OCTOBER 2014

FULL MINUTES

OCTOBER 2014

The October 7, 2014 Board meeting was called to order at 8:09 pm at the home of Allan Kugel and Cecilia Rowedder in Highland Park, NJ.

Present: Jim Gartner, Lori Falco, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Lindsey Meyer, Mark Schaffer, Joanne Cronin, Bob McNally, Bill Henderson, Barrett Wilson, Rachel Streich, Ken Brody, Allan Kugel, Lois DeRitter, George Otto, Leigh Walker. Absent: Pat Brangs, Sandie Reilly, Eddie Roffman, Steve Humphreys, Paul Fisher, Grover Kemble, Jean Scully, Scooter Ferguson, Gloria Friedman. Guests: Deborah Graham. Wendy Keilin, Cecilia Rowedder.

ADMINISTRATION:

September minutes were accepted without corrections.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Money Market account balance is currently approximately $13,600; Cjhecking account balance is about $15,500. We will be writing checks totaling approximately $22,000 for the Acoustic Getaway’s Camp fees and performer fees. We allocated $1481.25 to the Fall Getaway from the Agranoff Endowment. And we have an workmen’s comp insurance premium due December 10 in the amount of $1980.00.

NEW BUSINESS:

MUF SERVICE AUCTION:

Last year, around this time, the FP donated several gift baskets containng Minstrel tickets, FP mug, FP T-shirt, etc, to the MUF’s annual fund-raisng auction, We also supplied a band to play during the auction, which helped make the auction much more fun and successful, and greatly improved our relationship with MUF. We have been asked to contribute again to this year’s auction on Nov. 1. Elizabeth and Mark will contact the musicians from last year’s auction to play again this year, and we will donate gift baskets again as well. If anyone would like to make individual donations .of goods or services on behalf of the FP, please contact Elizabeth.

OLD BUSINESS:

NOMINATIONS SLATE FOR 2015:

As previously discussed last month. Elizabeth moved we accept the slate for 2015. Joanne seconded. Vote was 14 Ayes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions. Unanimously passed. Nominees will be voted on at the Annual Meeting in December.

NERFA 11/13 – 11/16/14:

As agreed at last month’s meeting, Elizabeth will be contacting those FP members who will be offered a subsidy to attend NERFA on the Board’s behalf.

AD-HOC TECH COMMITTEE: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

George reported that the committee is working to narrow down the choices of tech/social media apps for FP use down to 2 or 3, although individual committees are welcome to use others if they like.

He expects the committee will have their recommendations in 1 or 2 months.

We discussed the question – who is our target demographic? Narrowing this down will affect our choice of tech/soclal media to use to reach that demographic. Bob suggested that our target audience is probably very similar to the audience for “Prairie Home Companion”. Lori offered to research on the Internet to find PHC’s demographic. Lindsey pointed out that we need to look 10 – 20 years into the future to bring in younger people to keep FP going after we’re gone.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ACOUSTIC GETAWAY: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Mark reported that the Getaway schedule is packed with professionally led workshops. We have 143 attendees signed up as of this date with 3 weeks to go – a lot of new people, many who found out about Getaway from the Meetup group. There will be fewer long-time attendees and more commuters because of the sleeping accommodations.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Pat absent. Elizabeth read from her written report. Dave Kleiner had a FP information table set up at the recent Harvest Festival in Bloomfield, where he asked FP members to come play music to attract attention to the table. Ken noted that we needed a seating area by the table so that passersby could sit and listen to the music – bring folding chairs next year?

NEWSLETTER: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

George reported the committee is functioning smoothly.. There was a copy and paste error in Circle Round The Sun’s gig listing on the Members’ Gigs page in the paper newsletter, but it was found and corrected in the e-newsletter. George is trying to streamline the venues and performers’ listings by putting together a database in FileMaker. Lori suggested putting a disclaimer on the Members’ Gigs page with advice to confirm dates and details before going.

MEMBERSHIP: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Eddie absent, see written report. We currently have 532 people in the FP. Eddie sent out updated rosters.

E-COMMUNICATION: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Lori reported we currently have 3581 active contacts in Constant Contact. She is working on an update to the Minstrelgram to include information on other FP venues.

PUBLICITY: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Paul absent, see written report.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Dave absent, see written report No second Saturday HMMP due to Getaway. The fourth Saturday HMMP will be at Eddie Roffman’s as usual.

SWINGIN’ TERN: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Leigh reported that they are running at a loss for the year to date. They have 5 big dances coming up beginning in November: a techno contra with a DJ playing recorded music; the Harvest Hoot dance; Dec 1 will be a double dance with Perpetual E-Motion; Dec 20 is the Holiday Dance; followed by the New Years Eve dance; and finally the Anniversary Dance in January 2015.

HSNOI: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

See Ralph’s written report. Ken reported that a band called 2/3 Goat” taped a good show last night.

SOUND REINFORCEMENT:

Mike D. absent. No report.

SPECIAL CONCERTS:

Scooter absent, No report.

MINSTREL STAFFING:

Jean absent, no report. Barrett told us that Deborah Graham has been working on updating detailed job descriptions for all the various volunteer jobs at the Minstrel. Deb said the welcome letter sent to all new volunteers lists only brief summaries of the jobs to be done. She is writing detailed instructions for each job – when to arrive at Minstrel, how to make coffee, to-do checklists for each job, etc.

MERCHANDISING:

Gloria absent, no report.

MINSTREL BOOKING: SEE WRITTEN REPORT

Mike A. absent, see written report.

Next meeting will be on November 11, 2014, at Mark and Robin Schaffer’s home in Rockaway, NJ.

Meeting adjourned10:00 pm.