Thursday, September
13, 2007, Radisson Plaza Hotel, Rochester
Present: Sandy Nieland (President), Michele Neaton (President
Elect), Dan Cronn-Mills (Past
President), Larry Schnoor (Treasurer), Aileen Buslig (Journal Editor), Sarah
Wolter (Newsletter Editor), Karen P. Wilson (Secretary), Angie Seifert Anderson
(Community College Rep.), Margaret Kitterman (High School Classroom Rep.),
Cheryl Neidt ( MN Speech Coaches Rep.), Gregg Sawyer (MN Education Theater
Assoc. Rep), Chris McDonald (MN Debate
Teachers Assoc. Rep.), Mark Quinlan (MSHSL Rep.), Diana Rehling (States
Advisory to NCA and CSCA Rep.), Mark
Grant (Technical Colleges Rep.), Rebecca
Meyer-Larson (NW Geographic Rep.), Cliff Janke (SW Geographic Rep.), Tom Fish (K-8 Classroom Rep.), Scott Durocher
(Metro Geographic Rep.), Jody Saxton West (SE Geographic Rep.), Kathy Ebnet (NE
Geographic Rep.)
Meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. Minutes from January 7, 2007 were approved.
1. Reports:
A. President
Sandy began with a welcome and introductions. She mentioned that being President is much easier than being President Elect and expressed thanks to Larry, Dan and Michele for their work on the exciting conference ahead.
B. Past President
Dan reported that CTAM on Request replaces CTAM on the Road. If you have a specific need for a session within your region please contact the Past President of CTAM and this will be arranged. Please promote this program in your regions and within your organizations.
C. President Elect (Convention 2007 Update & Input)
Michele reported that this is the first time we are pairing MNSCU workshops with CTAM and things seem to be working well. There is a strong convention program. Thanks to everyone for submitting proposals and for attending and special thanks to Larry, Dan and Sandy for all their assistance.
D. Treasurer
Larry reported that CTAM is in good financial position. A few refund checks will be issued because a few MNSCU individuals paid more than necessary. There are 241 pre-registered (54 MNSCU members), 20 members who paid fees but are not attending, and 7 who paid non-member fees and are attending. Excellent attendance is noted, especially since this year’s conference is out-state. Larry continues to work on 501C3 status.
E. Historian
Aileen provided Cindy’s report (Cindy is a new Division Chair and attendance at this conference was not possible). Karen is collecting material from this year’s convention for Cindy. The project of writing a history of CTAM is still in process.
F. Journal Editor
Aileen reported that the first edition of the journal is out and on-line. There were 21 submissions and 13 to the research section. Good range of people and areas submitting. Teacher’s workbook is also very strong. Positive responses were noted from the Board.
G. Newsletter Editor
Sarah reported that Oct. 15 is the deadline for the Nov. newsletter.
H. Web Master
Dan reported that the web is up and running. He requested the list of President’s duties that Sandy created and he will put these on the web. Would be useful for Cindy to put these in the archives.
I. BOG Members
Jody reported that she continues working with the speech-mentoring program and she made 42 different connections with people last year. Jody is listed on the MSHSL web site but this should also be noted with the CTAM on Request program. Jody gets about 4-6 emails a week with questions about coaching.
Cheryl reported that MN Speech Coaches is now paperless- everything is on-line. She is excited about the roundtable tomorrow.
Tom reported that he is trying to add another speech tournament for middle school.
Scott reported that there is an on going effort to keep the T in CTAM alive. Look for your name on his new list serve. He reported that he heard two things: a positive response to a panel discussion in which attendees could go around and chat with 4 or 5 people in a room and a negative that some returning theater people had financial concerns (making copies was a burden- could their conference fee be waived). Discussion followed. Larry reminded everyone that if people need financial support there is a policy in place to address these needs (contact the CTAM Board or Executive Council). Sandy will remind the membership of this policy at the Business Meeting on Saturday. Michele, please follow up on this issue at the January BOG meeting. Scott reminded everyone that the Spotlight Music Theater Program is back (for the 7 county area) with lots of new sponsors. Additionally they will fund a resident artist to come to your school and teach. See hennepintheaterdistrict.org for more information. There is hope that this could go statewide in the near future.
Angie has received feedback that there is not enough for college people at the conference and she is not sure what to do with that information. If anyone has ideas please contact Angie. Consensus was to continue encouraging college people to present. It was noted that there are two online sessions aimed at a high school and colleges/universities. Talk to Mark G. or Angie if you are interested in on-line information.
Chris reported that the wonderful world of the debate association continues to struggle with issues such as the numbers of programs in out-state MN. They are working to reorganize out-state. The urban debate league has rejuvenated debate and various schools in the Twin Cities have added debate programs. Efforts in inner city areas seem to be having good results. Paperwork to become a 501C3 organization continues. Thanks to Joe Schmidt for putting new coaches with mentors and helping them find resources. Thanks to Jim Graupner for the strong state of debate funds. Four active types of debate in MN: classic, policy, Lincoln Douglas and public forum debate.
Kathy thanked everyone for the great sessions at CTAM. She has enjoyed years of attending CTAM conferences.
Gregg reported that the third Theater Forum took place in May at the Perpich Center. The Forum is in flux and both Ginger McFerran and Gregg seem to be feeling that they are working harder to get people there each year (approximately 35-40 people were there and half of these were presenters). Is it worth the time and money? They submitted a grant proposal to the CTAM Foundation and these funds were not issued (due to the 501C3 situation). Is the Forum doing what it was intended to do? Good topic for META to discuss. There is a groundswell for a MN chapter of Intl. Thespians (perhaps we should invite a member to be on the BOG if this continues). Gregg expressed frustration with people complaining about the lack of theater panels. He encourages everyone to get involved. He noted that someone else would be leading the hand-to-hand combat session tomorrow (due to a death in the family of Doug S. Carlson).
Mark G. thanked Angie for all her work on the on-line material. Best teaching practices should come out of this body and he believes that there should be an on-line component at this conference.
Mark Q. reported that his term on the MSHSL Board ends next June so an announcement in the next CTAM newsletter would be beneficial. The MSHSL should be informing CTAM in February that a replacement for this position needs to be selected. Over $530,000 is earmarked to help promote programs so he encouraged CTAM to approach the MSHSL Board with proposals for grants (such as for getting, training and retraining speech and theater coaches and directors). Mark reported that the structure of sections is new this year and this needs to be monitored.
Rebecca mentioned a concern that we are losing AA speech coaches in the NW section of the State. If you have concerns about licensure issues she recommends the Perpich Center website. MN Scholars of Distinction in the Arts is a great program and Perpich is doing a lot to include out-state MN. Rebecca is thrilled with CTAM and with the number of people who attend CTAM from the NW area.
2. Personnel
A. President-Elect Nominees
Cliff Janke has accepted the nomination for President Elect and is on the ballot for Saturday. Note: Jody Saxton-West and Scott Durocher may be interested in a future nomination for this position.
B. Secretary Nominees
Jan Urtel and Karen P. Wilson are both on the ballot for Saturday.
Nominations from the floor will be accepted for both positions.
3. Presidential Appointments: Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is fully staffed at the present time. Welcome to Margaret, the newest BOG member.
4. Awards
Outstanding Individual Award nominees:We recognize and praise Nanette Johnson-Curiskis, Sandy Nieland and Cathy Wurzer.
The National Federation Outstanding Educator in Speech, Theater and Debate Award: Barb Seng will not be at CTAM this year but it is noted that Denise Atkinson received this award.
The Wallace A. Bacon Lifetime Achievement Award: Congratulations to Larry on receiving this award from NCA. There is a special panel at NCA in Larry’s honor called Larry Schnoor: His Impact on Forensics. Thanks to Larry for all his work on CTAM!
5. Other Business
Karen provided an update on licensure. Three options exist: a Theater license, a Dance license and a combined Theater/Dance license. Karen will be the CTAM link on MN Arts Standards Revision Committee.
Larry requested assistance at the four registration areas tomorrow.
Sandy introduced information from Derrick Linstrom about creating new teacher awards. The Exec. Committee supports the idea of creating different awards. Future consideration: should CTAM offer Lifetime Service Awards as well as New Teacher Awards (for high school, colleges and adjuncts)? Watch for more information from the Executive Council. Motion was made for the Executive Board to work out details of CTAM offering different teaching awards and bring these back to the BOG for an official vote. Motion was seconded. Discussion followed. Is this necessary? Is it beneficial? Motion passed.
Sandy will work out representation on the Arts Consortium (Rebecca volunteered to serve) and get back to Virginia McFerran with this information.
7. Convention 2008 Update Sept. 11-13, 2008
Larry mentioned that the Exec Council would be investigating several locations in the mid-northern area such as Alexandria, Bemidji, etc. Gregg asked if we could always hold CTAM in the center of the State. Discussion followed.
8. Next BOG meeting
January 6, 2008, 11:30 a.m., at the Ground Round in St. Cloud. Diana will make the reservations. Sandy will take minutes for Karen who will be in England.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. with the call “Rah Rah Rochester.”
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen P. Wilson, Secretary