News & Past Events

An update from GCC President Kevin Evans, 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.

Past Events

Press Release: Gualala Lions Donation Boost, August 27, 2024

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.

Gualala Community Center will be previewing the new building at Gualala Arts during Art in the Redwoods the weekend of August 16 through 18, 2024.

Sea Ranch Safety Fair

Sea Ranch will have a Safety Fair on Saturday, August 20, 2024, from noon to 3 p.m. at the White Barn Sea Ranch. Gualala Community Center will have a presentation of their proposed new building as both an Event and Respite Center. A Respite Center provides emergency care for out-of-home families and individuals during crises such as wildfires or earthquakes.

Art ‘n’ Take Fundraiser

The weather was a bit chilly, but the smiles were warm, and the sales were hot. Jackie Gardener, Colette Coad, Barbara Johannes, and Bruce Jones created the Third Sequel fundraiser, Art ‘n’ Take, to benefit the Gualala Community Center rebuilding fund. Among others, Doug Smith and Perry Hoffman were on hand to guarantee a beautiful presentation, and it certainly paid off.
Over one hundred art pieces were available, everything from framed paintings and
photographs to wonderful woodland sculptures. There was something for everyone’s delight. Of course, the Community Center was thrilled with over $3,500 in donations and wants to warmly thank all the artists who donated their pieces and especially everyone who purchased.

Gualala Community Center seeking candidates for its Board of Directors

The Gualala Community Center is seeking candidates for four seats on its Board of Directors for a two-year term starting July 1, 2024. The deadline to submit a letter of interest is Monday, April 8^th.

Board members are asked to attend one meeting a month, traditionally the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. There will also be additional rebuilding-related meetings and other events that require attendance.

To be considered, candidates must be current Gualala Community Center members in good standing. Non-members may join prior to the April 8^th submission deadline by visiting the Memberships page on our website, gualalacommunitycenter.org.

If you are interested in making a difference in our community and being a part of the future of the Gualala Community Center, please submit your name for consideration to be elected to the 2024-2026 Board of Directors. Please also include a brief candidate statement (100 words max) describing your background and areas of related expertise and/or committee work. Candidate statements will appear on the ballot. Submissions may be sent to the Gualala Community Center e-mail address at gualalacc@gmail.com or mailed to Gualala Community Center, P.O. Box 263, Gualala, CA 95445

2023

Gualala Community Center Annual Membership Meeting

Prepare California: Community Resiliency Meeting

Mark your calendar and join County Office of Emergency Services, Disaster Recovery, and the County grants team for a brief presentation on some important emergency preparedness resources available to residents and an overview of the Prepare California grant initiative. Prepare California “Jumpstart” is a resiliency grant by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services that makes millions of dollars in local matching funds available to jurisdictions like Mendocino County.

With the tragic destruction of the Gualala Community Center in February 2023, the community along with the Gualala Community Center Board of Directors have been working in tandem to re-build a new center that will serve many purposes. Constructing a resilient center that will serve the area is paramount. With the storm damage in January that rendered Highway 1 and Old Stage Road unusable and the power outage, residents had to turn to the Community Center for temporary shelter and an area to recharge their electrical devices. With the extreme heat on the ridge and the planned power outages, the community center serviced as a cooling venue for many people. The community needs to be prepared for the unexpected.

Please take some time prior to the meeting to think about how resilient your community is to emergencies and disasters. The desired outcome is for the community to bring ideas for potential grant-funded projects that will boost local preparedness and resilience in the face of a range of emergencies and disasters including fire, flood, earthquake, pandemic, tsunami, climate change, etc. Your ideas and input will help our grants team look for funding to support projects to boost resilience and preparedness where you live.

Meeting details:

Gualala Municipal Advisory County Regular Meeting
Date: Thursday October 5th
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Coast Life Support District – Bill Platt Training Room
38901 Ocean Drive, Gualala

This is your opportunity to let county officials know the importance of supporting the rebuilding of the community center using grant funding and making the center ready to address challenges in the community.

Art ‘n’ Take Fundraiser – The 2nd Sequel

Roll With It Catering Fundraiser: Saturday, July 1st

Poke Bowl Pop-Up Fundraiser

• Date: Monday, June 19, 2023
• Time: 5 PM – 8 PM or until gone
• Location: Thai Kitchen Anchor Bay, 35517 S. Hwy 1, Anchor Bay

Mary Coa will be making Spicy Blue Fin Tuna Rice Bowls, Blue Fin Tuna Poke Rice Bowls, and Blue Fin Tuna Nigeri. Please bring your appetites.

All donations raised will benefit the Gualala Community Center’s Rebuilding Fund. 

No pre-orders, Take out only, Cash Donation

Art ‘n’ Take: thanks for your support!

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, a group of local artists donated their works of art to support the Gualala Community Center’s Rebuilding Fund. More that 30 artists donated over 70 works of art and we nearly sold out. We were able to raise a significant amount of money that will all benefit the rebuilding effort. The art was great, of course, but we also enjoyed mingling with community members and visitors, catching up with old friends and listening to the music provided by Christian Doering.

We hope to have a second Art ‘n’ Take fundraiser this summer so stay tuned for details.

Thanks to Jackie Gardener, Bruce Jones, Barbara Johannes, and Colette Coad for organizing the event.

Art ‘n’ Take: An artists’ fundraiser to benefit the Rebuilding Fund

Many of us have gone on a treasure hunt at Pay ‘n’ Take to find frames, materials and other things we use to produce and display our art. The idea to help raise money for the Community Center has grown with such enthusiasm that we now have plans for an art sale pop-up called Art ‘n’ Take.

We are asking artists, especially those that have a connection to Pay ‘n’ Take or the local community, to donate work that will be sold at the event. All proceeds raised will benefit the Gualala Community Center’s Rebuilding Fund.

If you are interested in volunteering at the events, please contact Jackie Gardener, jackie@mcn.org

Thanks to Jackie Gardener, Bruce Jones, Barbara Johannes, and Colette Coad for organizing the event.

Call For Artists

Perhaps you bought some materials or a frame from Pay ‘n’ Take, or you were inspired to paint, draw or photograph something in the vicinity of the Gualala Community Center. Are you interested in donating your works of art for the Art ‘n’ Take pop-up? Your local, donated pieces should resonate with the community members who want to support art and the Gualala Community Center.

The fair market value of all donated works are tax deductible and the Gualala Community Center will provide the necessary tax forms.

Tents, tables, wire panels, and display easels will be provided if needed.

Please include the title and price on each piece so we can match it to the tags we will provide. We will need your name, title, price and connection to Pay ‘n’ Take and/or Gualala.

If you are interested in donating art works for the event, please email the following information to jackie@mcn.org

• Name
• Phone number and email
• Media (Freestanding 3D or having 2D)
• Dates you are interested in participating: April 29th and/or May 13th
• Number of pieces