an editorial by Kirby Lindsay Laney, posted 21 March 2016
Earlier this month, the Fremont Arts Council (FAC) held its annual Board Member elections. Votes were counted, and results posted, at our entirely unique, and independent, arts organization’s monthly public meeting, called the C.O.W. (Committee Of the Whole).
As with last year’s elections, and most elections held since 2009, many FAC members pushed for a Board that could deliver new blood, and new energy, to creating a stronger, more stable, organization. After a few months of nominations, and much, much discussion, the FAC membership elected everyone who ran for its 2016 Board. These hardy volunteers are:
- Maque daVis
- Norma Baum
- Ricky Gene Powell
- (Susan) Harper
- Kudra Migliaccio
- Jerry Smith
- Linda Greenway
- Balou De La Rosa
And Fremocentrist.com has heard, unofficially, that the newly empaneled Board met, and elected Greenway as its President.
As Things Change…
The ‘new’ Board is different than the last, but not by much. Barb Luecke and Peter Toms, the co-founders of the FAC Solstice Parade, both stepped off the Board. Leslie Zenz, who has served as Parade Organizer for the last seven years, also stepped away, although it had been reported for most of last year that she would not be returning in 2016 to run the Parade.
The FAC also lost long-time, active FAC member Rodman Miller, who may not be a Board Member but will still organize the annual May Day celebration. The Board also lost three other long-time, active FAC members – Mike Clark, David Marine and David Roman.
Still, the eight who ran are familiar-ish. Greenway and Baum are probably the least well-known, but only to those new to the FAC. Greenway has been involved in many area non-profits, and she started with the FAC many decades ago but hasn’t been as day-to-day active. Baum has also been a part of the FAC for two decades, coming on as a hardworking volunteer when she found a project about which she could be passionate. Baum picks her projects carefully, and last year she took over organizing the FAC workshop, The Powerhouse, and has completely revolutionized and revitalized the space.
Harper, daVis, Powell, Smith, and Migliaccio all served on last year’s Board, but Harper and daVis resigned during the year. De La Rosa has previously served on the 2011 and 2012 Boards.
Things Stay The Same…
In 2009, the FAC membership also pushed for new blood, and new energy, and elected in October 2008 a Board made up entirely of people new to the organization, with the exception of Leslie Zenz. In January 2009, all of the ‘new blood’ resigned, again with the exception of Zenz.
That election, the mass resignation, and the reasons behind it all, still raise a debate among members of the FAC. Yet, one reason given for the resignation remains true today – certain FAC members (and non-members) will relentlessly criticize, micro-manage and disparage the Board, and the direction of the FAC, without necessarily getting in and getting their hands dirty.
The FAC will hold discussions, debates, and arguments, and the Board will make decisions, and then reversals, or simple confusion, starts the process over again. The FAC feels, at times, rudderless – steaming ahead on the power of the passion its members have for art, but often without any clear direction, leading it to circle back over and over again.
When criticisms come up at the COW (Board meetings are, reportedly, public, but over the last few years the locations, dates, and times have rarely been made available,) they do not firmly, and irrevocably, get addressed. Often they get referred back to the Board, or discussed again at the next monthly meeting, and the next, and the next.
For instance, during the two-plus hours of the March COW meeting, over half-an-hour was spent debating the election process. According to reports from those who studied the (undated) FAC by-laws, the first eight candidates who received a majority would be elected. Questions were raised, most especially on how many votes those beyond the first eight would need to win a seat. The fact that the by-laws don’t address this did seem a valid concern – one the new Board needs to address – but as there were only eight candidates, the need for this debate was missing.
However, since last November, the election process – nominations, Board duties, and voter qualifications – have all been hotly discussed, at the monthly COW meetings and on the FAC Yahoo e-group. FAC members seem to really care about the organization, but discussions don’t seem to reach decisions or, if they do, the decisions then get reversed.
Change Needed
The FAC is in trouble. The 2009 election was intended to revitalize the organization, and instead it sent it into crisis. While several long-term members/volunteers stepped after the mass resignation to save the FAC, and the Solstice Parade, few long-term plans came out of the experience. Instead, the desire for revitalization – for the FAC to realize its potential and build an engaged membership – remains a hope for the future.
The FAC faces a financial crisis, still. Maque daVis took over as Treasurer of the FAC in the last year, contracting a professional accountant to help. At the January 2016 COW, daVis reported that the organization lost money in 2014, and would have lost money in 2015 if not for realizing a substantial, one-time-only donation from Brooks Running. It may not be over yet, however, as at the March COW, Baum reported that the estate of a FAC member’s mom has specifically donated money for tending to some deferred maintenance projects on The Powerhouse, including fixing roof leaks, and replacing light fixtures.
Organizationally, the FAC also struggle. In recent history, the FAC has cycled so quickly through Administrative/Operations Managers that it became difficult to keep names, and their duties, straight. In January, a request for resumes went out again, but reports have varied as to whether the Board hired, or fired, someone new. Yet, in the last months, maintenance of the website, updating the membership database, and answering mail / phone / e-mail requests has been taken over by its volunteers, like this organization used to have (and the Fremont Neighborhood Council still does.)
The 2016 Board may turn all this around, and take the FAC into a brighter future, and it is possible we’ve finally arrived at the turning point…
Or not.
It cannot be said enough – the FAC is an active arts advocacy and play organization entirely unlike any other. No boilerplate, or model, exists from which the FAC Board can entirely build itself upon.
It means this Board continually takes on an awesome undertaking – to build a responsible, responsive and clearly defined arts organization for the Fremont community, and Seattle.
Over the last months, Baum, Greenway, Harper, and daVis have written and spoken about the need for those who want to support and encourage the FAC at its turning point to step up, lend a hand, or voice, and assist them in taking positive steps forward.
For some of us, the temptation is strong to criticize and cast aspersions on these efforts. A knee-jerk cynical attitude, particularly after so much frustration and failure, may be hard to resist.
Yet, this Board needs support, and help. If we can’t provide it, maybe that doesn’t mean it can’t be done – maybe it just means it’s time for those unable to step up to take a vacation… Fiji is very nice. Might I recommend it?
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©2016 Kirby Laney. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.