Jody Allen Crowe, Producer

                                                                                                                        711 Todd Street

                                                                                                                        Brainerd, MN 56401

                                                                                                                        (218) 825-8125

 

 

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

August 15, 2003

 

CALL TO ORDER:  President Lilah Crowe called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. at the Sawmill Inn.  Present were Jody Allen Crowe, Producer, Board Members Lilah Crowe, Jill Evans, Naomi Anderson, Dave Anderson, Donna Benson, Blenda Hagberg, Darlene Hendrickson, Katy Matich, Bob Nelson, and Anthony Wiese, Stephanie White-Board Member in Training, Barb Matich-Bus Tour Coordinator, and Jennifer Skorich-Concessions Coordinator. Board Members Blenda Hagberg and Sharon Hartley arrived late and also Ariel Schnur.

 

Meeting Notification:  Lilah commented that there had been a couple of changes in meeting notification, and they were that minutes would be e-mailed prior to the next meeting.  Minutes are to be reviewed ahead of time so they may be amended and approved at the meeting.  Postcards will also be sent to remind Board and committee members of the date, time and place of the next meeting.

 

CONSENT AGENDA:

Secretary’s Report:  Minutes for this meeting had been e-mailed and Jody having made a verbiage change prior to their being e-mailed to Board Members.  Bob moved to approve the minutes, seconded

by Dave, motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Bob report there was $4,349.91 in the check book with estimating bills from 3WI, KLIZ and Kingdom Sound and Lighting which had not yet been received.  A couple of last minute receipts were also given to Bob at the meeting.  Dave moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Donna, motion carried.

 

Committee Reports:

Site Committee – Dave Anderson

Jody, Dave, Bob and Naomi met with the Rademachers.  The placement of the building was moved from the “back forty” forward to next to the area designated for Paul and Babe.  It will be at an angle so as to be used for signage toward Hwy 18 and to the park, and easy access to the entrance to Rhythm of the Rails’ area and so that people could greet Paul and Babe on the way in.  He mentioned that Paul and Babe would both be inside the gate, together.  Jody commented that our architect was designing the Paul and Babe area so that Babe could be kinda looking toward Paul and that there would be room for Lucette sometime.  Rademachers were very happy with us discussing the site and adjustments at the meeting.  The site committee members are: Dave Anderson, Chair, Jody Crowe, Jill Evans, Mary Barthel, Sharon Hartley, Darlene Hendrickson, Katy Matich and Charity Starkha

Dave will get a meeting lined up with Paul Hurst, our architect, in attendance.  Dave, Jody and Chuck Hagberg planned to meet the next day (Saturday) at the Paul Bunyan Amusement Center to see how the statues came apart and could be moved.  The move will be part of the Site Committee’s responsibility.  Jody said he has contacted someone from the railroad yards about storing the statues.

 

 

 

 

 

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Board Meeting Minutes – 8/15/03

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Paul Bunyan Agreement:  An agreement was drawn up by Don McFarland’s attorney which was signed by Lilah as Board President, notarized by Naomi and will be given to Don on Saturday, 8/16/03.  The agreement was passed around to be read by the other Board Members.  Jody commented on the points of the agreement.

 

Threshing Days at This Old Farm – Donna Benson called people and set up schedule – a good  number came each of the two days.  It worked out well for promoting Rhythm of the Rails and adding interest to their show.  A gentleman there who had previously built sets on Broadway in New York approached Jody.  He is presently living and working in Brainerd and wants to work with us.  There was also another man who has a turn-of-the-century car we could use and who also has railroad connections.  A third man was there who is putting together a book of attractions between the Twin Cities and the Brainerd area who talked with Jody.  So some good leads came from our presence at this event.

 

Radio Show Dates:  Jody recommended that we plan on doing a show at Franklin Jr. High on Thanksgiving weekend again this year.  We would do two shows – Saturday night, Nov. 29th and Sunday afternoon Nov. 30th.  More dates will be set later.  Jody will reserve the school auditorium for that weekend.  Radio Show Chair will be Darlene, Lilah will be the advisor.  David Allen Pundt and Dan Hegstad will handle promotion.  Donna, Jill and Dave agreed to also be on the committee.  Naomi is putting together a trio for the show.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Committee Assignments:  Committee members will be spread out so as not to burn out just a few people.   Lilah reviewed the committees that were posted during the show and are generally as follows:

 

Radio Show:  Committee will meet in September, before the next Board Meeting, to plan.

Chair:               Darlene Hendrickson

Advisor:           Lilah Crowe

P.R.:                 David Allen Pundt

                        Dan Hegstad

                        Blenda Hagberg

 

Program Committee: (For Radio Show) Maybe 30’s-40’s era.  Program could honor Veterans of the Bataan Death March.  They will also meet before the next Board Meeting.

Chair:               Donna Benson

                        JoLynn Crowe

                        Mary Barthel

                       

Bus Tour Committee:  There is a bus tour show the end of September at the State Fairgrounds

Chair:               Barb Matich

                        Darlene Hendrickson

                        Naomi Anderson

                        Jennifer Skorich

 

 

 

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Board Meeting Minutes – 8/15/03

 

 

NEW BUSINESS: (Cont.)

 

New Site Design Committee:

Chair:               Dave Anderson

                        Jody Crowe                             Jill Evans

                        Mary Barthel                            Sharon Hartley

                        Darlene Hendrickson                Katy Matich

                        Charity Starkha

 

Logistics:  Committee needs to know how to take statues apart and put together, how Paul works – talks & moves.

Chair:               Jody

                        Bob Nelson (Technical)

                        Dave Anderson (Move)

 

Maintenance & Grounds Committee:  Anthony will check with greenhouse class to see if they would be interested in helping with landscaping.

Chair:               Anthony –

                        Katy Matich

                        Mike Gage

 

Donation Committee:

Chair:               Jody

 

Sound & Lighting Committee:  Bob will set up meeting

Chair:               Bob Nelson                             

                        Dave Anderson                        Mark Foerderer

                        Ty Winkelman                          Ed

                        Rory Fredstrom (Hoffman Electric)

 

Design Committee:

Chair                Jody Crowe

Mary Barthel                            Darlene Hendrickson

Katy Matich                             Charity Starkha

 

Concessions Committee:

Chair:               Jennifer Skorich

                        Naomi Anderson                      Donna Benson 

                        Barb Matich                             Debbie Fiebelkorn

                        Michelle Ruen                           Deb Cole

                        Jayne Struss                             Susanne Knott

                        Jodi Kanera

 

Parade Committee:

Chair                Barb Matich

                        Charity Starkha                        Angel Mann     

           

 

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Board Meeting Minutes – 8/15/03

 

NEW BUSINESS: (Cont.)

 

P.R. Committee:

Chair                Jody Crowe

                        Naomi Anderson                      Donna Benson (Rackcards)

                        Dave Anderson                        Michelle Ruen (Rackcards)

                        Jill Evans                                  Mary Barthel (Mailings/Phone Calls)

                        David Allen Pundt                     Rick Cole

 

Ticket Production & Sales Committee:

Chair:               Bob Nelson

                        Donna Benson                          David Allen Pundt

                        Lisa Salo                                  Jodi Kanera

 

Ticket Distribution Sites:

                        KLKS Radio                            Crossing Arts Alliance

                        Music General                          Brainerd Chamber

                        Bridge of Harmony                   3WI

                        KLIZ Radio                             Darlene Hendrickson

 

Rademacher Meeting:  Jody commented further about the meeting with the Rademachers.  Jody had asked Steve Shaitberger to put together a plan by which an agreement could be formulated.  Also attending Dave, Site Committee Chair,  Bob, Treasurer and Naomi, take minutes.  He mentioned the plan Steve came up with, the provision for a collaborative Board for the three entities consisting of people from Rhythm and GLAD Corp. (Gary, Lois, Allen & Dale Rademacher).  Discussion points were the agreement, division of money from various sources – gate, concessions, gift/shop and outgoing funds for maintenance, utilities and advertising.  The discussions seemed to be a bit premature for the Rademachers as they had no specific plans in any area for themselves other than having figured the numbers required for them to pay off the amusement park rides.  They will review the plan and put together some information as Steve outlined before the next meeting.

 

Insurance:  Jody recommended that Rhythm of the Rails have error and omissions insurance.

 

Funding Sources:  There are at lease 11 possible funding sources for grants, some of which Jody is working on.  The Blandin Foundation grant needs to be submitted by September 1st.  This will drive an agreement with Rademachers and some figures necessary for application.

 

Budget:  The proposed budget was discussed, and Jody commented that we intend to get as much as possible donated toward our future building.  Donna moved to approve the proposed budget, seconded

by Jill, motion carried.

 

Advertising:  There is an advertising deadline of Friday, August 22, 2003 for the Brainerd Lakes Area 2004 Visitors Guide.  This is a publication of 200,000 copies that are distributed several different ways, but one of which is being placed in the Star Tribune Newspaper in the Spring.  It was agreed that this was an important publication for an ad.  Naomi had also gotten copies of several other publications in which the present Paul Bunyan park was advertised.  Jody recommended Naomi be authorized to spend $2,500 in a cooperative effort with This Old Farm to advertise the complex.  So moved by Darlene, seconded by Katy, motion carried.

 

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Board Meeting Minutes – 8/15/03

 

NEW BUSINESS: (Cont.)

 

Image:  Our image discussion was eliminated by Naomi as an agenda item because we all seemed to be in agreement that it was very important.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

Fundraiser:  Darlene proposed having a fundraiser in the Spring.  Her idea was to have a fashion show/ spring tea on the Mainstreet of Birch Ridge Village at This Old Farm.  She suggested period costumes and also inviting other area women’s groups to participate i.e. Women of Today.  She will chair a committee to get this planned.

 

Adjournment:  Bob moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Dave, motion carried at 8:07 pm.

 

Next meeting will be September 12, 2003 at 6:30 at the site.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted, Naomi Anderson, Secretary