Rhynes in Florida
Richard pinning Joan for FORUM president
Joan’s 12 x 12-foot mural of 11,000 pieces
A Fond Farewell from FORUM:
The Rhynes Leave a Lasting Legacy I
f you attended a FORUM at LeesMcRae College performance in the past decade you likely were welcomed by Richard Rhyne singing “Welcome to FORUM!” from the stage at Hayes Theater. It is a heartfelt greeting, as Richard and wife Joan share a passion for the arts and have supported FORUM for 15 years. The Rhynes have been instrumental in establishing and expanding FORUM’s series of successful summer musical performances. After attending their first performance in 2007, they were recruited to join the FORUM Selection Committee and have participated in the recruitment and choosing of performers ever since. Each year the FORUM Selection Committee works with talent agents from around the globe and considers over 50 candidates. The selection committee watches dozens of videos and then narrows the contenders to 16 recommended acts. The FORUM Board of Directors selects the final eight programs with a goal of offering a balance of musical genres, including vocalists, dancers, and instrumentalists. A symphony performance is always the top draw, followed by Oldies and Broadway Hits. In addition to spending time selecting acts for the eight summer performances, Richard served as FORUM President from 2012-2018. During his second term as President, Richard led the way for the establishment of “Centurions,” who pay
$450 each for reserved seating and parking. He also started the “Restaurant Discount Program,” which is a “win-win” for the local restaurants as well as FORUM ticketholders. The FORUM Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from LeesMcRae College and 30 volunteers from throughout the High Country. In addition to maintaining reserves to cover yearly entertainment costs, funding is available to purchase items for Lees-McRae College. Donations have included a Baldwin Grand Piano, upgraded theater chairs, new projectors, a sound system, and lighting for Hayes Auditorium. FORUM has also contributed to the rebuilding of dressing rooms and bathrooms for the entertainers and a new air conditioner for the college dining hall. Joan served as president from 20182021 and had the challenge of restructuring all programming due to the COVID pandemic in 2020. This included cancelling performances, refunding deposits, and creating a venue to ensure the safety of the patrons and performers. Thanks to the support of Lees-McRae College President Lee King, and Joan’s leadership, FORUM had a successful season in 2021. FORUM board members worked tirelessly to ensure guests and entertainers followed all COVID protocols, which included moving to two performances to allow for social distancing and enforcing mask mandates.
By Cynthia Holley
The contributions of the Rhynes to the community extend beyond FORUM. Joan and Richard became members of Banner Elk Presbyterian Church when they began spending summers in the mountains 29 years ago. Richard sang in the men’s choir for 15 years and both were active in Sunday School and other church functions. Joan was a member of the Boone Rotary for several years. Richard is a Trustee for Lees-McRae College and sits on the Executive board. He served on the Beech Mountain Club (BMC) Board for four years and he and Joan have served on various BMC committees. They were involved with tennis, skiing, golf, and bridge programs. Joan helped to form the BMC Tennis Association and served on its Board. Joan has displayed her art in galleries across the country and she offered art lessons for several years in Beech Mountain. She created a beautiful twelve-foot by twelve-foot mosaic mural comprised of 11,000 pieces for the tennis facility in 2005. She invited club members to place a piece of tile on the pattern she designed and over 100 people participated. The project began on June 5 of that year and was completed on Labor Day, truly a “labor of love.” Joan began performing at a young age and studied tap, ballet and ballroom dancing. She performed in numerous plays and continued on page 44
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