The board of the Hub City Writers Project met April 24, 2007 and heard updates on the artists in residence (new and old) and discussed ways that we can raise funds to support the Hub-Bub project. Betsy reported on progress on books in the pipeline, and Stephen introduced the idea of an Art Car.

Hub City Writers Project/Hub-Bub.com

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

April 24, 2007

Percentage Present: 65%

Present: Mack Amick; Monta Anthony; Paula Baker; Peter Caster; Liz Fort; Ibrahim Hanif; Gary Henderson; John Lane; Nan McDaniel; Dwight Patterson; Jessalyn Story; Mike Trammell; Melissa Walker

Absent: David Dedmon; Linda Cobb; Tom Johnson; Jeremy Jones; Dorothy Josey; Rebecca Ramos; Chris White

Staff: Betsy Teter; Stephen Long

I.                    March 27^th, 2007 minutes were approved without amendment.

II.                 Strategic Planning Update (Melissa):

a.       Melissa and Betsy are working with consultants to set up the Board retreat.  The dates that worked best for the Board were the September dates, followed by the August dates, so we will stay tuned for the date as soon as it is settled.

b.      In the meantime, Melissa asked Board members to engage in some "blue sky" thinking over the summer:  "In a perfect world, what would these two organizations be doing?"

III.               Financial Report (Mike/Betsy):

a.       HCWP is roughly $20K above forecasted income and about $2K over its budgeted expenses - both are due to the fabulous success of Comfort & Joy and the subsequent royalties to Dr. Neely.

b.      Hub-Bub.com is slightly above its forecasted income, and has spent $4K less than its budgeted expenses. 

c.       All looks good on the financial front.

IV.              Executive Director's Report (Betsy)

a.       Artists in Residence are in the process of saying their farewells, including a great event on Sunday night that began with Board members and major donors and ended with friends.  The Barnets & the Zimmerlis attended and enjoyed talking with artists and Board members and Betsy wished to thank Board members who attended and brought food. 

b.      Alix Refshauge, a 29-year-old, native Spartanburg artist, will assume our new full-time position.  Alix is returning to Spartanburg from Charleston where she received her Masters degree in Arts Management.  Although she has already begun corresponding via email with the 4 new AIRs, she will not officially start until June 1.

c.       Betsy wished to publicly thank Kerry Ferguson for all of her hard work in getting the AIR program up and running and asked Board members to thank her, as well, when they see her.

d.      What's next for 2006-2007 AIRS?

                                                               i.      Brian Hitselberger will attend graduate school in Athens at UGA.  He was also accepted to the University of Tennessee.

                                                             ii.      Emily Smith will be the Interim Director, for one year, of the Publishing Lab at UNCW.

                                                            iii.      Justin Plakas will attend the Maryland Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) for his MFA, although he will stay in Spartanburg at least through the 3^rd week in May to help out the staff.

                                                           iv.      Leah Brown will move to NYC to be with her fiancé, Peter, and to make art there.

e.       Who are the new AIRs?

                                                               i.      Arielle: 22-year-old female, painter, fluent in Hebrew, grandmother is a Holocaust survivor and therefore the Holocaust figures prominently in her art, from NYC.

                                                             ii.      Derya: 25-year-old female, filmmaker, sculptress, painter, graphic designer from NYC.

                                                            iii.      Rachel: 22-year-old female, writer, classically trained musician, disc jockey, recently won more than $17,500 in cash prizes for her writing, including an award the recipient list of which John Lane says reads like a "Who's Who" of great writers, from Michigan.

                                                           iv.      Nicholas: 25-year-old male artist from the University of Wisconsin.  Very bike-oriented and excited about working with Biketown and active living.

                                                             v.      They will all arrive June 1 and/or 2.

f.        Books in the Pipeline Report:

                                                               i.      Willis Book now has a name:  Spartanburg Revisited: A Second Look at the Photographs of Alfred & Bob Willis.  It is underway.

                                                             ii.      Common Ties: A History of TII/Spartanburg Junior College/Spartanburg Methodist College.  Also, underway.

                                                            iii.      Stars Fell on Spartanburg.  Also, underway.

                                                           iv.      And, coming sometime around the end of the summer:  Scott Neely's Hospice Book.  SRHS is a big underwriter.

g.       Yet another National Award!  This one is the Daughters of the American Revolution's Annual Historic Preservation Award for 2007, for Sheila Ingle, author Courageous Kate.

h.       The Restaurant downstairs:

                                                               i.      Slated to open June 1.

                                                             ii.      Summer movies will move to 7:30, to coordinate with the restaurant, in hopes of getting dinner and movie going.

V.                 Fundraising Committee Report (Paula)

a.       Rebecca Ramos alerted us to a possible opportunity with the Competitive Grants Commission in the SC Legislature.  Sen. Jim Ritchie was asked to sign a request letter and advocate for our request of $25,000.  It should be several weeks before we hear and we have no idea what our chances are, but we do know that Sen. Ritchie is on our side and we believe the amount we've requested seems reasonable. Reps. Keith Kelly and Mick Mulvaney are also writing letters of support.

b.      On Monday and Tuesday of next week, Board members are asked to stop in to sign fundraising letters with personal notes and/or to simply help stuff envelopes and stick on stamps.

c.       Discussion of event sponsorships (price, potential sponsors, benefits, etc.):

                                                               i.      Benefits to sponsors include having their logo on all materials that go out about the show; being able to invite their clients; and having a board on an easel in the show thanking them for their support.

                                                             ii.      We started the bidding for sponsorships of 6-week exhibits at about $500 and later decided it might make sense to offer them for $500 if you were going to have 2 or more sponsors, but to also offer a $1,000 level which would make you a "presenting sponsor."

                                                            iii.      Paula added that there may be some small businesses run by younger people who would like to be supportive, but cannot afford $500.  That's when we started talking about offering sponsorships for musical events (i.e., 1 night vs. 6 weeks).  We discussed offering those at $250, but ½ what it costs to be one of 2 sponsors for 6 weeks may not be the appropriate amount for a one-night deal.

                                                           iv.      Betsy said there are 2 events coming up for which we could use sponsors:

1.      Talk20 on June 16^th (also a one-night deal)

2.      Artist In Residence Opening Exhibit, starting June 26^th

                                                             v.      Stephen added that if the sponsorship was large enough, they are open to crafting exhibits to suit particular sponsors.

                                                           vi.      Potential sponsors were discussed briefly, with people's thoughts focusing mainly on financial service providers.

                                                          vii.      Betsy and Stephen will draw up a list of benefits to potential sponsors, with costs (although those were not set in stone at the meeting) and the Board will work harder on coming up with people to ask to sponsors.

VI.              Publications Committee Report (Peter):

a.       11 submissions for the March call - split somewhat evenly among history, novels & short stories, and children's or adolescents' literature.

b.      Many of the submissions are from authors who have already had success with other publishing houses

c.       All in all, Peter is pleased with the writing.  Four are really worth looking at. 

d.      Peter is meeting with his committee further to make decisions.

VII.            Hub-Bub Report (Stephen):

a.       Stephen also thanked the Board members in attendance on Sunday night, adding that Leah said it was the best night of her life, as she had never been publicly toasted in such a manner.

b.      We are still gathering items for the Yard Sale.  Anything you don't want anymore (furniture, appliances, books, DVDs, even clothes) are wanted.  Pleas drop them by anytime through about mid-May.  We may wait to hold the Yard Sale until after the Artists arrive, as they may need some items.

c.       The Hub-Bub.com book is coming along as planned.

d.      Art Car: There is an art car "movement" in which artists modify the appearance of their cars as personal artistic expressions.  ("google" "art car" to get an idea).  Ashley Fly was kind enough to donate (although he will keep the title and insurance) a Buick Skylark to become Hub-Bub's Art Car.  It will likely always be a dynamic work in progress with things being added and subtracted, but it will be planted strategically at various events (Music on Main, the Christmas parade, etc.) to get attention and raise awareness for Hub-bub.  Sponsorships for the Art Car are available and Rox, the energy drink, has expressed interest in being a major sponsor.

VIII.         Meeting was adjourned and Board members were invited to give any remaining scarecrows good homes.

Minutes Respectfully Submitted By Jessalyn Wynn Story