JULY 2013

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

JULY 2, 2013

The Folk Project Board Meeting was called to order at 8:00 pm at the home of Eddie and Robin Roffman.

Present were: Eddie Roffman, Mike Agranoff, Rachel Streich, Joe Graziano, Joanne Cronin, Gloria Friedman, Lori Falco, Nancy Kelner, Lindsey Meyer, Pat Brangs, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Bill Henderson, Barrett Wilson, Scooter Ferguson, Allan Kugel, Grover Kemble, Mike DelVecchio, Jim Gartner, Jean Scully, Leigh Walker, Carl Croce, Lois DeRitter. Absent: Pam Robinson, Mark Schaffer, Robin Schaffer, Bob McNally. Guests: Robin Roffman, Christine DeLeon.

ADMINISTRATION:

June Board Meeting minutes were accepted unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Our average checking account balance is down $2500.00 as of the end of the first 6 months of 2013, due to payment of advance deposits for Festival.

OLD BUSINESS:

Leigh Walker and Andy Koenig are in communication re: our investment in the Vanguard Fund.

NEW BUSINESS:

Nancy Kelner will be retiring from the Publicity Committee chair position at the end of the year; we are looking for her replacement.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

SPECIAL CONCERTS:

UkeFest tickets are on sale for Friday only, Saturday only, and whole festival. Scooter expects most tickets will be sold via PayPal. The author of a book on the history of Martin ukes will be at UkeFest with his ukulele collection on display and will be selling copies of his book. Scooter is also trying to get someone from Martin Guitar Company to come and bring ukes to show as well.

As for the David Gans Grateful Dead house concert/radio show on July 21, there is no minimum guaranteed to David and it’s a house concert at Mark and Robin’s, so expenses will be minimal.

SWINGIN’ TERN: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Leigh reported that we had two good dances in June, although we lost money, as we usually do in summer.

PUBLICITY: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Nancy said that webmaster John Lamb worked with Scooter on UkeFest, and with Mike A and Bill on improving Minstrel tally sheets. We are up to 750 “likes” on our FaceBook page, and Pam is posting videos on our wall. Nancy spent $300 for radio ads – 45 air spots. She is also considering whether or not to spend $625 on a ¼ page ad in the Morris County Tourism Board’s “Morris County Guide” for 2014. She passed around a copy of the 2013 Guide for us to look at. A lively discussion followed. Mike A. didn’t think there would be enough immediate increase in attendance at FP events to make the expense worthwhile. Jean pointed out that there will be thousands of copies of this Guide circulating around New Jersey: Carl Croce agreed. Mike D. noted that you don’t go for immediate returns on an ad like this, and the question is: will it be seen by the audience you want to target? Lori wondered, how and where will the Guide be distributed? Eddie suggested that we include a coupon offer in the ad, so that we can track its effectiveness. Gloria said that MCTB sends out a weekly email informing subscribers about what’s happening in Morris County; she thought that would be a better place to advertise. Jim G. pointed out that $625 is only $50 a month, and that if we got copies of the Guide, we could distribute them ourselves to libraries and such around the area. Mike A. objected, saying that as an organization, we’re already losing money year-to-date, and tracking the ad through a coupon redemption as Eddie suggested would be just one more thing for the Minstrel Front Desk to do. Jean countered by saying that dealing with a handful of coupons would NOT be a big deal, and that not a week goes by when people don’t say to her, “I’ve lived here all my life and never knew you were here!” Allan asked, how far are people willing to travel to get to the Minstrel? We don’t know what area we draw from so we can’t tell if this would be a good investment. Christine DeLeon asked if we have a choice as to where our ad would appear in the book? If we could get it into the first 10 pages, it would have maximum visibility.

Ultimately, it was agreed that as a committee chair, Nancy does NOT need Board permission to spend the money to run the ad if she decides to do so.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Joe said that Wayne Day was successful. There were 13 FP performers in various bands who played at the event. The Wayne School of Rock set up a second stage for their students to perform, and the students’ friends and parents watched them. The FP performers were watched and listened to by the people gathered at the food tents. “Very well run event!” said Grover.

NEWSLETTER: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Slightly less than 200 copies a month going out. Pat will cut back on the number being printed in order to save money.

HSNOI: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

“Nothing to add to the written report”, said Sandie.

MERCHANDISING:

No report.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS:

Jean is looking for ways to reduce waste. She borrowed reusable plastic plates and cutlery from Pam Robinson for the July 4th picnic at Eddie and Robin Roffman’s, and only needs to buy cups. The July EoM will be at Mark and Robin Schaffer’s. For the August EoM, we’re trying something new – Mike and Christine DelVecchio will host at Mario’s Pizzeria in Randolph, NJ. There’s plenty of room inside and out, and lots of parking, reported Mike, and they will have a buffet of pizza and antipasti for everyone. There’s a liquor store 2 doors down from the pizzeria if anyone wants something stronger to drink. Eddie reported that Margie Plunkett hosted a 4th Saturday EoM at the Roffman’s while he and Robin were away, and “she did a great job”, said Eddie. Jean is still looking for venues for the November and December EoMs.

SOUND REINFORCEMENT:

They borrowed a sound board from Sanctuary Concerts and moved it to the Minstrel last month. Mike A. noted that the borrowed board is “more trebly” than our old one. The old Minstrel sound board is out for repairs as one of the channels went bad.

Scooter asked about a portable sound system for the David Ganz concert on 7/21/13. Mike D. will bring his own system if needed, and Eddie also volunteered his 4-channel portable system. Four or five people are interested in learning to do Sound at Minstrel.

E-COMMUNICATIONS: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Lori reported that emails went out publicizing the UkeFest and David Ganz concerts. UkeFest information went out to both the Special Concerts mailing list and the MinstrelGram list. Also the Festival surveys went out last month.

MINSTREL BOOKING: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Mike reported that June was a “terrible” month at the Minstrel, with very low attendance. PBS’s program, “State of the Arts” will be taping the Shockenaw Mountain Boys’ December appearance at the Minstrel for future broadcast. They will be interviewing Mike A. in advance of the taping. As of this evening, no one has yet contacted Mike to put their names in the hat for the Birthday Party Show. An email went out at the beginning of June and a reminder last week. Mike has no “plan B” if performers fail to sign up for the Birthday Show.

MUF will eventually be raising our rent to $300 per show. If we have to raise our door price to $10 to cover the rent increase, Mike is worried that it will adversely affect donations to the Creel. Scooter offered to sit down with MUF and Mike to negotiate; maybe we could hold a few benefit concerts to raise money for MUF instead of a rent increase?

MINSTREL STAFFING:

Jean reported that the Minstrel has been running short-staffed for the last few weeks. Jean will be emceeing more to get her face out there and schmooze more with people to get them to volunteer. She particularly needs more people for Head Staff, and is grooming Door volunteers for the Head Staff job. Jean also reported that she met a woman who came to Minstrel a few times but stopped coming because no one ever talked to her. She asked, can we PLEASE make more of an effort to talk to newcomers? Gloria suggested having Door staff point out newbies to one or more long-time regulars.

MEMBERSHIP: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

All FP members and their guests are invited to the 4th of July Picnic at the Roffmans. Eddie announced that our membership is up 20% for the first two quarters of 2013. Yay!

FESTIVAL: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Mark and Robin absent, see written report.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 pm. Next month’s meeting will be at Joe Graziano’s in Wayne. .