NACUSAsf meeting Wednesday, August 25, 2004, at 7:00 PM in the Meeting Hall of Lori Griswold’s apartment complex.

 

 

Attending: Herb Gellis (President), Nancy Bloomer Deussen (Vice-President), Anne Baldwin (Treasurer), Joanne Carey (Secretary), Dale Victorine, Lori Griswold, Ken Takara, Sondra Clark, Anne Baldwin, Owen Lee and John Beeman.

 

Meeting called to order at 7:15 P.M.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Anne Baldwin

 

Anne reported a mistake in last month’s report of our assets. At the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2004, we had $4,725 in our account. After our garage sale in July, which earned $472 for NACUSA, we have $5,222. After hiring the extra strings, which we will need for our next orchestra concert, we will still have $2,000.

 

Announcements

 

Report from the National Advisory Council August e-mail meeting: Herb Gellis and Nancy Bloomer-Deussen, liaisons to the National Association Meetings

 

Herb related that a new Treasurer had been chosen who he feels has an impressive record from his extensive experience at a high-tech company. It is hoped that the National records will be streamlined and Anne will finally be able to find out who has paid dues each year.

 

Herb reported that there might be two new positions at the National level: Grants Coordinator and Publicity Coordinator. We also discussed recommendations for surplus funds that turn up at the National Center. Herb recommended saving it for future needs or projects. Examples of the latter include funding for:  A National CD of selected works, education projects, a trip to a Library Association and/or Conductor’s Association conference to provide access to our scores to conductors and performers, an honorarium for the NACUSA Newsletter editor and grants writers.

 

New terms for the Palo Alto Arts Center (PAAC)

 

PAAC will now charge us a flat fee, based on the average of previous door receipts, instead of a percentage cut from each concert. The charge for the house manager remains $20 an hour, or $160 for the 8 hours we need. Herb determined that they will no longer reserve the hall more than a year in advance. This limitation makes it difficult for us to schedule professional performing groups only one year ahead. Herb has looked into other halls, but all are more expensive. Other possible performance venues might be churches or university halls. Herb will continue to investigate these.

 

Remaining concert dates in PAAC for this season, as listed on our season card, are February 12, 2005 and June 4, 2005. 

 

Tickets anyone?

 

John brought up the topic of incorporating tickets into our admissions procedures. The pros and cons of having tickets were discussed. On the positive side, we can give comp tickets to reviewers or others who we want to come to our concerts and we can give them as perks. We also might in the future sell them through the Lucie Stern Box Office. Ken pointed out the tickets are a hook to get people to come to our concerts. On the negative side, Anne was worried about calculating advance tickets.   

 

John Beeman moved to start using tickets. Nancy seconded the motion, which passed by majority.

 

Herb offered to be in charge of printing them. We decided to offer one comp ticket to each member of the orchestra.

 

Placing ads via the SVAC Metro Weekly ad deal

 

We previously decided to advertise in the Metro Weekly. Herb will place ads for our concerts for each of the two weeks just prior to the concert. Ads for the upcoming SFCCO concert will cost $50 total for two ad placements because of the SVAC deal. Subsequent concerts will cost $70 for two ad placements.

 

Website

 

John inquired whether we should get our own domain, instead of operating under Herb’s umbrella. Herb said he could set up a site for us at the cost of $85 a year using the same web hosting company he uses for his publishing company. After some discussion of other topics, Owen moved to have our own website, NACUSA.org for $85 a year. Anne seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

 

Old Business

 

Staff for our SFCCO concert in September:

 

          Emcee:  Mark

          Tickets: Anne

          Refreshments: Nancy will organize

          Sale of Scores and CD’s: Sondra and Gordon will be in charge

          Collection of patron contact information:  This item was discussed at length. In addition to our guest laptop, which Herb manages and which we encourage people to enter their contact info, it has been suggested that we offer a regular bound guest book as well for those who are computer shy. Anne said she would look for an attractive guest book.

 

We also discussed fundraising possibilities at the concert. These include putting a sign just past the ticket table asking for tax-deductible donations for this special concert. To collect these donations we will provide envelopes, slipped into each program, to receive donations along with optional contact information. Anne offered to buy envelopes for tax-deductible donations.

 

Nancy offered to try to write an article for the Palo Alto Weekly, highlighting our orchestra concert.

 

John announced that he has to leave early for a board meeting of the SFCCO, of which he is a member. Before leaving he informed us that he had hired two violinists from the San Jose Symphony. He said that they were both very good. John also requested that Herb send out an agenda via e-mail before each meeting and would like the topic of expanding membership to be included in the future.

 

Many of those present requested to know the program order. Owen said he would press Mark on this, to decide and let everyone know. 

 

At this juncture, Dale related that Steve Ettinger would play violin in the concert but will have to miss the 1st rehearsal.

 

Submissions dates and mailing meetings for Composers Concerts and June CPE Concert

 

Because our first Composers Concert is so early this season, we need to move up the submission deadline. The new deadline for both of these concerts is January 3rd, 2005. The mailing meeting for this February concert will be two weeks before the concert, on Wednesday January 26th.

 

The submission deadline for the June 4th CPE Concert is February 21st. The mailing meeting for that concert is set for Wednesday may 11th. 

 

_____Asked Sondra is her sister would be a permanent member of CPE?

 

Raise for CPE

 

We have been paying CPE musicians each $250 for each concert, except the pianist, who has been paid $300 per concert because of the extra work he does. We raised both of these scales to $350 for regular CPE players and $400 for the pianist. We are all hoping that Miles will be able to continue playing our concerts.

 

Mini CPE Concert

 

Owen suggested that we consider a mini, or reduced player, concert for November 2005. This concert would use fewer players, perhaps 2 or 3, and would concentrate on a single instrument that we don’t always have available such as the guitar, harp, bassoon, harpsichord or other favorite. Many in the group are already interested in writing for guitar and since we have already made good contact through Tom with the South Bay Guitar Society, we are thinking this would be a good choice for our first mini-concert. A member of this group, Jerry Snyder, has agreed to present a class for us on writing idiomatically for the guitar. Upon finding out that he is primarily a jazz guitarist, we would like to find out whether he has experience with classical music. In addition, we are requesting another player to join him in presenting this class, providing us with different viewpoints and ideas. Herb will try to schedule a Saturday morning class in late October or early November. 

 

New Business

 

Next summer we will package our season brochure with our first concert together in a #11 envelope to save money on postage.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 P.M.