state arts action network

Meeting Minutes and State of the State Reports

July 18, 2004 Meeting Minutes
Jay Dick–2004

pARTicipate 2004 Conference

Omni Shoreham Hotel
Embassy conference room
Washington, DC

Sunday, July 18, 2004
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Attendees:

• Betty Plumb, Co-Chair
  South Carolina Arts Alliance
• Alene Valkanas, Co-Chair
  Illinois Arts Alliance
• John Barsness
  Montana Arts
• Pat Berman
  Alliance of NY State Arts Organizations
• Vicki Bourns
  Utah Cultural Alliance
• Pat Boyd
  South Dakotans for the Arts
• Carolyn Bye
  Metropolitan Reg. Arts Council (MN)
• Laurel Canan for Anne Katz
  WALA (Wisconsin)
• Jenny Hershour
  Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania
• Allen Hoffman
  Connecticut Cmte. on Culture & Tourism
• Dan Hunter
  MA Advoc. for the Arts, Sciences, & Hum.
• Gretchen Johnston
  Washington State Arts Alliance
• Shari Kosel
  South Dakotans for the Arts
• Al Maitland
  California Assembly of Local Arts Agencies
• Debbie Mikula
  Michigan Assoc. of Comm. Arts Agencies
• Ann Marie Miller
  ArtPride New Jersey
• Ellen Morgan
  Assoc. of Comm. Arts Agencies of Kansas
• Trish Poupore
  Virginians for the Arts
• Nola Ruth
  Missouri Assoc. of Comm. Arts Agencies
• Trish Salerno
  Arts Kentucky
• Matthew Saunders
  WESTAF (Colorado)
• Jan Selman
  Arts Leadership League of Georgia
• Lisa May Simpson
  Illinois Arts Alliance
• Sheila Smith
  Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
• Shirley Sneve
  formerly with Arts Extension Service (MA)
• Judy Weiner
  Alliance of NY State Arts Organizations

AFTA Staff:

• Nina Ozlu
  Vice President, Gov’t and Public Affairs
• Jay H. Dick
  Director of State Arts Policy

Facilitator: 

• Merianne Liteman

1. Welcome and overview by Betty Plumb and Alene Valkanas – Co-Chairs.
• The Co-Chairs recapped the previous council meeting’s process.
• The Network’s Top Priorities/ Goals are:
1. Develop mission, vision and values statement.
2. Conduct baseline research/ needs assessment in each state.
3. Create action plan for all 50 states.
4. Create relevant opportunities for professional development and networking.

The Co-Chairs called for additions to the Network’s two committees and introduced the members of the executive committee.

Governance Committee
Responsibilities include:  Draft operating procedures, election procedures, officer selection, membership criteria, and ex-officio member recommendations

• Ellen Morgan – Chair
• Carolyn Bye
• Allen Hoffman
• Gretchen Johnston

Two open spots were filled by:

• Pat Berman, New York
• Debbie Mikula, Michigan

Programs Committee
Responsibilities include:  Develop and review questions for research and profiles project, website content, listserv activity, and setting professional development agenda of regular SAAN conference calls and conference workshops.

• Nola Ruth - Chair
• Anne Katz
• Trish Salerno
• Sheila Smith
• Judy Weiner

One open stop was filled by:

• Pat Boyd, South Dakota

Executive Committee
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:  Overseeing finances, strategic planning, minute approval and legal closeout of SAALA and NCAN.

(Temporary through 2005 at which time new elections will take place.)

• Betty Plumb – Co-Chair
• Alene Valkanas – Co-Chair
• John Barsness
• Gretchen Johnston
• Ellen Morgan
• Nola Ruth
• Sheila Smith
• Judy Weiner

2. Exercise conducted by the facilitator.
   Create a metaphor for the SAAN.  The network was divided into five groups to develop a metaphor and explain why it is a good metaphor for the SAAN.
• A Jazz Band—Individual sounds come together.  They are creative and innovative.
• The SAAN Fitness Center—A small 100 pound weakling that grows into a 10,000 pound gorilla to get anything it wants.  A person doing yoga as they are flexible.  Team sports as the SAAN can get fit together.   These images show transformation, taking control and working together.
• A hammer—It is used to build.  Changes can be made with proper tools.  It increases and wields power.
• A compass—Accommodates for change of direction.  Keeps true to north (SAAN’s mission).  A compass is often old and has been handed down to us, a symbol of our legacy.
• A wheel—A wheel has many parts that are stronger when whole.  It moves the SAAN forward.
3. Activity
   The network was split into two groups to discuss the following issues.  Each group discussed one issue.

Research:  Conduct needs assessment in each state.   What are the outcomes you would like to see?

OR

Professional networking/training and development.  What are you most important professional needs?

Research:  What do we want to know about each state?

• What are the relationships to the state arts agency (SAA)?
• What is the scope of work of the SAA?  Does the SAA do advocacy and if so, what is the scope of the advocacy?
• Where does the funding come from for advocacy and service?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of each state organization?
• What is the scope of the state group’s work?  Number and kind of staff?  How do they do this work and how are they funded?
• What is the purpose of the research?  Individual improvement and/or the SAAN’s work?
• Do a demographic summary of each individual organization in each state.
• Why are some states unable to sustain a state advocacy organization?
• What would it take to stabilize all states? (best practices)?
• Who are the parties to the money - dues, foundations?
• What are the dues structures of each organization?  Is there foundation support, and if so, how much influence does the foundation have?
• What are some organization models?
• Need to identify state trends.
• Need to make the report(s) easily accessible.

Networking:

• Need a moderated listserv hosted by AFTA.
• Organize themed quarterly conference calls (organized and moderated by AFTA).
• Occasional “coffee kitchen” conference calls organized by AFTA. (open forum).
• Find ways to network within NASAA and regional arts organizations.  Use Westaf
• Model to build relations within states and nationally.  (coordinated by AFTA).
• Maintain ties with other national arts organizations for information sharing purposes.

Training:

• Facilitate conference calls with live computer training.
• “Train the Trainers” workshops on topics of vital interest in advocacy.  Examples are mediation, facilitation, creating and communicating public value.
• Peer coaching programs.  Topic:  Who owns advocacy?

Professional Development:

• Training on national trends that affect our work.  (taxes, education, growth/decline of the industry.)
• Best practices programs – what works best elsewhere?  Not necessarily talking heads programs, but interactive.
• Interactive Network.  Meetings, conference calls, online meetings and networking in person.  Don’t solely rely on a listserv.
• Look at the Community E-Institute (Alliance and Cornell) for ideas.  This could be adapted.  It would also be fun and aid in networking.
• Learn more about the opposition’s mindset and rationale.
• Help small organizations find funding.
• Create a mentor program especially for new staff.  Re-evaluate mentor programs on a regular basis.
• Leadership training programs.
• Use AFTA staff to assist professional development, especially in the areas of advocacy and grassroots.
• Julia Fabris McBride will use these topics in developing the research questionnaire.

4. Adjournment.
   Betty Plumb and Alene Valkanas—Co-Chairs thanked the network members for attending.