OFS Welcomes New Board Members
OFS would like to welcome Peter Epperson, Blake Nelson and Brent Turner to the Board of Directors, and to thank incumbents Frank Barber, Sasha Cornellier, Isaac Overcast and Paul Potasnik for their continued service. Board members play a crucial role in organization—setting long-term strategic goals, overseeing the financial health of the organization, and representing the organization to the community. We feel very fortunate to have such talented and enthusiastic folks leading the way.
We would also like to thank outgoing Board members, Danielle Ruse and Angie Turner, for their exceptional service to the organization!
Board Meeting are held the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 in the OFS Office (416 Washington Street SE, Suite 208). Board meetings are open to the public, so come join us!
Read about our accomplishments in 2009! Download our 2009 Annual Report here!
Download the our most recent approved Board of Director’s meeting agenda and minutes:
Frank Barber
Vice President and Treasurer
Finance Committee Chair
Since 2008, I have been a volunteer Board member of the Olympia Film Society. During that time, I’ve been involved in many efforts in the organization that are both challenging and rewarding. The result of the coordinated efforts of the Board, Staff and volunteers at OFS during this time have led to a better organization, better programming for the community, and a better experience for all of us. With your support, I hope to continue working with everyone here at the Olympia Film Society to complete our acquisition of the Capitol Theater; continue to support our remarkable programming, Staff and volunteers; and support new initiatives in community arts education. Thanks for your continued support of the Olympia Film Society! I look forward to seeing you in downtown Olympia - at the Capitol Theater!
Meli Bless
Development & Fundraising Committee Co-Chair
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology and a minor in arts while at the same time ran my own Theatre Company. I got involved in doing theatre in Virginia as I went to school and had a fulltime job. Now in Washington State my life has begun a new act, volunteering in an Olympia vintage Theatre and joining the Board of Directors.
Sasha Cornellier
Development & Fundraising Committee Co-Chair
Sasha fell in love with the art house movie-going experience as a teenager, when Hermosa Beach, California’s Bijou Theater was still offering Tuesday night movies at $2. A long-time devotee of independent and foreign films and the vintage theaters that feature them, Sasha became been a fan of OFS when she took in her first Norwegian art house flick at the Capital Theater on a 2004 weekend trip to Olympia. Upon settling down in Olympia in Spring 2009, she made regular trips to the OFS a treasured routine. Sasha joined the Development and Fundraising Committee shortly thereafter and facilitated OFS’s creation of a comprehensive five-year Fund-Development Plan. Sasha is a graduate of the University of Washington with double degree in International Studies, Community Environment and Planning, and German Language and Literature, as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law. After years of working for a number of non-profit organizations in a variety of capacities and for a time as a civil rights lawyer in DC, Sasha now runs Cornellier Consulting, LLC, providing fundraising, management and other strategy consulting to non-profit organizations to support them in better achieving their missions.
Peter Epperson
Blake Nelson
Isaac Overcast
President
Festival Oversight Committee Chair
Isaac was born in Nebraska, a little known fact. He’s lived in Olympia since 1994, coming and going around the theater quite a bit. He graduated from The Evergreen State College with a BA/BS in many interesting things, and that’s where he works now. He joined the board three years ago, though volunteering as a projectionist is his secret favorite hobby. In his free time he makes very short movies.
Paul Potasnik
Secretary
Board Development Committee Chair
Paul has been an OFS member since the day he arrived in Olympia, when he bought a full pass to the 11th Olympia Film Festival and proceeded to practically live in the Capitol Theater. Over the years, he’s helped with everything from posting fliers to programming and even a little film production. Currently, Paul spends his days working at the Evergreen State College, but can be found in the Capitol Theater’s projection booth almost every Tuesday night. His favorite movies include Powers of Ten, Aguirre: the Wrath of God, Pinocchio in Outer Space, Tampopo and It Is Fine. Everything Is Fine!
Allen Stanton
Personnel Committee Chair
Allen has been a member of and concessionaire for the Olympia Film Society for several years. He works as the co-coordinator of the Youth In Service AmeriCorps program at Community Youth Services. Also, sometimes people pay him to walk their dogs or pour them alcoholic beverages; which he enjoys doing anyway. When Allen’s not working or volunteering he can be found buying VHS at pawn shops, searching the far corner of the Olympia Library for new comics or spending time with his special lady friend, Lauren, and their three cats.
Brent C. Turner
