TIAC ELECTS NEW TRUSTEES
CLAYTON, NY (January 11, 2022) – The Thousand Islands Arts Center (TIAC) is pleased to welcome Sara “Sallie” Whittle Lake and Joy Rhinebeck to its Board of Trustees, effective immediately.
Sallie is a native and resident of Roanoke, VA, in the off-season, and has spent the past 20 years summering in Thousand Island Park with her husband, David, and their grown daughters, Campbell and Katherine. She retired in May 2021 from her professional career of 36 years as a National Account Executive for two national healthcare companies, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and CIGNA HealthCare. In her professional life she was responsible for client management, and retention and business development for large self-funded health care plans for Fortune 500 companies.
Sallie graduated from North Cross High School in Roanoke, and attended UNC Chapel Hill before transferring to the Medical College of Virginia to complete a B.S. in Physical Therapy. During her five years practicing Physical Therapy (PT), she was also responsible for clinical education of new PT students. She transitioned to the business side of health care where she completed the bulk of her career with the two national firms.
Outside of her career she has volunteered at North Cross School as Alumni Board member, Friends of the Arts, and class agent for the Annual Fund; at her church serving as secretary on the inaugural Endowment Board, Children’s Church leader and choir mom; in Atlanta with Junior League of Atlanta, a docent for the High Museum of Atlanta; and in her retired life has recently joined the Mill Mountain Garden Club in Roanoke. Sallie grew up with a love of the arts and she and her husband are collectors. Sallie has enjoyed the TIAC exhibition openings and lectures, selling raffle tickets at the new Festival and being a regular Finders Keepers volunteer. She is excited to be invited to be part of such a dedicated, hardworking and effective Board and looking forward to continuing to impact the community through promotion of the arts.
Joy grew up in San Diego, and relocated to Clayton with her husband Chris in 1995 when they purchased Chris’s Service Station and operated it for 25 years. She attended Vista High School in Vista, California, and received an Associate in Arts degree from Palomar College in San Marcos. Joy worked for Sears & Roebuck Co. for over 14 years, where she began a floor sales clerk, and later department manager and personnel director. She also served as head of store training and an assistant to the controller.
A painter by hobby and love for the arts led Joy to volunteer with TIAC shortly after moving to Clayton. She worked on several TIAC committees before joining the board in 2002, and served as a board member from 2002-2015, holding multiple posts including treasurer, vice chair and board chair. In 2015, she was hired to serve as the Events Coordinator, managing the organization’s events and exhibitions.
Last year, Joy began working as the store manager for Hunner’s Market, a local organic market in Clayton, managing store inventory and staff. She also works events in the summer for Thousands Islands Property Service (TIPS), and hosts at The Clipper Inn. Additionally, Joy has been with the Thousand Islands School District for over 20 years, serving as a substitute teacher and currently as a part-time Teacher’s Assistant at Thousand Islands High School. She has also served as co-director and stage manager for the high school’s annual musical for over 21 years.
In the spring, summer, and into the fall, Joy and Chris, when they are not on the mainland, can be found on Grindstone Island where they own property. Joy and Chris have two grown daughters, Jennifer and Julianne, and are members of the Antique Boat Museum, Thousand Islands Land Trust, Save the River, and Clayton Opera House.
Chris Murray, TIAC’s Board Chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome two seasoned professionals and volunteers to our Board. With a small staff, and a packed schedule, our Trustees are very active and supportive in our operations. Both Joy and Sallie have demonstrated their willingness to get the job done no matter
