MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATERS (MACT)
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2008 10:30AM – 12:00NOON
MISSISSIPPI BEAN & TEA – ST. CLOUD, MN
Meeting called to order at 10:31am
ATTENDEES/INTRODUCTIONS: Julianna Skluzacek, William Muchow, Cliff Lundberg, Larry Pint, Jan Dickinson, Sara Gunsch, Stephanie Weiss, David Poeschel, Donna Norberg, Jon Skaalen, Mary Jo Holewa, Tim Ray, Greg Tolzman, and Guest – Pam Veeder (former MACT Board member)
SECRETARY’S REPORT: Motion by Jan to approve/Bill 2nd.
Proposed changes to theater Group Corporation have been noted.
All approved as changed – passed
TREASURER’S REPORT: Reports, thus far, on the Fast Fest – we made $475 (before paying for last night’s pizza party).
Discussion to have insurance costs divided among our two big events.
P&L YTD – down $1200 (website & grant writing)
End of fiscal year – June 30 – to be Board approved before sending to the State.
Motion to approve by Bill/Donna 2nd – all approved.
OLD BUSINESS
FAST FEST ASSESSEMENT: Thanks to the committee! The FastFest went very well! Discussion.
NEWSLETTER: There will be a newsletter out in August – Donna, Sara, Greg to help. Please send articles/items (reviews of shows, what’s going on at your theater, etc) to Julianna by July 15.
CREATION IN COMMON (Dana Gillespie): a list of 10 perspective places to go for grants was given. For the McKnight grant – due date – July 15/letter of intent. Seeking $50K grant for Executive Director.
CIC - $350 to write grant – any volunteers who want to learn how? Discussion – we’ve received the McKnight grant before – need to send letter of intent – Jon Skaalen has contact info.
ARTS ACROSS MN – due July 15 – Dana was wondering if member theaters would consider giving MACT their donor contact lists and ask $50 from each to help out MACT. Discussion – what would be the ‘hit’ list? We (MACT) would assist member theaters with letter to the donors stating that this money would help with the theater’s participation in and costs affiliated with MACT Fest.
Look into getting lists from chamber groups.
Collect theater programs/playbills – look for consistent donors
Motion by Larry to hire CIC for $350 for grant writing/Sara 2nd. Bill amended motion to include the sense that we are approaching for executive director (as the purpose for the grant).
Approved by all.
MACT DAY AT GUTHRIE: what has been problem in the past? Not enough information from us/not enough publicity? We will start looking into this for 2009.
WEBSITE REPORT: Currently only 2 member theaters are sending in information to post. All other info, Larry is hunting for on websites.
- please send info to the webmaster
- Larry is working on an article for the newsletter
- discuss sign-on’s to site
Larry received letter from David (web guy) with final procedures.
THANK YOU’S IN CHOCOLATE! TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS FROM JULIANNA:
Larry Pint for the fabulous website
Jon Skaalen for the grant help
Donna Norberg for helping with stickers, chauffeuring, newsletter
Jan Dickinson for registrations & silent auction work
Cliff Lundberg for keeping us on track with great treasurer reports
Tim Ray for representing the North Country
Sara Gunsch for her great contributions
Stephanie Weiss for the best darn minutes ever & co-chairing FastFest
Dave Poeschel for co-chairing FastFest and all his work in the past
Mary Jo Holewa for great job getting FastFest going in St Cloud again
Greg Toltzman for all his upcoming work and being our ideas man
Bill Muchow for his countless hours of work for MACT and AACT
Pam Veeder for her support of MACT
ELECTIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS:
New/renewed board members:
Cliff Lundberg
Mary Jo Holewa
Doug Dally
Alfred Nott
Nomination of Pam Veeder by Donna/Bill 2nd
Unanimous ballot – Bill motion to accept as is/Tim 2nd – all approved! Welcome to all new Board Members!!
OFFICER ELECTIONS:
President: Julianna Skluzacek (to continue one yr to see projects through)
Vice President: Larry Pint
Treasurer: Cliff Lundberg
Secretary: Stephanie Weiss
Bill motion to accept officer elections/Donna 2nd – all approved.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS:
At-Large: Asst Secretary (needed for Grant signing): Jon Skaalen
Bill motion to approve/Larry 2nd – all approved.
Motion to keep Michael Ricci as associate director by Bill/Larry 2nd – all approved.
AACT REP:
Jon Skaalen will continue as rep.
Greg motion to approve/Donna 2nd – all approved.
AACT FEST 2011 – Bill Muchow
The next couple weeks, Bill will be contacting Burnsville Art Center management to find out the costs and will put together the letter of intent by July. We are hoping for a ‘reasonable rate’, if not, we may scrap the idea.
We will need to contact transportation companies (for busing people around Burnsville). Host would be ‘corporation’ made from other arts groups in Burnsville.
MACT FEST 2009: Committee meeting at Bill’s place on Sat July 19 2:00pm
Julianna will co-chair/host of event. Sara and Mary Jo will co-chair event – Bill & Dave will serve as chair mentors.
We need to get adjudicators in place so that we can (hopefully) get the Arts Across MN grant. Bill has some contact names. (Fay Price, Darcy Engen, Michael Ricci – possible Ron Peluso – alternate/understudy/sub)
Greg offered to initiate conversations with poss. adjudicators – to get the ball rolling. (Make sure they are aware of “new rules’; they are expected to read all scripts, arrive early for orientation, stay for final ceremonies – they will be paid stipend plus travel/hotel)
Hotel – we should block 50 rooms – more on Fri & Sat nights. Awards brunch at hotel.
This will probably be a ‘commuter’ fest.
Arts Across MN grant – perhaps bring in a showcase for one night? Local artist/MN artist – family friendly.
Committee asked to come up with putting ‘something else’ into festival. Possible giving each participating theater $500? Jon, Bill, Donna will work on grant.
Motion to apply for grant and such monies that make sense in budget. Bill/Jon 2nd – (Greg will also help)
Committee meeting – BBQ – then possible see Stephanie in URINETOWN at Burnsville High School?
GREG’S SCHOLARSHIP IDEA: Have a past participant theater put together video “MACT Fest experience” – from choosing the show, rehearsals, the festival, going home, etc.
Ideas: YouTube, webpage, newsletter, extensive item for newsletter
Give scholarship money to theater with best proposal for video.
Greg has offered to put up the first $500. Jon will edit Greg’s idea. Discussion – we would have ownership rights – edit rights – ‘use’ rights. Negatives could be positives – common issues. Good selling point to getting grants.
Motion to accept Greg Toltzman’s $500 scholarship to one group in return the theater will provide their story of MACT Fest – Sara/Jon 2nd – all approved.
*Other: captioned video would be great grant perk for accessibility awareness; describe what they propose to do; good gimmick for theater for regional arts; works for all; WONDERFUL IDEA GREG!!
MEETINGS FOR 2008/2009:
August – in Barrett (Always Patsy Cline) August 23
October – in Faribault (to review facilities) October 11
December – in Lakeville (Sara to arrange) December 6 or 13
January – in Faribault (tech date – TBD)
February – (stephanie to arrange) – February 14
FAST FEST 2010
Maybe look at different format/different location? Although it would be nice to stay in the same place – familiar theater. Although accessibility issues at Pioneer Place on 5th.
Meeting adjourned at 12noon
Everyone have a safe drive home!!!
Thanks for everything – it was a fun weekend!!!
Tootles – minutes sincerely submitted by
Stephanie Weiss (secretary 2008-2009)
***Notes from MACT Fest Committee Meeting***
July 19 at 2:00pm
Important Date information
MACT Fest – March 11 – March 15, 2009
Entry deadline – November 30, 2008
Participants chosen at December meeting
Script deadline – February 06
Royalties, Program Info, Tech Info, Cast Info, Eligibilities – February 13
Tech date at theater – January 17 (or 31 – weather delay date)
Early registration/need for interpreters date – February 26
Prices:
Base $75/$90 for early registration for members & participants (by Feb 26)
$85/$100 (after Feb 26)