RADER WILL LEAD DRIVE FOR THE ARTS

William S. "Bill" Rader will serve as chairman of the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts 1992-93 membership campaign fund drive.

Ann Swanson, chairman of the council's board of directors, recently made the announcement.

Rader, recently retired as Cape Girardeau County associate circuit judge and now with the law firm of Finch, Bradshaw, Strom, and Steele, is a long-time supporter of the council.

He served six years on the board of directors and now serves as an adviser to the board. The goal for the 1992-93 campaign is $15,000 in individual and corporate membership contributions.

Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts by arranging performances, workshops, public exhibitions, and any activity that will instruct and stimulate the community to participate in and enjoy the arts.

The local arts council receives state funding through grants from the Missouri Arts Council. To obtain these grants, the council must match them with local funds. Memberships and contributions are used to match the state funding to provide a wide variety of arts programs in the southeast region of the state.

"(It is) a small price for so very much," said Rader.

"We are contacting former members and potential new members to garner support for our programs, especially for our arts education programs in area schools," said ~Beverly Strohmeyer, executive director of the council.

"We are extremely pleased that Judge Rader has agreed to chair this campaign," she added. "We have been notified by the Missouri Arts Council that we will receive $24,000 for our Community Arts Programs for 1992-93, which is a 2.7 percent increase over last year's allocation, but 17.25 percent less than we received in FY90."

Rader said, "The local Arts Council will also receive $4,420 from the Missouri Arts ~~Council through~ their touring program to bring Imaginary Theatre Company~~~~~~~~~~~ to area schools. Last year we received $6,150 for these programs plus $1,200 for Young Audiences programs, so this year we're trying to make up the deficit in state funding with local contributions. We are extremely pleased that Southwestern Bell Foundation has contributed $500 for the local Imaginary Theatre Company performances."

Arts Council memberships start at $5 for Students or Senior Citizens, $10 for Individuals, $15 for Family memberships, which include children age 16 and under, $25-49 for Patron, $50-99 for Sustaining, $100-249 for Friend, $250-499 for Benefactor, and $500 for the President's Circle. Business memberships are $25-49 for Patron, $50-99 for Sustaining, $100-249 for Friend, $250-499 for Sponsor, $500-999 for Benefactor, and $1,000 for Major Corporate Sponsor.

Members will receive the Arts Council's quarterly newsletter highlighting upcoming cultural events in the area, monthly notices of Gallery 100 exhibitions, advance notice of Arts Council sponsored special concerts and events, and a 20 percent discount on tickets to Arts Council-sponsored ticketed events.

Membership contributions may be sent to SEMO Council on the Arts, P.O. Box 901, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0901. To re~ceive additional information about specific Arts Council programs and events, call 314-334-9233.