119 Gallery Board Meeting

February 3, 2008

Minutes by Kitty Chick 

 

Attending

Members: Steve Albert, John Craig Freeman, Setheyny Pen, Felicia Sullivan (chairperson), Jason Woodward (treasurer)

Staff: Mary Ann Kearns (curator) and Walter Wright (executive director)

Guests: Kitty Chick, Lisa Garbutt, Y Woodward

Absent 

Dan Adam, Sam Smiley

The meeting began at 4:05 p.m. 

The following documents were distributed:

·       2008 Budget

·       Director’s Report

·       News Release for next gallery show, “Sensory Memories”

Members and guests introduced themselves.

 

Motion for New Member

Craig Freeman motioned that Kitty (Kathleen) Chick be added to the Board.  Felicia Sullivan seconded the motion.  After a brief discussion about what the job entails, the Board voted and was unanimously in favor.

 

Director’s Report

Walter read the Director’s Report (attached). 

1.       Regarding the recent expression of concern from the Lowell Police about potential gang violence in the gallery’s neighborhood, the board’s discussion included the following subjects: recent tagging (for example, “this is Asian turf”) on the building and meter boxes; the possibility of starting and ending teen events at an earlier hour; adding security personnel or asking the police to increase its presence; disallowing gatherings outside the building during teen events; inviting a group of teen artists to paint the building with anti-violence images and messages that reinforce the idea of the space as a place for community and art.  Mary Ann suggested asking Tyco to provide corporate sponsorship for the creation of a mural.

Action items:

 

·       Walter will speak with Juan Carlos of UTEC to discuss and better assess issues and concerns about teens and teen gangs in the neighborhood

 

·       Board members’ e-mail discussion on this subject, which took place prior to this meeting, will be assembled as an attachment to these minutes (Kitty to do)

 

·       Members of the Board (Walter and Setheyny) will follow up with UTEC to explore the mural/wall-painting proposal

 

·       The Board needs to create and implement a policy statement that addresses potential problems

Though no one was specified for implementing the following actions, it was also decided that:

 

·       119 Gallery needs to provide those using the space with a packet of information and forms: e.g., safety guidelines and procedures, emergency contact numbers, a liability form, etc.

 

·       A general liability form should be consistently used (i.e., presented and signed) prior to every event

 

    Discussion also included the idea that the Board might take advantage of the situation to invite neighbors and nearby businesses to begin a dialogue among those invested in the well-being of the community.  No decision was reached regarding this proposal.

 

2.     Walter has produced a 90% complete quad fold announcing the gallery’s educational program.  Classes have been announced on the 119 Gallery Web site calendar, and the announcements will be mailed by mid-February.  Beyond this, instructors are responsible for promoting their own workshops. 

 

Curator’s Report

 

1.   Observations were made about recent attendance: we’ve had more visitors from Boston than Lowell.  This seems more often to be the case with shows featuring video and other types of electronic media, rather than more traditional media. Felicia suggested that we need more emphasis on educating our local audience.

 

2.   Mary Ann passed out the news release for the next gallery show (attached).  This show, “Sensory Memories,” will run February 26-March 22, with a reception from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on March 22.  The artists are painter Bernie Petruzziello, who is blind, and sculptor Ralph Eaton, whose work may be physically manipulated, even sliced open, by the viewer.  The gallery received a grant from the Lowell Cultural Commission to pay for transporting the sculpture.

 

3.   Mary Ann passed around a mock up of the gallery’s new brochure, which is ready to go to press.  It will be mailed mid-February.  Craig suggested that the background on the brochure cover should be a deeper shade of blue.

Treasurer’s Report

Jason presented the 2008 budget (attached).  Projections are based on last year’s activity.  However, the following new items have been added:

·       Staff as an expense item

·       Facility Usage Fee as an income item

In discussion, the Board acknowledged that this is an overly ambitious budget ($117,920).  It serves as something to aim for.  It was noted that contributions and membership fees are two separate categories.  Consulting income is generated when Walter and Mary Ann make presentations on behalf of the gallery. 

Action Item:  Jason will reformat the report so that columns line up in a more consistent, less confusing way.

 

 

Motion to Accept the Budget

Walter moved that the budget be accepted.  Jason seconded the motion.  The Board was unanimously in favor.

 

Board Retreat

Upcoming retreat information, including a new date and the agenda, will be available to Board members on the Wiki. 

The cost of the retreat is partially covered by a donation for this purpose. Board members have agreed to pay $10 each toward the cost of breakfast and lunch.  Invited guests will not be asked to contribute. 

A SWOT analysis will be among the day’s activities.  SWOT is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate a project venture (S=strengths, W=weaknesses, O=opportunities, T=threats/challenges). 

Among other subjects for consideration at the retreat, we will focus on activities that reflect the gallery’s mission and we will look at restructuring Board committees (e.g. programming and education, fundraising and grant-writing, marketing).

Action Item: Because the date currently set for the retreat, March 23, is Easter, Felicia will call Walker Center (the retreat center in Newton) to rescheduled it. 

Miscellaneous Discussion Items:

Membership Database

Sam has an intern working with her at Leslie College who may be able to provide help with the gallery’s membership database.

Submission of Grant Application

Mary Ann has submitted a $17,000 Parker Foundation Grant application for educational programming.  She is optimistic.

Cultivating Corporate Sponsors

Our visitor, Y, suggested that the Board put on a “wine-and-dine” party, or some event of this sort, to cultivate potential sponsorship from area businesses (e.g., Michael’s).  We need to be able to specify the benefits of sponsorship (e.g., advertising and discount coupons in programs or handouts at gallery events.

Next Board Meeting

The next Board meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 2, at 119 Gallery.

 

Membership Invitations

 

Board members extended informal invitations to Lisa Garbutt and Y Woodward to join the Board.  Both said they would consider this and get back to us.

 

Motion to Adjourn Meeting

 

At 5:30pm Walter moved to adjourn the meeting; Steve seconded the motion; and the Board unanimously voted to adjourn.

 

ADDENDUM TO MINUTES:

Board E-Mail Discussion about Police Concern Related to Teen Gang Activity in the Gallery’s Neighborhood (per Director’s Report for February 3 Board Meeting)

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:48:39

From: John Craig Freeman

Yes we should talk this over. My feeling is that we should work with

the gang unit to make it a safe alternative to gang activities. They

should provide beat cops in and around the neighborhood, on foot, on

Friday and Saturday nights if they are expecting violence.

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:40:03

From: Felicia Sullivan <felicia.sullivan@gmail.com>

Walter,

If you could talk to Greg or Juan Carlos at UTEC to get a sense of how serious we should take the police warning that would be helpful.  The worse thing that could happen is for someone to get hurt or worse and have that reflect negatively on the Gallery or the neighborhood.  I also don't want us to jump at every warning.  I am concerned that space near the gallery (if not on the gallery) has been tagged which indicates were are indeed in an area of turf battles.  How can we be proactive and positive?

One thing might be to offer the 119 Gallery space as a place for neighborhood leaders and businesses to meet have discussions about these types of happenings (not immediately, but sometime in the future).  These sorts of things should be done in conjunction with groups who have more of clue than us and should be seen as positive community building activities and not fear driven rant fests.  We have the opportunity to play a role in the neighborhood.

If we do decide to cancel, my inclination wouldn't be to broadcast to everyone that we are closing because of expected violence.  I wouldn't want to create an impression that the venue is overly dangerous.  However, this is my opinion and would be interested in what others have to say.  We should also look at what he expected revenue loss might be should we close and what other negative impacts might occur.

- Felicia

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:33:33

From: Dan Adam <youwilllearntohateme@gmail.com>

This is something that I've worried a little bit about in the past.  I think one of the biggest problems is that the kids coming to the events don't realize that the neighborhood is potentially dangerous.

There was an incident one night with a few little kids that rode by on a bike and threw an apple at some of the kids outside.  Naturally, the kids that got hit with the apple were ready to go "beat up" the kids (who were probably 10-11 years old).  I had to explain to them that they didn't understand this neighborhood and that there was a good chance if they were involved in a fight, even with some little kids, chances are that it would escalate to something larger (who is to say that an older brother with a knife or gun won't jump in).  After that I've been telling kids that if anything like that happens to please tell me immediately rather than going off looking for a fight.

I think Felicia's suggestion to talk to Juan Carlos is a good idea, as is John's to try to work closely with the police gang unit.  There has to be an alternative than to simply close things down.

Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:25:11 (PST)

From:  Sam Smiley rocketscience@virtualberet.net

i agree. the fact that 119 is providing things to do on the weekend is a

POSITIVE thing. did the cops ask the restaurant to close down?  way to put

everyone in a panic, and close down businesses. this is really stupid,

perhaps the city can provide some support.

-sam smiley :-0

 

Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:34:21 (PST)

From:  Sam Smiley rocketscience@virtualberet.net

. . . after my knee jerk reaction, i did some research on the internet, and one

place suggested to be in contact with the Boys and Girls club in the area.

perhaps that's something we want to initiate to start a positive  and

arts based relationship with a youth group in Lowell area who has some

knowledge of this.

in the meantime here's some reading:

http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/topics/gangs.asp

http://www.paho.org/english/dd/pin/ptoday03_apr05.htm

http://www.tcwf.org/op-ed_archive/new_thinking.htm

-sam smiley