Gulf Alliance for Local Arts

In Attendance:   Kim Harrison, Don Ouellette, Sandie Yarbrough, Dolores Lowry,
     Peggy Wood, Amber Davis, Ed Tiley, and Bill Williams

President Don Ouellette called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. ET


Old Business:

•    A motion was made by Amber Davis and seconded by Don Ouellette to approve the July board meeting minutes.  The motion passed unanimously
•    The Treasurer’s report was unavailable, but Kim Harrison reported the only expenditures since the last report was rent and expenses related to the last First Friday.  Revenues associated with First Fridays from sponsors will be invoiced within the week.
•    Kim Harrison reported that even though the state is providing any art associated grants this year, the sponsors of the “Write A Play” project has offered to fulfill the project at the initial cost which will not require matching from the state.  This expenditure has already been approved.  This project provides playwriting workshops to local schools.  A motion was made by Ed Tiley and seconded by Bill Williams to go forth with the project.  The motion passed unanimously.

Projects:

•    Kim also announced a Song Writer’s Festival to be held in Port St. Joe the 3rd weekend in October.  The festival is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.  Kim suggested that we might sponsor an associated student workshop on Saturday afternoon and suggested we give a $300 donation.  Don Ouellette explained that he was already providing advertising and marketing assistance for the event.  After some discussion, a motion was made by Amber Davis and seconded by Don that we host the workshop and absorb the cost up to $300.  The motion passed unanimously.
•    Membership information is still being gathered.  Sandie Yarbrough will contact the membership chairperson for an updated list and Kim and Sandie will meet with our web master to update the web page.
•    In regards to the Window Gallery Tour, Kim stated that there are not as many empty store fronts as there once was.  Kim, Amber, and Sandie will walk Reid Avenue and note the empty windows and locate them on a street diagram to determine how many are viable for this project and report back at the next meeting.
•    Everything is on board for the Children’s Theater and the final packets to be sent to the school are being readied.  The first play will be for Halloween.   Don will talk to the Chamber regarding the location for the play.  A request by Jodie Perez was passed on to the Board that we continue with the Ghosts on the Coast Story teller as in years past.  A motion was made by Amber Davis and seconded by Sandie Yarbrough that the Storyteller be staggered with the play as long as that activity does not take away from the play itself.  The motion passed with one dissenting vote.
•    Ed Tiley announced the Dinner Theater project was on board and the first offering will be at the Port St. Joe Country Club

New Business:

•    A discussion was held regarding a restart of art blasts to announce art events in the area.  Dolores Lowry volunteered to put them together using her e-blast list combined with a previous list utilized by GALA.
•    With the summer nearly over, we agreed that more board members would probably be available in the coming months.
•    As our government liason, Bill Williams expressed a desire to be better informed on GALA activities to ensure his advocacy and collaboration with the agencies with whom he interacts.  This will assist him in earmarking appropriate funds for GALA.

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

Next meeting:  Monday, September, 28, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the GALA office at 222 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe


Sandie Yarbrough
Recording Secretary