WCWOct2022

just some
thoughts
Louise Bruderle
Editor and Publisher
West Coast Woman Marlene Hauck
Marlene Hauck
Photo by Evelyn England
Marlene Hauck, our WCW for this month,
is the Executive Director at Sunshine From
Darkness, a nonprofit that each year offers
events and a gala both with the purpose of
informing the public on the issue of mental
health while raising funds to support several
area nonprofits as well as research into mental
health.
Speaking with Marlene, who is a warm and
very approachable person who has worked in
nonprofits for most of her career, I couldn’t
help but think she’d be the kind of person
who, if you were having emotional challenges
in your life, you’d want to talk to.
When we met back in August our starting point was having a conversation
about mental health in general and why, after all these years, it is
so difficult for people to open up and discuss it.
And yet, Marlene believes that’s where it can start — with a conversation.
Open up. Talk about what is bothering us. Share our concerns with
a professional. Engage and talk within our many different communities
and support those seeking help.
Read my profile on Marlene and find out what Sunshine From Darkness
has done and will be doing in January. In October, they collaborate
with Art Center Sarasota in a fundraiser called “Off the Wall” which will
be on Friday, October 7 at Art Center Sarasota from 6-8:30 p.m.
It’s a fundraising
collaboration featuring
libations,
appetizers, and an
immersive and interactive
art event.
All guests can
participate in two
interactive installations
inspired
by famous artists;
select ticket holders
will participate
in “Off the Wall” to
choose one of the many locally-donated artworks. All proceeds support
Sunshine from Darkness and Art Center Sarasota. Tickets: https://www.
artsarasota.org/calendar/#offthewall.
These WCW are Making Changes
Anne-Marie Russell was the inaugural Executive Director of the Sarasota
Art Museum and most recently, she served as Executive Director for
Architecture Sarasota.
Her next position is at The Museum of Fine Arts,
St. Petersburg (MFA) as the new Interim Executive
Director. Anne-Marie brings more than 25 years of
expertise in cultural production leadership to the
MFA. According to the press release from the MFA,
“Anne-Marie will be responsible for continuing the
successful momentum of the MFA. She will provide
leadership and support to the accomplished
staff in the curation of new and upcoming exhibitions,
build out the MFA’s encyclopedic collection,
and ensure that the museum maintains the
high-quality experience for which it’s celebrated.”
The MFA is a wonderful museum - one of my
Anne-Marie Russell favorites in fact, not just for its collection, but it’s
beautiful space and grounds in downtown St.
Petersburg, and, it was founded by a woman, Margaret Acheson Stuart
(1896-1980). Congratulations, Anne-Marie!
Happy retirement, Carol Butera. She’s retiring from the William G. and
Marie Selby Foundation in spring, 2023. Carol joined the Foundation in
July, 2017 as its Executive Director and was later promoted to President
and CEO. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Vice President of
Development at Children First for a decade and at the Sarasota YMCA for
a decade prior to that.
Her career in the nonprofit sector goes deep —
she came to Sarasota in 1996 after working in Haiti
for the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Carol’s accomplishments
include moving the Selby Foundation
from a Trust to a Private Foundation in 2019 enabling
the Foundation to better manage its $70 million
dollars and to direct its programs in perpetuity.
During her tenure, Carol expanded the traditional
two-year grant cycle adding Small and
Mighty Grants (SAM) quarterly which enable
nonprofits with annual operating expenses of less
than $300,000 to apply for grants outside of the
traditional grant cycle. With the Board’s leadership,
she recently commissioned two scholarship
Carol Butera
studies in the region which will lead to strengthening the Foundation’s
current scholarship program, helping it to focus on critical gaps in the
four-county region. For more on the Selby Foundation, visit www.selbyfdn.org.
Enjoy your retirement, Carol!
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer takes
place on Oct. 22, 7:30 a.m. at Nathan Benderson
Park in Sarasota. This annual fundraiser
for the American Cancer Society brings
thousands of supporters for a 5K walk
around the park and related ceremonies and activities.
There’s more info at www.secure.acsevents.org. To learn more about
the Making Strides of Sarasota Manatee or for other information, contact
Bethany Lynch at bethanyk.lynch@cancer.org or call 941-867-7427.
October is our Women’s Health Issue and we have content on breast
health and other topics we think you’ll find informative.
Lifelong Learning Issue
In addition to this being our Women’s Health Issue, it’s also our annual
Lifelong Learning issue. It appears most lifelong learning places are back
to near previous levels and some continue to offer online classes. Having
proofed and edited the Lifelong learning content, I can tell you it’s packed
with great offerings and definitely something for everyone.
Had to Share Dept.
Here’s a nice story about people
helping others in their community.
Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead
has collected more than 200 bicycles
through its Recycle-A-Bicycle
Program. Donated bicycles are collected
by Friends of Osprey Junction
Trailhead volunteers, refurbished,
and restored by Turning Points volunteers
and given to people in need.
Turning Points is a non-profit organization
that provides hope and assistance to men, women, and children
who are at risk of being homeless or are homeless.
“The people of Sarasota County have supported our program in a
most positive way,” said Chuck Butterfield, President, Friends of Osprey
Junction Trailhead. “We’re thrilled with the enthusiastic response,” said
Ralph Monti, Director of Bicycle Programs, Friends of Osprey Junction
Trailhead. “Our bicycle donors are genuinely happy and pleased to see
their used bicycles going to such a good cause.”
Do you have a bicycle you wish to donate? Individual bicycles or bicycle
parts donations can be arranged to be picked up by contacting Ralph
Monti at 646-705-4148 or by email him at ralphmonti@gmail.com.
Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead is a Chapter of Friends of Sarasota
County Parks and is a volunteer organization that supports, promotes,
and enhances Osprey Junction Trailhead, a Sarasota County Park adjacent
to The Legacy Trail. Visit ojtfriends.com for more info.
Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher |
westcoastwoman@comcast.net
We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue.
You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com.
4 WEST COAST WOMAN OCTOBER 2022