News Roundup - Sivitz joins BPA team/Volunteer at the cat shelter

Sivitz joins BPA team

Susan Sivitz has been named Bainbridge Performing Arts’ new development director, which the organization said underscores its “bold and innovative aims” for its 2006-07 50th Anniversary Season.

“As we gear up for this landmark season, we’re aiming to present the best of the community on our stage,” BPA Managing Director Christopher Shainin said. “Our upcoming season will show off the island and we couldn’t do it without some of the community’s best advocates.”

BPA’s development staff has expanded to a team of three with Sivitz leading the effort.

She has served as school board president and on the executive committee of Health, Housing and Human Services, and she has contributed as a volunteer to several organizations.

Joining Sivitz are Wendy Welch as sponsorship coordinator, and Kathleen Thorne as grant writer.

Welch is known as the extremely successful coordinator of the Bainbridge in Bloom Garden Tour. She brings incredible energy and professionalism to her work with sponsors.

Thorne has worked for the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council, organizing the annual humanities inquiries.

Shainin says the additions are taking place at a crucial juncture in the organization’s life cycle.

“These staffing changes are structurally vital as we kick off our five-decade milestone – a year initiating a 53 percent increase in programming from 2005-06, with offerings ranging from original and local works, to international artists, Bainbridge Orchestra under the leadership of new music director Alan Futterman, plus dynamic Mainstage hits.”

Bainbridge Performing Arts offers year-round live entertainment. Whether it’s theater, classical music, comedy Improv, modern dance, theater school productions, lectures, or the annual season opening events, there’s always something going on at the Playhouse.

To stay current with events at the Playhouse, join the BPA mailing list at www.theplayhouse.org.

Volunteer at the cat shelter

PAWS of Bainbridge Island is looking for some special volunteers to staff the Cat Adoption Center at 8820 Miller Road.

Adoption counselors will be trained by PAWS and asked to commit to at least one four-hour shift each week.

The work entails playing with the cats to determine their personalities and keep them socialized, as well as feeding and brushing the cats and cleaning litter boxes.

Volunteers should also be comfortable talking with people. One of the strengths of the PAWS adoption program is a dedication to matching the right cat with the right family, so lengthy discussions with potential adopters is part of the adoption process.

The Adoption Center features an open colony setting where the cats are in a large enclosure, free to play with potential adopters or snooze in a cat tree.

For more information, call the PAWS Cat Adoption Center at 780-0656 or email paws@pawsbainbridge.org.

Note: The adoption center will be closed July 2 to July 5.

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