PAS Recognition Awards

The Performing Arts Society is a community organization whose members are patrons of the arts. The first organizational meeting was held December 8, 1983 followed by the first Board of Directors meeting. PAS was established through the assistance of an NEA grant and continued through assistance of the WIU Foundation. The Performing Arts Society is now supported by individual donors and corporate sponsors.

To honor and recognize our members and those who support the arts, the Performing Arts Society makes yearly awards for following categories:

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The Ruth Watts Distinguished Service Award

Ruth Watts served as the Executive Director of Macomb Downtown Development Committee on a part- time basis and served as the first Executive Director of the Performing Arts Society beginning in 1984. A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts enabled the Performing Arts Society to employ her on a part time basis.

Ruth, along with the early Board members, enabled the organization to grow from an idea into a viable and important organization. Ruth loved Macomb and Western. Ruth was just one of those individuals who felt it was apart of responsibility to serve her community and she did so with grace and dignity. Sadly, Ruth passed away very suddenly while hosting an out-of-town family for WIU Parents weekend. Those who knew her still miss her.

The fountain in Chandler Park is named in her honor. The Community Arts Service Award was renamed the Ruth Watts Distinguished Service Award in her honor upon her passing to recognize special service to the Performing Arts Society.

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The William E. Brattain Distinguished Service Award

Dr. William E. Brattain, a former WID Associate Vice President for Student Services, served as the Director of the University Union for over twenty-four years. He was instrumental in providing leadership opportunities for hundreds of students who achieved great success in the campus activities arena, many of those students are now in the student affairs profession.

Dr. Brattain served as chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Campus activities and authored the definitive textbook The Administration of College Union and Campus Activities. Dr. Brattain was very active in community leadership as well, serving as the chair of the Carl Sandburg Community College Board of Trustees.

In respect to the performing arts, there is no one who compares to Dr. Brattain's commitment and love to the arts. Dr. Brattain, in one way or another, provided leadership and support to the development of the performing arts in our community since his arrival to WIU in 1971. Dr. Brattain's leadership with the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the development of the Performing Arts Society truly created a partnership between 'WIU and the City of Macomb which lives on today.

The Illinois Service Award was renamed the William E. Brattain Distinguished Service Award in his honor upon his retirement from WIU to recognize special service to the arts in general.

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Community Service Award

The Performing Arts Society was created by a small group of thoughtful and committed people who truly wanted to enhance their community through the support of the arts. Individuals contribute in so many different yet significant ways to ensure that the performing arts remain an intricate part of our community and region. The service comes in a variety of forms from serving on boards, to volunteering at and attending events and performances, and contributing financially through the 'WID Foundation.

The Community Service Award recognizes individuals for their unwavering support of the arts over several years.

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Corporate Salute

The Performing Arts Society was created by a small group of thoughtful and committed people who truly wanted to enhance their community through the support of the arts. Our community is blessed by very caring individuals and generous businesses and corporations. It is through the additional support of our local businesses and the national and international corporations which operate in the Macomb area and region that we find another level of support for the performing arts.

The Performing Arts Society is appreciative of all of the support it receives by our corporate sponsors. It is through this support we find it possible to underwrite the expenses for performances brought to our community through the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the Youth Performing Arts Series. The Performing Arts Society began recognizing our corporate sponsors in the early 1990's through the Community Service Award In 1996, the very first Corporate Salute was awarded

The Performing Arts Society Corporate Salute recognizes a local business and/or inter/national corporation for outstanding corporate support.