Arts of the Inland is pleased to announce that the Gulf Coast Writers Association became an affiliate member on April 24.

Arts of the Inland President LaVon Koenig of the Arts of the Inland and Gulf Coast Writers Association President Tom Nelson signed the affiliate membership agreement at the Arts of the Inland meeting at the Firehouse Community Theatre in LaBelle.

The annual kick-off meeting was also a “show-off” to present some of the literary and visual artists and their works: authors, Tom Nelson, Richard Georgian, Patty Brant, Florence Pritchard and Dr. Carol Kennedy; artists, June DeVincent, Diane Carmen, Connie Killebrew, Pat Papa, John Fry, Olga Wood, Doug Patterson; mask artist, Kimberly Arnett; sterling silver jewelry artist, Betty A. Jones; and photographers, Suzie Hector and Tom Dugan.

Live music was provided by Linda Reecer and Sally Gillespy.

A recap of the highlights of the previous year and a foretaste of what’s to come in 2012-13 was given by Koenig.

The membership continues to grow and continues to work within its mission statement – to facilitate and nurture the creation, development, promotion and education of arts and culture in the inland communities of South Florida.

Gratitude goes out to the following sponsors/patrons for their financial contributions: Kiwanis Club of Lehigh Acres Foundation, Walmart Foundation, Coldwell Banker, MA Real Estate of LA, China Star Restaurant, Seminole Casino Immokalee, Tommy Lee Cook, Joe Zangori, Michael Swords Inc., Jere Carrick, Preferred Community Bank, Vannoy Banks, Landex Corp., LaVon & Phillip Koenig, Ralph Boettger, Amanda Partridge, Jasper Rizzo, Siegfried Lorenz, Roberts Bowers Accounting Inc., Nickolas & Diane Fidanza and Teresa Goodlad.

A special thanks goes out to founding members, all of whom have made Arts of the Inland such a success.

For more information about Arts of the Inland, visit the web site at: www.artsoftheinland.com.

For more information about, Gulf Coast Writers Association, visit the web site: www.gulfwriters.org.