Yvonne Kubis has been awarded Dakota West Arts Council’s first “Volunteer of the Year” award. Kubis, an independent CPA, has voluntarily served on the Council’s board of directors as Treasurer for close to 30 years. Kubis manages the Council’s finances; donations, grants, city funding and earned income. She and her staff are committed to financial transparency and accuracy and have donated hundred of hours to the council. “Through our re-grant program, the Council has helped various arts organizations get things done over the years,” Kubis said. Her firm also works with Theo Art School and Northern Plains Dance, non-profit organizations also. An avid arts supporter as well as an artist herself, Kubis is a quilter, seamstress, does needlework and makes porcelain dolls. Her father was a painter and music played an important role in her family; her father played the accordion and violin, her grandfather played the violin, and her grandmother played the organ and piano. “The Council cannot begin to thank Yvonne for all her years of dedication to Dakota West Arts Council. We were unanimous in selecting her for this award and pleased that she is the first to receive it,” said Jim McMahon, the Council’s president. “We plan to select a Volunteer of the Year on an annual basis. We know there are a number of people in this community, like Yvonne, who deserve to be recognized for helping grow arts and culture here,” he said. Dakota West Arts Council will seek nominations for the 2016 Volunteer of the Year award from their members this fall and present the award at the their “Celebration of the Arts”, in January 2016. The council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation overseen by a nine-member board of directors and has been advancing arts and culture in Bismarck since 1979.