MACT BOARD Meeting
Saturday, April 19, 2008
At Martin Luther Manor, Bloomington, MN
Attendees: Mary Jo Holewa, Sara Gunsch, Donna Norberg, Bill Muchow, Jon Skaalen, Tim Ray, Julianna Skluzacek, Cliff Lundberg, Jan Dickinson, Larry Pint, David L. Poeschel. Minutes taken by: Stephanie Weiss
Meeting called to order at 2:55pm
Introductions – skipped
Secretary’s report from 02/16/08 – Bill move to accept/Larry 2nd – all approve
Treasurer’s report from 4/18/08 – Sara move to accept/Jan 2nd – all approve
Old Business:
Website: The site is generating memberships! As of 2 days ago, special items have been added to site available to individuals and member theaters.
With updates, some customer information was deleted – Larry is re-installing the info.
Larry told us how to get into the members only section of site/user name & passwords.
Still a problem with the website for AOL users.
Grant Writing: Julianna has contacted Dana G. are they are going forward. By June meeting, we’ll have something to look at. We have committed $3000 – they are investigating our grant options in order for us to hire an executive director.
New Business
FAST*Fest – the committee met prior to today’s board meeting. The current FF Budget is for participation of 14 theaters – as of today, we have 9. How many people will be attending? We are too late for a grant for an ASL interpreter. We will be using the budget as a ‘strong guideline’.
Entertainment has been set-up for the Friday night – June 20 – it’s an acapella group. Mary Jo will get the clarification of costs and will send info to Larry for brochure. Stephanie & Dave are co-chairing event and will emcee also.
Julianna will put the program together, Jan will run copies. Deadline for program is Memorial Day weekend – May 26. Larry is designing the festival brochure to be printed and mailed – deadline for registration of shows is extended to 4/30/08 in hopes of getting a few more participating theaters – ASK YOUR FRIENDS & THEATERS!! Donna will do the actual mailing of the brochures.
Greg’s Scholarship Proposal – Discussion – this would be used to draw in more participants – money can be used for paying for entrance fees, travel expenses, package costs, etc. Too short amount of time to iniate the scholarship for the 2008 FAST*Fest but we will do this for the 2009 MACT Fest. Would like to pursue $500 scholarships. Greg should put together criteria for theaters – how he envisions this for the MACT Fest.
Grant Writing – volunteers to take grant writing class – Jan, Sara, Bill, Jon, Donna.
Arts Across MN – deadline August 8th SMAC
From the MN State Arts Board website:
Festivals grants
These funds can be used to involve Minnesota artists and small to midsize arts organizations in arts festivals, and in the arts component of community-based festivals.
Who can apply: Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations such as schools, community groups, arts organizations, or government agencies may apply. Must have at least one year of recent presenting experience.
Festivals grantees are not eligible to receive a Host Community, Series Presenter Support, Institutional Support, or Institutional Presenter Support grant for the same year.
Grant range: $2,000 - $15,000
Funds may be used: January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Application deadline: Friday, August 8, 2008
Application materials will be available in early June 2008.
Application materials will be available in early June 2008.
Program officer: Contact Amy Frimpong for additional information or answers to specific questions.
AACT Report (Bill Muchow) – AACT Festival 2011.
The AACT festival would be in June or July of 2011. We are one of the cities looking at making the proposal – AACT is aware of our interest.
One big unknown is the cost of using the new Burnsville Arts Center. First proposals that Bill has heard about are more than a community theater could afford.
Bill is proposing to set-up a corporation to take the risk. He will talk to Lee Bornstein (tax attorney) about setting up the non-profit group. Plus putting together the by-laws for this corporation – each organization involved would have 2 directors on the corporation board. Encouraging more volunteers from all the participating groups. Keeping track of volunteer hours would be necessary.
Discussion. Proposal to have more theatrical directors on said-board as the event is theater specific.
We (MACT & corporation) would need to produce our ‘dog & pony’ show to be presented in Georgia in February 2009 at the AACT meeting. The preliminary request packet is due October 2008.
Could we get funds from State Tourism Board? There’s a $10,000 entrée fee. What about grants and scholarships?
Bill will talk with the other proposed groups for the corporation and come back with formal documents.
Elections in June:
With the annual meeting – comes elections for new officers. Mary Jo Holewa & Cliff Lundberg’s terms are up in June.
Sandy Susag is retiring from the Board. Tim moved to accept her resignation/Jan 2nd – all (regrettably) approved. Thank you for your work, Sandy!
We would like to get a rep from the SE corner of MN. By May 1st, please submit names to Julianna to contact.
Where are Robb Clasen and Larry Outhwaite? We currently have 13 board members – we could have as many as 20 – start soliciting for new members please.
Future Goals:
- Hire executive director
- Have a functional website
MACT Fest 2009:
Seeking volunteers to co-chair the event. Both Larry Pint & Sara Gunsch have accepted the challenge. Thank you!
Website Discussion:
Larry has been receiving misc questions regarding the website – we should have a FAQ section added. What are the perimeters of who can post information on the site? Benefit of being a member theater – posting on the website. What about ‘consortium’ groups? They should pay the max membership fee of $60 and they can post ONE show per theater in their consortium per year.
Educational institutions (K-12) – can post for free for one year – to drive more interest to the site. Only theatrical events can be posted. How do we contact the schools to advise them of our site/service? We need to let the State Board know and they can trickle it down to their members.
Newsletter – on site, should have a place where people can opt in or out of receiving newsletters via post mail. Only members should be able to list as directors, costumers, tech directors.
Next Board Meeting: After the FAST*Fest in St. Cloud – Mary Jo will arrange the location. Thank you Mary Jo!
FAST*Fest Committee Meeting: Saturday, May 17th at 1:00PM at Larry Pint’s house.
BRAG TIME:
Stephanie is doing INTO THE WOODS with www.5thseasonentertainment.com in St.Paul – June 05-14. Then on June 16th at Camp Bar in downtown St Paul – Stephanie is producing and performing in The Barry Manilow Birthday Extravaganza!! Contact her for more info on either show!
Dave is doing 2 more shows of THE ANDERSONVILLE TRIALS in Stillwater. The director of the Andersonville Historical site saw DFAC’s show at Fort Snelling in April and is looking to invite the theater to Georgia to perform the show – very cool!!
Larry – Curtain Call Theater is doing ANNIE GET YOUR GUN in July!
Cliff – Elk River CT is doing OLIVER! at the end of July!
Tim – Prairie Wind Players/Barrett – he & Kathy are performing in SCENES & SONGS OF MN, the theater group is doing TOM SAWYER in June, ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE in August and JOHN LENNON & ME in the fall.
Julianna – Merlin Players/Faribault – ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE runs May 02 – May 10.
Bill – Applause CT is having auditions soon for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Donna – still volunteering at the Ritz Theater in NE Mpls.
Bryan Gunsch (Sara’s husband) – check out what’s happening at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater!
Larry move to adjourn meeting/Tim 2nd – all approved
Tonight – dinner at David Fong’s on Lyndale.
Show is THE PAJAMA GAME at Bloomington Civic Theater.