The meeting was called to order at 8:17 PM on May 6th, by President Elizabeth Lachowicz.  This meeting was held via Zoom.

ROLL CALL

Present: Mike Agranoff, Loretta Brooks, Jeff Canter, Sam Edelston, Paul Fisher, Doug Heacock, Jeff Jonas, Allan Kugel, Elizabeth Lachowicz, John Mahon, George Otto, Sandie Reilly, Tina Ross, Mark Schaffer, Robin Schaffer, Jean Scully and Pamela Zave.

Absent: Todd Dennison, Bob McNally, Jean Scully

Guests: None

MOTIONS MADE

• The minutes of the April 2025 monthly meeting were approved unanimously.

• A motion to approve an expenditure of $1100 for printing 100 copies the new Folk Project history book, "The Folk Project: A Collective Memoir" was approved unanimously.

• A motion to adjourn was made at 10:04 PM and approved unanimously.

TREASURER'S OVERVIEW 

Jeff reported that there are items not yet recorded that were not in his report.  Otherwise, there was nothing to add to his report.

OLD BUSINESS

• Paul raised a question about following up on the FAI membership renewal status.

  • Mike reported that FAI now has the new credit card on file and membership will renew automatically.

  • He also said that there is no longer a limit on the number of individual memberships (good for conference discounts) for the group.

    • Individuals only have to be working for the Folk Project to apply.

  • Paul reported that Gary was still having trouble logging in.

    • Mike said he would follow up as he is the official Folk Project liaison to FAI and report via email.

NEW BUSINESS

• Request for Budget Approval for Folk Project History book.

  • Sam presented a motion to “Request the Board approve up to approximately $1,100 for printing 100 copies of the history book, ‘The Folk Project: A Collective Memoir.’”

  • The book is 160 pages with photographs and is in a 8.5x11” format

  • The 100 copies would be for on-hand inventory as the printer also works on-demand and can drop-ship additional copies.

  • Pamela began discussion about the sales price of the book, for which we pay about $10 per copy.

    • Sam said either about $20 for quick sales or $25-$30 for larger profit per book but a harder sell.  He recommends $20.

    • There was general agreement on the $20 price.

  • There was a question on the copyright for the book, which will be investigated.

  • There were questions on compensation for Laurie and other contributors.

    • Actual expenses are compensated.

    • Laurie will receive “buckets of gratitude” and some free books.

  • Mike asked about the release date.

    • Mike and Sam assumed the Birthday Show.

    • Mark suggested a week earlier at the Kingston Trio show to get the attention of 300 people, many new to the Folk Project.

    • Mike agreed to the Kingston Trio show (July 18th).

    • Allan suggested Getaway, but Sam said it would not be ready by then.

      • Paul suggested a handout letting people know it is coming.

      • Sam said he will try to get one ready for Getaway.

      • Mark thought maybe a signup sheet, but Sam said pre-sales gets very complicated.

  • A vote was taken and the motion was approved unanimously.

  • Sam also confirmed that the sense of the Board was to go with the $20 price.

    • Nobody disagreed.

COMMITTEE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 

Open Stage

Todd was not present but Elizabeth asked Mark if he had any insights for Open Stage.  Mark responded that he and Todd were talking about doing a Performance Improvement workshop for beginners.  Something along the lines of the Guitar Summit or Songwriters Day.  And maybe adding students from Parsippany High School that we are starting to contact via Future Planning.

Special Events and Troubadour

• Mark reported on improved attendance at our concerts and a good financial picture.

  • • He wants to use the money to improve the experience at our venues.

    • Higher priced Special Concerts with bigger names bring in a lot of new people who did not know us before.

    • The result of the mix of concerts has been more new regulars on Fridays.

• Paul asked for an update on Getaway.

  • • Mark explained some of his thinking on how to deal with the reduced attendance and its impact on the number and quality of performers.

    • He pointed out that his report includes the details.

    • Paul asked about the idea from last month on calling past attendees.

      • Mark said that Pat Brangs was doing that.

Horses Sing None of It

Sandie reported that she heard from Pat (Trish) Brangs that a group that was on Horses about 10 years ago (Whippoorwill) has a picture from that performance displayed on their website.

Sound Reinforcement

John says that there is not a lot in his written report but it includes four successful shows, including the one in Chu Hall.

Publicity/Web

Sam mostly stood on his report but explained more about an issue with Facebook ads being falsely flagged by an algorithm that he is trying to clean up.  Mike asked about charges for the ads but Sam explained that Facebook only deducts for ads as they are shown to viewers.  Mike asked whether we could recoup for money spent on the flagged ads, but Sam explained that Facebook only deducts for ads as they are shown to viewers, so we hadn’t lost any money.

Swingin’ Tern

Doug stood on his report.

Future Planning

Robin sent in a report but the Future Planning Committee is involved in so many things, she wanted point some out.

• Pam Dabah will be hosting a fundraiser event for us with her network of givers on June 8th.

  • • Grover Kemble will perform.

    • Some Folk Project “ambassadors” will also attend.

• Looking to establish a subcommittee to look at long term financial goals in fundraising.  

  • • They are looking for volunteers.

• On technology, there are a lot of projects.

  • • Mark is working with a volunteer to create new event pages that will make it easier to buy tickets online.

    • Todd is working on support systems for Troubadour shows.

    • Looking for a grand plan to see how this all will fit together.

• New event page slides

  • • Mark presented some samples on what the new event pages will look like.

    • There will be integration with the front desk and simplified procedures.

    •  The event pages are now more like product pages.

    • In-person tTickets through Square Storefront gives us good reporting and a very reasonable fee. save us charges by Afton for online sales of in-person tickets by separating them from the Streaming tickets.

    • Mike asked that reports be included that allows continuity with the current system for historical and trend reasons.

      • • Mark said reporting will be added later.

    • Doug asked if Tern can keep its current format. 

      • • Mark replied that all events will have the new format so that we don't need to maintain two systems John Lamb no longer has to create an ops sheet for each event.

    • Doug also asked about a Square receiver for Tern and the ability to use Venmo, as younger dancers will expect them.

LAST MINUTE DISCUSSIONS

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting  proper was adjourned at  10:04  PM. Next month’s meeting is June 3rd, at 8:15 PM, via Zoom. 

Submitted by Paul Fisher

TREASURER

OPEN STAGE

PUBLICITY

SOUND REINFORCEMENT

STREAMING CONCERTS

SWINGIN’ TERN

FUTURE PLANNING