December 2011

Secretary's Note: Readers should understand that this evening actually features two meetings: The Annual General Meeting (which provides a year-in-review perspective and an opportunity to elect Directors for the following year), followed by the December Business Meeting (a brief and usually pro-forma session that lets us address any pressing issues).

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

OPENING CEREMONIES

The meeting was called to order at roughly 8:10 PM on December 6, in the spacious rear dining room of The Chimney Rock Inn, in Gillette.

Roll Call

Present were Lois DeRitter, Gloria Friedman, Jim Gartner, Bob McNally, Ed Roffman, Bobbie Rosengarten and Ellen Schwartz (Trustees); and Mike Agranoff, Pat Brangs, Nancy Kelner, Sandie Reilly, Chris Riemer, Pam Robinson, Bob Safranek, Robin Schaffer, Jean Scully, Rachel Streich, Rick Thomas and Leigh Walker. (Other Board Members). Absent were Carl Croce, Nancy Dugan, Scooter Ferguson, Allan Kugel and Elizabeth Lachowicz.

We also had an incredible number of guests: Barry Bontempo, Joanne Cronin, Christine DeLeon, Mike DelVecchio, Lori Falco, Howie Goldman, Janice Gardiner, Joe Graziano, Barbara Hull, Dave Kleiner, Evelyn Maurer, Lindsey Meyer, Barb Moo, Pat O’Donnell, Liz Pagan, Joe Petraitis, Kevin Redden, Robin Roffman, Scott Ross, Cathy Thomas, Mark Schaffer and Barrett Wilson. That made for a total of 40 people, which might be a record for an annual meeting.

Treasurer’s Report

Rachel Streich summarized the information in her email report. As of November 30, our checking account balance was about $4,000, with another $23,500 in the Money Market and $81,000 in the Agranoff Endowment. On the latter, this represents an increase of 6.92% over November 30, 2010. The checking account is a bit low because of a deposit check written to Camp Bernie for the Spring Festival. Other than that, everything is under control, and Rachel is looking forward to another year on the job.

Eddie thanked Rachel for her sterling efforts, but reminded the group that the real Folk Project currency is not counted in dollars. Our real value is measured in the commitment of our volunteers and the love we bring to the work.

REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

Membership

Rick Thomas recapped the information from his email report and said we're "holding our own" from a membership perspective. We cover about 530 people in an assortment of memberships. He thanked Liz Pagan for her role in producing the newsletter, and Carl Croce for getting it into the mail.

Rick and Cathy are relocating to Washington State next month, so he also took this opportunity to bid farewell to his Folk Project family. It’s been great fun being part of it (a standing ovation for Rick).

Festival

Mark Schaffer (with an occasional correction from Robin) recapped the information from his (and her) email report. He started by thanking Carl Croce for making the 2011 Festival possible by assuming the chairmanship when no one else was willing to take it on. And he thanked Barb Moo, Joe Petraitis, Lori Falco and John Lamb for contributing the time, effort and expertise that helped make it a success. We made some money, and we learned a lot.

For those not yet aware, he also explained that Star Lake is not available this Spring because of construction projects. We intend to go forward at another location called Camp Bernie, and Mark is confident we can draw 180 people. The event is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, but will not run into Monday.

The idea is to pitch it as a "vacation" concept -- a low-cost chance to get away, while staying reasonably close to home. They're still considering performers, but have booked Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (applause). Looking forward, the committee plans to have an inaugural meeting on January 24, and Mark announced that Pat Brangs is joining the team as "Chief of Operations."

Minstrel Booking

Mike recapped the information in his email report. We’re pretty healthy, and the Minstrel is ending the year about $2,250 in the black. Five more acts have entered "The Comma Club" by earning more than $1,000 in a single night. Mike also thinks the new Web site is working very well, and thanked John Lamb and Allan Kugel for design and execution of its content management system.

He mentioned the possibility of major rennovations at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, sometime in the next few years. MUF wants to keep our relationship going even if they have to find a new home, and there are no near-term changes in the offing. In fact, we’re getting a mail box at MUF so we can use it as a mailing address when appropriate.

Eddie thanked Mike for his 36 years of booking our flagship activity.

Minstrel Staffing

No report from the absent Scooter Fergusson, but Eddie had kind words for his efforts. Next time you see him, you should thank him too.

Newsletter

Carl Croce is under the weather, but Eddie briefly recapped from Carl’s email report. Thanks to Carl for getting the newsletter into the mail each month and closely managing the costs.

Publicity

Nancy Kelner recapped the information from her email report, thanking her committee members by name. We now reach some 70 different outlets, and our Facebook page has over 500 "likes." Highlights this year include a great article in NJ Monthly and a somewhat disappointing an unsuccessful ad in The Hometown Quarterly.

Eddie stressed that publicity is a key driver of our success, and he's extremely impressed by what Nancy’s team does in print, on the radio and on the Web. Mike agreed, suggesting that while we’ve had very good publicity in the past, Nancy’s energy and enthusiasm has taken it to a whole new level. Hip, hip, hurrah! (applause).

Swingin’ Tern

According to chair Leigh Walker, Swingin’ Tern is doing fine and stands $1,400 in the black as of today. Attendance is up about 12%, and they’ve added some new people to the regular volunteers. The committee as a whole is now "even more intelligent, personable and good looking." They’re planning one or two dances next year designed to attract a college-age audience, and he appreciates the opportunity to serve as chair. Leigh added that they’ve also settled on the date for their New Year’s Eve Dance, the tickets for which will be $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Eddie pointed out that the Folk Project has been a hybrid, music-and-dance organization for over 25 years. That’s very unusual and he thinks it’s something that should make us proud.

Special Concerts

Pam Robinson recapped the information in her email report. And since she is stepping down as chair, she took the opportunity to look back over her six years on the job.

She estimated the gross income from her concerts at $36,000, which is not too shabby. Thanks to everyone who made it possible, including the volunteers, the hosts and the Project itself. Pam also gave Lindsey Meyer the opportunity to plug her Peter Spencer house concert, scheduled for early January.

Community Services

Pat Brangs recapped the information from her email report. She’s had fun with the job, and is also looking forward to a larger role in the Festival Committee.

Horses Sing None of It

Sandie recapped the information in Ralph Litwin's email report. Horses turned a small profit of $33 on DVD sales this year. They taped 22 cable-ready shows, fewer than usual because some were rendered unusable by technical problems at the studio. The recording work is finished for this year, and in 2012, Horses hopes to open up some additional markets in New Jersey cable networks. Bob McNally thought we should run an article in the newsletter, suggesting that our members ask their local cable providers to add Horses to the Public Access line-up.

Sandie also reported that four people have gone through technical training at the studio, and we’re planning another class in February or March. Bob McNally wondered if we’d given any thought to establishing our own streaming TV outlet on the Web; it’s something that’s been discussed, but for which there’s no champion at the moment.

Ed noted that Horses has now recorded a total of 529 programs (not counting 54 early episodes that included copyrighted material; these can't be re-broadcast but are available for purchase) -- a truly amazing archive of material. All glory to Ralph Litwin as its founder and long-time champion, and many thanks to Sandie who's served as chair for the past several years. "There’s nothing else like it on TV!"

Merchandising

Robin Schaffer had a fun year in Merchandising, and recapped the information in her email report. She will be stepping down to focus on Festival.

Internal Affairs

Jean restated the operating principles of our Evening of Music series, and reminded us that she’s always looking for new hosts and hostesses. This year saw a new, fourth-Saturday EOM at Eddie and Robin Roffman’s, as well as a special party at the home of Steve Gale, in Stanhope.

Sound Reinforcement

Eddie mentioned that this position was instituted in the late 90s, when we realized it would be more efficient to centralize the job rather than let each committee manage its own gear. Bob Safranek has held the post since then, but will be stepping down this year. Bob has no real changes to report. Just a few small repairs.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Robin summarized the information in her most excellent email report. Stay tuned for further developments.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Formation of the 2012 Board

Eddie led us through the somewhat arcane procedure by which the Folk Project assembles the Directors who will lead the group next year.

Step One is to elect Trustees, who serve as representatives of the general membership. There are nine Trustees, serving three-year terms, but they are not term-limited. So under normal circumstances that implies the annual election (or reelection) of three people. This year, Gloria Friedman has opted for early retirement, so there are four Trustees to be named. and Pat Brangs has been recommended to complete Gloria’s term. , and Lois DeRitter and Jim Gartner and Elizabeth Lachowicz would like to re-up for another three years, but Ellen Schwartz can't commit to a full term and Elizabeth Lachowicz has been recommended to take over her position. This slate was presented to those present, and all general members were able to cast a vote. The recommendations were approved by acclimation acclamation.

In Step Two, the Trustees who will serve in 2012 elect the officers. Chris Riemer and Elizabeth Lachowicz are term-limited as Secretary and Vice President, respectively, and the Nominations Committee has recommended Lindsey Meyer and Pam Robinson as replacements. The committee also recommended Eddie Roffman for another term as president, and Rachel Streich as Treasurer. The new Trustees approved these officers by acclimation acclamation.

Finally, the Trustees and Officers appoint the committee chairs, and we have a great deal of new blood this year: Scott Ross to replace Rick Thomas on Membership, Joe Graziano to replace Pat Brangs on Community Services, Gloria Friedman to replace Robin Schaffer on Merchandizing, Kevin Redden to replace Bob Safranek on Sound Reinforcement and Howie Goldman to replace Pam Robinson on Special Concerts. The Trustees and Officers approved these committee chairs by acclimation acclamation.

Recognition and Appreciation

Eddie wanted to close the Annual General Meeting by highlighting the many things that go on behind the scenes to make things happen in The Folk Project.

Our volunteer base is our most valuable asset, and attracting and retaining good volunteers is really the most important thing we do. As a math exercise, he urged us to consider how many hours of human capital the volunteers represent each year. And while no one came up with an actual number, it would clearly be a big one. One small sign of our value is that ACMA has awarded us another grant for 2012, in the amount of $2,500.

A round of applause for all of us, and for Eddie’s leadership in 2011.

ADJOURNMENT

The Annual General Meeting was adjourned at 9:34.

THE DECEMBER BUSINESS MEETING

OPENING CEREMONIES

The December Business Meeting was called to order at 9:35.

Secretary’s Report

Several changes were requested in the November minutes: one spelling mistake, one factual correction and one clarification related to policies around the Minstrel Open Stage. (As usual, the specific changes are shown by revision marks in the document of record.) The minutes were approved as amended.

ADJOURNMENT

The December Business Meeting was adjourned at 9:38. The January meeting will be at the home of Nancy Dugan, in Madison.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Riemer

Recording Secretary