Laconia Putnam Fund

Laconia Putnam Fund Meeting Tuesday, January 9, 2024 This meeting was called to order on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 9:00 am held at Laconia City Hall, 25 Beacon Street E, #1, Laconia, NH 03246 with the following in attendance: Jim Rogato, Joan Mercer, Linda Peary, and Betty Ballantyne. Guest Jill Desruisseaux, The Belknap Mill Associate Director. TREASURER’S REPORT: Linda Peary presented the facts as follows: Carry over from 2022/2023 balance: $38,854.81 Trust of Trustee’s allocation for 2023 $46,600.00 Total $85,454.81 Fiscal Year to Date Spending $23,804.00 Available Funds thru to 6/30/24 $61,650.81 Linda will let us know when the Trust of Trustees will meet. We sat with Randy Haas at the City’s Holiday Event this past December. He suggested we attend their quarterly meeting and share our plans for 2024. We spent less money due to the fact we had limited availability and short notice to produce acts for 2023 at the Laconia Colonial Theater. RECAP THIS PAST YEAR: Our only event at the Laconia Colonial Theater was the Michael Jackson Show. It was mostly well received by the public, although the entire board was disappointed and thought it too not the caliber of events from years past represented by Julie and Michael, our agents. Jim expressed this news to our agents. The Belknap Arts in the Park: The eight programs were well attended despite the weather. Only two shows suffered due to the severe weather. They were held inside the Belknap Mill. The New Horizons Lakes Region Band presented two programs. One in the summer and the other in December. The caliber of musicians, the money given, the talent is good, though it does not have a large audience. Betty suggested if there is a next December program to bring the show to an audience rather than the audience to the show. She will reach out to Brian, President of the New Horizons and Brenda Kean at the Taylor Community. BELKNAP MILL PRESENTATION: Jill Desruisseaux, Associate Director of the Belknap Mill presented a request. The Belknap Mill Arts in the Park Summer Series. The series begins May 31st through to September 6th with eight events every other week. Putnam will be the only Funding Sponsor and the other sponsors represent promoting of all the events. Jill has a large Putnam banner to use, although they are considering a smaller size which will be more manageable. The requested amount is $7,500, the same requested amount noted for 2023. Linda Peary made a first motion to approve the request, Joan Mercer seconded the motion, a discussion, all were in favor and voted unanimously. TERM: Linda’s term is maturing March 2024. She intends to apply for another five-year term. Currently we are still short of one member of a five-member board. Betty spoke with Matt Lahey, the evening prior. He was open to canvasing for a new member. Jill while attending gave us a name. Katie Dawson. She will reach out and suggest she is a good fit. PROGRAMS: Dates held and secured for the Laconia Theater are the following: Friday, April 5, 2024 Sunday, September 8, 2024 Thursday, October 17, 2024 Friday, November 15, 2024 Currently we are in the works of securing the Rockin Daddios Band, and a swing band Sazerac Swing at the preshow for the event for our April 5th show. The dates for the Rockin Daddios are set, we are still working on the Sazerac Swing. We believe they would be a good fit. They will be performing locally at the VFW on Saturday, February 17th. Jim will secure a table for us to verify the gig being supportive of April’s event. Veronica Lewis: An uprising newcomer from NH. Linda is still working on her to perform in 2024. Ruth Pointer, daughter, and granddaughter show. Linda mentioned they were hosted on Chronical. She thought they would be an excellent program. Linda reached out to Julie and Michael. Still no word from them. We discussed various other acts. We have concerns about the duplication of all the other operating venues in the Lakes Region. With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:56 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Betty Ballantyne Laconia Putnam Board Member 603-630-5531