The New York Times) by the author of Moonstruck and Doubt. Near Killucan, Ireland, Tony Reilly schemes to sell the family farm and disinherit his son, Anthony. Standing in his way is a small plot of land belonging to the neighbor, Rosemary—and her long-simmering grudge. Destiny—whether embracing or fighting it—means everything in this very Irish story told with a rich tapestry of language, compassion and a few surprises.
The Cake a comedy Bekah Brunstetter and directed by Stephanie Davis
March 17 – 27 • All is going well for Della. Her North Carolina bakery is legendary and she’s just been cast on her favorite television baking competition. But then, her late-best-friend’s daughter comes home from New York City to ask her to make a cake for her upcoming wedding. When Della learns that Jen’s about to marry a woman, she is forced to re-examine her deeply held beliefs as questions of morals, judgment and family swirl around them all. This emotional and deliciously funny play was created by Bekah Brunstetter, writer and producer of NBC’s “This is Us.”
This production is sponsored by Janet and Bruce Bunch.
 
Subscribe and save!
Theatre lovers rejoice! Tickets and subscriptions are on sale for our 2021-22 Season, featuring classics, comedic favorites and ambitious new works.
For most shows in the season, performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays with a 7:30 p.m. start time and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The Colored Museum performances are varied due to the immersive nature of the production and limited capacity.
Save up to $36 with a season subscription! Individual ticket prices are $30, $13 for students or $25 for Alliance members.
• 6 shows for $144
• 5 shows for $125
• 4 shows for $112
Commitment issues? Add a flex pass for an additional $4 and wait until later to select dates and seats.
Need help? Call our box office at 239-939-2787, visit 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers or subscribe online.
This theatre season is brought to you by:
City of Fort Myers • The Collaboratory • Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Florida Division of Cultural Affairs • Janet & Bruce Bunch • William & Shareen Groce • Noreen Raney
Alliance for the Arts • ArtInLee.org
239-939-2787 • 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
Membership • Donate • Classes • Exhibits • Theatre
Janet & Bruce Bunch · The Claiborne & Ned Foulds Foundation
Leigh Frizzell Hayes · Mary Lou & Richard Helms
Meisenberg Family Trust · Jon & Megan Romine · Arthur Zupko
And incredible people like you!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Wants Your Feedback!
You’re invited to use the FWC’s online commenting tool to provide input on revisions to the draft rule amendments for establishing restricted hunting areas (RHAs). These revisions are based on direction and feedback received at the December 2020 Commission meeting. The online commenting tool also provides another opportunity to share your thoughts if you didn’t get a chance to do so last year.
At its August 2021 meeting, the Commission will consider final approval of RHA rule amendments. In response to input and concerns received from various entities, the FWC proposed rule changes to improve the process for requesting and establishing RHAs by providing clear, objective criteria.
Please take a few minutes to provide your feedback on the modifications to the draft rule amendments at this link: https://www.research.net/r/RHAFollowUp.
Learn more about draft rule changes for RHAs.
Thank you for your commitment to conservation and the future of hunting.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission | Division of Hunting and Game Management
______________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission · 620 S. Meridian Street · Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 · (850) 488-4676

*Eastern Standard Time (EST)
SBA Disaster Recovery Q&A Sessions
06/22 & 06/24
2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Was your small business affected by Covid-19? Join us during our virtual hours and have your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) questions answered by a live person. Participants may call at anytime and are welcome to enter and exit at will.
Tuesday
2pm – 3pm
Online: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
Dial-in: (202) 765-1264; 177893159#
Thursday (en Español)
2pm – 3pm
Online: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
Dial-in: (202) 765-1264; 118166494#

There is still time to register and  join us at 10:00 a.m. as Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Russell C. Weigel III shares details about Revitalizing the Small Business Financial Eco-System
Attendees will learn about current opportunities to contribute to the revitalization of Florida’s small business eco-system. 
Innovative Ideas
The OFR is currently seeking industry feedback about how Florida law could help start-ups, expanding businesses, and their networks to raise capital with greater ease
Smart Collaboration
The OFR values your professional insight and opinion. They look forward to collaborating with you and appreciate your time in helping build Florida’s small business eco-system.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and then join us for the call at 10 am.
Meet Russell C. Weigel III
Commissioner Weigel is an AV-rated securities attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience and a published author . In 2005, he founded a securities transactional and litigation law firm, which he ran until he became the Commissioner in March2019. Before that, he served as a security transactional and litigation attorney for Carlton Fields, P.A., and Montello & Kenney, P.A., as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as an assistant state attorney for the Office of the State Attorney, Tenth Judicial Circuit. He holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. 

The popular event to help our hungry and homeless returns with a new theme and location

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 22, 2021) – Community Cooperative will be hosting the return of the popular annual fall fundraiser, Becoming Cosmopolitan: Gone Country, on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon in Fort Myers.

This marks the 16^th year of presenting the exclusive event and promises to be a night on the town like no other. Guests will put on their boots and two-step their way over to The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon for an evening featuring unique cocktails, cowboy cuisine, boutique shopping, line dancing and auctions just to name a few – all while raising money to support women and children’s programs that work to end hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida.

“Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Becoming Cosmopolitan was cancelled, even as the community’s need for food and support was greater than ever. Like most charitable nonprofits, we rely on special events to help raise awareness, connect volunteers to the cause, and raise much needed funds for our mission,” said Tami Holliday, Community Cooperative’s community relations and development manager. “Cancelling the 2020 event was not only a loss of proceeds for us, but the loss of a fantastic community event. We are extremely excited to be able to host the fundraiser this year.” 

Tickets are $250 for VIP, $150 for general admission and $500 for the four-ticket Girlfriend Package. Sponsorships are now available and range from $1,000 to $10,000. Donations for the silent auction are also being requested. Tickets will go on sale in August.

For more information on Becoming Cosmopolitan’s fundraising event on Oct. 7, visit CommunityCooperative.com, contact Holliday, [email protected] or call 239-332-7687, ext. 125.

About Community Cooperative

For 37 years, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in Lee County while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education and social service programs. With a dedicated team of volunteers, board of directors and staff, Community Cooperative stays committed to its core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of community partners. Community Cooperative is an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to it and serves clients with compassion and integrity. Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity. For more resources and information on how to get involved, contact Tami Holliday at [email protected] or call (239) 332-7687 ext. 125. Monetary donations are always welcomed and can be made directly at www.CommunityCooperative.com, or mailed to: Community Cooperative, P.O. Box 2143, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

COVID-19 Economic Aid Overview Webinar
Tuesday, June 22
11am – 12pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Call-in: 202-765-1264, ID 903515768#
Thursday, June 24 (en Español)
11am – 12pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Call-in: 202-765-1264, ID 584871308#
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness Webinar
Tuesday, June 22
1pm – 2pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Dial-in: 202-765-1264, ID 185864452#

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 22, 2021) – The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) invites business leaders and PR/marketing professionals to attend the upcoming in person crisis communication seminar. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13 at Dave and Buster’s, 13499 Cleveland Ave., Suite 400, Fort Myers, FL 33907.
A crisis hitting your organization is scary. Even scarier? Not being ready to effectively communicate about it. A 2021 PWC study found that 69% of leaders experienced at least one corporate crisis between 2014 and 2019, but only 45% had a crisis communication plan to help guide them through various scenarios. And, 95% said their crisis prep needs improvement.
Don’t be the 55%.
Every communicator needs to be prepared for anything. While you can’t anticipate what happens, you can gain the basic skills and best practices to help you and your organization communicate through a crisis, no matter what that crisis is.
This tabletop event will include a small-group setup, led by crisis communications experts from a variety of industries:

• Mary Briggs, APR, CPRC, System Director, Marketing and Brand Management, Lee Health,
• Betsy Clayton, APR, CPRC, Director of Communications, Lee County Government,
• Victoria Moreland, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, Lee County Port Authority,
• Trish Robertson, APR, CPRC, Communications Officer, Collier County Supervisor of Elections and
• Jessica Walker, APR, CPRC, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company.

You’ll tackle real-life scenarios any PR professional could be faced with in their careers and leave with takeaways on how your next crisis doesn’t have to be a disaster.
Who should attend?
– Experienced PR professionals looking to expand their crisis PR knowledge.
– Professionals new to the field and ready to get started on the right path to effective PR planning and response.
– Anyone unsure of where to start with creating a crisis communications response plan for your organization.
Crisis, Not Disaster. A real-time exercise in PR planning and response for emergencies
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Price: $25 for students | $30 for members | $40 for future members
Location: Dave and Buster’s, 13499 Cleveland Ave, Suite 400, Fort Myers, FL 33907 (Bell Tower Shops)
Register: Registration will close Friday, July 9
https://www.fpraswfl.org/event-registration/fpra-events/july-program-crisis-not-disaster-a-real-time-exercise-in-pr-planning-and-response-for-emergencies/
About the Florida Public Relations Association
Established in 1938, FPRA is the oldest public relations organization in the country. FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners, who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For additional information, please visit the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA website at http://www.fpraswfl.org.

Annual Homeless Count Estimates 2,789 Homeless in Lee County
The Lee County Homeless Coalition is an advocacy group made up of individual stakeholders and agencies who are engaged to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time. The Coalition represents the Continuum of Care, a local planning body that coordinates housing and human services funding for homeless families and individuals. Once per year the Coalition, with the help of many volunteers, conducts a Point in Time (PIT) census to count the homeless and provide data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PIT count is also used to gather the information that allows local service providers to target services to meet the specific needs of the homeless in our communities.
The PIT count, which asked people where they slept the night of January 26, 2021, included both sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families. The PIT count documented 394 homeless persons, of whom fifty-seven (14.47%) were chronically homeless according to the HUD definition. HUD defines chronic homelessness as “an unaccompanied adult homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either continuously been homeless for a year or more or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.” Among the 394 homeless persons surveyed, 29.44% percent reported having a disabling condition. Also, among the 394 were thirty families with sixty-five children. There were 39 veterans recorded in the PIT count, 35 of which were active in a Rapid Rehousing program working with a case manager to obtain housing. Data obtained through the Lee County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and PIT count found that during the year, there were an estimated 2,789 people experiencing homelessness in Lee County.
Housing and service programs for the homeless are provided in part through Continuum of Care funds from HUD. The 2020 Continuum of Care funding announcements were made in January 2021. Lee County was awarded funding to sustain existing programs and begin new programs that provide housing and services to persons experiencing homelessness. These programs are operated by Lee County Human and Veterans Services, Community Assisted and Supported Living, Lee County Housing Development Corporation, Jewish Family and Children Services, Saint Vincent de Paul, Goodwill Industries of SWFL, and The Salvation Army. The total awarded amount was $1,997,727.
The Lee County Homeless Coalition would like to extend a special thank you to the volunteers that assisted with this year’s PIT count.