September 2017

The September 5, 2017 meeting was called to order at 8:10 p.m., in the Schafferosa. President Steve Humphreys benevolently ruled over an active, standing-room-only house.

Present: Steve Humphreys, Jay Wilensky, Kathi Caccavale, Lois DeRitter, Olga Alvarez, Elizabeth Lachowicz, Bob McNally, Ken Brody, Allan Kugel, Evelyn McNally (officers and trustees); Mark Schaffer, Peter Glenn, Pam Robinson, Pat Brangs, Christine DeLeon, Joanne Cronin, George Otto, Paul Fischer, John Mahon (committee chairs) .

Absent: Mike Agranoff, Leigh Walker, Lindsey Meyer, Sandie Reilly.

Guests: Lori Falco, Deborah Graham, Dave Heistand, Jean Scully, Mitch Radler, Robin Schaffer.

MOTIONS

The minutes of the July and August 2017 Board meetings were accepted.

The Board moved to switch the Project’s insurance broker from K&K to SteelBridge Insurance; to add general liability and Directors’ and Officers’ coverage; and to investigate coverage for cyber liability and theft from volunteers [see Old Business, below].

The Board approved the formation of an ad hoc Nominating Committee for the Project’s slate of officers and trustees for 2018, consisting of Jay Wilensky, chair; Mike Agranoff; Olga Alvarez; Steve Humphreys; and Jean Scully.

The Board moved to donate the profits from the Halloween show to hurricane relief, via a charitable organization to be designated by the Board.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

President

Steve H. gave a comprehensive presentation concerning risk management and insurance, as background for Lori F’s insurance coverages proposal. (See Old Business, below).

Treasurer WRITTEN REPORT

[First Loot-tenant Chris Reimer reported that the Project is financially healthy, and all venues are in the black. Sec’y]

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Special Concerts/Uke Fest: WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Pam Robinson reported that in the works are the Project’s own Loving Hearts Club Boogie Band on Sept. 15; Eric Schwartz on Sept. 23, with Mike Agranoff at the helm; and a house concert by hammer dulcimer wizard Ted Yoder on October 15. Pam has begun to work on the annual Project holiday concert for the benefit of MUF, scheduled for December 15.

Chair Pam announced that the Uke Fest was plagued by numerous hitches, and was a resounding success anyway. To wows all around, Pam noted that attendance grew by 10%, with average workshop attendance of 130; attendees included ukefans from Canada, England, and Japan; and headliner Kimo Hussey stayed for six days and loved every minute. Pam also noted that the Thursday workshop was sold out, and Deborah Graham noted that the workshops were “wonderful,” and attendance at them increased as word spread. Pam expects a profit from the Fest of approximately $2000. [Sec’y’s note: Pam accomplished all of the above despite the sad loss of her father, two days before Uke Fest began. Warm condolences were extended by all].

Future Planning WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Bob McNally relied on his report, which noted that the Committee held a “lively and successful” first meeting. The Committee will consider ideas relating to FP’s sustainability, growth and refinement, as well as the Project’s Mission Statement, and plans to generate ideas ranging from “the practical to the wild and crazy.”

Minstrel Booking: WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Mike Agranoff was unable to attend, and relied on his report.

Minstrel Staffing

Chair Peter Glenn stated that he is resigning at the end of the year, because of a home-move. Accordingly, the major issue facing the Committee is the need for a new chairperson.

Peter also noted ongoing difficulties in staffing the Bookkeeper and Head Staff posts.

Archives

Chair Lindsey Meyer was unable to attend, but sent word that she will soon send out an initial survey to find people who may have items to donate.

Getaway: WRITTEN REPORT

Co-chair Mark Schaffer reported on the progress of the first [hugely successful, sec’y] Getaway Day. Mark announced the [achieved, sec’y] goal of 50 attendees, with 30 newbies. Two workshops and two concerts were filled. Mark [correctly, sec’y] expected that scheduled performer Terre Roche would be stranded by the hurricane, and that, at Terre’s suggestion, Richard Barone would take her place. Terre strongly wishes to play for us in the future. Mark envisions Getaway Day as a “loss leader,” substituting for advertising, and focused on building relationships.

Mark also noted that 25 slots remained for Spring Getaway. That level represents an average rate of sales.

Swingin’ Tern WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Leigh Walker was unable to attend, and relied on his report.

Publicity WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Paul Fisher noted that the Project is running out of publicity brochures. Discussion quickly turned to updating the familiar tri-fold. Mark Schaffer will send a pdf of the existing brochure to Board members. Kathi Caccavale offered to obtain price quotes for printing. George Otto offered to approach Liz Pagan about composing a new flyer; George also asked that photographs for inclusion in the flyer be sent to him.

Paul also noted that a music party in memory of Project stalwart Jim King will be held on either October 29 or November 9, at 1:00 p.m., at the Schafferosa. Lori Falco suggested that the event be open to non-Project members, and volunteered to assist.

Horses Sing None Of It WRITTEN REPORTS

Representative Ken Brody noted that the Cablevision studio will soon close, and that accordingly, HSNOI will need a new venue; the last taping at Cablevision was scheduled for September 29.

Attendees had numerous suggestions, for both possible new venues and obtaining equipment that would make a fixed venue unnecessary. President Steve noted that he and chair Sandie Reilly have been investigating the rules governing local-access television, to see whether it would be possible to obtain assistance from government at some level, and suggested a letter-writing campaign in support of such an effort. Olga Alvarez suggested Morris County College as a venue, and Bob McNally suggested the Music Box store. HSNOI representative Ken Brody stressed that Horses wants to become independent.

Ken stated that while HSNOI is not yet ready to make a detailed proposal to the Board to obtain equipment, Steve, Sandie, and Ralph Litwin have been discussing ways to make Horses mobile. The means for doing so would be to obtain audio equipment, and possible sources were discussed: Jean Scully will call Don Sternecker of Mixolydian Studios, and Olga noted that a studio in Bayonne has recently closed, and might have equipment to dispose of. [Stay tuned, sec’y].

Community Service WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Pat Brangs rested on her report.

Event Hosting WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Christine DeLeon added that she has secured a venue for the February 2018 Evening of Music, but has not been able to find one for January. Christine suggested that the event might have to be canceled, but, to general approval, suggested MUF as a possible venue. Kathi Caccavale volunteered to approach MUF with the idea, and suggested that it be open to MUF members.

Membership WRITTEN REPORT

Chair Joanne Cronin rested on her report.

Newsletter WRITTEN REPORT

Chair George Otto rested on his report.

Sound Reinforcement

Co-chair John Mahon reported no developments, but that the Committee plans to train more volunteers to operate the new MUF sound system.

OLD BUSINESS

Legal Housekeeping

President Steve acknowledged the contribution of pro bono attorney Brian Levine, of the Skadden Arps law firm, and gave an insightful summary of the basics of risk management and insurance coverage as one of the tools the Project can employ to mitigate risk.

Steve noted that the essence of insurance is the management and mitigation of risk, and that the Project’s exposure to risk is substantial: The Project may face direct claims based on, for example, injuries to volunteers or audience members; and contract claims, including against Board members arising from their fiduciary obligations. Steve added that it is unclear whether the Project’s non-profit status would shield us from claims under New Jersey’s charitable immunity statute.

Steve then turned the floor over to Lori Falco, who has carefully reviewed the Project’s coverage options.

Lori recommended that the Project switch brokers from K&K to SteelBridge, which specializes in servicing non-profit music presentation organizations. She also recommended adding ANI as a carrier, since doing so will enable us to add Directors’ and Officers’ and general liability coverage, and still save $328 annually. In light of the proposed change of carriers, Bob McNally asked whether, given that our current coverage through K&K must be reapplied for by September 15, it would be possible for us to lose coverage if, after that date, ANI declined to insure us. Lori replied that SteelBridge had assured her that that would not happen.

With hearty thanks for Lori’s outstanding contribution, the Board accepted her recommendation (see Motions, above), and requested that she look into obtaining coverage for cyber (hacking) liability and theft from volunteers.

NEW BUSINESS

Open Stage

Incoming impresario Mitch Radler previewed an ambitious set of proposals, including new signup procedures and increased use of social media, with the goal of attracting a new generation of musicians to the Project. Mitch noted that people have reported bad experiences with Open Stage in the past, and specifically have described Open Stage as “inaccessible” and “elitist.” People have also noted that under the current format, performers must “pay to play.”

Mitch’s proposals for dealing with these issues include raising the presence of OS via social media listings of open mike sites (as Mitch put it, “reach ‘em where they look”); reducing or eliminating the charge to performers; and confirming guaranteed performance slots farther in advance.

In the longer term, Mitch envisions holding periodic showcases, featuring the best OS performers; performers would be paid from a portion of the admission receipts, and the showcases could provide a direct path to booking as a Minstrel opener. Mitch also imagines an alternate Getaway, designed for younger people, that could draw on the OS base.

The possibility of having OS as a separate venue with a Board seat was raised.

Halloween Show Benefit

Guest Deborah Graham suggested that this year’s Halloween show, which has been held to benefit Minstrel, instead benefit relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey. Board members noted that other hurricanes have occurred, and suggested that the event benefit general hurricane relief, via an organization to be selected by the Board. Deborah’s suggestion received enthusiastic agreement, and was adopted (see Motions).

ONWARD!

The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 p.m. (Your Board – takin’ care a biz-ness, workin’ overtime). The next meeting will be held on October 3, 2017, at a special early starting of 7:00, at the home of Marie Trontell and Jay Wilensky.

Submitted in the spirit of the Project,

Jay Wilensky, Secretary.