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MINUTES AS220 Board of Directors Meeting 1997/05/13
Members absent: Staff present: (1) Director's ReportBert reported that plans for building expansion are back where they started (Packard acquisition and addition to 95-99 Empire Street). The Black Repertory Theatre is not interested in moving into the Packard Building. In meetings with new management at Hospital Trust, they expressed enthusiasm about taking the lead on the project. The planned charette will be more development- than design-oriented. It looks like the first floor of Packard will be used for an upscale restaurant/nightclub, and, given current AS220 programming requirements, the second floor would be rehabbed as flex studio/ classroom space (studio meaning a space for music teaching/practice/ performance and TV/film/video production). Some members were concerned that AS220 would not end up with a net increase in artist's work studios after the project was finished, which has previously been identified as a goal of any expansion of building quarters. Bert observed that the project was in such a preliminary phase of development that anything could end up happening.Feedback from the Fools Ball is that the AS220 party was a smashing success and the Westin banquet was a crashing bore. Bert reported that Pat Moran and Karen Adams have indicated that they are very interested in taking an active role in planning and promoting the event next year. Planning is proceeding for a much-expanded Action Speaks program, with RICH, WHJJ Radio, and other sponsors coming forward to help. Iona Dobbins is lining up nationally-recognized authorities to be speakers for the various programs. Bert has had exploratory talks with Vinnie Marzullo, local VISTA coordinator, about a program involving VISTA/AS220 collaboration. No details yet. Bert reported that, for personal reasons, Sandi, our volunteer business consultant, has withdrawn from active participation in long-range economic planning for AS220. He said that she has done this with good feelings toward AS220 and with hopes that we can work together in the future. Also, after further consideration of the practical requirements for expanding the Cafe, Mark Marinella has withdrawn his proposal to lease the Cafe. In addition, Gerald Harscher has indicated that he will not be able to fulfill the obligations required by the AS220/Johnson & Wales joint venture to have the School of Music at AS220 serve as the music department of Johnson & Wales University. Bert and John Kelly presented a proposal for restructuring the management of AS220's business endeavors to protect our non-profit status. Instead of simply incorporating the Cafe as a separate, for-profit entity, John has proposed setting up a separate corporation, tentatively called AS220 Ventures, Inc., which would be a wholly owned subsidiary of AS220 and which would be the holding company for the Cafe and any other profit-making enterprises AS220 may devise. After hearing John's explanation of the advantages of this arrangement, the Board agreed by consensus that the proposal seemed like a good idea. AS220's resident cybertechies prepared a hypertext report on Bert's trip to England for submission to NEFA, over which NEFA went ga-ga. The response shows that a great opportunity exists for utilizing this method for information-sharing and dissemination. Contacts formed during the trip may lead to Providence and Liverpool establishing a "sister cities of-the-Arts" affiliation. All these things could generate some grant income. (2) Secretary's BusinessThe Secretary apologized that minutes of the April meeting were not ready for review and that they would be ready for the next meeting.(3) Financial CommitteeBudget-to-actual comparisons for February, March, and April, together with budget projections for May and June, were distributed, as well as an income/expense balance sheet for the Fools Ball. The Fools Ball netted just under $19,000, less than budgeted, but more than the last two years, with some income still outstanding. Sean Daly reported that Cafe finances needed to be reviewed and reorganized, especially in light of the proposal to create AS220 Ventures, and that he would have details for the next meeting.(4) Annual MeetingRobert O. noted that in the flurry of activity surrounding the Fools Ball, the Board had neglected to appoint a Nominating Committee to present a slate of officers and board members for election at the forthcoming Annual Meting in June. Robert proposed postponing the meeting until August. Jim Pfeiffer observed that it seemed like a bad idea to move the meeting to a month when many people were likely to be on vacation. Steve Durkee stated that moving the meeting as late as September was a bad idea. After some discussion, Gerry Heroux reported that, from his experience, four weeks should be sufficient for a Nominating Committee to perform its duties. The Board concluded to hold the Annual Meeting at its officially scheduled time in June. Gerry Heroux, Laura Travis, and Robert O. Jones agreed to serve as the committee.(5) On a motion by Steve Durkee, seconded by Sean Daly, the Board unanimouslyVOTED to adjourn the meeting.
AS220 Board of Directors Meeting -- 1997/05/13 page 2
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