WHY GIVE TO THE MISSION VALLEY FRIENDS OF THE ARTS? Besides the obvious way membership money is spent, including electricity, heat, air conditioning, water, insurance, phone lines and a security system, your annual MVFA membership has helped to restore and maintain our rustic log theatre building. To date, with the generosity of MVFA membership grants and local corporate contributors, a historic facility has been transformed into a performance center for Children's, Community and Summer Theatre opportunity for participants and patrons alike. Built in 1938, the city-owned John Dowdall Theatre has been renovated and is maintained by the non-profit Mission Valley Friends of the Arts (MVFA). Under a twenty-year lease with the city of Polson, the MVFA has an agreement with the Port Polson Players to serve as caretakers for the facility. Neal and Karen Lewing, Managing and Artistic Directors for the Players, also serve as secretarial and administrative directors for the MVFA. All fundraising drives for MVFA, follow up, publicity, building maintenance, contracted renovation, grant assistance, accountability and facilitation are conducted by the Lewings, on behalf of "The Friends." MVFA doesn't pay them for these services; they trade use of the facility to produce theatre. MVFA money goes into the building; Box Office receipts go toward producing the actual shows. In 1986, the Port Polson Players moved to the golf course clubhouse, sharing three summers with the pro shop. When the new clubhouse was built, the non-profit Mission Valley Friends of the Arts formed and acquired the lease to the city-owned building. Since 1989, MVFA has put over $250,000 of improvements into the facility, through memberships and grants. We gratefully thank the hundreds of performing participants, thousands of patrons and MVFA members who have believed in the benefits of live theatre.