HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-11-2008
ST. LUCIE COUNTY CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL
600 North Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce
Board of Directors General Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Members Present: Jack Connolly, Vera Mann, Stan Silver, Jacquelene Burke, Martha Bradley, Robert
Roldan, Ruby Jefferson, Ruth McSween, Allison Nega, Anna Preston, Susan Parks-Jones.
Members Absent: Leland Carpenter, Elise Rollins.
Staff Present: County Attorney Katherine Smith, Jody Bonet, and Suzanne Antonetti.
Guests: Jeanne Johansen.
Meeting called to order by Jack Connolly at 5:30 PM. There was not a quorum at the start of the meeting.
Chairman Jack Connolly reported that Lee Ann Lowery was pleased with what she saw during her
attendance at the February 12 CAC meeting. Jack Connolly reported that he would provide her with a
package of each meeting.
Agenda Item 4: Director’s Report:
Jody Bonet reported that the county anticipates that in the next 2
years it will have a 30 million dollar short fall without including the Sheriff’s possible requests for
additional funds or any other constitutional officers’ needs. The county is looking for ways to cut costs,
including keeping the Marine Center and Museum only open 4 days a week instead of 6 days a week.
The Mini-Grant program was placed in the quality of life policy question issues on the county budget
along with the libraries and parks and recreation. Jody Bonet presented the eco-heritage tourism package
and discussed how cultural programs stimulate tourism. She pointed out how the dollars spent in these
areas are not a large chunk of money and improves the county’s quality of life and brings cultural tourism
to the area.
She expects to get direction from the county administrators and budgets should be complete by June.
Anna Preston reported that the youth in the schools are having deep problems with this financial
depression as they have already experienced the hurricanes and are now being affected by this depression
as they watch their friends and families loss their homes. That is why it is important to keep positive
events going on the community since the youth have already been through a lot.
Agenda Item 1: Approval of Minutes
: The committee had a quorum. Martha Bradley made a motion
to have the February 12, 2008 approved as written. Vera Mann seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Director reported that individuals where having problems opening their pdf files that were emailed to
them.
Agenda Item 2: Commissioner Chris Craft
was unable to attend.
Agenda Item 3: This item is for special guests and we did not have any scheduled for this meeting.
Agenda Item 5: Chairman’s Report
: Jack Connolly thanked the committee for their assistance. He
noted that the BoD Manual updates had not been completed and asked for assistance from the BoD
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members. He reviewed the committees’ chairperson as outlined in the agenda. Vera Mann will chair the
Lucie Awards and would like a co-chair; Rudy and Jackie will chair Mini-Grants; Elise Rollins will be
the Lincoln Park Main Street liaison; and Robert Roldan will be the liaison with the Hispanic/American
Chamber of Commerce.
There was discussion regarding BoD members’ absences. It was outlined that should a member miss two
unexcused absences they were dismissed from the committee. Elise Rollins absence and Lee Anderson
were excused as they were excused absences – traveling for work.
The chair passed around a sign-up sheet for Zora Fest and asked that members sign up for 2 hours on that
Saturday. The committee discussed what to bring to the festival. There was discussion regarding other
mini-grant events, committee membership attendance, and the completion of the event report – banner
displayed and CAC shown as sponsor, and the volunteer form. Recommendation was made to have a list
of Mini-Grant contacts.
Martha Bradley noted that the Friendly Sons and Daughters did not include CAC in their advertising at
the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The chair informed that committee that he asked Irv Freedman to represent CAC at the funeral of Mrs.
Mary Cowles, a local resident in the committee who was extremely active in the arts and cultural of St.
Lucie County to speak on behalf of CAC at the service. Mr. Freedman reported back to the Chair that the
family was extremely pleased that CAC thought enough of her accomplishments to speak and they were
very pleased.
The Chair announced the Grant Writing seminar at IRCC on Thursday, March 20, 2009 at no cost, he
urged the committee to consider attending.
There was discussion regarding the banners. Committee discussed the number of banners available for
multiple events. Discussion revolved around who will take responsible for ensuring the banners. There
was a discussion of using a magnetic banner instead of a banner. There was discussion of getting
companies to underwrite the signs or make donations towards the banners. The cost of canvas banners
was $110 each. Robert Roldan reported that he gets 4x4 banners for $60 at Budget Graphics in Port St.
Lucie
Agenda Item 6: Treasurer Report:
Stanley Silver presented the CAC Profit and Loss Treasurer’s
report. The accounts have been broken out into two accounts – CAC and Zora Fest are now in separate
reports with their own income and expense reports. Jody Bonet announced that the FPRA check arrived
for $25,000 and is included in the Zora Fest statement. Stanley Silver thanked Jeanne Johansen for the
work. Anyone wanting more information on the accounts should request the information on the budget
should direct those requests to Stanley Silver. Robert Roldan made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s
Report. Vera Mann seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Agenda Item 7: New Business
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Art In Public Places (AiPP) Opening and Symposium:
Jody Bonet updated the committee on the
WOW2 Opening and Symposium on April 4 and 5. The African-American sculptures will be at the
museum to generate more attendance. Maps and brochures will be available next week. The
symposium is open to the public and it is a joint effort of AiPP and the City of Fort Pierce.
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2. Lucie Award
: Vera Mann requested a list of committee chairpersons as she will be the coordinator
of all committees. Nothing to report on Lucie Awards.
3. Mini Grants:
Ruby Jefferson, and Jackie Burke reported on their review of the Mini-Grant process
and updating the mini-grant process.
4. ZoraFest:
Jody Bonet updated the committee on the upcoming event in Old Business.
5. Finance:
Jack Connolly and Stanley Silver met regarding establishing a 501c3.
6. Lincoln Park Main Street
: No report as Elise Rollins is unable to attend since she is in Tallahassee
receiving an award for LPMS.
7. Hispanic/American:
Robert Roldan announced that the San Juan Festival date may change.
8. Annual Meeting Program:
Anna Preston plans to make the annual meeting one to remember.
There was discussion of the timing because of the holidays. It was noted that numerous grants were
for programs taking placed during the holidays. Suggestions to give out grants in pennies for lots of
press coverage.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Zora Fest
: Jody Bonet handed out the agenda for Zora Fest. Events include Women of Words on
Wednesday, Harlem Rent Party at the museum on Thursday, Children’s Day and Voices of
Renaissance on Friday at PAL, and the main event on Saturday at Lincoln Park Academy with the
Pelican Yacht Club brunch with authors on Sunday, ending with the CAC / Film Society produced
Zora, the Documentary.
2. AiPP display “A River of Knowledge” at IRCC
was discussed. The Chair expressed a sincere
desire to do more with IRCC. He stated that the event was done exceptionally.
3. Name Plates for CAC members
was discussed. Robert Roldan suggested Sunni & Vinno and
agreed to help the Chairman secure 25 for the committees.
4. WoW2 Brochure
: Jack Connolly showed the committee the WoW2 brochure for the committee to
view. The event is free except for the $10 lunch.
Stanley Silver made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Allison Nega seconded the motion. The meeting
was adjourned at 6:38 PM.
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