NORTHWEST CHORAL SOCIETY
MEETING MINUTES
May 8, 2012
CALL TO ORDER:
The May 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 6:37 PM by NWCS board vice president Mary Jane Matecki. The following board members were present:
Noreen LaValle John Morrison
Mary Jane Matecki Chris Stukel
David Martin Diane Szuberla
Candy Mealer Ruta Veitmanis
Also present: Alan Wellman, Artistic Director
MEETING MINUTES:
The meeting minutes of the April 10, 2012 board meeting were reviewed. One correction was needed. Under the treasurer’s report, second paragraph, the last sentence should read: “It was also noted that the donation envelopes distributed at the March concert yielded $102.00 so far.”
Noreen LaValle made a motion to accept the corrected minutes. The motion was seconded by Diane Szuberla. The motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Noreen presented the treasurer’s report for April. Cash disbursements totaled $1,270.00. Cash receipts totaled $6,152.65. Our regular account balance was $19,877.89. Including the J. Melcher Memorial Fund and petty cash, our final total was $22,969.89. Candy Mealer made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report. Chris Stukel seconded the motion. The motion passed.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY:
Candy Mealer has completed sending out thank you letters to all the helpers and donors at the March concert.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Alan Wellman has contracted a drummer and guitarist for our June concerts. The bass player is still in question.
Alan has received, in PDF format, 7 or 8 songs for the closing ceremony of the World Choir Games. He will send them to participating members.
PROMOTIONS:
Diane Szuberla has received tickets, posters and post cards for the June concerts from Geoff Green. The Early Bird forms for next season will be ready soon.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
As discussed at last month’s board meeting, there will be no more fundraisers this concert season.
PUBLICITY:
Penny Perles has submitted a press release to her usual media contacts. She has also added the Chicago Reader, Time Out Chicago and Daily Herald’s online edition. Mary Jane will send a press release to the TribLocal.
Prize tickets have been sent to WFMT’s morning and afternoon shows. Concert information for the WFMT Arts Calendar will be sent next week.
OLD BUSINESS:
Noreen presented the Nominating Committee report:
◦ Jonna Guendling, John Morrison and Chris Stukel will not be returning next season. The board members thanked them for their service.
◦ Present members who are up for reelection: David Martin, Mary Jane, Penny, Diane and Ruta.
◦ New nominees seeking election: David Hitch and John Schindler.
◦ Members with another year left: Noreen, Candy and Geoff.
Our Annual Meeting of the Whole and Election of Board Members Meeting will be held June 2nd after rehearsal.
◦ Board members/committee chairmen will present a short summary of their work this concert season. Please submit the report in writing to Mary Jane one week before the meeting and she will make copies for the meeting.
◦ Refreshments after the rehearsal will be provided from the treasury – a tray each of fruit, vegetables and desserts. Penny and Mary Jane are in charge.
NEW BUSINESS:
Our end of season party will be June 12th at Little Villa. Chris will make similar arrangements as before.
We will submit June 16th and 20th as possible dates for our participation in the WTTW pledge drive.
In a silent auction, Chris has won a Happy Hour for 10-20 people at the Fox and Hound Bar and Grill in Schaumburg. She has volunteered to share it with us – the occasion to be determined later.
Chris has also volunteered to organize another August ‘meet and greet’ to welcome returning and new members. One of the activities for the evening could be a presentation of our activities at the World Choir Games.
Candy questioned the appropriateness of our new proposed concert wear for the June concerts – women in black skirts, white blouses and crimson scarves. She has had several audience members from previous years tell her how cheerful our colorful blouses were. Alan replied that we need to achieve more uniformity with our concert wear; the previous blouses were not all from the same color palate and ranged anywhere from pastel to bright colors. Also, pop singers from the Motown era wore formal concert wear – men in suits and women in cocktail dresses.
Diane recently attended a pop concert similar to ours and remarked about the importance of not only our concert wear, but also our presentation of the music with body movements and facial expressions. Apparently this group practices with mirrors placed around the rehearsal area. Singers monitor their movements and expressions. Diane suggested that perhaps we could do something similar.
NEXT MEETING:
Our next Board Meeting will be June 12, 2012, after our end of season party.
ADJOURNMENT:
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM by a motion from Noreen LaValle and a second from Candy Mealer. The motion passed.
Ruta Veitmanis
Recording Secretary
Northwest Choral Society