December 2006
OPENING CEREMONIES
The annual meeting was called to order at 8 pm sharp on December 5, 2006, at J. W. Ginty’s in Gillette.
Roll Call
Present were Larry Flanigan, Brad Pryor, Jim West, Evelyn Maurer, Chris Riemer, Bobbie Rosengarten, Lois DeRitter and Mark Schaffer (Trustees). Mike Agranoff, Paul Axel-Lute, Andy Koenig, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Barbara Moo, George Otto, Liz Pagan, Julie Pasqual, Sandie Reilly, Pam Robinson, Pat Rolston, Bob Safranek, Jean Scully, Lori Falco, Alice Weimer and Ken Galipeau (Other Board Members) and Dave Kleiner, Mark Levanda, Melanie Axel-Lute, Louis Perlmutter, Tom Pylant, Allen Kugel, Judy Bubar, Rivka Willick, Robin Schaffer (Guests). Absent were Jim King, Mike Del Vecchio and Gwen Orel.
THE ANNUAL MEETING
President’s Remarks
Chris Riemer presented the following highlights of 2006, dubbing it “A year of growing up (just a little?)”:
Membership fee restructuring
Credit union option for FP members
New, literally glossy membership brochure is in progress
Progress on procedural enhancements, around archives, document retention and improved oversight
Quite a few website enhancements, including a web-based member survey and a new venture into MySpace
The Grant(s) – first time we have ever obtained a grant for the entire organization
Constitutional reform – we rejected a proposed change to term limits for officers
FP as organism
New blood is there when we need it, a sign that we’re doing something right – we have a remarkable ability to renew ourselves
Nothing lasts forever, but the Project will be here for a very long time
ANNUAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Treasurer’s Report (Pat Rolston)
We’re financially very healthy. We were helped by the increase in membership fees and several venues increasing their admission fees. The additional monies have gone into performer’s fees and rent. Pat handed out a Profit and Loss statement comparing 2005 and 2006, which is attached. The “Fees – Other” for $3,505.03 under expenses for 2005 refers to a tax penalty. The insurance expenses reflect the fact that we overpaid for several years, but had a huge return at the beginning of last year.
Membership (Barb Moo)
Membership has been holding constant. We began asking people if they play an instrument on their membership application. About one-third say yes, but that’s low because some members miss it. There is a new membership brochure in the works, due to Mark Schaffer’s efforts. Thanks are also due Rebecca Schaffer’s boyfriend, Joe, for designing the fiddle and Helene Zisook, who “put the verbiage into pretty form” and those who submitted photos.
Publicity (Pam Robinson)
Overall, it’s been a good year. Pam reminded committee chairs that if they see that their publicity is not getting into the paper they should let the publicity committee know.
Webmaster (George Otto)
George redesigned the festival pages in the middle of the year. The counts are not really accurate for the festival, but were probably underestimated before. Minstrel page counts are way up. RSS came on board and is already in the middle of the pack. You can click on the tab and see all the dates in one display. “I think this is really neat. I hope it helps people come to our site.”
Newsletter (Liz Pagan)
Retiring newsleditor Liz Pagan did a little dance for us and received a standing ovation. Chris: “Of course, we’re applauding the dance”.
Merchandising (Brad Pryor)
Mike was absent, but Brad noted that we still have 21 tee shirts.
Internal Affairs (Jean Scully)
We had a nice, successful year of evenings of music. There were some snow issues – one turned into a sleepover. Jean tried to book the whole year by January in 2006 and wants to try to do that again. She plans to send out an e-mail to the members to inform them of the criteria. Chris is hosting in February; the rest are up for grabs. We had a house concert at Schaffers’ of Ginny Hawken and Tracy Schwartz, followed by a workshop. Jean is contemplating having evenings of music preceded by a workshop. Andy Goessling would like to lead an improvisation workshop to kick off the program.
Community Affairs (Elizabeth Lachowicz)
We’ve had good news and bad news as far as the family part of our community service. We have had requests for musicians, callers, and storytellers. It’s always good to hear that our folks can meet those needs. We’ve had a good year.
Mark Schaffer added that the Valentine’s Day show was the best ever and included a jazz trio and the big band. It made close to $500. Both bands will be back next year. He thanked John Lamb for getting the choir together.
Sound Reinforcement (Bob Safranek)
It was a pretty good year. There was a training class in the beginning of the year, helping to expand our ever growing pool of competent sound people. At the end of the year we upgraded the Swingin’ Tern sound system. We will be in good shape for people and equipment for the coming year.
Archive Management (Bobbie Rosengarten)
If anyone has material to include in the archives, they should get it to Bobbie. The material is at Rutgers waiting to be archived. The material will reside in the special collection at Rutgers, open to the public with an index open online. She is still waiting for Duane to get the recordings of past skits to her.
Minstrel Booking (Mike Agranoff)
The Minstrel income of $4,400 for 2006 is the largest on record for the coffeehouse. We increased the fee to the opening act. The August headline performer made $609. Average attendance for the year is 97.7 for the regular shows.
Minstrel Staffing (Sandie Reilly)
154 people are registered for staffing and receive the e-mail each week. Sandie only hears from 10 on a regular basis. The staffing is conducted almost completely online. We are comfortable in our new digs and the jobs are easier than they were before. Sandie wanted to thank the volunteers for the job they did all year. “If you’re at a show please thank the volunteers. I only look good cause they do a great job!”.
Swingin’ Tern (Paul Axel-Lute)
The final profit for 2006 was $1,467.
Over the twelve months December 2005 through November 2006, Swingin' Tern held twenty-five dances, with average paid attendance of 66 and average total attendance of 85. Special events during that period were the New Year's Eve dance, the Anniversary dance, two waltz workshops, a contra dance demonstration at the Madison Community Pool, and, most recently, the Harvest Hoot, at which all of the many performers donated their services in order for the Project to cover the cost of new sound equipment for the dance.
The rent we pay for our venue, after remaining stable for several years, was increased this year in stages; as of the final stage this coming January 1st, the rent will have increased seventy-five percent above what we were paying a year ago. We raised our admission rate from $8 to $10 back in April, to cover the full rent increase, before we knew that it would be graduated, so we have had net revenue for most of the year.
Paul said that while he cannot name individually all of the volunteers who made our dances possible, there are a few to whom he would like to extend special thanks: We have three persons who serve in rotation as Head Staff: Melanie Axel-Lute, Connie Crawford, and Joel Remde. To Melanie we also owe thanks for continuing to book a great variety of talented callers and musicians, for serving as liaison to the venue, and for calling at both the pool demo and the Harvest Hoot. To Joel we are indebted for his continuing to serve as volunteer coordinator, and for doing a lion's share of schlepping sound equipment. To Connie we also owe special thanks for the decorations at the Harvest Hoot.
Other regulars at Tern include Barbara Goldstein, who did the definitions posters which were part of the Hoot decorations, Doug Heacock who prepares our publicity flyers, and Don Flaherty, maker of our special New Year's Eve signs and a frequent helper with sound.
Paul also thanked Ken Crawford for donating his services as leader of our waltz workshops and for the introductory swing-dance lesson at the Hoot. Likewise, thanks to Bob Isaacs for calling at the Hoot and for doing the introductory contra dance lesson there. And thanks to Bob Safranek for the hard work on the sound at the Hoot.
Last but certainly not least, extra special thanks to Mark Schaffer for suggesting the Hoot, for enlisting and organizing a wonderful group of Folk Project instrumentalists and vocalists, for rehearsing and conducting them, and for his own fine fiddling.
HSNOI (Sandie Reilly)
Twenty-nine shows were taped this year. We were broadcast in New Hampshire briefly, but we’re not sure it’s going to continue. Ohio has shown interest. “Everything keeps getting better and better.”
Special Concerts (Mark Schaffer)
We will miss Gwen Orel, who brought us mostly Irish concerts and brought us a lot of people from that community. Many people have come to Mark at the Minstrel and said that this is how they were introduced to the Project. Gwen was extremely knowledgeable and talented on a professional level. She knew how to run publicity and link up partnerships, which is difficult to set up, but easy to run once started. There was a round of applause for Gwen’s work.
Festival (Ken Galipeau)
For spring we had 190 people in attendance and broke even. In the fall, with 151 people in attendance, we lost about $2,000, “but we had a lot of fun.” The camp raised our minimum to 200 – 170 adults and 30 others. Since the camp keeps raising the rates, we have to get people to come. The committee has a schedule for spring, and is working on the fall. “Please register.”
Storytelling (Julie Pasqual)
This was the second year that the Storytelling Festival was held at Grounds for Sculpture. The indoor venues helped. They raised the workshop fee and will probably do it again. The book sale broke even. They probably will discontinue it, it’s too much work. The Festival was moved to September to alleviate conflicts.
Julie thanked the Board. “Three years ago I came to you saying we need to be non-profit and you let us in. You have always been gracious with us and I just want to thank you. My time with you guys has really taught me a lot. Rivka will kick butt. It’s been a pleasure and thank you.” Sandie thanked Julie and added, “We’re gonna miss that bubbly face.”
Ken Galipeau has the audio from the lightening round from the festival on his website at http://www.storynsong.com/njsf/. George Otto said a link will be posted from the Folk Project site.
PRESIDENTIAL COMMENDATIONS
The James Baker Award for Deep Thought and Exacting Analysis – Andy Koenig.
“One director stands out as being particularly attuned to the challenge of being sure we say what we mean and mean what we say, while also being sure we think through all the ramifications of policy decisions which might otherwise be called off-handed.”
The Holy Cow Where Does She Get the Energy and Can We Bottle It Award – Sandie Reilly.
“Minstrel Staffing is already one of the most demanding jobs, and our current staffing chair does it sweetly, with great charm and an intelligent application of technology; has stepped up to take over the chair of Horses, cooks for special concerts, raises children and rides bicycles in marathons.”
The Horace Greely Award for Journalistic Excellence – Liz Pagan.
“It seems like only yesterday, but in fact, 14 years have passed since our newsleditor took on the job; almost five have passed since she started talking about moving on; this monthly responsibility hasn’t stopped her from participating on other committees, running our Summer and Winter weekends and otherwise engaging with the weighty business of the Board.”
ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
The nominating committee was chaired by Mike Agranoff and staffed by Mark Schaffer, Barbara Moo, Evelyn Maurer and Rick Thomas.
They made the following recommendations: The trustees that were coming to the end of their term were Larry Flanigan, Brad Pryor and Jim West. Jim West will continue; Bob Isaacs and Andy Koenig were nominated as new trustees. Chris Riemer will resign as trustee in favor of Barbara Moo. This slate of trustees was elected by acclamation.
The trustees then elected the officers and committee chairs for 2007, following the recommendations of the committee. See attachments for a complete slate of board members for the coming year.
ADJOURNMENT
The annual meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.
THE DIRECTORS’ GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING
Secretary's Report
The minutes for November were accepted with the following amendments:
The Good of the Order statement about Debbie Arntzen’s new baby should have noted that Debbie’s husband, Ken, is the happy father.
The Key Date Index report should have been attributed to Bobbie Rosengarten, not Pam Robinson.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Minstrel Booking (Mike Agranoff)
Five out of the six acts booked for January contain performers who are in the same family. Liz Pagan and Dave Kleiner, husband and wife, will perform on 1/5, the 1/19 acts are the Burns Sisters and the Rowan Brothers, and on 1/26 we have sisters Nerissa and Katryna Nields and Beaucoup Blue, a father-son team.
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
George Otto notes that Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, who often serves as the host for video programs he produces at work, is contemplating a run for President. Ken Galipeau was selected to perform in the OLIO at the LANES's (New England Storytelling Organization) Sharing the Fire Storytelling Conference. Jean Scully bought a two-family house in Asbury Park that is currently being repaired. “It will be lovely”. Mike Agranoff was booked for a major Canadian Folk Festival. Unfortunately, it conflicts with the ’07 Philly Folk Festival, which Mike will be forced to miss for the first time in many years. Sandie Reilly’s son, Matt, plays trumpet, but he was recently accepted as a fill-in percussionist and is creating a grand din around the house with his practicing. Andy Koenig continues to average a gig a month, mostly with the Early Music Players--including the Museum of Trades and Crafts in November, the Randolph library and Bickford Theatre in December, the Mahwah library in January, and William Paterson University in March. Julie Pasqual marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a clown with the Big Apple Circus. Her picture appeared in many newspapers, and her name was announced on 34th Street. Brad Pryor just completed three years as trustee --“It went quick”. Alice Weimer’s son got married in August. Barbara Moo had the best Eve of Music in November, due to the whiskey sours with great bourbon contributed by Brad. Elizabeth Lachowicz has finished her classwork at Fairleigh Dickinson. Pam Robinson’s mom is recovering from surgery for two more spinal fractures. Lois DeRitter reports that former board member Larry Kaufman told Mustard’s Retreat about the “Minstrel Version” of their song, “Let’s Hear It For the Volunteers”, which she and Andy Koenig wrote for a recent Birthday Party. Mustard’s Retreat mentioned their version at a recent concert. Liz Pagan thanks all of the people who have helped with the newsletter over the years. In particular, she thanks Dave Kleiner for collating and proofreading and performing additional support functions each month. Jean Scully and Mike Agranoff performed their version of Waltz of the Wallflowers for Small Potatoes. The band had never heard a cover of that song before. Via Chris Riemer, Bill Neely, former Projectile and member of Left Field, sends his regards to the membership.
ADJOURNMENT
We adjourned at 9:23 pm. Next meeting is on January 2, at the home Pam Robinson and Bob Safranek.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Falco
Secretary