GULF ALLIANCE FOR LOCAL ARTS
Board Meeting
Thursday, February 18, 2010

In Attendance: Don Ouellette, Amber Davis, Kim Harrison-Kerigan, Steve Kerigan, Michael McKenzie, Machell Bohannon, Blake Denton, Clay Keels, Dolores Lowery, Krichelle H. McGhee, Kelli Hanlon Newman, Andy Smith, Pausha P. Player, Jen Bogaert and the general membership

President Don Ouellette called the Annual Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. EST.

I. Welcome
    a) Don Ouellette welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked SEA (Society of Expressive Artist).
    b) Don Ouellette discussed the importance of GALA to the community and its commitment to promoting arts and culture including visual, performing literary, and media arts, museums and arts education.
    c) GALA Objectives: Strengthening GALA infrastructure as an organization and advocate; Economic expansion through arts; Foster learning and wellness; Youth education; Lifelong learning and design in public places.

II. 2009 Overview
    a) President Don Ouellette outlined GALA 2009 Projects as follows:
        Formation of St. Joe Children’s Theater Initiative
        Formation of GALA Community Theater Initiative
        1st Fridays Fine Art & Music Series
        Songwriters’ Festival’s Workshop
        Ghost On the Coast Storyteller
        Palm Tree Books Book Signing
         Plein Air Student Day & Donation
        A Taste of the Coast Donation

III. Old Business
    a) GALA closed the 222 Reid Ave., PSJ office and is currently using the following P.O. Box 551, Port St. Joe, FL 32457
    b) The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and discussed. A motion was made by Don Ouellette and seconded by Amber Davis to accept the Treasurer’s Report. The motion passed unanimously.
    c) Don Ouellette acknowledged and thanked Gina Vicari Meizner for her contributions as Director for Children’s Theater production and noted Gina was the first recipient of GALA Volunteer Award.

IV. New Business
    a) Introduction of 2010 Board Members:
        Don Ouellette, President
        Amber Davis, Vice President
        Michael McKenzie, Treasurer
        Pausha P. Player, Secretary
        Machell Bohannon, Children’s Theater Chair
        Blake Denton, Community Theater Chair
        Clay Keels, Arts in Education Co-Chair
        Krichelle H. McGhee, Arts in Education Co-Chair
        Kim Harrison-Kerigan, Write–A-Play Chair, Ghosts On the Coast Story Teller Chair
        Steve Kerigan, Sponsor Acquisition Chair
        Dolores Lowery, Window Gallery Tour Chair, Art After Dark Chair, Newsletter Chair
        Kelli Hanlon Newman, Creative Writing Seminars Chair
        Andy Smith, First Fridays Chair, Membership Maintenance Chair
        Jen Bogaert, Director at Large
    b) Children’s Theater needs directors. Don Ouellette discussed the need for assistance and structured help needed. Persons interested should contact Machell Bohannon, Don Ouellette or other GALA member.
    c) The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery is be held at St. Joseph’s Bay Country Club and times are as follows:
        Dinner March 26th and 27th, 6:00 p.m. EST
        Brunch March 28th, 12:30 p.m. EST
        Dinner theater tickets only $35
        Performance only tickets $15
        Tickets may be purchase from the GALA’s secure website
    d) GALA presented the Florida Studio Theater’s Write-A-Play program to all six public schools in Gulf County. The program ran Monday-Thursday, January 25-28, 2010. Inspired students are encouraged to write their own play and participate in the 2010 Young Playwrights Festival.
    e) GALA is creating opportunities for local artist and business people to beautify empty store fronts and make them more rentable/sellable. This project envisions empty storefronts transformed into art galleries.
    f) Art After Dark will be held twice a year during the spring (March, April, May) and fall (September, October, November). Each store front will be selling art and maps will be available to participants.
    g) Mary Gibson will be offering a creative writing seminar on college essays starting the Fall of 2010. More information to come.
    h) Kelli Hanlon Newman is the acting Creative Writing Chair and seminars will be forthcoming.
    i) Arts and Education Co-Chairs Clay Keels and Krichelle McGhee will be working together this year for bringing art into the schools. Plein Air Art will continue to be one of their endeavors.

V. Join and Volunteer
    a) Don Ouellette encouraged everyone to get involved with GALA and join now.
    b) The Annual Membership drive is directly responsible for accomplishing GALA goals now more than ever due to the lack of State of Florida arts funding.
    c) Annual membership dues start at $30 and there are many levels of membership that all offer some type of return.
    d) Membership dues can be renewed safely and securely on the GALA website via debit/credit card by clicking “Renew My Membership”.

VI. Adjournment
    a) Don Ouellette thanked the Board of Directors and Cindy Cherry for their attendance.
    b) A motion was made by Don Ouellette and seconded by Amber Davis to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
    c) Cindy Cherry closed the meeting by singing “Amazing Grace”.

Next meeting: Thursday, March 18, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Port Inn upstairs conference room, Port St. Joe.

Pausha P. Player
Recording Secretary