HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.2 Mayor'sApptPoetLaureate&Historian (2)
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~?-~4' ,82 AGENDA STATEMENT
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: June 12, 2008
SUBJECT: Mayor's Appointment of Poet Laureate and City Historian
Volunteer Positions
Report by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Supervisor
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOMMENDATION: Receive Report
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: Two of the 2007-2008 high priority objectives adopted by the City
Council for the Heritage & Cultural Arts Division are to: Explore the opportuniry to develop a Poet
Laureate for the Ciry; and explore the opportunity to develop an Historian for the Ciry.
At the November 20, 2007 City Council meeting, the Council approved both volunteer positions to serve
two-year terms and directed Staff to initiate a recruitment process. After an extensive recruitment process,
one application was received for both the Poet Laureate and City Historian positions.
The applicants were Dublin residents, Veronica (Ronnie) Holland for Poet Laureate and Georgean
Vonheeder-Leopold for City Historian.
Ronnie Holland has been a resident since 1982. She has been involved in the literary arts all her life and
has written over 130 poems. Ronnie had the opportunity to study under multiple poets during summer
quarters in college, including courses with Mark Strand, who was named 1990-91 Poet Laureate for the
Library of Congress. She has a B.A. in English (Magna Cum Laude) from California State University
Hayward and is also a Holistic Health Educator and Therapist with the National Holisric Institute.
Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold has been a resident since 1971. She has been involved with numerous
organizations and activities since her arrival in Dublin. A few of the many organizations Georgean has
been a member of include; the City of Dublin's first Planning Commission, Heritage & Cultural Arts
Commission, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Historical Preservation Association, Dublin Fine
Arts Foundation, Friends of the Dublin Library, and American Business Women's Association. She took
courses at California State University Hayward and is a member of the U.S. Treasury's National
Association of Enrolled Agents and the California Society of Enrolled Agents, San Francisco Chapter.
COPIES TO: xonnie xouand
ITEM NO.: 8.2
GAIERITAGE COMMISSIONWGENDA STMTS\2008\6-12-OS Ciry I-Iistorian & Poet laureate Appls..doc
At the May 201" City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously confirmed the Mayor's appointment
of Veronica (Ronnie) Holland as Poet Laureate and Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold as City Historian.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
receive the report.
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