Community Concerns: Always something happening in Springfield

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As Gilda Radner's Saturday Night Live character Roseann Roseanna Danna used to say "If it's not one thing, it's another. It's always something."|ret||ret||tab|

That is true in Springfield. Last weekend's Loft Walk and Artist's Studio Tour, preceded by the unveiling of this year's sculpture contest winners, all sponsored by the Commercial Club, was a big success despite the 102 degree heat. |ret||ret||tab|

Attendance at this event increases each year and it's a delightful way to spend Sunday of the Labor Day weekend. Congratulations to Christine Schilling and her Loft Walk committee!|ret||ret||tab|

Similar events that are places to meet and mingle with friends and family will be over by the time this column is printed, but put them on your calendar for next year. |ret||ret||tab|

The annual Japanese Fall Festival and Candlelight Walks held Sept. 8-9 in the Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene Park was delightful, as usual. |ret||ret||tab|

The event featured performances by arts groups from Isesaki performing, and many demonstrations and exhibits of Japanese life and culture. On the same weekend was the Greater Ozarks Blues Festival, with outstanding performers and groups. My favorite group was "Saffire the Uppity Blues Women." |ret||ret||tab|

The festivities were organized by the Downtown Dining and Entertainment Commission and benefitted the Springfield Symphony and Springfield Little Theatre. Speaking of Little Theatre, the world premiere of a new musical, "Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief," will be presented right here in Springfield this fall, prior to its later off-Broadway opening. |ret||ret||tab|

This is a first for Little Theater in at least two ways: a world premiere in workshop form, and professional actors working alongside local talent. |ret||ret||tab|

The workshop form means that "tweaks and re-writes" will be administered to the Springfield version prior to the play moving on to New York, according to Alan Bryce, executive director at SLT.|ret||ret||tab|

Currently, reservations are being accepted by the Ozarks Chapter of National Society of Fund-Raising Executives for its annual fall workshop. |ret||ret||tab|

It will be held 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy. |ret||ret||tab|

Entitled "Major Gift Initiatives, Making the Ask," it features Stanley Weinstein, consultant and author, who has helped nonprofit organizations raise more than $500 million over the past 30 years. |ret||ret||tab|

Weinstein will present the morning session, and a panel discussion. |ret||ret||tab|

"The Donor Speaks" is the afternoon session, featuring local philanthropists Charlie O'Reilly and Mary Kay Meek. |ret||ret||tab|

Local business leaders Jay Zimmerman of Ramey-Price Cutter, and Bob Hammerschmidt, CEO of Commerce Bank, will talk about corporate giving. Michael Fields, executive director of the William T. Kemper Foundation in Kansas City will speak about private foundation giving. |ret||ret||tab|

For more information, call Emily Fox at the Discovery Center 862-9910, extension 700. Lunch is provided with in the registration fee of $65 for members and $75 nonmembers. The chapter also will announce its Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year after the afternoon session.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Jan Horton is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. She is proud to be a lifelong volunteer, devotee of the arts, nature lover and environmentalist.)|ret||ret||tab|

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