The GCC General Board Meeting will be held on May 13, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Del Mar Center in The Sea Ranch. The location was changed for this meeting because we needed space for the Board, Steering Committee, and visitors.
Starting on April 29th, General Members that are interested in serving a two-year term on the Board of Directors are encouraged to turn in their nomination papers. Click for additional Board Candidate information.
The GCC General Membership Meeting will be held June 21, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Del Mar Center in Sea Ranch. It can be in person or via Zoom (instructions will be available on the website closer to the meeting date).
Dear Members and Community,
As we enter the fourth quarter of this Boards term, I first want to thank Karen Russell, Barbara Pratt, David Fouts, Leslie Bates, Whyte Owen and Paula Smith for your dedicated service to the Gualala Community Center and the community.
With the current financial climate across the country, rising construction costs, the lack of funding opportunities on the Federal and State level has left the rebuilding of the community center on a path that has taken on many different shapes and direction. The current proposal to rebuild the center is the reduction in square footage to 5,000 square feet that will house a main hall, restrooms and kitchen. The projected cost will be $5.5 million dollars. The GCC currently has about $1.8 million dollars in the bank from insurance money, grants and donations. The GCC is currently applying for Federal and State grant opportunities to help raise enough money to build the hall. Reducing the square footage of the building even more to make it more affordable is another option.
I would like to thank the members of the steering committee that has been working diligently to offer other options to restore the facility. I appreciate the efforts of Ray Feeney, Nancy Howard, Adrian Adams, Cathe Barnes, Colby Bibb, Cathi Matthews, Susan Miletich, Janet Pierucci, Robert Ramers, Jim Brygh and Sally Shine for exploring many alternatives to rebuild the center.
At the May 13th Board of Directors meeting, the steering committee will be proposing a three phased approach to building a complete facility.
Phase #1 the construction of a 2,000 sq. ft. room adjacent to the annex to house the clothing operation.
Phase #2 the construction of a 2,800 sq. ft. main hall and restrooms. This room would be used for public and private events, community meetings and Coastal Senior spaghetti dinners and other senior support operations.
Phase #3 the construction of a 2,100 sq. ft. support building that will include a commercial kitchen.
The cost for each phase of the project and the ability to raise the money for the overall project is yet to be determined.
If you have any comments of questions about the rebuilding of the center and the two plans being proposed, please contact either a board member or member of the steering committee with your ideas. We would like your feedback prior to the May 13th Board meeting. Any project that is being proposed will be voted on by the General Membership through the mail-in ballot process.
Currently there are 90 General members that have not renewed their membership for this year. We need your input through the election process. If you have not renewed your membership for this year. Please do so.
Thank you for your continued support,
Respectfully,
Kevin Evans, President
Gualala Community Center Board of Directors
March 2025
George Calys
george@georgecalys.com
Project Updates from Architect
January 2025 Update
Our rebuilding fund is now 2.5 million dollars.
Gualala Community Center History
The Gualala Community Center was founded in 1954, by a group of volunteers. These volunteers built a small community building to hold meetings, dances, plays, and community activities.
The original building was lost to an arson fire on February 14, 2023. We are now rebuilding a facility that will take our community into the future. Click here for more Rebuilding Updates.
The Gualala Community Center funds college scholarships, and underwrite community activities including Coastal Seniors Tuesday Lunches, three local food banks (Annapolis, Gualala, Point Arena), Project Santa, a local Farmers Market, public meetings including Gualala Municipal Advisory Committee (GMAC). We also provide clothing, household items, and furniture to people who have emergency needs. To fund our mission, we resell new and used items that have been donated to our program Pay ‘n’ Take.
The Gualala Community Center is a Registered non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, managed by a Board of Directors, each elected to a two-year term.
As always, your support is greatly appreciated.
News
Letter of Support from the Timber Cove Fire FPD
The Two Fish Fundraiser made $5,600! Thank you Margaret and Hilla.
An Update from the GCC President
October 9, 2024
The Gualala Community Center Board is proud to announce the launch of a capital campaign to rebuild the Community Center. The GCC has received $30,000 from Sonoma Clean Power to support rebuilding an energy-efficient facility. With the matching fund challenge of $100,000 from the Community Center Board, utilizing Pay-n-Take revenue, and $40,000 from the Gualala Lions Club, the campaign is in full swing.
Join in the fun of our kickoff fundraising event with a fantastic Pizza Party at TwoFish on Friday, October 25 (see the flyer below)—a big thank you to Margaret and Hilla for hosting this dinner.
The Federal Community Project grant, supported by Congressman Huffman, is currently pending congressional review and final approval. On the state level, the 2nd District State Assembly candidates have pledged to use all available resources to seek out grant opportunities and provide assistance in securing funding. These opportunities could significantly impact our community, as they are primarily focused on restoring the community center as a viable resiliency facility to support the coastal region during any catastrophic event.
In September, the Rebuilding fund received over $12,000 from private donations. We are deeply grateful for these generous contributions from the community. Your support has brought us closer to our fundraising goal, and we want to express our heartfelt thanks for your continued commitment to rebuilding the Gualala Community Center.
Gualala Lions Donation Boost
On Tuesday, August 27, Gualala Lions Club members voted to donate $40,000 to the rebuilding fund of the Gualala Community Center. The donations come from a fund established nearly 50 years ago, with money generated by one of the first Gualala Lions projects. The club’s Charter President, the late John J. Bower, donated a lot from the Ocean Ridge subdivision to the club for building and selling a house. Two Lions, the late R. T. Andersen and his son Robert L. ‘Butch’ Andersen, stepped up and, with the help of several other Lions, made that house a reality. Funds from the sale were invested by the club, and today, they amount to a substantial sum.
Lion President Chuck Cappotto said his club hopes many other individuals and local organizations will match the Lions’ donation to complete this community project successfully.
Do you have questions or suggestions? Please contact us.
Gualala Community Center
47950 Center Street, PO Box 263
Gualala, CA 95445
(707) 884-3179