APRIL 2014

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

April 1, 2014

The April Board Meeting was called to order at 8:01 pm at the home of Allan Kugel and Cecilia Rowedder, in Highland Park, NJ.

Present: Rachel Streich, Allan Kugel, Mark Schaffer, Mike Agranoff, Bob McNally, Bill Henderson, Jim Gartner, Joanne Cronin, Lindsey Meyer, Dave Sherman, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Paul Fisher, Barrett Wilson, Lois DeRitter. George Otto, Leigh Walker, and Sandie Reilly. Absent: Grover Kemble, Lori Falco, Eddie Roffman, Scooter Ferguson, Mike DelVecchio, Jean Scully, Shari Korenstein, Tom Picard, and Steve Humphreys. Guests: Miriam Libov, Wendy Keilin, and Cecilia Rowedder.

ADMINISTRATION:

March 2014 Minutes were accepted without corrections.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

As of March 31, we are in the black by $2,000 year-to-date. We have approximately $8,000 in our Wells Fargo checking account, and $13,000 in our Wells Fargo Money Market account.

OLD BUSINESS:

GRANT APPLICATION:

We have not found anyone willing to compile the necessary data to prepare a grant application for the Morris County Arts organization, so we will not be applying for it this year. Last year, we only received about $1,000, so its not really needed.

INJURED MINSTREL GUEST:

She reportedly is making good progress, still in physical therapy, and is, in fact, currently on vacation in India. No insurance claim has been filed yet, and we do not know if one will be; her own insurance is paying for her treatment.

NERFA:

Conference is this Saturday. Full day tickets are $50, for a day of workshops and lunch. Starting at 4 pm, there will be a showcase featuring 10 artists, open to the general public for an admission price of $10. Wendy recruited Pam Robinson and Pat Brangs as volunteer co-ordinators, and says they ended up doing a lot of work they had not expected to do. “NERFA is very impressed” says Wendy. “ You picked the BEST people!” says Elizabeth. Mike A. asked that Pam and Pat make notes afterwards on what work needed to be done, so we know for future reference should we decide to do something like this again. Bob asked, “would we do this again?” Wendy said that NERFA is doing just this one event this spring. They will be holding a similar event in the South this fall (SNERFA? SERFA?), but she is not sure if they will be doing this again in NJ anytime soon. Mark estimates about 100 people have registered to date for the conference. Mike A also asked Wendy to provide post-NERFA statistics – number of performers, presenters, attendance figures, etc.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

FESTIVAL:

Mark reports that the new name, “Acoustic Getaway” has been working well with outsiders. Registration is almost 2/3 filled as of today; Mark anticipates selling out. He hopes to not sell day passes, if full weekend registrations sell out. There will be 4 or 5 smaller, more intimate workshops every hour during the day – they are going for increased quantity AND quality. Mark has completed a series of recorded radio interviews with performers, and hopes to use them to promote the Fall Getaway. He and Robin are already looking forward to October, and will put more money into the Fall weekend as it is harder to attract attendees than for Spring. Elizabeth, as Registrar, said that she has noticed a lot of new people registered for Spring.

SWINGIN’ TERN:

Leigh reported that “things are going fine”, March was a good month. There is a double dance scheduled for this coming weekend, with an afternoon dance for more experienced dancers, and the evening dance for everyone.

PUBLICITY: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

See written report. They have been very busy making updates to our main web page, calendar, names of Spring Getaway performers, and Home Made Music Party updates. Our FaceBook page is up to nearly 1,000 “likes”. Paul is still figuring out the job, with Nancy Kelner’s help. Nancy is having new business cards printed up. Mike A. noted that there are now live links to performer videos in the Minstrel calendar.

AD-HOC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

Steve absent, no report.

NEWSLETTER: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

George reports that the NL is “on track”. Leigh sent him information on the Princeton dance. He got a full page ad for MUF but did not have enough space for it, so they will send him a ½ page ad. George received a very nice note from Stephanie Ledgin praising the NL – he said he’s only “trying to imitate Liz Pagan”. Mark and Lois said this month’s NL was “excellent”, with lots of great articles.

MEMBERSHIP:

Eddie absent. Elizabeth said Eddie sent out renewal notices. We recently received our first “Bard”-level supporting membership.. Eddie is looking for ideas for ways to encourage corporate memberships or sponsorships? Please send your suggestions to him for future discussion. A corporate membership is $125. Eddie is going to print stickers with the new dues structure to paste over the old membership rates on our tri-fold brochures.

SPECIAL CONCERTS:

Scooter absent, nothing to report. Mike A. reminded us about the Marc Berger house concert on 4/19/14 at Mark and Robin Schaffers’.

HSNOI: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Sandie reported that they taped 4 shows last month. One guest cancelled at the last minute, but they were able to get Kim and Reggie Harris to tape a second show. Cablevision has recently ruled that potential HSNOI volunteers must live in Cablevision’s broadcast area – but “don’t be deterred by that”, says Sandie.

MERCHANDISING:

Gloria absent, no report.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Dave reports that the first Home Made Music Party featuring a concert set by a paid performer went great – 55 to 60 people attended. The transition from jamming to concert set to more jamming after the concert set went smoothly, says Dave. Spook Handy, the performer, stayed and jammed after the concert. The next one will feature Bob Cannon, on 4/12/14, at Allan and Cecilia’s in Highland Park. He has a new Party venue lined up for May, in Long Valley, on 5/17/14. It’s the THIRD Saturday, to avoid conflict with a Special Concert. He is looking at a home in Blairstown for the July HMMP. The hosts have a pool, as well as a flock of sheep, a sheepdog, and a 200 year old farmhouse, so he is hoping to start the Party in the afternoon at poolside.

SOUND REINFORCEMENT:

Mike D. absent, no report.

E-COMMUNICATIONS: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

Lori absent, see written report.

ZED MUSIC:

Shari and Tom absent, no report.

MINSTREL BOOKING: SEE COMMITTEE REPORT

March attendance figures were similar to February, with no Open Stage, with average paid attendance of 94. Average paid attendance over the previous 12 months was 84.5. Mike reports the Minstrel is $713 in the black for the last 12 months. MUF is planning to renovate the parking area in about a year from now, they will let us know about alternate parking arrangements as needed. New bookings: Loose Canons will be a feature act in February 2015; Suzi Roche and Lucy Wainright on 8/15/14.

COMMUNITY SERVICES:

Shari absent, no report.

MINSTREL STAFFING:

Jean absent, no report. Elizabeth said Jean is still looking for new volunteers, especially more Head Staff people.

Meeting adjourned 9:45 pm. Next meeting will be on May 6, 2014, at Dave and Doreen Sherman’s home in Highland Park, NJ.