Laconia Putnam Fund

Laconia Putnam Fund Meeting October 11, 2022 This meeting was called to order on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 9:04 am located at City Hall, 45 East Beacon Street, Laconia, NH with the following in attendance: James Rogato, Linda Peary, Richard Landry, and Betty Ballantyne. Guest: Joanie Mercer. MINUTES: August 9, 2022, minutes were accepted as presented. TREASURERS REPORT: Submitted to Linda from Randy Haas, Chairman of the Trust of Trustees submitted via email to Linda on July 19, 2022, at 8:21 am. (See Attached) Balance Forward from FY 2021 $93,785.72 Appropriated for FY 2022 $60,804.04 Disbursed for FY 2022 $89,911.94 Balance carried forward to FY 2023 $64,677.82 Appropriated for FY 2023 $40,000.00 Total Budget for FY 2023 $104,677.82 Per Linda as of 9/9/22 monies spend from the start of the fiscal year July 1, 2022, is $46,935.98 thus leaving a balance of $57,741.84. A discussion of the concerns for future programs inclusive to the Belknap Mill Arts in the Park, cost to Meredith on Facebook, recent programs, advertising, costs of lights and sounds at the Colonial Theater and the private sector. The $40,000 budget does not nearly comply with the three-year average from the balance value of the Trust. We now have the carry over to supplement though we have concerns that the combined numbers will nearly manage one year’s programing. Without the carry over, truly little will be available for July 1, 2023, and if the Trustees of the Trust Fund will again support a $40,000 budget, truly little opportunity will be available for outsourcing for the community. Betty made a first motion to approve the treasurers report and Rich seconded it with all in favor. REPORTS: Bachelors of Broadway: Tremendous success, audience approximately 550 ticketed seats. All good reports from the audiences. Temptations Review: Best show! Momentous success. We filled all 750 seats. All good reports from the audiences. It was suggested we have them again! Two Divas: Huge success! We seated seven hundred, second best to filling the Theater. Streetcar 50th Anniversary: Very good program. We are estimating 500ish seats filled. Horizon Band: They had their August show, and we expect to know more of the upcoming December program. Betty will reach out to them for an update. Albert Cummings: $3,500 Blues show on Friday, November 11th. Questions were had regarding sounds and lights noted on the contract, though there was no rider, therefore who’s managing the costs? A technical rider is needed and necessary. Colonial Theater Concerns: We have concerns with the charge for sound and lights at $3300 versus Michael at $2500. We used Michael for the Temptations show not the Colonial. A bill was submitted by Jacob to us for $1,770 with duplication of costs already managed by Michael. Jim replied to Jacob of the duplications, i.e., stagehands, number of people for lights & sounds, truck driver and truck cost, audio engineer technician. After Jim reviewed the bill, costs, and expense, he estimated we should had been charged $495 versus $1,770. As of this morning, Jim has not yet received a response from Jacob. Concerns: The Bachelors of Broadway hotel arrangements. Due to the lateness of a cancellations and that weekend the hotel was filled, the hotels lost revenue, along with our discounted rate. We were charged less than $600 and Michael made reservations in Concord and out of pocketed $1,200. This is not an additional fee charged to us. NEW ACTS: Golden Dragon Acrobats: We were told they are no longer coming to our country and this show will not happen. We have not received an official announcement. Jared Frieburg: Jim saw him perform while traveling and said he put on an amazing show. Jim has been in correspondence with his people with still no word on availability and costs. Julie & Michael: They are putting together ideas for 2023 and we should expect more news soon. Astronaut Speaker, Sam Gemer: A STEM program for the students, adults and more as a lecturer. Jim met him while traveling and will continue to research the possibilities. Chris Isaac Christmas Show: Julie stated he would be expensive and is hired by large conglomerate corporations to share the expense and returns. Temptations – Can’t Get Next to You”: It was recommended that we should have the group come back soon. Their Motown Show was a huge hit. At this time, we are holding off on committing to any innovative programs until we have met with the Trust of Trustees Board and have a greater financial commitment from the Board. NEW APPOINTEE: Joan Mercer has been interviewed and tonight the City Council will have their vote. Once Joan is voted in, she will need to be sworn in and will then be fully on the Board. Joan’s email contact is jmercer130@gmail.com. When Joan joins the board for our November meeting, Joan will be officially welcomed along with joint discussions she will share of her expectations and participation along with our needs and wants as a new board member. TRUSTEE MEETING: The Trust of Trustee’s meeting will be held on Monday, October 17th at 1:15 pm to be held at City Hall. Collectively as a Putnam Board, we intend to attend. We have been placed on their agenda to follow Citizen’s Bank. Jim & Linda will be meeting with Finance at City Hall, to obtain the last three years average fund balance. Linda will gather pricing of this past FY performances. THANK YOU: We received a thank you message from the Director of Streetcar Company. She thanked the Putnam Board for the sponsorship of their 50th Celebration. This thank you was extended to all the Board Members. MISCELLANEOUS: It was noted to Jim that the staff at the Colonial had given Michael’s sound man a tough time at the Temptations Show. Michael’s sound man is a very easy-going person, therefore it being very unlikely his person being uncooperative justifying their actions. FACEBOOK: Currently, Meredith is having difficulty in switching in as Shawnee our new person hired to takeover Meredith’s role. Meredith is currently working with Facebook to set the correction needed for the handover to Shawnee. NEXT MEETING: We did set with Nancy our upcoming meeting to be held on October 17th at 1:15 pm at City Hall in Room 200B to discuss our Budget Agenda. With no further business to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am. Respectfully submitted, Betty Ballantyne Laconia Putnam Board Secretary