What is Cultural Planning? Public Mtg. Evaluation Form Participation FormThe Napa County Arts and Culture Commission will be the primary advisory body for arts and culture planning for the Napa communities. The Commission will function as the liaison between the arts community, government, business and philanthropic leaders, community developers, county and city planners, and the public at large. The Arts and Culture Commission will advise and make recommendations on matters pertaining to the Cities', Town's and County's arts and culture programs.
Commissioners must be a resident of the County of Napa and the City that makes their appointment. It is strongly recommended that each Commissioner either practices in the field of architecture, visual arts, performing arts, public art, literary arts, art history, historic preservation, arts administration, or has a demonstrated knowledge of and appreciation for cultural and artistic activities. It is also recommended that the Commission Board represent a broad range of artistic and cultural disciplines. In addition, Commissioners should demonstrate an understanding of strategic work, vision and an ability to make change happen. In this capacity, the Arts & Culture Commission may:
The Commission is comprised of 9 volunteer Commissioners. One Commissioner was appointed by each City Council of American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Napa. One Commissioner was nominated by the County Board of Supervisors. Three additional at-large Commissioners were appointed by the NCTPA board, based on the above criteria, to ensure as many artistic disciplines as possible are included.
Alvin Lee Block earned his MD from the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. He served in the US Army Medical Corps and completed his residency in hospitals in San Francisco, CA and Miami, FL. He is a member of numerous associations, including the Napa County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American Bar Association, as well a Fellow in the American College of Physicians and the American College of Legal Medicine. Currently, Mr. Block is a Board Member of the Napa Valley Opera House and the Newport North Homeowners Association, an Advisory Board Member of the Junior League of Napa-Sonoma, and a Member of the Senior Lawyer Committee of the State Bar of California. He is a lecturer and consultant to the Napa State Hospital, and his medical writings are widely published. He was the first President of the Napa Valley Wine Train and the founder of The Jewish Community of Napa Valley, a cultural philanthropic organization. His son Kevin is a Napa City Councilmember and his wife Moira is a writer. An active and engaged community member, Block brings to the Board of Arts Council Napa Valley his passion for the arts and his deep belief that arts and culture are a vital component of a healthy community.
Sue Wollack is an avid supporter of the arts in the Valley having moved to St. Helena from San Francisco in late 2004.
Sue has been a volunteer in the non-profit world for over 25 years. She volunteered as a Children's Docent at SFMOMA for 5 years and has co-chaired capital campaigns and annual funds for both the San Francisco Day School and the Urban High School and served as a Trustee and a member of the Executive Committee at Urban High School for 7 years.
Sue trained as a counselor at the SF Child Abuse Prevention Center, SF Jewish Family and Children's Services and the Infant/Parent Program at SF General Hospital. Her work focused on family counseling and parenting support, primarily with lower socio/economic families. In 1996 Sue formed a Board of Trustees for the SF Child Abuse Prevention Center and served as its Founding President for 8 years. Sue also served on the Board of the di Rosa Preserve for 2 ½ years.
She graduated from the Leadership Napa Valley Program in May, '07 and is currently a member of the Planned Parenthood Board of Advocates (St. Helena) and the NARAL Pro-Choice California PAC Board. She also served as chairperson for first Napa /Sonoma Valley Roe v. Wade Anniversary Action Summit in 2006 and is a member of the Renaissance St. Helena committee.
Her education includes a BA in English from the University of Illinois and two Master's Degrees; one in Special Education (1972) and one in Counseling (1992).
