Assembly Room Inaugurals

The almost completely renovated Assembly Room was used in several exciting ways this spring, giving us a glimpse of what other events RPC can create to use this terrific space. Some examples:

     • First, of course, was the lovely reception after Nan’s installation, when the room was filled with people and abuzz with chatter without the problematic acoustics of past years.

      • The new AV system shone during the screening of The Hard Road Home (see accompanying story). The picture from our new projector filled the back wall of the stage and the sound was crystal clear. Plus, during the discussion period at the end, new speakers and new hand-held mikes enabled people in the audience to hear each other, while the panelists in the front could also be heard clearly.

      • The system is also flexible enough to accommodate outside AV, which Dave Pettigrew and his band brought with them to a concert in the Assembly Room on April 13. The Christian rock music was a joy to hear — and the new chairs were great to sit in!

      • Then, on May 5, the room was transformed for the Mission and Outreach Western Barbecue. They served a sit-down dinner to over 100 people, with enough room on the sides for serving tables and silent auction tables. And during dinner a hardy band of over 30 people were line dancing on the newly expanded stage!

Only three items remain: to return the floor to its original sheen; to install wainscoting in place of the metal radiator covers; and to paint the room. These items will be deferred pending consideration by the Board of Trustees of upgrading the heating system and adding air condi­tioning, the installation of which might damage floors and walls.