NORTHWEST CHORAL SOCIETY
MEETING MINUTES
January 10, 2012
CALL TO ORDER:
The January 2012 Board Meeting of the Northwest Choral Society was held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 1095 Dempster/Thacker, Des Plaines, IL. The meeting was called to order at 6:40 PM by NWCS board president Penny Perles. The following board members were present:
Noreen LaValle Penny Perles
David Martin Chris Stukel
Mary Jane Matecki Diane Szuberla
John Morrison Ruta Veitmanis
Also present: Alan Wellman, Artistic Director
MEETING MINUTES:
The meeting minutes of the November 8, 2011 board meeting were reviewed. One correction was needed. Under Old Business, third bullet, Lucy Yester’s name was misspelled. The sentence should read: “Lucy Yester, Joan Curry, Kelsey Green, Loyrn Ankeny, Jane Peterson and Ann Jensen have volunteered to work on the Concert Attire Committee”.
Mary Jane Matecki made a motion to accept the corrected minutes. The motion was seconded by Noreen LaValle. The motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Noreen LaValle presented the treasurer’s report for November. Cash disbursements totaled $1,607.73. Cash receipts totaled $508.06. Our regular account balance was $14,232.79. Including the J. Melcher Memorial Fund and petty cash, our final total was $17,324.79.
Noreen also presented the treasurer’s report for December. Cash disbursements totaled $5,821.25. Cash receipts totaled $6,553.58. Our regular account balance was $14,965.12. Including the J. Melcher Memorial Fund and petty cash, our final total is $18,057.12.
The documentation of the cash receipts for both months was not available at this time and will be presented at the next board meeting. Mary Jane Matecki made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report for both months. The motion was seconded by Chris Stukel. The motion passed.
Noreen presented the Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual, July through December 2011. We have taken in 58.1% ($16,100.30) of our projected income. We have spent 50.4% ($15,095.41) of our projected expenses. Although our income did exceed our expenses, fundraising (Ad campaign and Yankee Candle) has been disappointing so far. Both events netted us less than last year.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Alan Wellman stated that he is almost done securing orchestra members for our March concert. He anticipates that the cost of getting guest artists for our concerts this season will be under budget.
PROMOTIONS:
Diane Szuberla submitted the December 2011 concert results. A total of 305 people attended (3 less than last year). Saturday evening’s attendance was 109 and Sunday’s 189 (plus 7 free tickets to workers and a set of complementary tickets). Eighteen gift tickets were used. We took in $6022.03 in tickets. Thirty-six members sold 206 tickets. Forty-four members sang Saturday and forty-two on Sunday. A prize drawing was held at each concert for one Early Bird and one Season ticket holder. We also donated two tickets to the Center of Concern for their annual silent auction.
ADVERTISING COMMITTEE:
Since we have some empty space in our program book this season, we will open up the ad campaign again for the remaining two concerts. Space will be available at a discount: $30.00 for a quarter page and $45.00 for a half page.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
Mary Jane Matecki reported that we made a profit of $686.40 from the Yankee Candle fundraiser this year (last year’s profit was $1,101.60).
This evening, Mary Jane will hand out the forms for our next fundraiser – cookie dough and popcorn. The forms must be handed in by January 31st and delivery will be at the end of February.
WORLD CHOIR GAMES:
Penny Perles presented a sample form for registering for the World Choir Games. The deadline for returning this form with a minimum deposit of $141.00 is January 31st. Included in the form are several installment plans for paying the remainder of the cost of the Games.
The wording of the form was slightly modified to emphasize the fact that once the deposit is made, the commitment is binding and the rest of the payment as well as attendance at the Games are obligatory.
A list of the music needed for the Games will also be included.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mary Jane presented the audience survey results from the two December concerts:-
۰ 139 people turned in the survey. 89 of these were ages 60 and above.
۰ 96 had attended previous concerts, but 44 were first time attendees.
۰ 90 people had learned of our concert from a chorus member with another 37 listing a chorus member and/or friend.
۰ For their favorite concert, December received 78 votes, June 67 and March 43.
۰ For favorite music, classical received 103 votes, show tunes 92, oldies 80, spiritual/gospel 72, folk 71, rock 51, jazz 43, and ethnic 32.
The full report, including audience comments, is attached.
NEW BUSINESS:
Penny asked the board’s approval to buy a piano lamp for Lori for concerts. The cost would be about $150.00. David Martin made a motion to approve this purchase. The motion was seconded by Chris Stukel. The motion passed.
NEXT MEETING:
Our next Board Meeting will be February 14, 2012, 6:30 PM, before rehearsal at St. Martin’s.
ADJOURNMENT:
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM by a motion from Noreen LaValle and a second from Chris Stukel. The motion passed.
Ruta Veitmanis
Recording Secretary, Northwest Choral Society