Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Minutes of Past Meetings
Minutes
Meeting of January 13, 2006
Etcetera, Etc.
107 S. Allegheny St., Bellefonte PA
Present: Romayne Naylor, president; Dave Eggler, treasurer; Donna Rochon (new vice-president); Jack LaFond; Colina Jordan-Seeley; Ralph Seeley; Sharon McCarthy; Susan Nicholas Gephart; Anna Sloan (new recording secretary); Michelle Montes (new corresponding secretary); Jim Dunne; Gay Dunne; True Fisher; Rob Fisher; Kitty Wunderly, Arts Administrator.
1. The meeting was called to order by Romayne at 7:17 p.m.
2. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of November 18, 2005, were presented. Motion by Donna to approve them as presented; seconded by True; unanimously approved.
3. Election: Romayne noted that it was necessary to fill several officer positions that have been vacant for some time. This will allow for decision-making by a fully filled Executive Committee if necessary, between meetings and in other times of need. The vacant positions are vice-president and secretary.
Kitty moved to nominate Donna Rochon for vice-president, seconded by Sharon; unanimously approved. Further nominations were tabled, pending the probable arrival of more people at the meeting.
4. Treasurer’s report (end of webpage): Dave presented his report. Fund-raising is running slightly behind last year’s returns. The souvenir covers sold for Victorian Christmas have brought in $705. Over the past seven years BHCA finances have averaged out to be pretty even. Sharon moved to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded by Donna; unanimously approved.
Dave continues to work on the BHCA website and asked for suggestions and assistance in getting other sites to link to ours, as this increases the odds that our site will show up in Google searches.
5. Election resumed: After some discussion, the secretary’s position was split into two, a corresponding and a recording secretary, with the tasks to be divided by common consent of those holding the jobs. Michelle Montes was nominated as corresponding secretary and Anna Sloan as recording secretary; Dave moved that they be elected to those offices, seconded by Jim, unanimously approved.
6. Arts Administrator’s report: Kitty passed around some photos from the Victorian Christmas arts and crafts show at the Match Factory. She said that 141 of the souvenir covers had been sold to date, 15 were ordered by stamp collectors through the announcement she placed in the philatelic press. She has been sorting the 6-7 boxes of old BHCA files, and as shown in the documents in the files, the number and scope of the projects BHCA members have accomplished over the years are amazing. All of the archival artifacts are being saved, but there are many pointless pieces of paper that can be disposed of to reduce the quantity of files. The new postal rates effective in January will add 1.4 cents to each mailing piece at nonprofit rates, coming to about $7 per BHCA bulk mailing. Congratulations to Dave for his work on the website, many compliments have been relayed to Kitty about the site. Kitty will be starting a new part-time job, two days a week, and asked that anyone needing her to do something BHCA-related to please ask as far in advance as possible.
7. Committee reports:
a. Gallery at the Gamble Mill: Jim said that the “Figure It Out” show is a sensational show, the opening reception was wonderful, and one artwork already has been sold. “Art of the Bellefonte Schools” will open April 22, followed by a photography show. The artists are told in the information received from Sharon with their contract to submit mailing labelsfor the show publicity postcards 30 days in advance, but they are not doing this.
b. Summer Sounds: Kitty will submit a grant application to the Garver Fund soon for this year’s concerts.
c. Film Forum: No report.
d. Local Government Grants: Word has been received that Bellefonte will receive a 2006 grant.
e. Sunday Afternoons at the Library: The next concert will be February 26, Juliet White-Smith, violist, with piano and flute accompaniment.
f. Victorian Christmas Arts & Crafts Show: Kitty asked if we should think about raising the crafter rates for 2006, they have been $100 for quite a long time. There was general support for this idea, even if just a token $10-15.
g. Talleyrand Park Committee: No report.
h. BHCA 30th Anniversary Committee: Rob commented how especially wonderful the Park is looking with the old Clasters’ buildings gone, opening up vistas while extending the green space. Gay will set up a meeting of the committee.
8. Old Business
VanDance proposal: Romayne reviewed for everyone the last-minute request in early December 2005 from VanDance of State College, for BHCA to act as a conduit for funding from the Centre County Community Foundation. The request was made less than 48 hours before the application deadline for CCCF money for early 2006. An e-mail poll of BHCA members was evenly divided, pro and con, and Romayne made an executive decision that there was not enough time for BHCA to consider this proposal and make a thoughtful decision, and so d the submitter was told that it was rejected.
Kitty spoke to Bob Potter at the CCCF and he reiterated the CCCF position that it is not acceptable for organizations to act as conduits for CCCF money (which cannot be given directly to other than nonprofits) on behalf of profit-based entities. BHCA or any other nonprofit must be a true participant in the project that is seeking CCCF monies. Romayne said that the Executive Committee should meet and discuss the philosophical and practical aspects of BHCA’s accepting and acting on proposals in general.
9. New Business
Rick Hirsch Proposal: This proposal asks for BHCA to contribute $2,000 to cover some of the costs of producing a compact disc of the Village Green, in Blue premiere performance at the Garman last November. When Hirsch attended the meeting on November 18, 2005, BHCA members were very supportive of the possibility of a CD. BHCA would receive 500 CDs to use as we wished, in return for the $2,000.
Michelle said it seemed like a reasonable idea; Romayne agreed, saying it was a unique, original, Bellefonte-related arts project. Romayne pointed out that the Performing Arts line item added to the budget a few months ago would fit this type of project. That fund could be replenished with proceeds of CD sales.
It was asked how much the CDs would sell for; it was agreed that $10 would be about right, but any price would have to be in line with what Hirsch was selling his for elsewhere in the area.
Rob said it would take a long time to get rid of 1,000 CDs (the total run) in the area, but they would make good gifts, etc. Further discussion brought up the point that as co-producer, BHCA should have a say in the design of the CD jacket and liner notes, and so on. Also, the joint agreement should cover future runs of the same CD.
Donna suggested creating a committee to meet with Rick. Michelle, Rob, and Gay agreed to serve.
Jim made a motion to commit the money to the project if the details can be worked out; seconded by Donna; unanimously approved.
General discussion: Colina suggested asking someone from BHCA bygone days to participate in the planning of any 30th anniversary celebrations.
Donna followed up a suggestion from an earlier meeting and inquired about the possible availability of the upper floor of the Courthouse Annex. Steve Dershem was not very encouraging, said that no dancing, drinking, or catering would be permitted there. But, no one seems to know who is actually in charge of handling the space or when it might be ready. Romayne will try to find out more information.
10. Next meeting: February 10, 2006, 7:30 p.m., at Etcetera, etc.
11. Adjournment: Dave moved to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.; seconded by True; unanimously approved.
BHCA Financial Report
January 13, 2006
|
|
7/1/02-6/30/03 |
7/1/03-6/30/04 |
7/1/04- 6/30/05 |
7/1/05- 1/13/06 |
2005-2006 FY Budget |
INCOME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
584 |
323 |
317 |
68 |
500 |
|
Other Administration |
3,094 |
2,992 |
3,148 |
2,112 |
3,000 |
|
Film Forum |
37 |
77 |
1,000 |
0 |
70 |
|
General fundraising |
2,085 |
4,163 |
2,725 |
2,080 |
2,400 |
|
Gallery at Gamble Mill |
1,713 |
2,040 |
1,750 |
160 |
2,000 |
|
LGG Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gannon Jazz |
0 |
2,022 |
3,756 |
0 |
0 |
|
Summer Sounds |
1,198 |
1,953 |
2,951 |
2,271 |
2,400 |
|
Victorian Christmas |
3,670 |
4,670 |
4,025 |
4,325 |
3,670 |
|
Other projects |
_40_ |
_30_ |
_289_ |
_1,500_ |
_50_ |
|
TOTAL |
12,421 |
18,269 |
19,961 |
12,516 |
14,090 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administration |
8,546 |
7,525 |
5,398 |
3,673 |
7,000 |
|
Film Forum |
963 |
1,121 |
0 |
0 |
1,000 |
|
General fundraising |
237 |
420 |
185 |
1,249 |
255 |
|
Gallery at Gamble Mill |
2,139 |
1,720 |
2,144 |
919 |
2,100 |
|
LGG Administration |
680 |
581 |
1,496 |
241 |
1,000 |
|
Library Concerts |
0 |
400 |
250 |
107 |
0 |
|
Gannon Jazz |
0 |
3,183 |
2,109 |
0 |
0 |
|
Summer Sounds |
1,978 |
2,146 |
1,133 |
2,236 |
1,955 |
|
Victorian Christmas |
2,280 |
2,768 |
2,436 |
2,587 |
2,320 |
|
Other projects |
_0_ |
_0_ |
_262_ |
_1,581_ |
120 |
|
TOTAL |
16,822 |
19,863 |
15,413 |
12,594 |
15,750 |
ASSETS 1/13/2006
Checking 1,853 General BHCA 15,618
Savings 631 Gannon Fund 1,731
MM Fund 8,519 Talleyrand Park 1,654
CD’s 10,112 Perform Arts Fund 2,112
TOTAL 21,115 TOTAL 21,115
Submitted: David H. Eggler, Treas.
Notes:
(1) Net from Victorian Christmas A&C Show, after revenue sharing with Victorian Christmas, Inc., was $1,737.55 (compare to $1,589 in 2004, $1,902 in 2003, $1,390 in 2001).