In attendance:

Scott MacPherson, E.D.
Jennifer Myszkowski, President
Carey Baker, Clerk (remote)
Daniel O’Sullivan, Treasurer
Ismary Santiago (remote)
Keishia Archeval (remote)
Mike Hines (remote)
Vinnie Bonilla (remote)

Not in attendance:

Gloria Caballero
Jayne Melendez
Carolyn Rogers-Harris, R.I.P.

Call to order: 6:35pm

Accept prior meeting minutes – May 15, 2025

• Motion to accept prior meeting minutes Dan
• Second: Mike
• Vote is unanimous, the motion carries.

Directors Report

P and L

Balance Sheet

• Program & Events Update:
  • June = Busiest Month of the Year
    • Week 1: Victory Players in residence
    • Week 2: 3 large drumming events (Thurs–Sat) – well attended
    • Week 3: LGBTQIA+ theater program began (runs through mid-August); Valley Jazz Shares performance
    • Week 4: 3 major productions scheduled (Wed–Fri)
  • July Outlook
    • Slower pace after July 4th
    • Youth Camp: July 7–mid-August
    • Staff will take vacation during slower weeks
  • August:
    • Programming picks back up at beginning of the month
• Staffing Request: Proposal to bring in temporary office help:
  • Casual employee already in payroll system
  • 10 hours/week from July 7–August 22
  • Total cost: $2,400 (includes wages + withholdings)
  • Aims to reduce workload on limited on-site staff
• Facilities & Insurance Update
  • HVAC Damage Claim: Denied due to rodent damage exclusion
    • Additional Funds Needed: $2,632.63 from free cash (repair balance)
  • Frustrations with Current Insurance:
    • High cost, poor service, inflated building valuation
    • Exploring new broker options
    • May need to consider altering coverage if cost cannot be reduced
  • Health Insurance Update
    • Good News: Health insurance rates will decrease next year
    • Modest rate drop despite budget planning for a 12% increase
    • Plan will be renewed at new rate
    • Suggestion: Start reassessing health care plan options early in 2026
  • Grants Update
    • Submitted:
      • TD Charitable Foundation – for studio staging/seating risers
      • Letter of Interest to Park Foundation – journalism fellowship expansion
    • Pending Submission:
      • People’s Bank – support journalism fellowship with ROCA Women’s Program
• Dan suggests we reinstitute the amount of money Scott can use without board vote. Up to $5000
  • Motion Dan
  • Second Carey
  • Vote is unanimous, the motion carries.
• Discussing approving funding for Annual Meeting of the Membership: $4,300

Old Business

• Board Meeting audience is very important for quorum. Please let Scott or Jennifer at least two weeks in advance if you can’t make it.
• Review 2025 committee assignments
• Marketing/Development Committee:
  • Marketing update
  • Ticketing – recouping funds
  • Membership update. Membership is up.
  • Newsletter and linking our news and events to it
  • Presence of Board at events in our space
  • Grants and other fundraising
  • Sponsorship, maybe July to delve back into raising money
  • Update board page [Gloria photo and bio missing]
• Facility & Technology Committee:
  • Check-in on sign repair, possibly to be completed at the end of July beginning of Aug. [Scott to contact by phone Kamil]
  • Replacing BoxCast for video hosting. Mike and Scott to chat about this.
  • Building Insurance due August.
  • Egress from the studio during shows, people on ramp, etc.
  • Cornice repair and other improvements. Roof leak check.
  • Getting analytics from META, Youtube, Boxcast.
• Personnel Committee
  • Current staff check-in. Vacation coming up for the summer.
  • Managing the event space
  • Diversity:
    • Establishment of youth advisory committee
    • Diversity statement update
    • Latest anti-racism consultant actions
• Finance Committee:
  • Update re: MOU with the city. In draft mode
  • Budget update. Starting a Line of credit with Peoples Bank
  • Easthampton Bank will collateralize the building only
• Editorial Committee:
  • Editorial requests, review policies and video

New business

• Future board seat discussion
• Member engagement?
• Transmission is weak, encoders.

 Task review and due dates

• Member mixer/social event group May 
• Editable version of the form
• Talking points about member meeting
• Reschedule board meeting
• Wildlife and HVAC

Motion to Adjourn

• Motion to adjourn Ismary
• Second dan
• Vote is unanimous, the motion carries.

Adjourn 7:35pm