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Marion County Cultural
Coalition Planning Committee
Present: Ann Altman, Frankie Bell, Hanteng Dai, Kathleen Fish, Chuck Fisher, Antonia Jenkins, Thomas Kneeland, Sue McCracken, Jim Schwab, Maureen Thomas and Richard Van Orman. Sue McCracken read an e-mail from Bill Flood of the Oregon Cultural Trust (OCT) which stated in part: “Here is today’s (Wed., March 5) update, as far as I know. A bill passed that took all state general revenues from the Oregon Arts Commission. The Arts Commission is hoping to survive on other dollars, at least through the end of June. Revenues from the sale of the Boardman property were taken from the Cultural Trust, as we were expecting. The approximately $1.6 million in private contributions (tax credit) remains. I’ll update as I know more.” Discussion followed on legislative activity and the likelihood that no planning funds will be available until at least July. That being the case, the committee agreed to get organized and do what groundwork is possible without funds. Committee members agreed to recruit a member or members from north Marion County which is not currently represented. Kezia McAlistaire was one of two people who recommended an individual from Woodburn to Sue and she has made that contact but not yet heard an answer. Members will contact potential members or give names to Sue. The committee can add members as it wishes and has been encouraged to seek a member from the north county by the Board of Commissioners and the OCT. The need for a non-profit fiscal agent to hold and disburse state funds when they are available was discussed. Among the suggestions were the Salem Convention and Visitors Association and the Council of Governments. Maureen Thomas and Richard Van Orman agreed to contact those agencies as potential fiscal agents. The committee deferred election of officers until the next meeting. The committee unanimously adopted a draft charter with one change to clarify that a quorum for conducting business consists of a simple majority of all members. The committee set its regular meeting date as the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. Meetings will be generally held at Courthouse Square with Mission Mill as a back-up location. Members also agreed it would be a good idea to hold some meetings in other parts of the county. The committee agreed to invite Bill Flood of the OCT to the next meeting for information exchange and questions. There is a listserv for the OCT to communicate with contacts representing county and tribal planning committees. Sue is the current contact for Marion County. After looking at sample e-mails, the group agreed Sue should continue to filter information and pass on pertinent items to the committee members. She will particular look for inventory survey tools others are using to catalog potential grant recipients. A sample plan created by Bill Flood was distributed to committee members as a guide to what the state is expecting local planning committees to submit before approving successor grant-allocating committees. The committee authorized Sue to draft a Web site for the committee to include such information as the charter, meeting dates, minutes, a link to the OCT, and a contact for joining an e-mail group of interested parties. When appropriate, the site would also become interactive for comments on the draft plan and registration as grant-eligible arts, heritage and cultural individuals and groups. |