5 questions with Barbara Beggs
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Barbara Beggs is the new executive director of The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, have taken the reins in August from Sammie Wester, who had filled the position for the previous 18 months on a volunteer basis.
How were you chosen as executive director of the Chorus?
I was there at the very first rehearsal the Chorus ever had, 18 years ago, and I have been involved off and on as a singer or a helper or a supporter ever since. Sammie came to me and said, “We could really use you, and I want more time to play golf.” She had been doing a lot of the heavy lifting over the past 18 months, streamlining the processes and writing some grants, and the Chorus had just gotten some money to pay a director, so I was able to step into a great opportunity.
What did you do before taking this job?
I was vice president of sales and marketing for Meisel, which is a large-format printer. I left that job last fall and have been looking to take my expertise into the nonprofit arena. In the nonprofit world, its called audience building, grant writing and membership recruiting and retention.
What is your top priority as executive director?
My top priority right now is to re-establish the chorus in the Dallas community as a vibrant, creative place for women to discover themselves, their soulfulness and creativity. There is a whole new generation of women in the Dallas community that need to discover the chorus,
What’s coming up for the Women’s Chorus?
Right now we are getting ready for our big annual fundraiser on Nov. 18, our Gifts and Glitter Gala and Auction at the Women’s Museum in Fair Park. The community has been wonderful about donating items for our live and silent auctions, and there will be a buffet and music, of course. Our big ticket item will be a ride in a Russian MIG fighter jet. We expect that to be a big draw.
If you could change anything about your job, what would it be?
My spouse and I live in Arlington and we both volunteer to teach English as a second language. I also volunteer with an after-school tutoring program and for Days of Taste with the American Institute of Food and Wine.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, October 20, 2006.