From Hans Bernet
President, Monroe Arts Center Board of Directors
On behalf of the Monroe Arts Center Board of Directors, I wish to extend our sincerest apologies to Lisa Cihlar for the difficulties she faces in a wheelchair attempting to attend the discussion by author David Rhodes about his new book "Driftless" at MAC this Thursday, May 19. The center's board and many other supporters of the arts have been engaged in a five-year process to design and fund an addition that would provide elevator access to all parts of the MAC historic building. One of the board members, who is herself in a wheelchair, has been closely involved in the planning and design of this addition. A number of generous pledges have already been made towards this effort. Last fall, The Swiss Colony committed $250,000 to our campaign, and an equally large donation by private donors was announced this week.
Each year, MAC offers a number of free lectures and performances by noted authors, lecturers and musicians as part of its ongoing promotion of the arts in our area. Mr. Rhodes is the last of three authors in this year's series, which also featured well-known Wisconsin writers, Jerry Apps and Michael Perry. Realizing that Mr. Rhodes was in a wheelchair, MAC director Richard Daniels, asked his opinion. Mr. Rhodes was graciously amenable to being carried up the steep stairs to present his talk.
MAC offers around 15 major performances and many smaller presentations each year. Audiences marvel at the superb acoustics of the concert hall, which many performers say is among the best places they have ever played. The inherent limitations of our historic structure make access difficult for many people, however. Ironically, Margaret "Peg" Stiles, the woman most responsible 35 years ago for saving the building which MAC now occupies, now uses a walker, making access difficult to the concert hall, which is named in her honor. Our larger performances now take place at the Performing Arts Center at the high school, but it is neither practical nor economical to move all of MAC's programs to other accessible venues.
We completely sympathize with Ms. Cihlar's concern over the lack of accessibility at the MAC. We will do everything we can to help her to attend Mr. Rhodes' presentation. And, we are working tirelessly to complete our capital campaign, which will permit access to MAC's educational and entertainment programs and exhibits for everyone.
President, Monroe Arts Center Board of Directors
On behalf of the Monroe Arts Center Board of Directors, I wish to extend our sincerest apologies to Lisa Cihlar for the difficulties she faces in a wheelchair attempting to attend the discussion by author David Rhodes about his new book "Driftless" at MAC this Thursday, May 19. The center's board and many other supporters of the arts have been engaged in a five-year process to design and fund an addition that would provide elevator access to all parts of the MAC historic building. One of the board members, who is herself in a wheelchair, has been closely involved in the planning and design of this addition. A number of generous pledges have already been made towards this effort. Last fall, The Swiss Colony committed $250,000 to our campaign, and an equally large donation by private donors was announced this week.
Each year, MAC offers a number of free lectures and performances by noted authors, lecturers and musicians as part of its ongoing promotion of the arts in our area. Mr. Rhodes is the last of three authors in this year's series, which also featured well-known Wisconsin writers, Jerry Apps and Michael Perry. Realizing that Mr. Rhodes was in a wheelchair, MAC director Richard Daniels, asked his opinion. Mr. Rhodes was graciously amenable to being carried up the steep stairs to present his talk.
MAC offers around 15 major performances and many smaller presentations each year. Audiences marvel at the superb acoustics of the concert hall, which many performers say is among the best places they have ever played. The inherent limitations of our historic structure make access difficult for many people, however. Ironically, Margaret "Peg" Stiles, the woman most responsible 35 years ago for saving the building which MAC now occupies, now uses a walker, making access difficult to the concert hall, which is named in her honor. Our larger performances now take place at the Performing Arts Center at the high school, but it is neither practical nor economical to move all of MAC's programs to other accessible venues.
We completely sympathize with Ms. Cihlar's concern over the lack of accessibility at the MAC. We will do everything we can to help her to attend Mr. Rhodes' presentation. And, we are working tirelessly to complete our capital campaign, which will permit access to MAC's educational and entertainment programs and exhibits for everyone.
