I.  Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by JoBeth Cruz

Board members in attendance: JoBeth Cruz, Lisa Woodruff, Ruth Best, Stephanie Naumoff, Mark Ladd, Ken Mertens, Larry Hinken, Anne Nicholls, Ed Griffith, Karin Albright-Coleman, David Pifko, Amanda Dietrich and Jeff Casey.

II.  Opening remarks from the President of the Board.

III. Consent Agenda Approval

A motion was made to accept the submitted reports. The following reports were seconded and approved.

a)      Board minutes from 03/18/07 -Motion made to approve the minutes. Motion seconded and approved.

b)      Treasurer's Report - Motion made to approve this report. Motion seconded and approved.

c)   Marketing Committee Report. - Motion made to approve this report. Motion seconded and approved.

IV. Non Submitted Reports

a)      Play Nominations Secretary's Report - (oral) No play nominations at this time.

b)      Musical Nominations Secretary's Report - Written report distributed and reviewed. Viewer Status percentages discussed.

c)       Outreach Report - Written report distributed and reviewed.

     1. Application for Scholarship to be revised and revisited in
      May.

             a. Discussion on venues to announce scholarship.

                                    1) NIETF Webpage

                                    2) High Schools

                                    3) Universities that offer youth programs

              b. Ed will revise application & send it to the board by
                  May 1, 2007.

     2. Family Event to be tabled until 2008. Decision based on time
         constraint.    Ed Griffith will continue to work up plans for
         next year.

      3. ACTF - Ed will attend June 20-24, 2007.

d)      Development Report (oral).

            1. Larry Hinken is still looking for Committee Members

            2. It was suggested that a brochure sized application be
                made for the member theatres. Currently the NIETF
                brochure has membership info, but no application.

            3. Committee will submit a draft to the board in May. 

V. Old Business

 a)   Bylaws, P&P - Terms of Office and Term Limits discussed. Written revised proposal distributed by Larry Hinken. Proposal #4 (RE: Amendment to Bylaws) Request to table indefinitely previous proposals and accept proposal #4.

            1. Difference between proposals discussed. Difference in
          comprehensive specifications. 

            2. Wording revisited.

            3. Motion made to accept this proposal for discussion.
          Motion seconded and approved. Proposal to be
          revisited in May after the agreed revisions have been
          made. 

b)   Sim Indiana reminder made requesting that all board members sign up on the site and contact Ken Mertens when they have done so.

d)   Website Problems: Final testing of the website will be completed by the end of April. Funds were held; Karin fixed issues without aid.
 

e)   Gala Event - Ruth Best had been requested to create a Comparison Chart from past ceremonies. Written Comparison Chart was distributed.

       1. Facility Charges for LaPorte Civic Auditorium have increased.

       2. Program Charges have decreased.

       3. Discussion on Caterer - in regards to possibility of changing from Stongbow's to Scarborough Faire.

           a. Strongbow's was successful last year

           b. Stongbow's allows separate dessert trays which save costs.

           c. Scarborough Faire would be a nice change of pace; but          considerably higher in cost due to lack of equipment.

      4. Discussion on continuing to create an upscale environment for the Ceremony.

           a. Suggestion made for "passed appetizers".

               1) Board agreed passed appetizers would add to
             ambiance.
         2) Board agreed passed appetizers would stay within the
             Catering tables.

          b. Suggestion made for dessert caterers. It was decided
    that an additional vendor would be detrimental to
    relationship with primary vendor.

      5. Discussion on raising ticket prices for Event.

             a. Pro (Raising ticket prices):

                     1) Higher ticket prices would allow for the desired
                  ambiance.

                     2) Those that enjoy the Event will be agreeable to
                   see it increase in ambiance.

              3) Even with an increase in price, the Event will be
                  of a greater value than a "dinner and a movie"
                  evening.  

            b. Con (Not Raising ticket prices) Concern on Theatre
          Community upset for raised prices.

            c. Compromise suggested by Ken Mertens to increase
          standard ticket sales; yet keep Member Ticket sales as
          they are.  Motion made to approve this suggestion.
          Motion seconded and approved.       

6. Ceremony Disc Jockey - There are concerns in regards to the
Gala Disc Jockey's play list for this year's event; last year's play list was not well received. Jeff Casey volunteered to head up a committee to organize a play list. JoBeth and Mandy will be contacting Steve Zahn to compare Disc Jockey rates.

7. Ceremony Table Set Up Suggestions made.

            a. Auditorium Seating

                     1) Has not worked in the past

                     2) Hard to get out of aisle

                     3) Does not add to elegance of evening

            b. Table Set Up with more pronounced center / or side
           aisles.

                     1) Not a lot of space

                     2) Would loose dance floor space

            c. Square tables instead of Round

                     1) Circle easier to maneuver around

                     2) Does not add to elegance of evening

f)   Theatre Contact Search Engine (Proposed by David Pifko.)

      1. Web based resource page including Contact, Theatre
     History and Theatre Skill information.

      2. Concern on individual privacy preferences.

      3. Concern on procrastination / lack of involvement from others.

      4. Trial decided for NIETF Board, Viewers and Members. Dave Pifko and Ken Mertens will develop such a form and distribute it by May Meeting.

      5.  Motion made to have all board members complete the Sim Indiana and Contact Sheet completed by June Meeting. Motion seconded and approved.

g)   The Viewers Invitation List is almost completed. Stephanie Naumoff will be drafting a letter to those on the list to be revieved by the board at the May Meeting.

h)   Reminder by Ruth Best that all Board Members must pay their dues. There are two members that have not done so yet.

VI. New Business

 a)  Perogi Festival. Will be the first of the three festivals this year that

the Marketing Committee has chosen to participate in. Request for aid in costumes to use for the photo booth, as well as volunteers to work the event. A schedule will be brought to the May Meeting for the Board to sign up.

b)  Habitat for Humanity. Last year seemed to be successful. Anne will research potential sign up for this year and report back to the board at the May Meeting.

c)  NIETF Coupon Book - Becky Fox submitted a proposal for a NIETF Coupon Booklet. The Board will review the proposal to be discussed at the May Meeting.

d)   May Board Meeting on 05/20/07 will be held at Towle Community Theatre.

VII. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned by the President of the Board, JoBeth Cruz, at 8:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Stephanie A. Naumoff            

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