by Kirby Lindsay, posted 16 March 2012
‘If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done,’ could be a motto of the Fremont Arts Council (FAC,) particularly on March 13th at the Committee Of The Whole (COW) meeting. The meeting started late, solved problems, and finished early. Even while giving attention to preparation for the Solstice Parade, the gathered group also gave time to other pending projects – and sought solutions rather than pleading ‘full plates’ and/or ‘no time’.
Support Your Solstice Parade
On March 21st, a special benefit performance of the Moisture Festival will raise money for the FAC, and the Solstice Parade. Ironically, perhaps, the performance falls on the first day of spring – at the Equinox. Ticket can be purchased, in advance, through Brown Paper Tickets.
Sonia Telesco reported on the annual parade retreat, held March 10th, had about 20 attendees who reviewed plans for this year’s extravaganza. “Good energy” surrounds the People-Power Festival being organized at Gas Works Park following the Parade, Telesco said, about the celebration of civic activation and sustainability.
When asked if a theme had been chosen for the 2012 parade, Telesco explained that ‘Lifting The Veil’ (the definition of ‘apocalypse’) has been discussed as an inspiration. The ideas of revealing, and opening to a new age, could be used as themes by some ensembles and floats, but organizers will not be expected to adhere an overall parade vision (and they never do anyway.)
A group of poly-amorous crafters have already begun planning an ensemble. They want to build a giant tool box stuffed with giant versions of the tools of their crafts – yarn, a camera, paint brush, etc.
An organizer is sought to lead a Green Hat Ensemble for 2012. This group solicits donations from the watching public during the parade. Also, Mylinda Sneed reminded everyone that the call for RFPs for the Dave McKay Grants went out earlier this month, and the deadline is March 26th. Hardcore procrastinators have little time left to dawdle. Telesco reported on other parade dates – April 27th will be the float move, and the Open (Studio) House will be May 5th.
Leaders Sought Found!
The annual rummage sale, which raises much needed start-up funds for the parade build, usually occurs at the start of April – but no one had stepped forward. During the meeting, Christie Wolf agreed to organize it, and the group settled on the dates of April 21st & 22nd. She will need help, and donations of great stuff to sell. Contact volunteers@fremontartscouncil.org for more information.
May Day also looms, and Rodman Miller volunteered to lead it. The celebration will take place on Tuesday, May 1st starting at 5p, with the maypole dance at 6p and a potluck banquet at 6:30p. He will need help securely erecting the pole, he said, and he will verify that space at Lower Woodland Park has been reserved.
Finally, the NW Folklife Festival, held Memorial Day weekend, needs to speak with the organizer of the annual FAC booth, Gyan Davies reminded the COW – and Telesco said she knew someone interested. Davies said the FAC booth usually allows visitors to help build a parade float – and volunteers that work the booth can get a free pass into Folklife.
Powerhouse Repairs & Presidential Search
As reported in Fremocentrist.com news, FAC Board President Michael Clark resigned from his position on February 2nd. Barb Luecke has stepped in as Interim President, but the Board continues to discuss who will take on the role for the rest of 2012. Miller admitted that he and Peter Toms have discussed sharing the duty.
One project Clark had led involved getting repairs done to the Powerhouse, the FAC playhouse, including getting a bid from Pioneer Masonry for tuck-pointing the structure, which came in at almost $20,000, Telesco reported. The northwest corner of the building has moisture problems, and she wants to focus on addressing that problem, and get a bid to put a cap on the chimney/smoke stack at that corner.
Telesco also reported that she, and the FAC, received grant money from the Fremont Chamber of Commerce to build a permanent donation box for installation at the Fremont Troll sculpture. She needs people with knowledge and interest to join a design committee, to help develop something fairly indestructible and yet easy for FAC staff to empty regularly. Anyone willing to join this effort can contact her at soniatelesco@gmail.com.
‘I do my work at the same time each day – the last minute,’ is another popular procrastinator’s pledge. This COW meeting started half an hour late, during a late winter snowfall, with no formal agenda, less than a dozen participants, and yet undaunted FAC members plowed through difficult decisions and pending projects. If you want to be a part of this collective hysteria – and don’t panic at the last minute – consider attending an upcoming COW meeting. Meetings generally take place on the second Tuesday of the month, at the Powerhouse (3940 Fremont Ave N,) at 7:10p-ish. Everyone is welcome…as long as they understand that the “-ish” isn’t noted in jest.
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©2012 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.