CTAM Board of Governors’ Meeting Minutes

Sunday, January 19, 2003

The Academy of Holy Angels

Present: Gregg Sawyer (President), Tom Kuster (President Elect), Mike Wartman (Past President), Mark Braun (Journal Editor), Karen P. Wilson (Secretary), Mike Vergin (MN Debate Teacher’s Assoc. Rep.), Tom Endres (NCA/CSCA SAC Rep.), Mark Grant (Technical Colleges Rep.), Jill Lofald (NE Geographic Rep.), Cliff Janke (SW Geographic Rep.)

Not Present: Larry Schnoor (Treasurer), Cynthia Carver (Historian), Dan Cronn-Mills (Newsletter Editor), Dave Warne (College/University Rep.), Michelle Neaton (SPAM Rep.), Jodene Wartman (Metro Geographic Rep.), Mary Schmidt (Community College Rep.), Kathleen Maloney (MN Alliance for Arts in Education Rep.), Connie Leyendecker (Mn Speech Coaches Assoc. Rep.), Sandy Nieland (SE Geographic Rep.), Dewey Schara (K-8 Classroom Rep.), Jan McNally (Mn Education Theater Assoc. Rep.), Cindy Larson (MN Collegiate Forensics Assoc. Rep.)

Meeting was called to order at 12:40 p.m.

Gregg began the meeting with a welcome and introductions.

The minutes of the September 19, 2002 Board of Governors’ meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report:

Larry reported (in absentia) that current CTAM membership is 231 and memberships are still arriving. (Info. from Larry about the 2003 conference is found later in the minutes.)

CTAM Journal:

Mark B. has extra Journals- contact him for copies. Inquiry about a special issue of the Journal- there is no funding so this will not be possible at this time. The option remains to submit a proposal to the Foundation and request a grant for this purpose. Discussion followed about the focus of the next Journal –it may have a dedicated focus but it was decided to let submissions determine this focus. General section, teacher’s section and book reviews usually make up the Journal. Interested in journal editing? Contact Mark.

NCA Update:

Tom reported that the Executive Council selected 2 panels from the Fall conference for Central States: Plagiarism (Dan Cronn Mills ) and Presentation Help Online (Diana Rehler and Dave Warne). NCA is now going to contract out all the journals and these will be interconnected. NCA membership entitles you to one electronic journal. Discussion followed about why K-12 teachers would want to join NCA (responses noted the NCA website as an invaluable resource containing wonderful justification for maintaining speech communication programs, curricular issues, competencies, etc.)

MSHSL State Debate Results:

Mike V. reported that 90 teams and about 16 schools were represented. Discussion followed about the dwindling Policy numbers- this is being mirrored nationally. Lincoln Douglas maintains strength and interest. Discussion followed about strength of speech programs in MN and encouraging the development of new speech coaches. Colleges that have education programs could invite guests from CTAM to meet with education students about coaching speech. There is a problem with Theatre/Dance licensure in that numbers are seriously dwindling. Where would high schools address this problem? Go to the Education Dept. of the local college and meet with them. Could On the Road address this issue of teacher preparation? Is there something that CTAM could do to help strengthen debate? MDTA does offer teacher training in the summer and information on this is available on the website. Mike described some success stories. Policy will be discussing mental health issues this year. Parliamentary has received huge support among colleges- it is a low resource/low threshold activity that is very popular.

CTAM On the Road:

Larry reported (in absentia) that he, Mike Wartman, Kris Lindvall, and Carol Purrington met on January 9 in Mankato to discuss funding possibilities with Schwan’s. Schwans is interested in possibly funding some workshops. A proposal will be submitted specifically geared to recruiting new coaches (look for it in late summer or early fall).

Mike reported that in the past CTAM On the Road has evolved into essentially high school workshops and he would like to expand this into something different this year. Mike asks all region reps to help out here-offer suggestions, possibilities and plan sessions. Discussion followed. There does not seem to be a great deal of interest in theatre workshops. How do we access Foundation money? We need to decide and act on this. Could high schools specifically access this money to offer special workshops? Can individual CTAM members request these funds as a way to fund curriculum writing, etc? Last year’s On The Road sessions were very successful. Consensus seemed to be that CTAM should offer other opportunities as well as speech coaches workshops. Can we go out and talk to teachers about CTAM? Can this be a focus for On The Road? Discussion followed about mailings- do we mail to all the junior and senior high school teachers and to Colleges? Perpich Center for the Arts has lists of these names (except private schools) and they are very willing to work with CTAM to get material disseminated and to generate labels, etc. The CFL list can also be purchased. Could summer workshops be offered by colleges for high schools teachers (underwritten by Schwans)? Mike will contact the regional reps again and follow up. Mike described the wonderful support of Schwans and how attractive they make tournaments. Schwans seems frustrated that more schools do not attend. Encouraging college participation in CTAM is another issue that could be addressed by On The Road.

President’s Report:

Wanda Manther (Rosemount) and Todd Hering (Eastview) will be splitting the new MDTA position (each for a one year term).

BOG members are encouraged to contact peers in Duluth area inviting them to attend the CTAM convention in September. Gregg really wants to increase membership in CTAM on all levels. How do we get that word out? This is a wonderful place to make connections- we find out about each other’s programs through CTAM. We need to find the specific contact person at each school. It would be helpful for Colleges to have this information in May. Mike will begin the process of sending letters in May to promote CTAM and the conference. How do we address interests of those who do not coach speech or debate (even though it is recognized that the bulk of CTAM membership is made up of coaches)- what does CTAM offer them? College theater and media teachers could be encouraged to test-run their NCA or ATHE presentations at CTAM in Sept. or encouraged to participate one year in NCA or ATHE and the other year participate in CTAM . We should advertise that State presentations DO count toward tenure/promotion and that the CTAM Journal is peer-reviewed.

Discussion of SPAM- where and how this came into existence. SPAM is now an affiliate of CTAM. Michele Neaton asked (in absentia) for any suggestions for proposals or types of proposals that SPAM might offer for the next convention. CTAM encourages SPAM to offer its meeting at the CTAM conference and there was a lighthearted comment about changing SPAM’s name to something else.

All BOG members should contact their constituents in April or May, remind them of the upcoming CTAM convention and prepare them to attend/participate. Gregg will ask Dan about mailing labels.

President-Elect’s Report: 2003 Conference- Sept. 18-20, Radisson Hotel, Duluth

Tom K. thanked everyone for moving this meeting to this date! Larry reported (in absentia): Arrangements have been made for the weekend of September 18-20, 2003 with the Radisson Hotel in Duluth, MN, the site of the 2003 CTAM Conference. 40 rooms have been reserved for Thursday night, 80 rooms for Friday night (rate of $79 per room) and 6-7 break-out rooms have been arranged. The Radisson is an excellent facility located near the Harbor, has a revolving restaurant on top, views are lovely, amenities and pool are great and it is connected to a tunnel system. Larry will be in contact with the Sales Manager and with Tom Kuster (Convention Planner) and Jill Lofald (Local Planner) for other details. Jill wondered about break out rooms- are seven adequate? Tom will be visiting the site in Spring. It looks like all meals will be on site. Jill offered possibilities for special activities such as a boat trip or a train trip from Duluth to Two Harbors, a lake walk, an activity at Glensheen mansion, a conference goody bag, etc. Some of this information will be available for the August mailing. Will the Radisson offer another night for the same rate to CTAM members- people may want to have one more night there?

Tom distributed “2003 Program Proposal Summary by Categories” and he thought this method of gathering ideas for future conferences worked wonderfully. Tom will be contacting all those who made suggestions and encourage them to turn these into proposals. Items #35 and further came from the program evaluations- what someone would like to see at the conference -so please look at these and submit proposals. Can we offer ‘master classes’ where people watch a really good coach or theatre director actually coach some students? Discussion followed including pitfalls and negative feedback that coaches have received from similar experiences. Could we have a session about how to encourage people to offer panels and perhaps call it ‘You Have Something to Offer….’ Preliminary program for the conference goes out in August.

Discussion followed about scheduling meetings at the conference- if a group doesn’t ask for a meeting then there wasn’t one last year (like META). Consensus was to ask each constituency if they want a meeting and if they don’t respond no meeting is scheduled. Training sessions- certification Friday morning 8-10- can the first block be for brand new judges and the second hour be for certification? Discussion followed- does everyone at this certification workshop pay for CTAM registration or pay a fee?

Tom is open to suggestions for a key note speaker-perhaps a scene from a local production or an improv. group would be a good option. The banquet is for outstanding individuals, the lunch is for the key note speaker although in the Metro area awards are often given at lunch to free up evening scheduling. Discussion followed about procedures for awards. Gregg is responsible for the outstanding individual awards.

Historian’s Report:

Cindy reported (in absentia) that she appreciates it when Board members suggest topics for the Historian Column. She would also like to see a history of the organization written and wondered about the possibility of the Foundation underwriting this process. The BOG supports the Historians pursuit of this project and Gregg will check with Larry about the official way to apply for grant money and then follow up with Cindy.

Other:

Tom will be signing copies of his book (Burnsville Barnes and Noble, Jan. 28, 7:00 p.m.). He is also the keynote speaker for OHAM (Oral History Assoc. of MN) this Spring.

The BOG looks forward to the emails from Dan regarding the next newsletter.

Jill asked if there could be an easier way to access the CTAM website. Gregg will follow up with Dan-is there progress for getting ‘CTAM.org’ as the official web location (from Sept. meeting)? Please try to include the current website on all CTAM correspondence.

Gregg requested assistance in finding and selecting reps to fill out BOG membership-discussion followed and Gregg will follow up.

Mark G. raised the issue of on line communication and wondered if CTAM had an opinion about this. Consensus was that CTAM should support a session at the conference that could begin drafting an official statement to be later approved by the CTAM Exec. Board Discussion followed about arts advocacy issues and CTAM.

Thanks to Gregg and The Academy of Holy Angels for hosting this meeting!

Meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen P. Wilson, Secretary