A Message from the Actors' NET Board
November 8, 2007
To NET Members, Patrons, and Supporters,
Thank you to all who provided input and support prior to the NET Board “Retreat” held on October 28, 2007. Your valued feedback was used to help us through this re-visioning process and in crafting strategies and action plans to transform our organization into a sustainable enterprise. Because you cared enough to contribute to this process, we are now well on the way to development of goals, objectives and policies for our company that will help ensure not only its sustainability, but ultimately enable it to thrive.
All of your suggestions were discussed and considered, but time and prioritization demanded some proposals be deferred for the time being. If you don’t see one of your suggestions on the list of resolutions below, please don’t assume that it wasn’t given serious consideration. There are many more items that were deferred for further discussion at a future date.
The Board thanks our founders and the Managing and Artistic Directors of the Actors’ NET, Joe and Cheryl Doyle, for their vision, artistic integrity and perseverance in creating and maintaining a theatre company that has presented the highest caliber performances possible over eleven successful seasons. Our efforts to rededicate the NET to its original vision during this current twelfth season will, we hope, enable it to continue for many years to come.
The following action steps were recommended by the Board of Directors as a result of discussions at the “Board Retreat”:
- The following Actors’NET Mission Statement was unanimously approved:
The Actors' NET of Bucks County was founded in 1996 as an actor-driven, not-for-profit regional theatre company -- run by actors, for actors. We strive to attract the Delaware Valley's best non-union talent to work and grow together to meet the challenges of a diverse repertoire. Productions range from modern classics and musicals to Shakespeare and new and original works, each designed to encourage actors to enhance their skills and artistry while appealing to and expanding the theatrical tastes of audiences of all ages, incomes, and cultural backgrounds. We further seek to celebrate the region’s historical significance by presenting theatrical pieces which illuminate the issues and personalities that have helped shape our region, commonwealth and nation. Through staging quality shows and providing training to actors of all ages, we are committed to keeping alive the best traditions of the American theatre.
- Creation of a parallel Board of Trustees or Board of Governors for the NET. This Trustee arm is to consist of prominent civic, business, arts and education leaders from the surrounding communities, whose purpose would be to promote the NET in their communities. The Board of Directors would function on parallel but independent lines from the Trustees, to whom they would make a report on the state of the Net twice yearly. The Trustees would have no management, supervisory, or fiduciary responsibilities for the NET, but would be looked upon to provide guidance and assistance to the Board of Directors to promote the growth and development of the organization and to serve as “goodwill ambassadors” for the NET.
- The following NET staff positions were proposed and approved:
- Artistic Director – Cheryl Doyle
- Managing/Executive Director – Joe Doyle
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Front of house manager
- Fundraising director
- Show producer
- Guest directors
- Financial Manager/Accountant
- Bookkeeper
- Facilities manager
- Marketing manager (Advertising/Publicity)
- Technical director
- Construction manager/Master carpenter
- Stage Painting Manager/Master Painter
- Properties manager
- Costumes manager
- Member Services Manager
- Webmaster
- Historian
- Programs/Brochures Coordinator
- Stage Manager
- School Outreach Coordinator
- Appropriate supporting committees/workgroups to be established
- Recruitment campaign
- “All the world’s a stage, and we need stagehands”
- To be incorporated in NET programs and other appropriate avenues of advertisement
The following standing committees were recommended:
Executive Committee, Finance/Legal Committee, Nominating/Recruitment Committee, Fundraising Committee, Municipal Relations Committee, Marketing Committee, Volunteers Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Play Reading Committee
- The NET will have one formal paid position – that of Managing Director, whose duties are enumerated in the pertaining job description – and that all other positions would be filled in a volunteer capacity, with the following caveat: occasional paid professional expertise determined on a show by show basis and not available on a volunteer basis is authorized.
- NET to get on agenda of Morrisville Economic Development Council to revitalize our working relationship. NET to promote better relations with Borough Municipal Government.
- Work group of Board to decide on “Operation Sparkle Day” and e-mail membership for volunteers. Available funds (insurance compensation) shall be used to revitalize the NET physical plant.
- It is recommended that during each “curtain speech” the show’s director mention filling out mailing list information and returning it to the box office. This will begin with the opening of the next show – “Watch on the Rhine”
- A costume culling work-group shall be created to reduce the excess inventory of costumes in storage. An e-mail will be sent to Net members and patrons with a request for volunteers for this work group with the “culling” to take place within the month. A subsequent date for costume culling at other sites will be set following the activities.
- The NET to approach Morrisville Presbyterian Church with a marketing proposal for Presbyterian Towers. Similarly, a marketing campaign targeting local senior facilities and the service organizations shall be developed and executed.
- Local VIP night to be repeated for “Big River”.
- Advertizing campaign instituted: The “Don’t Just Applaud. Send Money” campaign is to begin with the next NET show opening, with inclusions in the program and curtain speech references and ads in local newspapers to be pursued. Also, ads in local art cinema houses to be investigated.
- A Board workgroup to design Marketing portfolio for use in promoting NET.
- The first Friday night of every show is to be designated as the “Opening Night Reception”, when refreshments will be served to the audience after the show. The second Friday night of every new production shall be designated as “Talk Back Night”, at which the audience will be invited to stay after the show to ask the director and some of the actors any questions they have about the performance. The director will prepare some “seed” questions, to get the discussion flowing.
- Staged Reading Friday or Saturday to be created to present new (non-royalty) works on evenings when the theater is “dark”. The NET will solicit playwrights for submissions. A “Pay What You Can” admission policy will be requested for these evenings. A director will be chosen and casts assembled for one “reading” and one rehearsal before the presentation – both of which should ideally happen the week of the performance. The author would be invited to the entire process. Managing Director and Artistic Director will shepherd this process.
- A budget workgroup shall be established to begin the process of prospective show budgeting.
- Upon finalization of 501(c)3 status, initiate Net membership in various theatre support groups: such as Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia, American Association of Community Theaters, etc.
Again, thank you for your input and guidance during the initial phase of this process. Please consider donating some of your valuable time and/or resources to help implement the action items outlined above.
We look forward to a continued working relationship with all of you long into the future.
The Actors NET Board of Directors
Edgar C. (Ted) Fletcher – President
Patricia Brofman – Vice-President
Mitchell Gerson, Esq. – Board Solicitor
Marco Newton – Actors’ Representative
George Hartpence – Secretary |
