Email  Print

Welcome to the community

Editorial

Let’s talk community.

Among the numerous definitions for the word are these:

The people with common interests living in a particular area; a group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society.

To which we would add: A diverse collection of people with a wide variety of interests united in their appreciation of each other and for the unique, historic, environmental and cultural qualities of their town.

In a word, Sonoma.

In any community, there are a variety of activities and institutions that provide the social gravity to draw people together. We have several, but none more active, with more points of contact and a broader agenda, than the Sonoma Community Center, which is now in its 61st year. It is hard to imagine any citizens of Sonoma whose lives are not regularly touched by the community center, even if they don’t know it. Consider the activities and experiences we hold in common:

The Fourth of July parade and party – produced by SCC.

The Ox Roast, the City Party – produced by SCC.

The free Thanksgiving dinner – SCC.

Besides a series of classes and workshops so varied and vast we couldn’t begin to catalog them here (there are 200), the community center has, of late, been busily adding more to their menu, including an Artist in Residence program; a dozen new educational and cultural classes, including arts education with open studios in ceramics, figure drawing, and two-dimensional art; a dinner series focused on sustainable farming; and water conservation programs. Newer events also include the wonderfully outrageous, annual Trashion Fashion Show (April 26-27), the BeerVana beer-brewers competition (April 5), and the Holiday Follies revue.

And let’s not forget the Community Table, a monthly dinner series featuring local chefs and culinary connoisseurs preparing three-course meals paired with Sonoma wines, with underwriting from Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. SCC is producing new market-inspired cooking classes for adults and developing children’s cooking classes.

On top of all that, the stunningly-renovated Andrews Hall will re-open in April as the city’s only dedicated performance space with an overflowing theater season, thanks to generous help from Rotary of Sonoma Valley.

We could go on, but we’d need another page. This cornucopia of community goodness depends on an army of volunteers and a membership base to provide financial and in-kind support. The community center is now in the midst of its annual membership drive, with the goal of raising $30,000 in membership dues. The price is modest – individual and family memberships start at $40 and $50 – and the benefits are many, preeminently including the fiscal health and survival of the center. A strong, active membership is the backbone of the organization. Join, and you get an immediate 10 percent discount on all classes and select events.

Join, and you also get the satisfaction of being woven directly into the fabric of one of the most exciting and dynamic communities in California.

Giving is easy: Checks can be mail or delivered in person to SCC, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma 95476, or you can go online to sonomacommunitycenter.org. For more information call 938.4626.

Welcome to the community.