Rockport Cultural Arts District – Thank You Retiring Board Members

We would like to express heartfelt gratitude to our retiring Board Members, who helped us achieve such remarkable success the last nine years. They all share a deep commitment to helping Rockport shine and are Community Superstars! They are retiring from the Board, but many will remain involved on RCAD committees and initiatives.

Monica Clark brought a spotlight to local entrepreneurs and a flair for social media and fund-raising. Always pitching in wherever help was needed, she hand wrote envelopes for communications efforts, showed up for public meetings, coordinated social media, and created the “Donica” team with Donnie Garcia to be the face of RCAD on Facebook.

Vicki Comisso added her culinary expertise to our efforts, as well as helping in a myriad of ways. A highlight of her tenure was crafting, cooking, and serving a special catered dinner during our Art Colony Symposium, based on “Foodways: The Culinary Traditions of Aransas County, Texas,” written by our Advisory Board Members, Kay Betz and Vickie Merchant. She also catered and hosted many other events and parties on RCAD’s behalf and taught youth culinary artistry at the Rockport Center for the Arts.

Donnie Garcia brought his financial and real estate knowledge and connections to RCAD initiatives, also serving as our Vice President. He engineered the acquisition of the miniature passenger train for our Rockport Railroad Museum, helping drive it around the District for special events like Second Saturdays, Halloween, and Christmas in the District. As part of “Donica,” he brought his wit and enthusiasm to our efforts.

Warren Hassinger has been our calm and wise leader, serving as President and contributing his political acumen, incredible work ethic, fine craftsmanship, and steady dedication. He was largely responsible for the restoration of the old San Antonio & Aransas Pass Depot building, bringing it back to its former glory.

Michell McMahon and Michelle Simmons have worked hard to champion District shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, and events. As downtown business owners, The Daily Grind and New Beginnings-Your Favorite Store, they have been a constant voice for merchants, leading quarterly merchant communications meetings, Shop Small, Support Local, Special Holiday Events such as Christmas in the District, and Second Saturday activities. They both were tireless in our initiatives and projects, helping with social media, serving as a central communication resource, and so many other ways.

Debra Strothman brought her community connections and artistic photography skills to support RCAD initiatives such as generating postcards of our iconic “Cultural Interface” sculpture, our cultural murals, and events such as our 1925 Ford Model “T” Party to share with the world. Deb also served as Board Treasurer.

This leadership team helped achieve our 2017 initial designation by the State Legislature through the Texas Commission for the Arts as one of the 56 Cultural Districts in the state. They have contributed immeasurably over the years to our amazing accomplishments in the arts and history — the creation of the Railroad Museum, public art including 11 Murals, a major sculpture installation, “Cultural Interface,” and award-winning film documentaries. They were always there, sitting up chairs and tables for our Art Colony and Ecosystem Symposiums and the Smithsonian Exhibit, volunteering to sell bricks and books, serve refreshments, clean up after, and, most importantly, being the constant, cheerful face of the District.

We cannot thank them enough. They have made Rockport a better place. They will still be around contributing their talents and time, but they have earned a rest. We have recruited some amazing new Board Members with contemporary skill sets, youthful energy, and boundless creativity. Stay tuned as we announce them soon.