Tetlus Wins Community Theatre Spotlight Award

Lorraine Tetlus was awarded the Spotlight Award through the American Association of Community Theatres at The Manatee Players' volunteer appreciation holiday party, December 13th, 2010.  Loraine will be featured with a photo in the upcoming national issue of AACT Spotlight magazine. 
 
Lorraine has been an active Manatee Players volunteer since 1998.  By 'active' we mean this petite, elderly woman can be found at the Manatee Players' theater 2 to 3 days every week.  What started as a one-time volunteer stint helping with a mailing, has turned her into being a fixture at the theater and the 'go to' gal whenever there is a need for some administrative task to be done.  In fact, Lorraine is secretary and treasurer of the Manatee Players' Guild.  She has helped out in the Box Office and ushers at least twice during each run of a production.  Lorraine serves dinner to the cast and crew at every Tech Sunday, assists at every fundraiser for youth theatre scholarships including baking cookies and never says no when called upon at the last minute to make copies of sides for auditions or to collate grant applications.
 
Most recently, Lorraine organized her quilting group, Sharing Quilters, to create 14 beautiful patchwork blankets to director-specifications for the Manatee Players' production of Curtains. 
 
Lorraine Tetlus is tireless in her support and praise for The Manatee Players.  Of course, it helps that she lives just down the block from the theatre.  But, in addition to Manatee Players, she volunteers for the Friends of the Manatee Public Library and the South Florida Museum Service League, all downtown Bradenton institutions.
 
The staff of The Manatee Players is always happy when Lorraine, our 2001 Office Volunteer of the Year, is in the theater building with her stories and her good cheer, but especially when she quietly places baked goods for the employees to enjoy next to the coffee pot in the kitchen.