March 8th, 2007

Present: Brandi, Joe, Thomas, Gary, Shawn, Jerry

Secretary's Report:

1. February meeting minutes read by Brandi. Approved by Gary and seconded by Thomas

Treasurer's Report:

1. OUTFRONT Account: $0.00
2. St Cloud OUT Account: $3634.14
3. $200.00 in un-collected ad fees remains outstanding at the time.
4. As of 3/8, St Cloud OUT has to raise approximately $860.00 in donations, ads, and ticket sales for the event to pay for itself.

Funding/Grants/Fundraising Committee Report:

1. Nothing to report

Film Fest Committee Report:

All films have been selected and two of the films have been received. One film is unavailable in DVD and Brandi will call for this film to be sent in VHS version. Jerry will contact Dan Barth at PPOF and ensure that this technology is available on the night of the event.

• Tickets:
  • Pricing has been set for months at: $5.00 for Friday, $10.00 for Saturday, and $12.00 for both nights. At the 3/8 meeting, no updates on ticket sales were available.
  • Tickets can be purchased on-line at: https://www.ppfive.com/tickets.aspx
  • As a committee, we need to push ticket sales. Jerry and Brandi will ask Tim and Julia to ensure that posters are placed on SCSU campus.
• Pioneer Place on Fifth
  • The rental agreement is signed and PPOF is waiving the space rental fee for the event. We will need to pay PPOF for tech fees and screen rentals in the amount of $180.00
  • As stated earlier, Jerry will ensure that PPOF has all the equipment necessary for film showing.
• Programs
  • Programs are almost complete as of 03/08 and will be the same size and format as last year’s.
  • Jerry presented a program for the committee’s review. Noted changes included:
    • Spelling changes
    • Addition of an announcement that the Film Fest relies on ad sales and Film Fest donations for the event. Included is the statement that St Cloud OUT does not apply for grants.
    • The program will also include a call for volunteers.
    • It was mentioned to put a survey insert into the program to get information back which may include: where are you from, which night(s) did you attend, and some other general questions so that St Cloud OUT can determine if what we are in-line with the GLBTA community. Jerry and Brandi will create and review this insert
  • Posters
    • Posters are done and are available for print from the St Cloud OUT web site. Jerry has brought in copies for people to distribute. Brandi and Thomas took additional copies.
  • Program Advertisers
  • Mailed approximately 160 letters to St Cloud area businesses asking for donations and informing them of the upcoming event. To date, no updates are available concerning the success. It was stated that most of last year’s advertisers are returning; however, new business ads did not see a lift from the mailing.
• Entertainment
  • Because of the costs and availability of Doug Anderson, potential entertainment for Saturday Night, the FF Committee has asked Leesa to play both Friday and Saturday. Leesa was originally on schedule for Friday night. Having Leesa perform Saturday night assisted the committee with filling this entertainment slot.
• Speakers
• Speakers have been identified, approached, and secured for both Friday and Saturday Night.
• Opening Speaker Friday Night: Senator Paul Koering (Rep)- Little Falls
• Opening Speaker Saturday Night: Mayor Richard Carlbom- St Joseph
• Panel Speakers for Friday: Father Kevin Anderson (St Edwards Catholic Church), Pastor Jayne Thompson ( University Lutheran Church of the Epiphany) and Miranda Dwyer (a member of the St Cloud Jewish Community)
• Budget
  • The budget for the Film Fest is coming in below the $3000.00 budgeted amount

Resource Committee Report:

Web site statistics for the month of:	February
Total Visits:	1968
Average per day:	70
Unique Visitors for the month:	906
One-time Visitors:	641
Repeat Visitors:	265

• A review of last March’s minutes shows that the web site is keeping in-line with last February.
• February’s web statistics were shared and Jerry reports that we should have a year’s historical data available for next month.

Advisory Committee Report:

• Advisory committee did not meet

Old Business:

New Business:

Announcements:

1. GAB to provide an e-mail BLAST to their distribution group reminding of the Film Fest.
2. Women’s Group of St Cloud and Women’s Group of Wright County have received this e-mail.
3. An Ad appears on the MN Deaf web site
4. PSA’s were sent to KVSC and Regent Broadcasting
5. A $50.00 gift amount for a thank you was motioned by Shawn and seconded by Thomas.
6. On behalf of GAB, Thomas asked that St Cloud OUT explore other groups to determine why they are not active in local events, such as the GAB Dances. Questions included, where they are, are they still around, why they are not working together. As GAB dance attendance has not been what they expected, GAB may be required to analyze their schedules and locations to ensure the financial success of the dance. Thomas introduced the idea of St Cloud OUT members attending these other meetings to get ideas on why people are not attending functions. St Cloud OUT asked that this objective be tabled until after the Film Fest.
7. Gary and Thomas, on behalf of GAB, introduced a new GAB Dance format to be introduced at the March 31 st dance. Now included will be Karaoke.