Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) has announced its board of directors for 2014-2015.  The following individuals, listed by city of residence, make up the dedicated group that serves as the board of directors:

Altadena:

Lynn Mehl, Second Vice President, Benefit Chair

Annette Sellon, Public Relations/Marketing Chair

Judee Welch, Sponsorships Liaison

Duarte: Penny Arroyo, Membership Chair

La Cañada Flintridge:

Suzanne Hart, Instrumental Competition Chair

Kathryn Hofgaarden, Website Liaison

Mary Beth Rehman-Dittu, Provisional Chair

Eileen Reilly, Fourth Vice President, Gifts & Grants

Pasadena:

Karen Butcher, Hospitality Chair

Linda Cantwell, Investment Fund Chair

Donna Gotch, Advisor/Parliamentarian

Cynthia Legato, Secretary

Vicki Liske, Associate Representative

Vikki Sung, Season Tickets Chair

San Marino:

Barbara Damerel, Music Mobile™ Chair

Marcia Kreditor, Intermediate Representative

Dana Marevich, Archivist/Historian

Rosemary Simmons, First Vice President

South Pasadena:

Gretchen McNally, Youth Concert Chair

Katherine Watkins, President

Torrance: Undine Schwarz, Third Vice President, Finance

Valley Glen: Chuck Rubin, Telephones Chair

Collectively, there are approximately three hundred years of experience in PSHA represented by the members of this Board of Directors.  Led this year by President Katherine Watkins, the Board is composed of individuals with varied professional backgrounds who are united by their commitment to supporting music programs in the community.

It is understood that the talents of a leader are many and varied.  Not only does President, Katherine Watkins, possess essential qualities of leadership such as excellent organizational and communication skills, she also possesses an admirable degree of dedication, diplomacy and creativity.

From the time she joined PSHA in 2003, Ms. Watkins has held a number of positions, including the key position of Benefit Chair in 2013. She has long been involved in volunteerism from anti-poverty campaigns in high school, to organizing toy drives for pediatric patients while working in Hospital Administration. While raising her two daughters, she was involved in local community organizations, often taking on extensive roles. Ms. Watkins’ involvement with PSHA began just as she was completing a sizable volunteer commitment with two other organizations.  The draw to PSHA not only appealed to her fascination with architecture, her strong interest in decorative arts, and her love of gardening; but, it primarily appealed to the fact that the organization raises funds for local music programs.

“For any child who has the desire to play music, I want to be sure he or she has the opportunity to learn and to try.  To me, it is really shameful that there are students with amazing gifts but without access to instruments and education.  PSHA tries to change that.  And, this organization has been exceptionally successful at that effort.”  Ms. Watkins states that music is a vital and joyful part of her life and “… like most joyful things, intuitively you want to share it.”

The 2015 Pasadena Showcase House of Design will be open to the public Sunday, April 19 through Sunday May 17, 2015.  Tickets to the Showcase House go on sale February 4, 2015. To purchase tickets, or for more information about PSHA, please visit www.pasadenashowcase.org

An all-volunteer organization, PSHA is a non-profit California Corporation whose members donate their time and talents to produce the annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design.  It is one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the nation. PSHA just celebrated the milestone of its fiftieth Showcase House in 2014.  Founded in 1948, they have donated nearly $20 million to provide music programs in the community. Examples include the underwriting of concerts, choral productions, musical theater, opera, jazz quartets, marching bands, and orchestras at local schools, senior centers, and through many other non-profit organizations.  Additionally, a staple part of their program is music therapy for at-risk children, scholarships for young musicians, and music education at a variety of levels. This is in addition to their longstanding support of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.  They also produce three highly regarded annual music programs: Music Mobile™, Instrumental Competition, and Youth Concert. An essential part of PSHA’s mission is to nurture the study and appreciation of music and to ensure that music is available to a broad range of audiences. For over sixty-five years they have funded and produced programs that have enriched the lives of countless people and brought a lasting legacy to the community.