Harris Arts Center director speaks at recent Rotary meeting

Toni Molleson, who has been director of the Harris Arts Center in Calhoun for the past eight years, has announced her retirement from the post she has enjoyed, and passionately shared her personal enrichment from the arts with the Calhoun Rotary Club recently. Molleson was invited and introduced by Program Chair, Phillip Beamer.

Molleson described how the Harris Arts Center, which is located at 212 S. Wall Street, has evolved since opening in 2000. It is located in the renovated Rooker Hotel Building and houses the Roland Hayes Museum, art galleries and classrooms. Children from grades 1-12 are given training in the varied visual, musical and performing arts.

There are several annual events which include the String Band Festival and Calhoun’s Got Talent. Calhoun and Gordon County help provide funding in addition to grants from several corporate sponsors, namely Mohawk, Shaw, StarMathews, Chick-fil-A and the National Endowment for the Arts.

One of the working goals of the Center is to become self sustaining by sponsoring fund raising throughout the year. Membership to the Harris Arts Center is encouraged. Please visit their website or call 706-629-2599 for more information.

Also attending the meeting were guests of Misty Goss-McBrayer: Patty Rogers and Haley Gurley, all from New York Life Insurance.

Pictured, front row left to right: Toni Molleson, Patty Rogers. Back row, left to right: Haley Gurley, Misty Goss-McBrayer, Phillip Beamer and John King, president of Calhoun Rotary Club.