NEWS RELEASE

Verde Valley Leadership, PO Box 1015, Cornville, AZ 86325

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact Heather Hermen at 928-204-1123 ext. 170.

Leadership Group Learns About Art & Media with Guest Speaker Linda Goldenstein

Sedona, AZ (June 3, 2010) – Class IV of Verde Valley Leadership completed their Art & Media Issue Day in the Verde Valley on Friday May 14, 2010.

The current class comprised of twelve students meets monthly to discuss and learn about issues facing the Verde Valley. With Art & Media as the theme, they began the day at the Sedona Arts Center and enjoyed a lesson in pastels from Verde Valley artist Christine Debrosky. Christine demonstrated her talents and shared her experience in the art world for the past twenty years.

The speakers focused on their background, history, and knowledge of the Arts & Media in the Verde Valley. A highlight to the day was a guided tour of Linda Goldenstein’s Gallery, Goldenstein Gallery in Uptown Sedona. Linda has a long history in Arizona and was able to highlight how a background in banking led her to a future in the Arts. Linda focused on how her enthusiasm and “no fear” attitude drove her to success with her current gallery.

Gioia Goodrum with Regalo di Gioia Cooking School led the group into lunch time with a cooking demonstration. Gioia shared her ten year background as a Chef by creating an amazing Panna Cotta recipe. As a past Verde Valley Leadership class member, Gioia was able to share how the program motivated her to follow her passion and start her Cooking School.

Following lunch, the class took a Sedona Trolley tour out to Boynton Canyon. The Sedona Trolley has a long standing history in Sedona and has been able share information about the Arts with the community and millions of visitors that come to Sedona annually.

The last speaker was Joe McNeill of Sedona Monthly. Joe has been in the publishing business for more than 25 years and shared his insight of the film industry in Sedona and the Verde Valley and his future plans for a film museum in Sedona. Joe also showed the group some of the famous memorabilia he has collected during his research for his recently published book “Arizona's Little Hollywood: Sedona and Northern Arizona's Forgotten Film History 1923-1973”.

The Art & Media Issue Day proved to be informative, creative and inspiring to all class members.

VVL provides growth opportunities, leadership skills and community issues training, while cultivating diverse, influential networks. For more information, contact www.vvleadership.org.

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