CTAM Executive Board Meeting Minutes

Saturday, May 14, 2005, Best Western Hotel, Mankato

Present: Jill Lofald (President), Tom Kuster (Past President), Dan Cronn-Mills (President Elect), Larry Schnoor (Treasurer), Nanette Johnson-Curiskis (Journal Editor), Karen P. Wilson (Secretary)

Meeting was called to order at 12:50 p.m. It was noted that Larry Schnoor turns 70 on Sept. 5! Happy Birthday!

Reports:

President: Every speech tournament that Jill went to she brought along CTAM reports, folders, etc and made these available. Encourages everyone to be vigilant about getting the word out about CTAM.

Past President: Tom reported that all is going well. Conference mailing dates were clarified. Dan reminded us that no Spring newsletter is sent so the first week in August will be the next mailing. Deadline for submissions is July 15. The format for the CTAM mailing list is Filemaker.

Treasurer: Larry reported that the budget is currently $7, 816.32 with a few outstanding bills. Larry will submit a letter to the CTAM Foundation requesting funds for students to attend the conference. About 20 or 21 students attend the conference with monetary assistance each year (Foundation pays for conference costs). Larry made an arrangement with Judy Litterest to assist with student participation. Waiting to hear from Greg for a report about the Perpich center activity. Three new members just added CTAM membership. Had a request from a former member wanting to know if Larry could send information about verification for hourly certification in regard to previous conference attendance and Larry will take care of this response..

Journal Editor: Nan distributed a report. Mary Elizabeth Bezenson (Morris) received the author award. There were 15 submissions for this journal plus one book review- great response. There are 3 teaching ideas in this journal. She has added 4 more reviewers to assist with this review process. Discussion followed. 325 copies were printed last year and this seems adequate. Cost was $2442 including layout. Is it okay to put Executive Committee email addresses on the front cover of the journal? All approved. More teaching ideas would be very useful in the journal- please encourage such submissions. Of the 15 submissions there were at least 4 or 5 from people at MNSU Mankato- is this too much representation? Discussion followed. This does not seem to be a problem as the process is professional. Nan did submit a proposal for a panel for CTAM conference on how to write a journal submission and Warren Sandman will chair this panel. A motion was made to extend Nan’s term (2 year) as journal editor. Seconded and approved.

Old Business:

Update on Arts Consortium. A lobbyist has been hired from MMEA (MN Music Educators Association) to keep arts funding in focus and to stay on top of the funding issues in MN.

CTAM Graphics: Michelle Neaton emailed Jill about improving the graphics for CTAM. Discussion followed. We await information from her graphics design class.

Membership: Let’s challenge our membership to each bring a new member to CTAM this year! Personal one on one contact seems to work the best. Could all the geographic reps have a sign and brochures to help raise visibility as they travel in their regions? Tom is doing a mailing to colleges to invite new members. One activity for high school teachers published in each newsletter would be useful as well.

New Business:

Selection of Outstanding Individual Awards: 2 nominations have been made and another nomination would be welcome. Diana Rehling and Karen P. Wilson were nominated. Motion made, seconded and approved.

Conference 2006: We need updates for 2006 convention location as soon as possible. Holiday Inn North is an option. Jill and Karen volunteered to work on a site for 2006. Radisson downtown was not adequate. Need to consider food costs with hotel costs and room costs. Luncheon with awards works much better than an evening banquet. Site for 2006: Metro area

Conference 2007: It is not too early to consider 2007 conference locations and it might be good to consider Moorhead, Alexandria, Brainerd.

Conference 2005: Dan distributed an update on the conference (preliminary schedules). Discussion followed about sessions, time slots. Would be useful to have a few more theatre sessions. The judging clinic needs a room that seats from 85-100. The conference is in very good shape at present.

Other Business:

Playwrights Center Request: Tom received another request from the Playwrights Center for funds from the CTAM Foundation. Discussion followed. There was consensus to support the Playwrights’ Center for another year but perhaps not at the same level given the possibility of other funding requests. Pending approval with Larry a motion was made for $1000 to go to the PWC. Seconded and approved. The PWC should be encouraged to include CTAM committee members to some events.

Conference grants to teachers: The Exec Committee should consider/discuss the possibility of providing some grants for new teachers to attend CTAM conferences.

Meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen P. Wilson, Treasurer