1996/04/16
Members present:
Lucie Searle, Robert O. Jones, Gerry Heroux, Steve Durkee, David Newton, Erminio Pinque
Members absent:
Laura Travis, Keith Munslow, Richard Welch, Madolin Maxey, Sean Daly, Elizabeth Wylie, Susan Souve
Staff present:
Bert Crenca, Shawn Wallace, Sheri van Antwerp
Guests present:
Steve Dubois
(1) Lucie Searle called the meeting to order at 6:52 PM.
(2) On a motion by Steve Durkee, seconded by David Newton, the Board unanimously
VOTED to approve the minutes of the meeting of 1996/03/12.
Before proceeding to the next order of business, Robert O. Jones pointed out that he was not sure who to list in the "members absent" roster included in the minutes because there was some confusion regarding exactly who were active board members. In the ensuing discussion it was learned that Dennis diBattista had tendered his resignation verbally but not in writing and that Madolin Maxey intended to let her term expire in June. The position or intention of others who are often or regularly absent is in question. Lucie and the staff agreed to contact Dennis to ask for a letter of resignation, and Susan Souve to inquire about her intentions. Action regarding the terms of other board members was referred to the Nominating Committee.
(3) Finance Committee report
In Sean Daly's stead, Shawn Wallace and Sheri van Antwerp presented a brief informal report on our financial situation. The Fool's Ball grossed $24,400 and expenses came to $12,250, leaving a profit of $12,150. Centerpiece sales brought $780, the auction $980, and ticket receipts $7,640, including about 150 @ $10. Of the $15,000 sponsorships pledged, $4,500 from NYNEX was outstanding, and $100 was outstanding from the auction. Sheri noted that income, though not as much as budgeted, was up from last year, and expenses were down. She thanked the board for their hard work to make the ball a success.
On a motion by Robert O. Jones, seconded by Steve Durkee, the Board unanimously
VOTED to commend the staff for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Fool's Ball of 1996.
In the discussion that followed, board members generally agreed that the auction could be conducted better and more profitably in the future, and suggestions were offered for correcting acoustical and logistical problems, if the Casino is used again next year. David Newton asked whether thank-you letters had been sent to table-buyers, especially Roger Mandle. Bert responded that sponsors had received packets including a video of the Ball public service announcement, a poster, and advertising tear sheets, but that thanks had not gone out to patrons who bought tables. The staff agreed to address the matter.
(5) Director's & Staff Report
Bert made an extensive report on NEAT business. Work on Congress III in Portland is proceeding and an NEA grant application has been written (largely by Sheri) for $200,000 for Congress IV in Newport, N.H. The NEA grant includes stipends for residencies for artists, some for up to a year before the Congress, funding for a community lighting project, and murals, among other things. It is intended to open an office in empty commercial space on Newport Common which will become a permanent Office of Cultural Affairs after the Congress. There will be a meeting with NEFA the week of 04/22-26 to secure support for the Congress.
Robert O. asked Bert whether NEFA had paid the full amount of the $7,500 promised for AS220 administration of NEAT, and whether AS220 had received all the documentation of the preceding Congresses. Bert reported that 75 percent of the grant had been received, and that the other 25 percent was being held until an interim report is filed by AS220 staff. AS220 has received all the documentation of previous Congresses except for video footage of the North Adams conference. To date AS220 staff are under budget in expenditures for travel for NEAT-related meetings. A meeting of the NEAT Advisory Board is scheduled at AS220 on Friday 1996/04/26.
AS220 received a one-year contract for $8,000 to administer the arts and entertainment section of the City of Providence's Web page. About 10 percent of this will probably go to overhead.
Bert noted that Richard Goulis was continuing to bring in income over budget from the gallery and Wall-Art Mart.
On a motion by Robert O. Jones, seconded by Steve Durkee, the Board unanimously
VOTED to commend Richard Goulis for his devoted efforts as gallery manager and television producer for AS220.
Steve Dubois raised the issue that promotional efforts by and on behalf of AS220 are deficient. The Providence Journal-Bulletin's decision to eliminate club listings from the paper has reduced the opportunity to disseminate information. Steve suggested that AS220 post more flyers around downtown about events at the space. Lucie inquired whether a student intern could be found to work on advertising and promotion. Bert replied that it is difficult to get student volunteers, and that flyer-posting was not being effective because Keep Providence Beautiful has adopted a program of aggressively tearing down handbills downtown as soon as they are posted. This is hurting us and the clubs like Lupo's. Steve Durkee and Lucie both wondered if some visually pleasing or striking kiosks or bulletin boards could be designed and installed around downtown, and if there might be some sort of grant money to pay for that, or maybe it would be a good design class project. Steve Durkee and Bert agreed to ponder the kiosk issue, and Steve Dubois and Sheri agreed to investigate how AS220 can improve its media visibility.
Steve Durkee reported that the City was likely to give AS220 $5,000-10,000 for facade improvements as part of a concerted program to gussy up downtown. Steve noted that while it's nice to get any type of funding, what we really need to do is fix the cornice and some roof leaks more than deal with mere cosmetics.
RICH is funding another Action Speaks forum this year, to focus on electoral topics and politics and the media. A list of potential panelists is being compiled and there is discussion about doing a companion publication, something which RICH loves to do. WHJJ radio is talking about possible sponsorship.
(4) Nominating Committee
Lucie noted that it was time to activate the Nominating Committee to prepare for the upcoming annual meeting in June. Someone pointed out that information packets for prospective board members need to be prepared. Gerry Heroux agreed to chair the Nominating Committee and consult with Lucie and Bert regarding who should serve.
(6) Other business
Lucie made an impromptu Chair's Report. She reported that Joe Chazen had convened representatives from important arts organizations and venues--PPAC, Trinity Rep, RISD, R.I. Philharmonic, AS220, and the Music School--to work on getting RISCA cuts restored and finding alternate funding sources to establish a supplemental local endowment for the arts.
Lucie also noted that she had been thinking about the importance of eliminating AS220's $700,000 debt, which is the chief cause of our budget woes every year. We should be thinking about how to run an effective capital campaign to do that.
The next board meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 05/14.
On a motion by Steve Durkee, seconded by David Newton, the Board unanimously
VOTED to adjourn the meeting.
Recorded and submitted by
Robert Owen Jones
Secretary
AS220 Board Minutes -- 1996/04/16 page 3
