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We’re Celebrating Charles J. Washburn’s 25th Year with VSA MA!

Posted Monday August 20 2012 at 12:59 pm.
Used tags: art, charles_washburn, inclusive, news, vsa

Thank you Charlie for your commitment, energy, enthusiasm and innovation!  We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next!

We gathered quotes, anecdotes, and notes of thanks from a variety of people who know of Charlie's great work.  Please add yours by leaving a blog comment.

"Charlie, You are even artistic and inclusive when kayaking. Thanks for your leadership in impacting our school so creatively." - Bill Henderson

"For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
Thanks Longfellow!" - Liz Doles

"If you have real talent they can put you behind a brick wall and you will break through." - Raine

"Wow - 25 years!  Congratulations, Charlie, for your outstanding work in giving access to the arts, and a quality education through the arts, to so many young people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  All students--whether those with disabilities, or those without disabilities--have benefited by working together in and through the arts.  The Arts|Learning Board and our Network and Advocacy Team join me in extending our heartiest congrats to you for a job well done." - Jonathan Rappaport

"Cool!  Charlie W: He says the W. is Washburn.  It’s really Warm, Wise and Welcoming.  Congratulations on 25 years!" - Judy Chalmer, VSA CT

"Charlie, Congratulations on your 25 years of service to VSA.  Thanks for asking me to join the VSA board; it's been a pleasure to work together and with the organization's great staff.  Your dedication and passion to VSA is in evidence by the many lives touched by all of the great work you do." - John Voci

"From the day I joined the affiliate network, you’ve been an inspiration.  I admire all that you’ve been able to accomplish and look forward to catching up with you at the next meeting." – Kathie Wagner, VSA Wisconsin

"A Work of Art is Work." - Raine

"Charlie has been one of my very favorites among VSA affiliates.  I've learned from him, commiserated with him, and had wonderful, fun times with him over the years.  When I think of the best of my experience with VSA, Charlie's face always comes up!  He's terrific!" - Mimi, VSA PA

"Thank you Charlie for all your trailblazing work you have done over the years on arts and abilities!!  Best Wishes on your 25 years!!" - Eileen, Young Audiences, CT

"Happy 25th anniversary with VSA Mass Charlie.  I have known you for only a very short part of that time.  What struck me most about you from the very beginning was your kindness.  You probably never even gave these 2 incidents a second thought.  The first one was you rushing outside to help me into the building in my wheelchair and the second one was of you handing me a bottle of lovely cold water without me asking for it during the reading and question and answer period of my art show.  Water never tasted so good!  The world needs many more people like you, Charlie.  Best wishes and a hug." - Marguerite McDonald

"Dear Charlie, Congratulations on your 25th year with VSA MA!  Your dedication and leadership have been inspiring, and working with you continues to be a pleasure and an honor.  Many, many thanks for all you've done for VSA's mission these 25 years, and here's to the years to come!  All my best." - Tim

"Charlie, Consider this a virtual toast.  I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with you for five years and I’ve always been impressed with what you’ve brought and your incredible generosity.  You’ve put together a strong, forward-thinking and forward-moving organization (not to mention amazing staff) that actually walks its mission’s talk, provides not just access, but access to things of quality, and has consistently – despite very real obstacles – moved its work to the next level.  An organization that under your care has become a leader locally, nationally and – as we saw at the 2011 conference – internationally.  Thank you for your great commitment, your honesty, your fortitude.  Thank you for making the field a better, more thoughtful place and many in it better at what they do.  Congratulations on your 25th anniversary!  There are far more people grateful to you than you know.  All the best." - Stephen Yaffe

"I admire your fierce and compassionate work—a fierce advocate who always has time to help an artist, listen to his staff, hang artwork in the Open Door Gallery, or animate the Festival dragon to the delight of the children!  Or invent an inclusive concert!  Making inclusion happen every day is your modus operandi.  Thank you for 25 years of making a difference and congratulations!" - Ena Fox

"It's hard to capture the glory of Charlie Washburn.  When I think about Charlie and how thankful I am for his role at VSA MA, I remember that Charlie is someone who:

leads by listening,
trusts others,
collaborates,
respects individual talents and fosters growth,
is warm,
spreads confidence simply through his welcoming smile,
creates a light-hearted environment,
keeps sight of current and future goals,
challenges the comfortable,
loves.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to grow under his leadership. Happy 25th, Charlie" - Bryce

"Confidence, like art, never comes form having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions." - Earl Gray Steven.  There are few educations / artists / human beings in this world to value the essence of a good question even more than a good answer.  A lot of your impact and work has been so fruitful thanks to your ability to ask both the right, and I'd argue even more importantly - the difficult questions.  Thank you for that! Congrats on 25 years!!!" - Marian Brown

"Thanks so much for including us in the celebration.  I am not sure where to begin …Charlie was and is a mentor for me.  I appreciate his well thought out approach to issues and his great sense of humor." - Marian Winters, VSA FL

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