[Imc-web] Re: [Imc-artists] STEERING Minutes, June 2009

[Christina Nordholm]

TyVek makes a cheap effective all weather movie projection screen up
to 10 feet wide and as long as you would want, I have gotten a logo
free donation in the past from Dupont-worth asking for it.
Christina

On 09/06/2009, Stephen Fonzo <fonzo.stephen at gmail.com> wrote:
> *IMC Steering Meeting, 6/4/09*
> Hosting Group: None
> Facilitator: Nicole Pion
> Note-taker: Stephen Fonzo
>
> *Present:*
> Ed Hawkes, Larry Keller - SHOWS
> William Mullins - BOOKS TO PRISONERS
> Tom Garza, Andrew O Baoill - WRFU
> Stephen Fonzo - PRODUCTION & VISTA
> Nicole Pion - VISTA
> Jason Keist - PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
> Joy Davis, Jason Turner, Michelle Shumate - FINANCE
> Josh King - TECH & WEB
> Bob Illyes, Niloofar Shambayati, Glynn Davis, Brian Dolinar - PRINT
> Chera Kowalski - LIBRARIANS
> Beth Simpson - COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
> Chris Hampson - MURALIST & TENANT
>
> *TOPICS:
> *
> I. Chris Hampson, IMC Muralist (Summer 2009), presented plans for signage
> and building ornamentation.
> --- Sign on front of building: large letters (I, M, C) cut from wood and
> arranged vertically along the north edge of the west facade; light will
> project onto these at night.
> --- Birds: Extending Chris Evans' design, birds of varying sizes will be cut
> from wood, and IMC members and volunteers will have the option of painting
> these however they would like before they are mounted to the east and north
> faces of the building.
> --- Movie Projection Screen: along the south exterior wall of the Sun Room
> there will be mounted 2x4 pieces of wood, on which will be stretched a sheet
> or large wood surface for projecting films (Bike-In Movie Nights) in the
> alley behind the IMC.
> --- Concrete Retaining Wall Painting and Wind Chimes: A mural will be
> painted on the east-side concrete retaining wall, and along the metal rails
> will be mounted metal pipes to create a series of wind chimes.
>
> Discussion:
> --- Does City approve these types of improvements?
> ------ 1) The signs are made on wood panels, so they may be removed or
> repaired, and do not alter the historic character of the building.
> ------ 2) Chris H. is getting permits completed.
> --- Will these projects dominate Chris Hampson's summer work tasks?
> ------ 1) Yes - these projects will together take all summer, and may
> require assistance from IMC members.
> --- What will the volume of the wind chimes be?
> ------ 1) We will have to hear, once they are installed; if a nuissance,
> they can be changed or removed.
> --- Will the chimes hit nearby parked cars?
> ------ 1) They will be sut short enough that this does not occur.
> --- What will the cost be to the IMC of these projects?
> ------ 1) Free, with exception of any tools not already owned by IMC.
> Materials will be scavenged, and wood is already plentiful in the building.
>
> Support and consensus were expressed by all in attendance after this
> discussion.
>
> II. Graduation Party and Art Show (Saturday, 6/6/09 2-6pm) requested to
> serve alcohol for private event, no sales, no underage - approved by
> Steering.
>
> III. Nicole Pion presented a sign-up sheet for all working groups to host
> Steering for one month in the next year.  Please note the date for your
> working group and be aware of the following responsibilities: a)
> facilitator; b) note-taker; c) gather working group updates in advance of
> the meeting; d) create the agenda and post to the mailing lists in advance
> of the meeting.
>
> 2009
> July 2: Librarians
> Aug 6: Print
> Sept 3: Finance
> Oct 1: WRFU
> Nov 5: Production
> Dec 3: Shows
> 2010
> Jan 7: Books to Prisoners
> March 4: Community Connections
> April 1: Open
> May 6: Open
>
> IV. Financial Picture of the IMC - Presented by Finance Group.  Included
> working group balances.
> --- All but 3 rooms are now leased.
> --- There is now a projected profit for 2009.
> --- Production balance still needs correction.
> --- Steering discussed the possibility of exploring more grant
> opportunities, such as capital and environmental grants (potentially for
> heating/AC renovations), and grants already in progress.  It is important
> for working groups to explore their own grant opprtunities, too.
>
> V. Draw Down the Debt Campaign - tabled for future discussion.
>
> VI. Membership Drive
> --- Membership is at an all-time low, in large part because volunteers are
> not submitting membership forms, paying annual dues, or renewing their
> inactive memberships.
> --- Nicole will soon begin the Membership Drive to build and organize a more
> consistent membership base, which helps everyone at the IMC by increasing
> volunteerism, income, grants, and activities and events.
> --- Andrew explained that WRFU's Membership is renewed and updated annually
> during September, which will also build IMC membership since WRFU members
> must join the IMC.
> --- IMC presence at Farmer's Market(s) and local festivals is needed.  This
> is not a staff or VISTA duty, but something that requires anyone's and
> everyone's help.
>
> VII. IMC Beyond Business Meeting
> --- The first meeting took place last week, to discuss vision and ideas,
> open houses and skillshares, and was a great success.
> --- There will be another, Wednedsay, 6/10 @ 6pm with food.  Please RSVP the
> Community Connections group (community at lists.chambana.net) if you plan to
> attend and eat.
>
> VIII. Indy Media and Arts Lab Summer Program update, presented by Jason
> Keist.
> --- Jason has been organizing a summer program, described here:
> The IndyMedia and Arts Lab is a dynamic space where youth receive
> individualized attention from top local artistic talent producing works in
> instrumentation, audio/radio production, painting, poetry, and horticulture.
> This summer program will serve 45 people with low-incomes in Urbana and
> Champaign, including youth, their caregivers, and artists/educators.  This
> program aims to fill the gap in services to area youth left by the
> dissolving of the Urbana Boys & Girls Club (Lakeside Terrace), and the Urban
> League.
> --- Jason distributed program outlines to Steering for discussion.
> --- The IMC will likely be funded $7000 for this project, meaning that the
> program may have to scale down to 20 youth.
>
> IX. How to Deal with Loitering and Behavior that Opposes IMC Mission and
> Ethics
> --- The group agreed that alcohol is absolutely not permitted for public use
> in the building unless Steering approval has been granted.  Visitors
> drinking in the building without approval will be asked to leave.
> --- The group agreed that sleeping over night in the building is also not
> permitted.
> --- The group agreed that the last KEY HOLDER to leave should clear out the
> building and lock it, if it is open and in use by others at the time.
> --- The group agreed that there should be a longer emergency contact list,
> and that no individual should feel they cannot respond to threatening
> behavior by visitors or other members - calling emergency contacts, asking
> people to leave, and calling police are all acceptable responses, up to the
> judgment of each person.
> --- The group agreed to table further discussion about the specific language
> that we should use in writing or in person to deal with other unwelcome
> behaviors, not listed above.
>
> X. IMC Open Houses
> --- There is a proposal from Community Connections and Librarians that the
> IMC hold quarterly open houses, to welcome and introduce new volunteers,
> staff, and visitors.
> --- Representatives from every working group should attend these open
> houses.
> --- The first is scheduled for a Saturday TBA; please respond with dates of
> interest.
>
> XI. Facilitation Training
> --- Community Connections has proposed offering training sessions on how to
> facilitate meetings, and many at Steering have expressed interest in this
> training.
> --- Sessions would take 1-3 hours.
> --- The first is being tentatively discussed as occurring in the late
> summer, early fall, though there may need to be one in the summer to orient
> new Consortium employees.
>
> XII. Summer Skillshare
> --- Librarians have planned regular Skillshares for the IMC.  These will be
> day-events in which IMC members come to teach others about their own areas
> of expertise and to learn from others.
> --- The last and culminating Skillshare is scheduled for 8/29.
> --- There will be mini-workshops offered by every working group, on
> different topics.
> --- Steering agreed that rent will not be required to host and reserve this
> event; donations will be acceptable.
> --- Shows and Finance need to clarify the process of using the main space
> for events and programs hosted by IMC working groups; there is not a
> consistent policy.
> --- Community Connections and Librarians would like to reserve a regular
> Saturday spot, just for the summer, with the 8/29 event being the last.
> --- These would occur mid-day and will not conflict with Shows.
>
> XIII. WRFU/Production Disputed Expenses
> --- Production and WRFU presented an explanation of the miscommunications
> that led to the groups being asked to pay for charges that were purchased in
> 2007 without Steering or WRFU approval (Production did not exist and could
> not approve purchases).  Last month's Steering meeting resulted in a flawed
> decision to authorize these charges to WRFU and Production, due to
> incomplete information provided to Steering attendees and WRFU members.
> WRFU challenged the decision, bringing it to this month's Steering for
> reconsideration.
> --- Production and WRFU proposed that funds come from money generated by the
> 2009 IMC Fest, since these were not allocated to any working group and the
> expenses rightly ought to be charged to either the individuals who made
> purchases or to Gen Ops.  Gen Ops is preferable, since the money did pay for
> equipment still being used by multiple groups and members.
> --- Steering agreed that the funds should come from IMC Fest funds.
>
> XIV. Broken Front Door
> --- A final estimate is needed on what it will cost to replace the glass in
> the broken vestibule door.
> --- There was consensus to replace the glass.
>
> XV. Media Training Advisor position
> --- Stephen Fonzo's year of VISTA service ends July 11.
> --- The IMC recruited and hired a new Media Training Advisor, submitting
> final paperwork on the date of the deadline (May 15) to CTC VISTA.
> --- CTC VISTA accepted more positions than it could fund, and informed the
> IMC that its application arrived 3 hours after all positions had been
> filled.
> --- The IMC will not be funded a Media Training Advisor, and it seems there
> is little that CTC VISTA can do to fix this problem, whether or not the IMC
> responds officially (which it has not done yet).
>
> Discussion:
> --- The importance of this position for program development, capacity
> building, WRFU, Production, and staff requires the IMC to consider other
> ways to fund it:
> ------ State AmeriCorps
> ------ Fundraising
> ------ University internships
> --- There will need to be continued brainstorming at future meetings, to
> attempt to maintain someone as a Media Training Advisor.
>
> *Next Meeting: Thursday, July 2nd @ 8PM.  Host: LIBRARIANS.*
>
> *
> *Suggestion:  Steering minutes like these are long and complicated.  Perhaps
> each topic should be sent as its own discussion thread over mailing lists.
> Otherwise important topics get lost in formal reports.
>
> --
> Stephen Fonzo
> Media Training Advisor
> AmeriCorps CTC VISTA
> Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
>