West: Fann's resignation a surprise

By MIKE WEST/ Courier Editor

It came as a shock to most of us when we received word of Donald Fann's resignation from the Arts Center.

His resignation came on the heels of being awarded Tennessee's highest honor in the arts.

Established in 1971, the Governor's Arts Award was presented by Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam in a special ceremony produced by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Fann has served as executive director of the Arts Center of Cannon County since 1995.

Under his leadership, the Arts Center and Woodbury have received national recognition as a model for rural arts community development.

His many accomplishments include Woodbury being named one of the 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America; founding a Grammy-winning record label; managing a community theater, averaging 80 percent capacity; and developing a school matinee series where every student in Cannon County sees four productions a year.

Fann is also a mentor to other Tennessee rural communities through a peer network he helped create.

Donald is going to be tough to replace.

But two hard-workers have been selected to fill Fann's job until a proper replacement can be found.

Neal Appelbaum and James Adkins received the nod. Adkins will serve as interim CEO, while Appelbaum will serve as interim executive director.

Adkins and his wife, Ramona, are active Arts Center supporters with James serving two terms as Board President. Adkins has served as Board of Director of Cannon County Chamber of Commerce, Cannon County Families First Council, Cannon County Health Council, Upper Cumberland Regional Heath Council, REACH, Cannon County 911 Board, and Leadership Cannon and with many other organizations that benefit the community.

Appelbaum, a consistent Arts Center volunteer, is the current Board President of the Cannon County Chamber of Commerce, board advisor for TN Parks and Greenways Foundation, Board Treasurer and Past President of the Stones River Watershed Association, serves on the Cannon County Industrial Board, and is a former Board Member of The Arts Center of Cannon County. He was instrumental in the preservation of 1,000 undeveloped acres in Cannon County as public land.

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It's hard to explain, but when you reach a certain age it seems like time speeds up.

When I was a kid, it seemed like the school year lasted for ever and even summer break just plodded slowly along. It took FOREVER for Christmas to appear on the calendar and it took years (not a year) for your birthday to arrive.

Now days, the clock is a blur. Halloween and Christmas occur within days of each other and before you can find your winter coat, the first flowers of spring are blooming.

Yep, the speeding up of time will drive you loony.

For example, my daughter's wedding is coming up in September. And while she has made progress on getting ready for the big day, she is moving way to slow by my standards.

Oh yes, we have a wedding dress, a location and a date for the event but everything else is d-d-d-d-dragging along so v-v-v-very slowly.

Yep, she's creeping.

And that's got ol' pappy (yours truly) about to go knuts.

Yes, I've learned the folly of my past ways. I too was a creeper, plodding along, doing everything at the last second.

There's a flock of things that take proper time and organization to complete. And weddings are near the top of the list.

So, get it in gear. Enough said.