1. Meeting called to order at 6:03AM by Lisa Woodruff

2. Opening Remarks

(Board members present: Lisa Woodruff, Larry Hinken, Ed Griffith, Kim Bernstein, Karin Albright-Coleman, Ken Mertens, Mark Ladd, Anne Nicholls, Eric Best, Ruth Best, and JoBeth Cruz) A thank you was given to those from the theatres attending. The following representatives from 4^th Street , Footlight and LaPorte Little Theatre were David Pifko, Sandy Assarian, Christine Wiegand, Bonnie Quigley and Susie Richter.

3. Board Updates

1. Saturday Night Gala - A brief history of the Gala was distributed. This included why the Gala is currently at the LaPorte Civic Center along with the when the date of the Gala is announced. Before changing the date from Sunday to Saturday every single theatre was contacted and asked to remain dark for the night of the Gala. Every single theatre agreed to remain dark.

2. LLT concerns - Bonnie Quigley gave an update from the LLT Board from last Monday night's meeting. She read a letter and presented it to the NIETF Board. The Board was dismayed with the decision to not renew their membership since it had since dropped the sanction.

Questions/answers:

1. Was there a unanimous decision to sanction LaPorte? Not a common practice to record yeas and neas. The minutes only reflect whether the motion was passed.
2. Appears from materials seen or read there is no rule or law that requires a theatre to be dark on the night of the gala? There is no resolution in writing. In fact, until 5 years ago there was no P&P manual and only 2 years ago on line. Original decision was not out of cruelty to LaPorte. The board restated NIETF's purpose is to promote theatre not crucify them.
3. Do we have any sense of what other member theatres are saying in response to all this? Many theatres as well as individuals have contacted NIETF. The board is trying to move forward. (LaPorte feels they are being punished.) Reiterated that the Board had dropped the sanction after the initial letter was sent and again explained that the date of the next Gala was always announced at the end of the Gala so that Theatres would have a year's notice. Cannot see why a theatre would not want to be a part of an award ceremony that showcases them as well as the other theatres in the 3 county regions.
4. Have we considered moving the Gala back to Sunday night? Every year the Board looks for new locations to hold the Gala event. There are many factors to consider. A stage with a sound system, lighting. A location that can hold 350-400 people and serve food and alcohol. Cost is a major factor. Keeping the ticket price down is of major concern. The board chooses not to use a High School and alcohol could not be served at one, plus cleanup the day after. If on Sunday, cleanup would be during school.
5. Can the Board be firm about consequences/expectations before sanctioning in the future? The board agreed and again explained the reasons leading up to the sanction against LaPorte and our letter rescinding that sanction. At this point a letter was presented from Footlight Players explaining they chose not to be a Member Theatre for the upcoming year.
6. Does the board take into consideration the people/theatres they represent when they vote? Do they have this on their conscience? The Board does. That is why the board chose to include a representative from each theatre for Board elections every December. We also have included a representative from each theatre for viewer elections in August. Years ago there was a liaison on the board to the theatres. We are going to look at doing this again. We are also hoping to expand the board.

3. Guestbook - The guestbook is a censored venue, not a newspaper. If you can't address somebody with respect or play nice your comments will not be posted. Every year from the July 1st till the Gala there is controversy and questions about the Gala and then it dies until the next year.  

4. The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 PM. Before adjournment a representative of LaPorte Civic Center agreed to meet to look into having the Gala on Sunday night.

Respectively submitted,

Kim Bernstein
NIETF Recording Secretary 2006

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