The Naples Players Hold Annual Membership Meeting

NAPLES, Fla. - April 22, 2015 - PRLog -- (Naples, FL) – The Naples Players (TNP) held their annual membership meeting on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Sugden Community Theatre, at which time they announced winners of the coveted Life Member and Unsung Hero Awards.

         Val Kuffel made the much anticipated presentation of the Life Member Award to Carole Fenstermacher. The Life Member Award is the most prestigious award TNP can bestow.  It is reserved for individuals whose contributions are so significant that the organization will be forever grateful.  The individual must be a member in good standing for a minimum of ten years, have participated in a variety of volunteer activities, reported a minimum of 2000 volunteer hours, be an advocate of TNP productions and activities, and demonstrate a willingness to “pitch-in” whenever needed.

         Fenstermacher was born in Toronto, Ontario and received her first degree from the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.  She had been singing and dancing since childhood, but set aside those dreams while pursuing a career, first in advertising and public relations, then banking, and finally in the world of non-profit organizations.

         A vacation in Naples united Carole Fenstermacher with The Naples Players. Shortly thereafter she began performing in various shows, including Greetings, Crazy for You, and All My Sons.  She then joined the Board of Directors, serving on the Membership, Fundraising, and Nominating Committees, while also taking dance, acting and voice class in the adult education program.

         During her tenure on the board, Fenstermacher organized the Celebrity Stars fundraiser, served on two fashion show committees and the 60^th anniversary gala committee, all the while continuing to perform in Humble Boy, Anything Goes, Enchanted April, Lend Me a Tenor,A Little Night Music, and most recently in Les Liasons Dangereuses.  She has been an assistant director on The Producers, TheDrowsy Chaperone, Gypsy and God of Carnage.  Starting April 22, 2015 Fenstermacher will be playing the role of Carol in The Last Romance.

         Kathleen Tindle made the presentation of the Unsung Member Award to Sid Davis. The Unsung Member Award was established by the late Edna Springer in 1998, to recognize an unpaid individual whose sustained effort over the years has given countless hours of talent and originality to many productions aside from acting.  Davis was recognized for his work in the scene shop where, since October 2012, he volunteered nearlyevery day for a grand total of 6,500 plus hours.

         Sid Davis grew up in New York State, spent time in the military during the Korean War, graduated from Syracuse University, and was the owner of a successful business, Industrial Wiping Cloth.  He began building sets and served on the Board of the Brighton Theatre Guild in Rochester, NY before moving to Naples and becoming involved at The Players.   Davis joined has also served on the Board of Directors and the Membership Committee at TNP.

         Awards were also announced for volunteers with 250+ and 500+ volunteer hours. Those volunteers with 250+ hour included Len Becker, Len Berringer, Jim Bollinger, Lori Broderick, Barbara Callert, Kristin Cassidy, Zach Cornwall, Dolores Fetters, Stephanie Fowle, Jacob Hartman, Bob Hill, Mary Jones, Alyssa Lee, Russ Loyet, Ray Marasco, Harry McCartney, John McKerrow, Laura Needle, Matt O’Hare, Jennifer Price, Sue Rapanos, Megan Ruhl, Max Seifert, Aricka Shuck, Konstantin Spartalis, Jodi Tagen, Kathleen Tindle, Sawyer True, Mark Vanagas and Gabby Weger.

         Volunteers with 500+ hours were recognized and included Roger Clark, Jack Cole, Sid Davis, Louise Eliot, Joe Femia, Carole Fenstermacher, Suzie Goudeau, Bill Morrison, Claire Skinner, Carol Smith, Jeff Smith, Amanda Smith, Winnie Smyth, Esther Snyder, Greg Toppin, Michael Troop, and Denise Villarreal.

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DSC_4417: Val Kuffel presents the Life Member Award to Carole Fenstermacher, as Claire Skinner, outgoing board president and Karl Williams, incoming board president, look on at The Naples Players annual membership meeting on Sunday, April 19, 2015.