Gulf Alliance for Local Arts

In Attendance:  Amber Davis, Polly Searle, Kim Harrison, Don Ouellette, Sandie Yarbrough,
    Kellee Novak and Anissa Neubauer

President Don Ouellette called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m. ET

Old Business:
•    The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and discussed.  A motion was made by Amber Davis and seconded by Anissa Neubauer to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  The motion passed unanimously.
•    A motion was made by Amber Davis and seconded by Anissa Neubauer to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2009 meeting.   The motion passed unanimously.
•    The Grant/Application /Program Development Committee has not yet met.
•    Update on Events/Projects:  Sandie Yarbrough reported the Art and Wine Festival will continue to be managed by the Mexico Beach CDC.  GALA could provide a presence if desired.  Possibility of GALA working with Panache to develop similar event for next year in the Spring. Kim Harrison reported that grant information to the State in regards to the “Write a Play” program was submitted and awaiting approval.  There were no other project updates.  Amber Davis will send an updated project liaison list to Sandie Yarbrough who will send an e-mail asking for updates prior to next month’s meeting.
•    Committee Updates:  Polly Searle will print up a list of current membership information for discussion during next month’s meeting.  The next First Friday participants were announced.  Kim Harrison expressed a need for board members to assist with the set-up.

New Business:
•    Don Ouellette discussed his meeting in Memphis with the Crittenden Arts Council (a similar arts board) and how GALA can utilize some of their ideas to enhance our programs.  The Board agreed that GALA’s sole benefactor in the future should be Children’s Theater with the first potential project being a Halloween play.  A motion was made by Amber Davis and seconded by Don Ouellette that Anissa Neubauer be accepted as the chair.  The motion passed unanimously.
•    The 2009 Budget was discussed.  It is evident that fund raisers are required in order that our goals are met.  Some ideas were discussed and an e-mail will be sent to the general membership to elicit further ideas.
•    A new brochure and strategy was discussed to gain a larger membership:   New fees, membership drives, pursuit of public and corporate sponsorship, etc with a goal of being self sustaining.  A motion was made by Sandie Yarbrough and seconded by Amber Davis for Don Ouellette to pursue investigation into printing new brochures and purchasing donation “boxes” to be placed in businesses with a total cost not to exceed $1,500.  The motion passed unanimously.  The Board was asked to provide input to Don concerning the draft brochure presented.


A motion was made by Sandie Yarbrough and seconded by Amber Davis to adjourn the meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.

Next meeting:  Monday, June 22, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the GALA office at 222 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe


Sandie Yarbrough
Recording Secretary