Report of the Executive Director
Submitted for the August 21, 2007 meeting of the Board of Directors and August 7, 2007 meeting of the Chorus Committee.
We're moving along nicely with financial activities. The audit at Joyce and Company is well underway. Don has been working closely with Brooke Poythress and I think we're definitely on schedule to wrap up this fall. We're still in good shape in terms of liquidity and will have enough resources to end the summer. I've been restraining spending as much as possible to ensure this is the case. All of our annual contracts are in place and the rest are ready for signature in September. Finally, Don, Katy and I are working on money collection procedures for First Night.
I had a meeting on August 2nd at United Arts Council with their senior staff to discuss our grant in 2007. I was concerned that there were problems with our application that were not fully explained. I learned a great deal and shared some insights with Chorus Committee and will do so with the Board if time permits. Suffice to say we have identified means of improving our application next time. Otherwise for development I will be starting work on the materials for the fall pledge drive in September.
Recruitment has been well underway for a number of activities. We had one stuffing party for the summer mailing, we placed ushers for the seminar, and booth help at the August festivals. Also coming up is audition greeting and First Night help. All of this is underway.
We had low volunteer response to our display at Festival Ritmo Latino on August 5th, although we got more display visitors than I predicted. However, I am not persuaded to apply again in 2008. In total we had six volunteers besides me, only five of whom could make it on festival day, and we had a five hour period with no one beside me present. Lazy Daze is coming up on August 25th and response to that is definitely better.
As Larry noted all of our key facility arrangements are now in place for the season including meetings in the fall. I am working on siting the fall picnic. Mark Manring has been booked for two recording events (December 8 and January 12).
Our sponsored seminar with Duke Voice Care Center took place on August 13th.
We've done most all of our summer publicity, which included a number of audition calendar notices and an ad in Triangle Sings! We also sent a postcard to a Town of Cary Parks and Recreation list to see if we can generate more C4 interest this year. I met with counterpart organizations on July 26 where we agreed to renew our joint marketing efforts in FY08 including the "Cary in the Art of It All" brochure and a joint advertising campaign in December.
Respectfully submitted,
David R. Lindquist
Executive Director
Updated 12 August 2007 |