A rural arts organization has to have many friends to survive.  Volunteers, corporate partners and private patrons, are certainly numbered among the most important of these. But sometimes, steady, unwavering public support goes unnoticed.   Arts in McNairy has been very fortunate to grow up in a community where the vast majority of our elected officials, at every level,  have understood the importance of our mission. None have been more supportive, over the years, than the city of Selmer.  They were the earliest to invest in community cultural development by including AiM in their annual budget and their unflagging support has continued through two mayors and numerous aldermen.  To each and every one, we say a heartfelt thanks.  Your vision for a community where the arts take priority serves as an inspiration to other towns around the region and we believe you will agree that the investment has paid off.             

Continuing our look back at ten years of Arts in McNairy, Jimmy Whittington shares some thoughts on what AiM has meant to the community.  Whittington was mayor of Selmer when AiM first took flight and his response to our request for public support in 2001 was immediate and decisive.  His board established a precedent for funding the arts that has continued and even expanded with Mayor Robinson's administration.  Arts in McNairy is the envy of many rural arts agencies who struggle to educate their public officials about the economic development benefits that naturally follow from investing in local arts and culture.  We are proud to say we've never had that problem in McNairy County.

In this issue, you will also find another AiM newsletter flashback.  By 2003, AiM was really beginning to hit her stride as evidenced by the two inside pages shown below.  The theatre program was entering it's second season; the summer concert series its third.  The literary committee was planning Fiction and a Flick while visual arts leaders were staging workshops and showings for local artists.  Art camp was a huge success enrolling around 50 local children and AiM was just beginning to partner with other organizations to expand our reach in the community.  We think you will enjoy taking a look back at a piece of our history in the spring 2003 print edition of "Taking AiM" at the bottom of the page.    

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"When one becomes involved with the economic development of their community, you learn quickly that industries looking to relocate to your area are very conscious of three items.  They are education, recreation and arts/culture.  While many communities pay all their attention to the CEO and CFO, it is actually the Plant Manager which will most influence the decision.  They are the one who will have a family residing in the area.  Consequently, they are most interested in available activities and opportunities for spouse and children.

Jimmy Whittington 

Selmer Mayor

(1991-2005)