Getaway

From: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>

Sent: Monday, December 2, 2019 12:20 PM

To: Board FP <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Subject: December 2020 Getaway Report to Board

December 2020 Getaway Report to Board

Item 1: Special Concert

This month the Getaway Committee ran a Special Concert at The Troubadour featuring Livingston Taylor with lifelong Project member Julie Edelston opening the show.

The show was successful by all Folk Project metrics.

• The show sold out and the audience response was overwhelming and positive.

• The Team ran effectively, efficiently, and enjoyably - a wonderful reminder of the joy of volunteering.

• Livingston put on a great show. He pulled in at least 75 first-timers. Twenty-four email addresses were added to the Troubadour and Special Concerts email lists

• Julie received a well-deserved standing ovation as the opener. She was a draw and an absolute pleasure for our long-time members. This show added an eye-popping gig to her young resume.

• The show earned about $900 for the Getaway, which helped ease financial pressures of the move to Stony Point Center.

Item 2: Fall Getaway

Post-Getaway activities were unusually substantial, generated by the financial, logistical and attendance uncertainties generated by this year's move to Stony Point Center.

• We delayed some financial decisions awaiting the results of our third fundraising special concert last Friday and pending the results our negotiations Stony Point management

• Based on our overall success, we retroactively awarded four need scholarships for Fall Getaway

• During the uncertainty caused by the move, Cliff Eberhardt with Louise Mosire donated a March house concert to ensure our financial success. Their donation of services proved unnecessary. Cliff and Louise originally received $200 and $100 as an honorarium for expenses. We will add $500 for his performance and $100 for hers. Consesquently, the net of $1200 will be lowered to $600.

Enjoy your music,

Mark Schaffer, Co-chair, Acoustic Getaway

From: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>

Sent: Monday, December 2, 2019 8:19 PM

To: Board FP <fullboard@folkproject.org>

Subject: 2019 Annual Report for the Acoustic Getaway

2019 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE ACOUSTIC GETAWAY

The Acoustic Getaway had a risky, challenging, and ultimately successful year.

1. The Move

The move to Stony Point Center required big changes to our financing, staffing, programming, and time commitments. The new site offered improvements to housing, food, and layout, which elevated the Getaway experience significantly. Survey ratings for the sense of community were 4.9 out of 5.0. We attribute that uplift in our typically high spirit of community to Stony Point.

2. The Concerts

The committee initiated two Special Concerts at the Troubadour in 2019: Tom Paxton & The DonJuans in October; and, in November, Livingston Taylor with Juliana Parker Edelston opening. Both concerts sold out, and together contributed about 2,000 necessary dollars to the Getaway new and difficult financial situation.

Cliff Eberhardt and Louise Mosrie performed a benefit house concert in March to support the move. As our year-end financial picture proved better than feared, we were able to pay them retroactively for their donated services. The concert profited about $600 after the retroactive fees were added to the costs.

3. The Finances

Thanks to our three concerts, the board's double allocation from the Getaway Endowment, and generous private donations by discreet individuals, the committee profited around $2,000. That is typical and that is a problem. Over eight years and 16 Getaways, the present committee has netted $17,600. However, the committee is charged with breaking even. The uncertainties of marketing and our fervent commitment to caution has distorted our bottom line. That money should have been spent on better programming. We will address this issue in 2020.

4. Of Historical Significance

We recently learned the Acoustic Getaway was initiated by Project 21, our predecessor organization, four years before the Folk Project was incorporated. That makes 2020 our 49th year and 2021 our 50th anniversary. We plan to celebrate our Golden Anniversary in appropriate landmark fashion.

5. The Thank You's

Performing artists and outside workshop leaders for the 2019 Spring and Fall Getaways included Runa, Frank Vignola & Vinnie Raniolo, The Asana Earth Trio, Zoë Lewis, Meis Hora, David Roth, Sarah Milonovich, The Slambovian Underground, Toby Walker, Carrie Cantor, Music Town, Christine DeLeon, 2 Daves & a Dame (Sherman, Kleiner & Pagan), Tommy Sands, Trina Hamlin, Colleen Kattau, Maud Bartlett, Dick Boak, Brian Dolphin, Grover Kemble, David Rimelis, The Albanie Falletta Duo, Grant Gordy, Pete McDonough, Kevin Roth, Richard Bozic, Ernie Vega, Andrew Dunn, The Stony Center Staff, The Big Vocalotto winners, The Bunk Bed Band, Live in The Lounge member artists, Songwriters Show & Tell artists, and the Learn It, Sing It Chorus.

A vital element running through every Getaway is our Member Workshop Leaders. This year they included Eddie Roffman, Mark Kantrowitz, Laura Hertz, Liz Pagan, Alex Adams, Rowan Groth, Jenny Glenn, Olga Alvarez, Yolanda Fundora, Dennis Dougherty, Dara Diamante, Scott Rovner, Glenn Coleman, Bob McNally, Dave Heistand, Mitch Radler, Roia Rafieyan, Jeff Loy, Bob Cole, Jim Gartner, Jay Wilensky, Ken Galipeau, Julie Edelston, Sam Edelston, FiL Wisneski, Naomi Liebler, Deborah Graham, Susan Lembo, Nancy Beyer, Dave Sherman, Chris Bukata, Todd Denison, Paul Fisher, Ridge Kennedy, Sheri Alexander, and Mike Agranoff.

The most vital element of every Getaway is our volunteers, unlisted here, but never unrecognized and never taken for granted. Your numbers are large and your contributions enormous. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

And thanks to everyone who supported us in 2019 and throughout our years together.

Yours truly,

Mark Schaffer, Co-Chair

for Robin Schaffer, Pat Brangs, Elizabeth Lachowicz, John Mahon, Diane Polledri, Gary Pratt & himself

From: Mark Schaffer <markschaffer100@gmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 11:41 AM

To: fullboard@folkproject.org

Subject: Re: 2019 Annual Report for the Acoustic Getaway

Dear Board,

When I ran a QuickBooks P&L this week and added in the Taylor profits,

I understood Getaway netting two grand after I paid out retroactively four need scholarships and the Eberhardt performance fees.

In actuality, after the retroactive payments, Chris informs me Getaway lost $1,285, exactly the amount of those retroactive payments. Those scholarships and payments.

Do I apologize? Yes. I’m sorry.

Would I have done it if I realized? No.

Can we afford those legitimate payments? Overwhelmingly yes.

Was it the right thing to do? By our standards, yes.

Have I netted $17,600 as Getaway Co-Chair? No. It’s down to $15,315.

Thank you, Chris, for keeping the books.

Thank you, Board, for any indulgences.

Mark