Shooting the West Director Brenda Heintz smilingly returned $5,000 of the money advanced by the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority to support the photography symposium put on this past March. Heintz was relatively new to the community and new to heading up the photography symposium when she met with WCVA board members last year to request $20,000 in support funding.
WCVA board members commented at the time they had rather hoped that Shooting the West, with a successful history over two and a half decades long, would be self-supporting by now. But after hearing from Heintz about organizational adjustments and future plans, they granted the program $10,000 outright, added $5,000 in underwriting (to be paid back if the program made money) and granted use of both convention center buildings and facilities (worth over $6,000).
The board was pleasantly surprised with the return of the underwriting amount.
Heintz said it felt good to hand over the check, as that had been a major goal to pay back the underwriting. She explained the financial success by saying the Shooting the West board focused on a program that took advantage of some pretty amazing talent close to home in putting together presenters for the program and workshops.
That fit with the goal of bringing back a hometown feel to the program. Heintz met with Linda Dufurrena, who along with Sherry Allen started the Shooting the West photography symposium in Winnemucca. "I'd heard feedback that the event was not as community oriented as it had been when Linda and Sherry did it," said Heintz.
When Shooting the West started, there weren't other events like it in the state. However, success breeds imitation and there are other programs now, including one in Las Vegas that draws big names and corporate sponsorships.
But Heintz said the program here can offer the friendly hometown feel of Winnemucca, along with a great symposium and workshops.
"We look at what people want to learn to help them become better photographers," said Heintz. "Linda Dufurrena and Sherry Allen created this and we want to honor what they built while growing into the future; we want to balance bringing in new audiences with making people want to return. We're working on a three to five-year game plan."
In other action, WCVA board members approved a facilities grant worth $510 for the United Methodist Men's "Public Safety Appreciation Banquet" (formerly called the Peace Officers Banquet). The April 24 banquet will honor active and retired peace officers, volunteer firemen, EMTs and other emergency services personnel for their service and contribution to the community.
United Methodist Men also received a kitchen grant for their Buckaroo Breakfast held on the Nixon lawn between the convention centers over Labor Day weekend. That grant is worth $300.
Winnemucca Publishing received a facilities grant for use of the Convention Center West Hall for a primary election candidates night May 13.
HGH Auxiliary member Joe Gough asked for and received a facilities grant for the hospital auxiliary's June 17 awards banquet where members are honored for years of service.
WCVA denied a request by Joe McIntyre, president of the Cowboy Country and Bluegrass Association to use a tent for their festival June 13 and 14. WCVA uses the tent on Nixon lawn during the Superior Livestock Auction. The main problem with the request was insurance and liability concerns. The tent has both blown down and collapsed with snow in the past. Board members told McIntyre to come back to them with a grant request if he could find a tent to rent and said they would like to help.
Contact Joyce Sheen at j.sheen@winnemuccapublishing.net[[In-content Ad]]
