BOARD OF
DIRECTORS – November 21, 2006
Meeting was
called to order by President Fred Hundhammer at 600pm. Present were VP Claudia McEwen, Treasurer
Gail Burnett, Rita Irwin, Christine Leird, Paul Buckley, Tom O’Neil, C. J. Geotis, Natalia Gimer, Sylvia
Rickett and GM Loretta Geotis, Suzanne Terpos, Arnie
Steinmetz and Dona Beckman. Absent were Terry McBroom and Ginger Michael.
Approval of the Agenda: Approved
with the addition of make-up budget under new business and moving building
committee report to first item o be discussed.
Minutes: Motion to approve, seconded and passed.
Staff
Reports:
Building: Paul reported that the emergency
lighting system has been checked and it is in need of one battery, otherwise it
is working well. The AC is installed in the cinema (supplied by Arctic Temp)
and works well. Windswept has provided the better quote for bolting the systems
down. The Cinema beer cooler broke down and Windswept had a rapid response and
a low bill. The Rotary Club has approached Loretta again offering assistance
when other projects arise. Ralph has agreed that the AC units can be bolted to
his side of the building, and in exchange has asked that we replace the light
fixtures in the parking lot. A broken window was replaced with Plexiglas last
week. The AC thermostat in the wings was broken. The part can be obtained at
Home Depot and replaced by Paul. The dimmer switch that controls the track
lighting in Gallery is about to break – the 2000W switch is unusual, difficult
to obtain and expensive. The lowest price was found online.
CJ’s roof
report: the certificate of warranty from Stevens has been obtained! The
warranty on the roof is only for leaking (10 years), not for destruction (i.e.
by hurricane). The release of lien of roof materials (that Premiere had not
paid for) has also been obtained. The building inspector for the City has
approved the work, and we are just waiting for the final check-off from
building inspector. CJ expressed his thanks all who
helped, especially Jeff Pinkus, who has put in many
hours to help us out – free of charge. CJ suggested we do something for him –
such as a season’s pass. This suggestion was approved. Balance due on the roof
is of $36994.45. This will be paid when all is final and to MCT’s
satisfaction. With respect to the AC, the bid from Windswept ($400 less than
Arctic Temp) will be accepted.
General
Manager:
a) We have sold approximately 110 - 3-show
packages and 183 - 4-show packages for a total of 293. Last year’s total
season’s packages was 278. This is have already better than last year.
b) Totals for the first weekend were: Thursday = 83 tix
sold, Friday = 119, Saturday = 114.
c) A total of 586 people used the theatre during the month
of October, 2006.
2
CINEMA
a)
The new air-conditioner was purchased from Windswept
and installed on the cinema with no problems.
b) The beer cooler in the back
room of the cinema quit. Windswept fixed
for $118.
Other stuff
a) Roof
and related issues will be covered in the building committee report via Paul
and CJ. I would like to thank CJ for taking over the roof
project. Probably saved some lives.
b) We have a
total of 74 advertisers listed in the playbill for approximately $10,000. There is potential for much more in this
area, I believe, for next year. More to
come…
c) The
playbill is completed and looks very good.
I’ve had numerous comments on it.
All good. Thanks everyone for helping. Zonta Club helped collate and some high school kids helped
as well. It was completely collated in
one evening.
d)
e) The
Rotary Club has offered to come back and help us with additional tasks any time
if. We are attempting to take advantage
of that to get the ceiling tiles (in the cinema) replaced.
f)
g) The
Visiting Nurse Association was looking for locations to offer flu shots, so I
contacted them and set up two days here at the theatre. The first day, they gave 110 shots in three
hours. They asked for two more days in
December, which are, scheduled for Dec. 11 – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Dec. 20 from
12 noon – 2 p.m. The VNA was very
appreciative.
h) Please
check out our website. Bob Rowland and I
have been working together and it has taken on a new and improved personality. Including
new pictures, transitions, show logos for the season and a calendar.
i) The computer in the box office is
possibly on its last leg. My computer
repairman did some work on it and it’s ok for a
while. He suggested purchasing a heavier
duty switch to network the box office computer and the business office
computer. The one we are currently using
is unstable. Cost would be around $80 for
the switch. His hourly rate is $25 per
hour and he works very fast. Fred mentions to try to find someone with a
good computer who may be about to update – this machine need only to do tickets and the ability to network upstairs. We need to put
out an email to the membership with the minimum specifications necessary to run
the program. The school system might also be a good option to explore. The
switch should be ordered and this was approved.
j) The
Opening Night party was a huge success.
We would like to continue this tradition for the opening night of each
show. People are already asking if we
plan to do it again. As always, I just
need people to contribute food and drinks. The party made no money, since champagne and
food were donated and hence free to the patrons. However the patrons really
enjoyed it. (More on this subject is below).
k) I
have distributed a packet of brochures, a poster and a letter to many hotels
and restaurants in
l) I
have the gallery rented December 4-8, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to Coldwell Banker
for training. Art displays have been secured for the rest of the season.
m) General Membership meeting is
scheduled for Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Christine
Todd (Habitat for Humanity) enquired about possibility to put slides in the
cinema. They have a budget but would appreciate a discount. Currently there is
no non-profit rate. The rate is $1000 per year, $600 6 months, $375 3 months.
Since we have no empty spots, we will not make a non-profit rate at this time.
Committee Reports:
Finance: Treasurer Burnett was not at the financial
meeting but Fred and Rita assisted in the completion of the report. Numbers:
the body count for October was 2077 for the cinema (1036 last year), and 472
versus 230 last year. YTD is still down. Cash balance as of November 14th
Playhouse $4006.26, Cinema $3005.14, capital improvements $15449.00, operating
reserves $66343.00, for a total of $ 89932.00 plus the TIB CD of $20000.00. The $500 additional mortgage payment was denied. Mortgage
rate went up to prime (8.25 up from 6.7). The Finance committee is currently
addressing increase of labor cost for theater and cinema. Approved holiday and
year end bonus for all employees, with the same rates (and total expense) as
last year. Rita will be working on the schedule of the insurance policies.
VP Production: Rita reported
that Goodbye Charlie is in rehearsal and that the set has been adjusted. Gigi rehearsals will start on Dec 5th, music is
on its way and the show is now cast. The concept for the show is sparse. The Gigi production team now has a good understanding of the
production. OWO: Date was secured at KCB, Feb 10, along with Cay Clubs’ offer
to supply food. The improvisation group is still intact. We now need to
advertise and decide on ticket price. After discussion a price of $60 was
settled on, adding a line for additional donations. We will push hard to make
the one night a make it a gala, and raise additional revenue from prom
pictures, raffle and cash bar. Each patron gets a glass of champagne (thanks
Christine), and the beer and wine bar will be managed with drink coupons so the
bartender need not handle the money. Rita and Loretta will create a flyer.
Stage
Committee: Tom continues trying to replace the CD player,
since the current one cannot handle a musical. While Sony will exchange it for
$80.98, but they we cannot know what model they will provide. A new one with
the necessary features (mainly quick start for music release) was located at
the cost of approximately $200. The purchase was approved.
Membership: MCT continues to gain new members, currently more
than last year.
.
Old Business:
One Weekend Only: discussed in VP
of Productions report
Opening night party: (continued
from General Manager’s report): The party seems to be a favorable event, as
long as it can be staffed. Christine volunteered to help coordinate Goodbye
Charlie. There was discussion that the opening night party decision should be a
Board decision rather than a Director’s choice as had been preciously
suggested.
New Business:
Arnie suggested offering an
opportunity for our paying patrons to make play reading suggestions, possibly
by means of an additional flyer inserted into programs. Rita suggested that it
might be better not to ask for an opinion that we may not be able to follow,
mentioning that quite a few things need to be balanced when choosing plays and
setting seasons: public, actors and directors. The large amount of time
directors commit seems to cause many directors to only direct shows they want
to direct. This is an ongoing dilemma at the Theatre, making the Playreading
Committee’s job an ideal that is difficult to maintain. In good years shows
need to be selected since not all can fit into the season, in difficult years the
choice winds up falling to the available directors and what they would like to
do. The Playreading committee’s existence is in the bylaws and the solution
seems to be a compromise between the ideal and the practical. CJ suggests
inviting all the Directors for a meeting to further discuss the subject. Arnie
will bring a written suggestion for an insert and the matter is tabled for now
and continued at another meeting.
Spread
auditions to give snowbirds an opportunity to participate: in the past,
auditions occurred for each show (which had its own pros and cons), and the
current single audition format allows for better planning and has been very
helpful overall. Pre-auditions should be advertised for those who will be out
of town at the time of regular auditions. This can be done via a press release.
Alternatively, if you hear about someone with an interest in participating,
please have them contact Loretta.
Make up budget: we have been working on donations
and we are out of make up. The new mineral base costs a lot of money. Claudia
has contacted the supplier asking for seconds or damaged cases. Currently $340
has been spent and Claudia requests an additional $500 for the rest of this
year. Motion approved. Claudia can provide contacts for the current supplier
should anyone want to order some to try.
Good of the Order: Fred
acknowledged the hard work and dedication of back stage people such as Claudia
and Tom who have done so much for us all recently.
Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 7:27 pm.
Submitted
by Sylvia Rickett, Secretary