February 2008

MOTIONS THIS MONTH

• • To spend $200 on an advertisement in the NJ Folk Festival program. (Passed with one objection.)

  • To sponsor a music, dance and storytelling event on the traditional Fall Festival weekend, now that said Festival has been cancelled for this year. (Tabled until next month.)

OPENING CEREMONIES

The meeting was called to order at Mark and Robin’s house at 8:03 PM on Februrary19th, having been rescheduled due to weather from the regularly scheduled meeting on the 12th. It was chaired by Vice President Evelyn Maurer in the absence of President Mark Schaffer, who did arrive later but Evelyn continued to run the meeting.

Roll Call

In attendance were Lois De Ritter, Scooter Ferguson, Jim Gartner, Ed Roffman, Bobbie Rosengarten, Mark Schaffer, Jim West, Ruth Wolfish (Trustees), Mike Agranoff, Connie Crawford, Lori Falco, Andy Koenig, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Evelyn Maurer, George Otto, Brad Pryor, Chris Riemer, Pam Robinson, Pat Rolston, Bob Safranek, Jean Scully, Rick Thomas, Ken Galipeau (Other Board Members) and Allan Kugel and Judy Bubar (Guests).

Secretary’s Report

Initially we did not have a quorum. Later, after a quorum was achieved, last month’s minutes were accepted with the change to strike the words “channeling Ralph” from the HSNOI report, because, as noted by Chris, Sandie is the actual HSNOI chairperson, so she wasn’t channeling anybody, she was reporting in person.

Treasurer’s Report

Several groups need to review their year-end reports in QuickBooks Online and sign off that they are correct. Chris will be sending out reminder notes. Chris will be reorganizing the email addresses used by QuickBooks Online for its reports.

If you buy stuff for the Project at Staples, you can get a card from Staples that allows us to not pay state sales tax for these purchases. If interested, see Pam Robinson.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Future Festivals

Lori has located a place for festivals in Spring 2009 and after that looks promising. We still need to confirm some of the details, but negotiations are proceeding. See Lori if you want to help.

The new location has excellent housing facilities as well as lots of space for camping. Unsurprisingly, it’s not a clone of Fairview Lakes; lots of things will be different. In particular, the camp will not provide food. We’ll have to hire a caterer. The camp is about half an hour north of Morristown. It is closed on Mother's Day, so we will have to change the date for our spring festival. There was some discussion of having a “test festival” for a small group at the new location to get the technical kinks worked out before we have to “go live” in Spring of ’09.

Spring Festival 2008: is on track for our last Festival at Fairview. The Fall 2008 Festival will not happen.

Local Fall 2008 Event

The Special Concerts Committee is spearheading a music, dance and storytelling event for the October 10, 11, 12 weekend. They have a couple of possible local venues in mind, including Drew University and Mt. Tabor. The focus will be on keeping the tradition of a Fall Event for active members and on attracting nonmembers and inactive members to come see what we do.

A motion was proposed and seconded to allow and encourage Special Concerts to go ahead with this idea with a working budget of $10,000. Some folks felt they should have more time to study the proposal before voting on it. It was noted that the March Board meeting was only two weeks away. With that in mind, the motion was tabled until the March meeting. The members who wished to study the proposal said they would get their questions to Pam before then.

Questions that were raised included: whether this should be a 1,2 or 3 day affair (shorter – less work for the volunteers and easier to attract non-members, longer – more attractive to out-of-town members – more “energy”); there need to be plenty of children’s activities, since they will not be able to run around outdoors – Elizabeth volunteered to help co-ordinate that aspect; we should investigate whether members with ties to Drew can help us negotiate a discount.

Volunteers needed! No matter how great an idea it is, events like this don’t happen on their own. There’s lots of work that needs to be done. If you want to help out, see Pam.

REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

Publicity

Nancy Kelner is revamping our publicity contact list. If you want to help, see George or Nancy.

Membership

Pat is sending reminders to members whose membership expired in 2007.

Newsletter

Tom was injured in an auto accident. He’s healing. The Newsletter is on a slightly elongated schedule as a result. No change in plans for an electronic version of the Newsletter.

Merchandise

Brad reported that they sold 4 T-shirts last week.

Internal Affairs

The Valentines Day Extravaganza made over $400 for the Folk Project. Mark says “Thanks!” to all the musicians and volunteers who helped out.

HSNOI

Sandie reported that taping was cancelled last week due to weather. It has been rescheduled to next week. Nancy Haslam, HSNOI volunteer and FP regular, emailed Sandie a message containing the following quote, which George has added to our web page:

"Prompted by the 2001 Billy Jonas tape that aired last night, I was looking over the list of shows that have been taped! What an impressive body of work! ... A fine job of acquainting the general population with an eclectic blend of music!"

Swingin’ Tern

Connie reports that dances are going well. April 5 is “Rock ‘n’ Reel”, the second annual combiner Contra and Rock ‘n’ Roll dance. Melanie Axel-Lute will continue booking for a few months before transitioning to Bob Isaacs. There was a rough-handling complaint at the 2/16 dance. It will be addressed by the Swingin’ Tern committee at the next meeting.

Special Concerts

Pam reports that they are ready with three Spring Workshops, to be held at Mark and Robin’s house (Thank you M&R!). 4/26 vocal workshop with Siobhan Quinn; 5/18 guitar workshop with Toby Walker; 6/14 percussion workshop with Cheryl Prashker. The June workshop will be coordinated with the Internal Affairs Committee and will immediately precede the regularly scheduled Evening of Music.

They have started work on a 2nd annual Halloween Storytelling event, and are contemplating a Christmas Concert.

Storytelling

Chris reported that we have received the check for Storytelling's share of the proceeds of last year’s Storytelling Festival from Grounds for Sculpture.

REPORTS OF AD HOC COMMITTEES

Finance Committee

Andy reported that the committee had met and discussed the investing principles they felt were important, but they were not yet ready to make a final report to the Board. He gave us a short dissertation on the importance of diversity in investing as a sample of the kinds of things the committee was considering.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

Brad bought a new car, a Subaru with a manual 5-speed. Scott Ross and Leslie got married. Thomas Lachowicz has taken two guitar lessons from Mark, who says he’s making good progress. Elizabeth has started a new job; her first assignment will send her on a trip to Chicago. Evelyn successfully chaired her first Folk Project Board Meeting tonight! Mike got a booking at the Avalon Festival, which is “clothing optional;” he plans to opt for clothes. George reports that someone broke into his car and took his GPS; insurance paid to replace the window and the GPS, but it was one of the early systems with lots of features. The new GPSs don't have the sophistication of the older ones. Connie’s children will be in their high-school musical, Pajama Game, and more importantly, they will be in the Spring FP Festival Skit (and they aren’t telling her what it’s about!) Robin Roffman’s sister passed away. Evelyn enjoyed Christine Lavin’s concert at Sanctuary

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10:30. Whew!

Rick

the Folk Project secretary who really thinks short meetings are a good thing!