Art On the Square Volunteer of The Year is Vickie Camp

by Diane Lehr

Vickie Camp of Athens was honored as Volunteer of the Year for 2011-2012, by the Art On the Square Arts League, during a recent Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Canebrake Country Club, in Athens. Vickie has served the organization as a board member for two years, and as Treasurer for one year. She worked diligently last spring as the coordinator and primary chef for the dessert buffet at the successful  AOTS, Desserts with the Divas, event held at Athens State University. Mrs. Camp   assisted in plans for all children's art camps that Art On the Square presented this past year. She was also instrumental in planning and working to accomplish the Tanner Boys and Girls Club AOTS Art Camp that was presented to the Tanner children last summer. She assisted the organization in developing and distributing artist packets to the selected participating artists at Art On the Square, and she served as a primary information assistant at the AOTS booth during the Art On The Square Fine Arts Festival held on September 10, 2011. The annual, free to attend, fine arts festival brings thousands to Athens' downtown each September. 

Trisha Black, a board member with Art On The Square, states, " Vickie is an excellent board member. She is sensible and sensitive. She worked from sunrise to sunset during the September fine arts festival downtown this year, and she always has a ready laugh, a willing spirit, and a positive attitude in every undertaking that the organization plans for the area." 

Vickie grew up in a rural community and had no art programs in school. She says that she always sketched and found herself using her sketching and drawing talents during stressful or lonely times when she was growing up. She found her creative spirit was easily expressed and she caught on immediately when her grandmother taught her to sew. In college, Vickie studied accounting, as that seemed a sensible plan of study for a solid career. She firmly believes that people should explore and express both the left and right areas of their brains, and she knows firsthand that students who study music or art are much better in math and reading than students who don't experience creative subjects in school. Vickie has always loved the art of cooking with a particular interest and knack for desserts, and she has assisted her sister, Suzanne Rainey, in her catering business from time to time. Vickie is in agreement with AOTS, that children who have too little art in their community or in their schools, lose opportunities to learn about themselves and about the joy that art can bring into their lives. She further understands that teaching children the arts offers them healthy ways to deal with stress and gives them additional options for future career choices. 

Vickie first explored her own painting talents approximately eleven years ago, by studying with Carole Foret, in Athens. " I love to paint and I believe that art has a healing effect on people. It soothes my mind after a chaotic or stressful period of time. I also see how children flourish when they are creating their own art. It allows them to express who they are and that is imperative to their becoming confident and wholesome human beings." 

Vickie's nephew, Val, has always loved Art On the Square and the experience of teaching Val about the arts has led Vickie to agree that he is the living mascot of Art On the Square's purpose for children. In a discussion about her nephew recently, Vickie stated, " Val is very serious about art and having his paintings on display at the Art On the Square information booth this year was so important for him. Numerous people, including a news reporter came by and were enamored by Val's talent and his passion for the arts. Val has reminded me just how important art is to the development of children's happiness and confidence. Art On the Square has always known this, and I am happy to be part of a group that does so much for the community."  

Vickie is married to Richard Camp and they have two grown daughters, Megan Hays and Amy Wallace. They have two granddaughters and are expecting their first grandson in January. 

Lisa Milby describes Vickie like this; "Vickie is the Finance Director for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Alabama. Clearly, she is a very busy professional. She is a wife, mother and grandmother. She is a funny, talented and creative asset to Art On The Square. Add to this her passion for children and for providing opportunities for children to grow, and we can see that we have a real jewel in our midst."

Learn more about Art On the Square Arts League at www.aots-athens.com or contact  artonthesquare@hotmail.com