Theatre Artists Studio Board

Board:

Meeting Minutes

Minutes Archive

Board Meeting on December 4, 2018

7 Attendees:
Carol MacLeod
Clark DesSoye
Harry Kaminsky
Judy Rollings
Mary Robinson
Patti Suarez
Steven Mastroieni

Previous Board Meeting Minutes Approved

President`s Report
Carol recognized the great success of the current show, Inherit the Wind, agreeing that it is a “wonderful show”
From Michael Fleck’s email explaining that he would not be attendance for the meeting he had some thoughts about the show as well:
Some words about INHERIT THE WIND:
a) “When they started this fire here, they never figured it would light up the whole sky.”
b) Please believe me, this is (without all of the angst) exactly what I hoped for—an unmitigated success.
c) In spite of the rollercoaster this became, we not only survived, we achieved.
d) Any of you who know me know that I gave this my all. But, what’s important, what’s remarkable, is that we all gave it our all. We are the sum of all our hopes, fears, stamina and genius. This is The Studio.
e) Please take a moment to open a program and read all the names of our cast and crew. Every damn one of them made this happen. Every damn one of them. You must be proud of them all.
f) I must point out some superhuman contributions: Marilyn Linde for never, ever letting us down. Judy Rollings for her pluck and her (metaphorical) balls in taking the helm. Judy Lebeau for her sharp insights and soft hands. Carol MacLeod for showing me the kind of love for art and artists that I have never experienced before in 50 years of life in the theatre.
g) At the end of this show, When all’s said and done, I can only say “Thank you” from the place where I live. You gave me a chance. You trusted me, trusted the dare and the promise, trusted all of us. Sonofabitch! It worked!
Still waiting for landlord to make needed repairs such as the window in the back.

Financial Committee Report
Reviewed November 30, 2018 Balance Sheet (unaudited for management purposes only)
Highlights:
Revenue up from Nov 2017, as well as YTD 2017 vs 2018
Sustaining Member dues up $5,000 YTD 2017 vs 2018
Artistic Member dues up $2,325 YTD 2017 vs 2018
Contributions down $16,000 YTD 2017 vs 2018
APS revised deposit issue has been resolved, the $4,000 charge no longer appears on bills.

Member Committee Report
Harry proposed several actions surrounding the end of the year. He reminded members that last year at this time a half-year memberships to see the remaining 4 shows. It was suggested (by Carol) that these be promoted as Holiday Gifts for current Sustaining Members to give and Andrea noted that this season people are more interested in gifting “experiences” instead of things, so this should be well received.
Harry would like to promote this like last year, adding email blasts to the entire Studio email list (as well as the Sustaining Member list). He suggested that this offer should be available until January 15, 2019. All agreed to both suggestions.
Harry also proposed that we create levels of Sustaining Membership next year:
Current Sustaining benefits and cost would be called “Silver”
A Gold level would be priced at $500 and would provide members with 4 reserved seats for each show
A Marquee or Platinum level at $1,000 would also include the member’s name on the wall as long as they remained members.
All agreed to work out the details of this change and offer them in the new season.

Business Committee Report
Fundraising raffle has raised $3,000 so far. All board members were encouraged to sell some to their friends and family and business contacts. Holiday Fundraiser, We Would Like to Propose a Toast:
discussed the need to encourage Sustaining Members to bring (paying) guests
still not sure of the content of the show, but there are a lot of performers in it who have been rehearing separately
there will be an intermission
discussed having wine, chocolates, cookies and dipped strawberries for the audience
decided that these items should be on hand, perhaps serve the wine before the start of the show and encouraging attendees to keep their glasses for refills at intermission, when the food will be available also Patti volunteered to get the glasses, napkins, and plates in matching silver, she will bring cookies as well
Mary will provide the dipped strawberries and Carol will bring the chocolates
George agreed to Chair the Business Committee and all agreed to make Marketing a Sub-Committee under it. George said that he was meeting with Michael the next day and would discuss his suggestions. A Marketing Sub-Committee meeting will be set up as soon as Inherit the Wind’s run ends. Hopefully next week. Members of the committee will be informed.

Marketing Committee Report
All agreed that the Marketing Committee needs to keep up the consistent email blasts to promote this show and the Holiday Fundraiser
Also from Michael’s email:
As a board member, my top priority is the formation and success of our Business Committee. In this regard, I have some suggestions.
a) We need to schedule a first meeting at the earliest possible date—next week, if possible.
b) George, I don’t know if you want to take this on, but I would certainly recommend you to Chair this committee.
c) A top priority must be the recruitment of other business people to our board, “doers,” “movers and shakers,” “connected leaders” who care about our mission.
d) Our first order of business must be identifying business and corporate prospects to support and underwrite our mission and our productions.
e) Next, we need to assign these prospects to individuals among our team, and how best to approach them.
f) Finally, we need to create a calendar, ways to measure and record our successes and, most importantly, marketing and membership support.
Marketing Efforts:
a) Our fifth Constant Contact email blast for Inherit The Wind went out today
b) Our second email blast for our holiday fundraiser will go out tomorrow, with three more to go out before the event
c) Julie and I have updated our Studio website, Goldstar and Brown Paper Tickets
d) Press releases have gone out to all of our media list and we’ve had two wonderful reviews for ITW
e) Posters, Fliers and Programs have been created for ITW, We Would Like To Propose A Toast and Brilliant Traces
f) Sustaining Member Lists have been continuously updated and printed for our website and insertion into our programs
g) We have collected so many new audience sign-ups to our email list during ITW that we’ve run out of forms (I’ve printed a new supply)

Other Business
Proposed that responsibility for taking and posting minutes be transferred to new board member Clark, who graciously accepted. Discussed the need to pursue corporate sponsors for the season or per show going forward, this will be taken up by the Business Committee. Discussed putting more audience “stories” on the website, in promotions and advertising and in the playbills to show how the Studio and its shows have impacted ordinary people’s lives. All agreed to come up with suggestions on how this might be implemented going forward. Discussed the need to get more young people (40-50) more involved with the Studio and on its board and all agreed to explore ways to accomplish this.

Adjourned at 7:00pm

19 Board Meeting Minutes