MINUTES

USITT-SOUTHWEST

BOARD MEETING

MARCH 18, 2004

USITT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

LONG BEACH, CA

 

 

1.       The annual meeting was called to order by chair, Richard Denning.

 

2.       Minutes of the January 04 board meeting were approved by

acclamation

 

3.       Richard reported on the January 04 Symposium.

 

4.       Elizabeth Lewandowski delivered the Treasurer’s Report.  Income from the January 04 Symposium was $5916, with expenses of $5564.89.  The account balance is $7286.32.  A detailed report was distributed to those attending.

 

5.       Tom Grabowski presented the Membership Report.  There are 51 members, 27 student members, 1 organizational member, 3 contributing members, and 1 mail-only member.

 

6.       It was decided that the Winter 05 Symposium would be held on Martin Luther King weekend, hosted by Doug Gilpin at Henderson State.  Doug described the facilities: 162 seat thrust, tension wire grid, proscenium, new costume shop, old shop with new mechanical room, design lab, dance studio, plus the Ouachita Baptist 200 seat proscenium theatre nearby.  Elizabeth offered to help Doug, Claudia, and William with the Symposium.  One of the possible topics for the Symposium is “Properties.”  There was discussion of mounting Design Southwest at the Symposium.  Doug suggested getting the ACTF foam boards from Fayetteville.  Don Childs volunteered to assist.

 

7.       Old Business.  The group was reminded of Forrest Newlin’s induction as a Fellow of USITT.  Doug Gilpin was added to the Glenn Martin, Jr. Service Award list for 2000.

 

8.       New Business.   Richard reported from the Section Officers’ Meeting about ways to strengthen ties between Regional Sections and National:  a. Try to get room on the National USITT website for Regional Sections.  b. Address the confusion about memberships in the National and Regional Sections.  There should be consistency among the Regional Sections regarding categories of membership and dues amounts.  Discussion followed concerning the impact on the Region, especially the loss of autonomy versus the gain of communication with National and other Regions.  Who would collect the dues? What would membership dates be?  How much staff time at National would be needed?  Our Sustaining Membership is higher than some others, so would National want to get a part? (Our contributors want their dollars to stay in the Southwest Region.)  Richard replied that sharing a database with other Regions and National is a priority, and also that we would want to control money contributed to the Region.  He stated that National would collect dues but that Contributing and Sustaining Memberships would remain in the Region.  It would be easier to join both National and Regional at the same time.

 

Motion made by Daryl Wedwick:  Our dues should stay in the Region, but we should join the National and Region at the same time.  Motion passed.

 

Motion made by Elizabeth Lewendowski:  We are not supportive of National collecting our dues, but Richard should discuss this problem with the other section chairs.  Motion passed.

 

Discussion followed concerning the geographical restrictions on membership.  Amy Jackson stated that there also should be more interaction and networking between Contributing businesses and the membership to justify expenses.

 

Richard reminded the group the list of current officers and incoming officers is on the website.  Barbara Cox will be the new recording secretary.  Tom reminded the group that memberships will be due in the Fall for the January-December term.  He will send emails.

 

Submitted 11/3/04,

Barbara Alkofer, Recording Secretary

 

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