First - Ever General Membership Meeting for WCT

by Katie Evans

For those of you who couldn't make it this past Monday, WCT's first general membership meeting went extremely well!  The meeting was led by our wonderful president, Dana Falosk, and we spoke about several different topics in the 2 hours we spent at the church. Should anyone that was not present at the meeting have any ideas or suggestions (or wants to sign up for the committees that are to be instated) then please contact Dana.  Here is a little overview of what we discussed in our meeting.

We discussed the need for further fundraising as for the past two years, the weather has negatively impacted our projected profit from our last two summer shows.  Sadly, it does take quite a bit of money to put on such excellent shows and we truly do not charge much for tickets. One way that WCT has decided to try to recoup some profit loss is to have another patron drive for the Fall.  This is something that WCT has never before done.  So all of you patrons out there, please save a little money for WCT and become a patron again.  The cost has not changed from the $50.00, and you will still have your name printed in our program, to show how much we truly appreciate your help!

Here's a little fun for you, after all that serious business about raising money.  The ANNUAL WCT FALL PICNIC will again be at Elaine Frost's house at 627 Murdoch Street in Washington.  All are asked to bring a covered dish, and the meat and beverages will be provided.  Elaine has graciously opened her home up for us each year (at least as long as I can remember), so a big THANK YOU to her for doing the same, yet again.

For the first time ever, Washington County Community Foundation will be giving a portion of locally donated monies (100,000 bucks, in fact) to community organizations, and that includes WCT!  However, you need to garner all your friends, relatives, enemies, whoever to donate to WCT first.  ALL of the monies that a person donates specifically to WCT WILL GO TO WCT, but the WCCF will match a percentage of that based on how much WCT can get from their supporters.  This is a one - day deal only, so on September 10th, PLEASE PLEASE remember to donate yourself, ask you friends and family to donate as well.  And remember, ALL the money that a person donates specifically to WCT WILL GO TO US, and US ALONE - but, we get a little interest from the community on top of that!

There are a couple additions to the board in the coming year.  John Herrman (Mr. McLaren as many of you know him as) will be beginning his term as the three- year board member in January.  Myself, Katie Evans, has been elected to the board as corresponding secretary (hooray, you'll be getting a lot more writings from me!).  I also will begin my duties in January.

Okay, now LISTEN UP!  In order to organize better our set construction for next year, and avoid having to scramble at the last minute for helpers...MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  Set construction for the summer show (yet unnamed) is June 7 and 8th, 2014.  The production dates are June 24 - 29, 2014.  So...be there!

Yet ANOTHER fabulous opportunity for you to become more involved in your favorite community theatre group!  We are instating some committees to help organize future events and help with some fundraising that we do desperately need!  If you are interested in joining in any of the following committees, please contact our president, Dana. •November Fundraiser •Overall Fundraising/Grant Writing •Transportation •Set Design and Build •Publicity/website, facebook, twitter •Program Advertising •Outreach Committee - to bring back previous members who have somehow gotten lost from our ranks! •40th Anniversary at the Park - yes, it is this coming year! 40 years at the Park! How exciting! Now get involved!!! •Table Decorations - for the Fall Show, we would like volunteers to help decorate tables in corresponding seasons/holiday decor. 

We also discussed having our next general membership meeting at a common place where we could also hold a little get together, with food and socializing.  So, a little business, but a lot of fun!  Further information about the next meeting will be given when it is decided upon what the location and whether or not it will involve a PAR-TAY!

Last, but certainly not least, we discussed other shows that some of our members are involved in, so that we can get out to support them.  Here are the ones upcoming that we discussed: •Nov. 20 - Dec. 15th : Madeline's Christmas at Little Lake.   •Dec. 13th : Washington Festival Chorale's Christmas musical entertainment at the Church of the Covenant •Labor Day Weekend: Wood carving festival (Al Pierson is quite a wonderful wood carver, for those of you who don't know this) - Oglebay Park, in the Pine Room. •Dana Falosk is giving a recital to benefit the First United Methodist Church in Houston as well as WCT, and this will be held at First United Methodist, October 26th.   •Old Schoolhouse Players is putting on "Over the River and Through the Woods." WCT put this show on at Julian's in 2010, and it is a FABULOUS SHOW.  Bob Anderson will be playing the role of "Frank" yet again.  He is wonderful, you should definitely get out there to support Bob, as well as OSP. The Show dates are Oct. 11 - 13, and 18-20.

Of course, who could forget that WCT is putting on a Fall Show, narrated by Mr. Barry Wood and the show is entitled "Happy Holidaze!"  It will be a musical journey throughout the year, with all different seasons and holidays covered.  This is sure to be another excellent production.  We do need help with set construction, as Joe Wagner, our usual go-to person for Julian's set construction, is unavailable this year.  So anyone who is good with a screwdriver, hammer, staple gun, anything! Please come forward to help us out! The dates of the show are November 15-17 at Julian's Banquet Hall, Maiden Street, Washington.

Thanks to all who came out for the meeting, you all had wonderful ideas! We hope to see you at the next General Membership Meeting, and hopefully some other faces as well!