The Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Theatre Guild convened at the Albuquerque Little Theatre.

Present were Board members:

• Henry Avery (Albuquerque Little Theatre)
• Mark Dunn (Individual Member Representative)
• Virginia Ludvik (Individual Member Representative)
• Claudia Mathes (Individual Member Representative)
• Preston Mendenhall (The American Shakespeare Project)
• Paul Middleton (Storytellers of New Mexico)
• Joel Miller (East Mountain Community Theatre)
• Ray Orley (Individual Member Representative)
• Vern Poitras (Enchanted Rose Inn and Theatre)
• Leslee Richards (Vortex Theatre)
• Joe Sackett (Theatre-in-the-Making)
• Valerie Scott (Public Academy for Performing Arts)
• Myrna Smyer (Once Upon a Theatre)
• Hugh Witemeyer (Adobe Theater, Freedom Community Theatre by proxy)
 

Also present were Guests Kevin Hagen (Arts Alliance) and Darin Sand and Emily Duncan (Cultural Center of the Southwest).

This attendance did not constitute a quorum.

1. Call to Order
   
   President Hugh Witemeyer called the meeting to order at 11:15 a.m. On behalf of the ATG, he thanked Henry Avery and the Albuquerque Little Theatre for allowing us to use their facilities for our gathering.
 
2. Cultural Center of the Southwest
   
   Darin Sand and Emily Duncan introduced the new Cultural Center of the Southwest, which will be housed in the re-modeled Hotel Andaluz (formerly La Posada de Albuquerque, the city’s most historic hotel). The non-profit Cultural Center will promote Albuquerque’s vibrant culture as a major attraction for visitors and residents. The Center would like to partner with the Guild to showcase the activities of the local theatrical community, and will contact us later in the year about specific arrangements.
 
3. Arts Alliance
   
   Kevin Hagen, President of the Board of Directors of the Arts Alliance, invited the ATG to play an active role in a coalition of organizations that will attempt to influence state and city policymakers on decisions that affect the arts community. Mr. Hagen encouraged Guild members to join the Arts Alliance and subscribe to its e-newsletters, “Something to Do” and “The State of the Arts” (http://www.abqarts.org).



4. ATG Dues for 2009-10
   
   The following resolution was approved by the ATG Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and Membership Committee:
   
   BE IT MOVED that the dues structure for organizational and individual members of the Albuquerque theatre remain the same in 2009-10 as it was in 2008-09, except that all individual membership renewals will be at the rate of $30 a year ($15 for students).
   
   Final action on the resolution could not be taken on April 4 due to the lack of a quorum, but the resolution has since been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, with absentees voting by e-mail.
 
5. Committee Reports
   
    
   1. Web Committee Liaison Joel Miller presented a report from the Committee Chair on the re-design of the ATG website: “Since the last [Board] meeting, the site has gone live and is functioning well. We’ve dealt with problems as they’ve arisen but in general the new format and access by members seems to be working well…We continue to look for feedback from members on how to improve or extend capabilities.” Individual members are encouraged to update their information, which did not transfer from the old website. The Committee also recommends that, when theatres post audition notices on the website, the notices should include performance dates as well as tryout dates; at the same time, performance dates should be posted in the section devoted to performances.
    
   2. Buzz Committee Liaison Vern Poitras reported that, in recent meetings, Griffin and Associates are stressing the importance of internet marketing in making the ATG better known. They maintain that e-mail newsletters, Facebook networking, Twittering and the like reach more people at less cost than advertising in other media. The Committee will request Griffin to create a written strategic plan to guide the use of the remainder of the McCune Foundation grant. Meanwhile, Griffin has offered to send event information taken monthly from the ATG website to local media calendars; to be included, ATG member organizations should post event information on the website at least two months in advance. The Buzz Committee will soon begin work on the formation of an e-maillist for the dissemination of a Guild newsletter and announcements.
    
   3. Unity Committee Liaison Claudia Mathes reported on three projects:
      
      The Stage Management Workshop at the Desert Rose Playhouse drew 15 people; the presentation was very well received. The event resulted in a small profit and one new member. If you would like to present a workshop through ATG, please contact Claudia Mathes or Virginia Ludvik at the addresses below.
      
      The “Taste of Theatre” Celebration is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, from 7-9 p.m. at the VSA North Fourth Arts Center. The event is free and open to ATG members, the Board members of all ATG organizations, special guests, and partners. Food, entertainment, and socializing will be the order of the evening. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up and take-down, decoration, serving, and entertainment. If you can help out, please contact Claudia Mathes at or Virginia Ludvik at . 
      
      The ATG General Audition is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, at the VSA North Fourth Arts Center.
    
   4. Membership Committee Liaison Hugh Witemeyer reported that two major venues in Albuquerque have expressed an interest in becoming members of the ATG: Popejoy Hall and the Kimo Theatre. Exploratory discussions will begin soon, but no decisions will be made without the knowledge and participation of the Board.

    

6. Playwrights’ Circle
   
   

   Mark Dunn reported that the staged reading of Susan Erickson’s Raised by Humans at the ALT was well attended and well received. The next reading will be at the ALT on May 30.
   
   

 

7. Next Meeting.
   
   

   The next meeting of the ATG Board of Directors will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, at a place to be announced.
   
   

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:02 p.m.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Hugh Witemeyer, President