By Marty Sklar, Founder, Past President, Member of the Board of Directors

June is the traditional time of graduation ceremonies. Our Ryman Arts graduation will take place June 17at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park.

Like other graduations everywhere, ours is an emotional time. For parents, grandparents and siblings, it’s a night of great pride as they watch their family member receive his or her recognition – many to become the very first in their family to move on to experience a college education.

By Marty Sklar, Founder, Past President, Member of the Board of Directors

In my last edition of Foundersland, I wrote that I had asked our Ryman Arts Board members to respond to the question listed above. I included nine responses in Part 1 of this subject. Today, I’ll repeat what I wrote as a preamble, but there are nine brand new responses – from the rest of the Board. My preface was the following:

By Jeff Ganter and Barbara Jacobs, Member of the Board of Directors & Co-Chairs of Power Up 2015

By Shannon Huang, Development & Communications Manager

By Shannon Huang, Development & Communications Manager

By Shannon Huang, Development & Communications Manager

By Marty Sklar, Founder, Past President, Member of the Board of Directors

It may be the most important question anyone who is invited to become a member of an organization’s Board of Directors ever asks: “Why should I serve as a Board member for this organization?” The answer you give will determine whether that’s the place you truly want to commit to serving and representing to the public.