Last Updated on 12/1/2008

Published on 10/14/2008

By Tommy Howard

thoward@gtowntimes.com

Billy Johnstone and Ed Kimbrough serve together on the Winyah Auditorium Board, but a special circumstance led to an "extra" handshake at the last meeting of the board.

Kimbrough, president of the Winyah High School Class of 1968, presented Johnstone a check for $386 for the overall fund-raising effort.

When the festivities concluded for his 40-year high school reunion, Kimbrough and his classmates had some money left over. They decided a good thing to do with the money would be to donate it to the fund for renovating the former Winyah School Auditorium.

That's an important step in raising the money necessary to secure the $1.5 million to $2 million needed for the project.

Kimbrough and other board members realize that $386 isn't a big percentage of that goal, but it sets an example for giving.

During the recent meeting, members elected Kimbrough as chairman of a fund-raising steering committee. Dianne Peace was selected as vice chairman of that group.

Johnstone is chairman of the Winyah Auditorium Board. That's a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization created by the City of Georgetown to oversee the renovations of the auditorium.

Ultimately, the facility and several adjoining rooms will be used as a cultural and performing arts center for all of Georgetown County.

"I certainly don't mind taking on this task," Kimbrough said after his election, "but I haven't raised $1.5 million before, so I'll need input and participation from the rest of you."

Peace said there's an "ace in the hole" in working to raise the money now -- the building is already there. Much of the needed work has been done, which makes it easier to show people that progress is being made. She, too, said "It will take the entire board and the rest of the steering committee."

Kimbrough and Peace will work with others to recruit members of a steering committee. They and the overall board members will be solicited for their contributions to the fund-raising campaign, and will follow up with their efforts throughout the community.

Heating and air conditioning work has been done, electrical work and more. Lights, sound system, seating and other aspects of the work remain.

Peace asked Jessica Miller, who is finance director for the city, what capabilities the city has for providing printed materials for the fund-raising campaign.

Miller -- who conducted much of the meeting herself, rather than Johnstone who is chairman of the auditorium board -- said the city has the capability but "the issue is time. I don't have staff to do it," she said.

Beattie Friday, a consultant hired by the board to help guide it through the fund-raising effort, suggested a colleague could do the work. He said he knows that there would have to be a bid process.

Kimbrough asked when the city puts printing and design work out to bid, who is contacted?

"Some are local, and some are 20 to 30 miles up the road," Miller answered.

She said bid specifications would be prepared for printing.

Friday gave board members a draft of a "case statement" for why people would want to contribute to the fund-raising campaign.

Dr. Ged Tiller noted that some changes needed to be made. One significant change is to refer to the facility throughout as the Winyah Auditorium, rather than the Winyah Center.

While the complex is called Winyah Center, the cultural and performing arts area was and is the Winyah Auditorium, Tiller said.

Also, he suggested that references to "Tidelands" be changed to "Lowcountry."

As the fund-raising campaign develops, the full "case statement" will be made available to people who will be able to see and read a history of the auditorium, the old Winyah School, and reasons why the city should have a cultural center.

The printed materials will also show estimated costs for various parts of the renovation work, suggested levels of giving, "naming" opportunities and more.

The Georgetown Youth Association contributed some $276,000 towards the work that has already been done. The Esdorn sisters have agreed to contribute about $205,000 more to purchase and fix up one of the other rooms in the building for a meeting area.

Signs will be installed in the complex to recognize those contributions.

Also, the old plaster reliefs that date back about 100 years, depicting such important events in history as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock and more, will be cleaned and hung in the auditorium.

Johnstone said some of the old yearbooks from Winyah High School have been donated and will be available in the city's Finance Department conference room.

He also asked that people who may have lists of members of classes from the former school contact the Winyah Auditorium Board to share those lists.

Special meeting

Members of the Winyah Auditorium Board will have a special meeting today at 10 a.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.

They plan to discuss the GYA plaque, limitations and spending of funds, the capital campaign steering committee, a fundraising time table, and will go into executive session for an unspecified contractual matter.

Contributions

While the fundraising campaign is being planned, if people are ready to contribute money now, Miller said checks should be made payable to: City of Georgetown, Winyah Auditorium Fund.

Contributions may be mailed to:

City Hall, ATTN: Winyah Auditorium Fund, P.O. Drawer 939, Georgetown, SC 29442, or to 120 North Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440.

The Coastal Community Foundation of Charleston is serving as the fiscal agent for the Winyah Auditorium board.

Miller's phone number at City Hall is (843) 545-4032.