Present:  Chairman Elisabeth Walton Potter, Ann Altman, Hanteng Dai, Kathleen Fish, Tom Kneeland, Sue McCracken, Jim Schwab, Karen Townsend and Leslie Zeigen.

Guest:  John Strauch, CCTV

Minutes: The minutes for the regular meeting on September 3 were approved.

Interviews:  Elisabeth asked if there are outstanding interview reports.  Acknowledgments in the Action Plan will list names of only those prospective interviewees for whom text is in hand.  Olbrantz and Lindburg may be removed from the list of cultural leaders as a result.  The tapes, transcripts, and e-mail texts will be made part of the permanent record to be turned over to the successor body. 

Media initiatives:  Antonia, Frankie, Karen, Hanteng, Christine and Elisabeth met with Dick Hughes, editorial page editor, and Ron Cowan, arts columnist, of the Statesman Journal on October 2.   Karen felt they did well, making their points and a good impression.  Karen reported that Ron suggested we collect and send him responses to the question of why culture is important.  The editorial and the column in which MCCC planning efforts were featured appeared in the Sunday issue, October 5.  Copies of the coordinated articles were distributed. 

Sue reported that a media release about the availability of the draft plan and the public meeting to review the plan went out and distributed a list of the newspapers and radio and television stations which received it.  The Statesman Journal noted the information in an article in the arts section of the Sunday, October 19 edition.  Sue also reported that approximately 220 postcards inviting people to review the plan and come to the meeting.  They were sent to agencies and organizations in our inventory, mayors, and interviewees and selected stakeholders. 

Public meeting:  Elisabeth drew the layout of the Dye House at Mission Mill on the whiteboard and the group discussed how seating, aisles, the sign-in table, greeters and coffee service would be set up.  Leslie has extensive experience of the venue and confirmed the arrangement was the best plan.  The group hopes to have 25 people show up to the meeting in addition to a majority of committee members. 

John Strauch of CCTV indicated the set-up would work for videotaping the meeting for broadcast and documentation.  John discussed the need for a “mike jockey” to move the cordless microphone to those members of the public wishing to speak.  He will provide the microphone and brief the “jockey.”  Ken Hook will be the producer of the videotape.  Leslie arranged for access to the Dye House at 6 p.m. to allow CCTV to set up.  It may be possible, in addition to broadcasting the meeting a number of times, to archive it on CCTV’s Web site where it may be viewed.  CCTV will provide a free copy of the videotape to the committee for its use, either in VHS or DVD form, or both.

Review of plan workshops:  Work on the plan conducted in meetings on September 17 and 24 has been incorporated in the draft plan by Elisabeth.  She thanked Ann and Karen for their work on the text of the section on achievements to build on, namely, the Aurora Colony program for youth and Salem’s and Silverton’s arts walks and studio tours, respectively. She also thanked Tom for the information on Powerland for the investment section.  Karen thanked Elisabeth for the long hours she has put into organizing and writing the draft, and the committee voiced appreciation as a group.

Finances:  Elisabeth distributed a revised budget, noting that we have been very cost-efficient in using relatively inexpensive postcards and media to direct attention to the draft plan on the Internet and the public meeting.  Use of the Internet saved money over producing a large number of hard copies of the draft plan and mailing or otherwise distributing them. 

The revised budget estimates the cost for design, layout, printing and binding the final plan at $4,500.   Since the document is likely to be out-of-date relatively quickly, the number printed will be relatively small, with enough for libraries, cities, the Board of Commissioners, the Oregon Cultural Trust, and members of the current and successor committees.   The committee agreed it must be attractively done in black-and-white rather than in color.  Spiral binding with a paper cover, possibly with a  Mylar overlay, are options.  Karen reported having done a recent document of more than 100 pages in this format at a cost of about $5 per copy.

Sue moved and Kathleen seconded approval of $103.50 for catering of coffee service at the public meeting.  Approval was unanimous.

Karen moved and Tom seconded approval of the revised budget which will include enough carryover to cover the successor body’s $600 cost in filing for tax exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).  The voice vote was unanimous.

Public meeting:  Discussion followed on the October 28 public meeting to review and comment on the draft cultural plan.  Duties were assigned for greeting guests, handling the cordless microphone, taking flip-chart notes, and making name tags and signs displaying the six goals.  Elisabeth, Christine, Karen and Antonia will direct discussion of various sections of the plan.  Bob Zeigen and Ken Altman have volunteered to assist.  Members have already or will call people asking for a commitment to attend.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.