January 11, 2007

Present: Jerry, Dan, Thomas, Joe, Gabi, Brandi, Gary S.

Secretary's Report:

1. Minutes were read and approved.

Treasurer's Report:

1. Balance of $3824.14
2. A deposit of $25 was made. It was a donation for the ASL interpreters for the Film Fest

Funding/Grants/Fundraising Committee Report:

1. Dan has two friends who are willing to do a fundraiser for us later in the year.

Film Fest Committee Report:

Movie selection
Friday Night

• Keep Not Silent a documentary about orthodox Jewish lesbians in Israel
• In My Father’s Church a documentary about a lesbian who wants to get married in the church where her father is the pastor. The focus is not only gay marriage but also the consequences for clergy who perform the ceremonies when the church officially says they cannot.
• Brandi and Dan will meet on Monday to talk about speakers, including the possibility of a panel of clergy.
• The films will cost $200 each.

Saturday Night

• The Gymnast -- excellent lesbian movie. A former gymnastic champion in her forties takes up aerial dancing and falls for her dancing partner. We are hoping to get it but haven’t heard back from the distributors yet.
• Almost Normal – about a gay man who’s just turned 40 and is single. He is magically transported back in time to high school, but this time everybody in his high school is gay. Also contacting the distributors.

ASL interpreters – sent an email to the interpreters we have been using to see if they are available and to ask them about advertising to the deaf community.

Entertainment

• Leesa is available to do the opening entertainment
• Dan Barth contacted Doug Anderson to see if he is available and interested. Doug has a one man show. Dan will forward his contact information to Jerry.

Pioneer Place is again donating the space. They will charge is $80 per day for a technician and to rent the screen. So our rental fee is a grand total of $160. Thank you so much.

Tickets are available now online from the Pioneer Place web site.

Speakers

• Sen Paul Koering from Little Falls was reelected as an out gay man. He will do the welcome on Friday.
• Dan will contact Mayor Dave Kleis
• Jerry met with the head of the Downtown Council about getting downtown businesses involved. The group brainstormed ideas regarding downtown businesses. Ideas included: welcoming signs, discounts on ticket stubs, list of supporting businesses in program, safe spaces. We could ask them to advertise, give them a sign and say we would love to see it in the window.

Programs and advertising.

• A couple from last year have already said that they are in.
• Gary will email last year’s spreadsheet
• Brandi contacted Ashley at SCSU regarding the business directory they are putting together
• Need to contact old advertisers and get 10 – 15 more
• Need ~ $500 for the ASL interpreters. If 10 people would give $50 it would be covered!
• ASL interpreters -- We discussed the issues around having them – it’s the right thing to do but constitutes between 1/5 and ¼ of the budget. Dan will explore what we need to do legally.

Resource Committee Report:

Web site statistics for the month of:	December
Total Visits:	2071
Average per day:	66
Unique Visitors for the month:	705
One-time Visitors:	452
Repeat Visitors:	253

Advisory Committee Report:

• Advisory committee did not meet

Old Business:

1. TC Pride? think about it along with Duluth Pride and Fargo Pride

New Business:

1. none

Announcements:

1. GAB dance 1/20/07 at the Red Carpet
2. GAB dance with Cheer Dorothy Cheer on 2/17/07
3. GAB potlucks are for both men and women. See the calendar for details.