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NATIONAL CAREER AWARDS
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We assist talented young artists and writers at the beginning of their careers. The principal means for achieving this goal is a local competition covering a large part of Illinois, which is held every spring, and the following National competition at which each of the 20 chapter winners’ writing, art, or performance is judged. The competition rotates between music, drama, literature, art, dance, and musical theater. The first national musical theater competition was a gala event held in Champaign-Urbana in 2004.
Typically, three awards are given. The first place winner receives $1,000 and a fully expense-paid trip to the National. The first place prize at the national is $10,000, which has been used for a variety of purposes.
LOCAL AWARDS
Each city within our chapter chooses projects for funding young artists and writers. Our projects have included university scholarships, awards for a university concerto competition, prizes for junior and high school students in an art competition, and art workshops for gifted under-privileged children. Several thousand dollars has been distributed in this way. We also hold competitions for the Winston Scholarship, a national prize for outstanding talent in art and voice.
CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP
Our members, who are mainly from Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, and Champaign-Urbana, are performers, musicians, artists, writers, and patrons of the arts. Membership is by invitation. Potential members are those who express an interest in joining or are identified by a current member. Honorary Membership, which involves no financial obligations, recognizes prominent local artists, writers, and patrons.
There are five general meetings each year in addition to the competition. These begin with a brief business session and then include any of a variety of performances. Over the past three years, we have had readings from our short story competitors, one of whom won a national award, dramatic performances at a Campaign country club, a musical interlude from local opera students and a gallery show from national art winners. In 2009 the regional/national competition was acting, and in 2010 Short Story. The 2011 category is Dance.
DUES
Our chapter supports its awards programs through our contributions and our endowment fund. There are no fund-raising activities. With this philosophy, those who wish to further our goals may do so without investing significant amounts of time. On the other hand, those who wish to be more involved provide the absolutely necessary contributions of time as officers or chairs of the annual competition.
Currently, our annual dues are $60 per person, $30 of which goes to the national organization. In addition, our chapter solicits a contribution of $75 from each person or $125 from each couple. This contribution may be waived by the decision of the chapter board. There is also a $35 initiation fee.
PAST LOCAL FIRST PLACE WINNERS, THEIR TALENT,
AND THEIR NATIONAL AWARDS
1982 Jonathan Shames, Piano, 1st National
1983 Sharon Krause, Poetry
1984 Robert Petkoff, Drama, 4th National
1985 Monica Maher, Dance
1986 James Byrne, Art, 2nd National
1987 Ollie Watts Davis, Voice
1988 David Dobbs, Literature, 3rd National
1989 Andrew Miller, Drama
1990 Iris Maor, Dance
1991 Donna deVecchio, Photography
1992 Lincoln Smelser, Music, Cello
1993 Michael Gotch, TV scriptwriting, 2nd National
1994 Lisa Rothschiller, Drama
1995 Christian Biel, Drama
1996 Leo Berk, Ceramics, 1st National
1997 Dawn Waggener, Voice, 5th National
1998 Megan Ward, Fiction
1999 Drew Battles, Drama, 2nd National
2000 Krista Nelson, Dance
2001 Sara Smith Spahn, Sculpture
2002 Casey Robards, Piano
2003 Lori Propheter, Poetry, 5th National
2004 Leslie Ann Handelman, Musical Theater
2005 Leslie Ann Handelman, Acting for Comedy
2006 Renata Sheppard, Dance
2007 Ryan Rocha, Water Media on Paper
2008 Seth Killen, Voice, 6th National
2009 Christopher Blim, Acting
2010 Cecilia Villarruei, Short Story, 4th National
Contacts:
Mr. William M. Roberts, President
1684 County Rd. 1600N
Roberts, IL 60962
217-395-2356
BillRoberts@RobertsIL.com
2009 Drama Competition Chair
Richard F. Peterson
3G Lyndhurst Village Ct.
Savoy, IL 61874
rfpeterson1@comcast.net
Membership Chair
Carl Altstetter
130 Lake Rd.
Seymour, IL 61875
caltstet@uiuc.edu
Winston Art Chair
Viktoria Ford
1301 W. Hill
Champaign, IL 61820
viktoriaford@gmail.com
Winston Music Chair
Nadja Altstetter
130 Lake Rd.,
Seymour, IL 61875
caltstet@uiuc.edu
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