Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees
50th Season, 2020-2021
Minutes from meeting of Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Online
Neil Brafman, Jim Burress, Ted Doran, Jen Faria, Leigh Furtado, Dan Hendriksen, Josh Krugman, Suzanne Nassise, Mark Nickel, Carrie Scheff, Elaine Cunningham, Christine Noel
Regrets
Will Arvanites
Josh Krugman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Minutes from the July 21, 2020, Board meeting were approved as they appeared on the website.
Josh announced a motion to appoint Allison McMillan as Soprano Emerita. The motion was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
Governance Committee
Suzanne Nassise, chair, introduced three candidates for election as trustees:
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Jenica Reed Conley served for three seasons as the Singers’ communications director (2012-15). She has a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Shorter University and a master’s degree in arts administration from Florida State. She is currently in a communications position at Rhode Island Housing.
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Brad Louison, beginning his fifth year as a member of the bass section, is a practicing attorney in state and federal courts. He has a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Boston University and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. From 1983 to 2011 he served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the U.S. Army Reserve.
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Margaret Veresko has experience as a business analyst for Citizen’s Bank. She is a 2001 graduate of Bryant University with a degree in management.
After discussion, the Board voted unanimously to elect the three candidates to unexpired terms. All three remain eligible for two consecutive full terms. Jenica and Margaret will be eligible for election to full terms beginning July 1, 2021, and Brad on July 1, 2022.
Budget and Finance Committee
Dan Hendriksen, treasurer, presented a very healthy cashflow forecast for the year. The forecast currently predicts a fiscal-year-ending operating cash balance of nearly $45,000. A review of expenditures suggested changes in the way certain items were entered, including potential refunds for a postponed gala and the release from restrictions of funds from the Wachner Fund for New Music. Although nonprofit performing arts groups face multiple uncertainties this year, it is possible that the Singers could end the season with a small surplus. Dan’s summary: “We are a financially healthy organization.”
Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee has been charged with managing the organization’s ultimate return to in-person rehearsals and live concerts. Leigh Furtado, chair, presented a draft timeline that structures the return from the current situation in Rhode Island (Phase 3 limits on group meetings) through available rapid testing and improved medical treatments to a widespread vaccine. The Board engaged in an extended discussion of rapid testing protocols, data requirements for decision-making, waivers (for both members and audience) and other matters. The committee will conduct a survey of member preferences and comfort levels with various steps on the path toward resumption of live rehearsals and concerts.
Resource Development Committee
Mark Nickel, chair, reported that the committee will use goals originally developed for fiscal 2020 as its starting point, minus items that will be zeroed out for fiscal 2021, including concert-related income. The overall fundraising goal is $135,500, approximately 30 percent lower than last year.
Despite current uncertainties for the performing arts, there is reason for optimism. The executive director has an ambitious schedule of grant applications, with some grants already submitted and pending. Member engagement and enthusiasm appears to be strong, with 90 performing members including two who have moved out of state and are happy to have the chance to continue with the Singers online. Initial reaction to online rehearsals appears positive, with some requests for additional online time for social interaction.
Strategic efforts for the season include increasing the number of sustaining donors (monthly or quarterly), enhanced communications with the Singers’ major donors, development of messaging and a case statement for challenging economic times, and increased awareness and involvement with the Sostenuto program for legacy gifts to the Singers’ endowment funds.
Executive Director’s Report
Elaine Cunningham has joined a peer group of nonprofit executives that meets every two weeks, a step that extends the Singers’ presence in the Providence cultural community. She is also active in a choral consortium outreach to music educators that includes an adopt-a-high-school effort to connect classroom activities with concert offerings. The Young Men’s Choral Festival could benefit from the additional outreach. Elaine is also developing a CRM tool to better track and communicate with Singers audience and donors.
Artistic Director’s Report
Christine Noel reviewed the beginning of the 2020-21 season, with online rehearsals, sessions for sight-singing and ear training, and the plan to create virtual choir presentations. Member enthusiasm is strong, with 90 participants. Sunday marks the online premiere of the Singers’ performance of The Wound in the Water on Facebook and YouTube. Six online workshops will be marketed nationally.
The 2021 Young Men’s Choral Festival will move online with three digital clinicians: Anthony Trecek-King of the Hartt School of Music will be the lead clinician, with Paulo Faustini focusing on vocal technique and John Black focusing on sight-singing and ear training. The date for YMCF may change from Friday, January 29, to Saturday, January 30, to accommodate changes in school scheduling.
Board Chair’s Report
Josh discussed the work of the Committee on Access, Inclusion, and Equity and outlined some of the essential questions the committee is examining. The committee will produce short- and long-term action plans to implement changes that will expand access, inclusion and equity and monitor the organization’s progress.
Executive Session
Elaine and Christine left the Zoom session, and the Board entered its customary executive session. The trustees discussed a number of topics and moved unanimously to express their official appreciation and approval of the design and implementation of the Singers’ online season. (See text of the letter, developed and approved by Board officers subsequent to the meeting.)
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Nickel, secretary
Minutes from meeting of Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Online
Neil Brafman, Jim Burress, Ted Doran, Jen Faria, Leigh Furtado, Dan Hendriksen, Josh Krugman, Suzanne Nassise, Mark Nickel, Carrie Scheff, Elaine Cunningham, Christine Noel
Regrets
Will Arvanites
Josh Krugman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Minutes from the July 21, 2020, Board meeting were approved as they appeared on the website.
Josh announced a motion to appoint Allison McMillan as Soprano Emerita. The motion was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
Governance Committee
Suzanne Nassise, chair, introduced three candidates for election as trustees:
-
Jenica Reed Conley served for three seasons as the Singers’ communications director (2012-15). She has a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Shorter University and a master’s degree in arts administration from Florida State. She is currently in a communications position at Rhode Island Housing.
-
Brad Louison, beginning his fifth year as a member of the bass section, is a practicing attorney in state and federal courts. He has a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Boston University and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. From 1983 to 2011 he served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the U.S. Army Reserve.
-
Margaret Veresko has experience as a business analyst for Citizen’s Bank. She is a 2001 graduate of Bryant University with a degree in management.
After discussion, the Board voted unanimously to elect the three candidates to unexpired terms. All three remain eligible for two consecutive full terms. Jenica and Margaret will be eligible for election to full terms beginning July 1, 2021, and Brad on July 1, 2022.
Budget and Finance Committee
Dan Hendriksen, treasurer, presented a very healthy cashflow forecast for the year. The forecast currently predicts a fiscal-year-ending operating cash balance of nearly $45,000. A review of expenditures suggested changes in the way certain items were entered, including potential refunds for a postponed gala and the release from restrictions of funds from the Wachner Fund for New Music. Although nonprofit performing arts groups face multiple uncertainties this year, it is possible that the Singers could end the season with a small surplus. Dan’s summary: “We are a financially healthy organization.”
Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee has been charged with managing the organization’s ultimate return to in-person rehearsals and live concerts. Leigh Furtado, chair, presented a draft timeline that structures the return from the current situation in Rhode Island (Phase 3 limits on group meetings) through available rapid testing and improved medical treatments to a widespread vaccine. The Board engaged in an extended discussion of rapid testing protocols, data requirements for decision-making, waivers (for both members and audience) and other matters. The committee will conduct a survey of member preferences and comfort levels with various steps on the path toward resumption of live rehearsals and concerts.
Resource Development Committee
Mark Nickel, chair, reported that the committee will use goals originally developed for fiscal 2020 as its starting point, minus items that will be zeroed out for fiscal 2021, including concert-related income. The overall fundraising goal is $135,500, approximately 30 percent lower than last year.
Despite current uncertainties for the performing arts, there is reason for optimism. The executive director has an ambitious schedule of grant applications, with some grants already submitted and pending. Member engagement and enthusiasm appears to be strong, with 90 performing members including two who have moved out of state and are happy to have the chance to continue with the Singers online. Initial reaction to online rehearsals appears positive, with some requests for additional online time for social interaction.
Strategic efforts for the season include increasing the number of sustaining donors (monthly or quarterly), enhanced communications with the Singers’ major donors, development of messaging and a case statement for challenging economic times, and increased awareness and involvement with the Sostenuto program for legacy gifts to the Singers’ endowment funds.
Executive Director’s Report
Elaine Cunningham has joined a peer group of nonprofit executives that meets every two weeks, a step that extends the Singers’ presence in the Providence cultural community. She is also active in a choral consortium outreach to music educators that includes an adopt-a-high-school effort to connect classroom activities with concert offerings. The Young Men’s Choral Festival could benefit from the additional outreach. Elaine is also developing a CRM tool to better track and communicate with Singers audience and donors.
Artistic Director’s Report
Christine Noel reviewed the beginning of the 2020-21 season, with online rehearsals, sessions for sight-singing and ear training, and the plan to create virtual choir presentations. Member enthusiasm is strong, with 90 participants. Sunday marks the online premiere of the Singers’ performance of The Wound in the Water on Facebook and YouTube. Six online workshops will be marketed nationally.
The 2021 Young Men’s Choral Festival will move online with three digital clinicians: Anthony Trecek-King of the Hartt School of Music will be the lead clinician, with Paulo Faustini focusing on vocal technique and John Black focusing on sight-singing and ear training. The date for YMCF may change from Friday, January 29, to Saturday, January 30, to accommodate changes in school scheduling.
Board Chair’s Report
Josh discussed the work of the Committee on Access, Inclusion, and Equity and outlined some of the essential questions the committee is examining. The committee will produce short- and long-term action plans to implement changes that will expand access, inclusion and equity and monitor the organization’s progress.
Executive Session
Elaine and Christine left the Zoom session, and the Board entered its customary executive session. The trustees discussed a number of topics and moved unanimously to express their official appreciation and approval of the design and implementation of the Singers’ online season. (See text of the letter, developed and approved by Board officers subsequent to the meeting.)
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Nickel, secretary
Minutes from meeting of Monday, February 15, 2021
The trustees met online via Zoom
Online
Josh Krugman, chair; Will Arvanites, Jim Burress, Jenica Conley, Ted Doran, Jen Faria, Leigh Furtado, Dan Hendriksen, Brad Louison, Suzanne Nassise, Mark Nickel, Carrie Scheff, Margaret Veresko
Ex officio: Elaine Cunningham, Christine Noel
Regrets
Neil Brafman
Guests
Mell Roca
Josh Krugman called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. Minutes from the November 18, 2020, Board meeting were approved as they appeared on the website.
Strategic Committee for Access, Inclusion, and Equity
Josh, committee chair, led a discussion of the committee’s updated strategic plan, which had been distributed to the trustees a week in advance of the meeting. He summarized the committee’s work, noted some of the national sources the committee had consulted, including workshops hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and reviewed the Singers’ experience with choral education, particularly the Junior Providence Singers. The trustees supported the committee’s proposal to resume and redesign the JPS as an in-school chorus based in a school that serves a significant number of underrepresented minority students. Discussion focused on timing for the program launch and on development of a more detailed plan that would facilitate a detailed budget, a fundraising plan, and initial exploration of foundation interest. The committee will have a more detailed plan and budget for the trustees to consider at the May meeting.
Discussion continued on the committee’s work toward creating greater diversity in both membership and audience and broadening the array of composers, instrumentalists, and soloists participating in Singers concerts. Proposed plans would address retention issues among new members, enable students with an interest in choral music to attend concerts with their parents, create new partnerships with community arts organizations (not necessarily choral organizations), and use support from the Wachner Fund in identifying and performing more works by emerging choral composers.
Budget and Finance Committee
Dan Hendriksen, treasurer and chair, presented a revised budget for the remaining months of the fiscal year. Expenditures have risen by approximately $12,000 since the provisional budget was approved by the Board in July. The increase was led by payments to contract musicians necessitated by the Singers’ presentation of online performances and by expenses tied to the program of online choral workshops. Fortunately, the revenue side of the budget has grown at a greater rate, owing to successful grant applications and revenue from the federal Payroll Protection Program. There is a possibility of finishing the year with a surplus. The committee exercised due diligence in developing the revised budget and is presenting it for Board approval. A motion to approve was made, seconded and unanimously passed.
Resource Development Committee
Mark Nickel, chair, reviewed a fundraising spreadsheet that was distributed in advance of the meeting. The overall figures are very encouraging. Approximately 92 percent of the fiscal year fundraising goal has been raised, led by foundation and government grants. Mark noted the executive director’s efforts to identify granting agencies likely to support the Singers program and her success in applying for and securing grants. Member donations, usually solicited during spring in-person rehearsals, are a concern in a year of online rehearsals and performance. Givebutter, the Singers’ new fundraising platform adopted this year, is proving to be a useful tool, particularly for encouraging regular (monthly or quarterly) giving and for improved communications.
Governance Committee
Suzanne Nassise, chair, reported that term-limited trustees and trustees with expiring terms will require the election of at least three new trustees for fiscal year 2022. The committee is at work recruiting and speaking with candidates. The committee is also developing a slate of officer candidates and a list of potential committee chairs.
Personnel Committee
Leigh Furtado, chair, raised the issue of making vaccination status a criterion for admission to in-person rehearsals. Discussion centered on allowing exemptions for members with certain medical conditions or waivers for members who choose not be be vaccinated and how such a policy would be enforced. A voluntary survey of member views on the question is a possibility.
Artistic Director’s Report
Christine Noel reported that the intensive production process for the recording of Ola Gjeilo’s Westminster Bridge is concluding, and the recording should be released sometime next week. Online rehearsals for Ēriks Ešenvalds’ The Time Has Come have concluded, and members will submit audio and video recordings by Monday, February 23. The Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, which has been part of online rehearsals this season, will be performed in concert next season, as will Heinrich Schütz’s Musikalische Exequien and the newly commissioned work by Julian Wachner. The season’s schedule is pending a determination of when in-person rehearsals and concerts will be safe to resume. Answers to that question should be available within a matter of months. Josh suggested that the budgeting process should assume a full, normal season.
Executive Director’s Report
Elaine Cunningham briefly reviewed gifts and potential grants and noted that a new web site should be ready to go live by March 15.
Executive Session and Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Nickel, secretary
Minutes from meeting of Wednesday, May 12, 2021
The trustees met online via Zoom
Online
Josh Krugman, chair; Will Arvanites, Neil Brafman, Jim Burress, Jenica Conley, Ted Doran, Jen Faria, Leigh Furtado, Dan Hendriksen, Brad Louison, Suzanne Nassise, Mark Nickel, Carrie Scheff, Margaret Veresko
Ex officio: Elaine Cunningham, Christine Noel
Note: These minutes are in draft. The Board will approve a final version at its next meeting.
Josh Krugman called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Minutes from the February 15, 2021, Board meeting were approved as they appeared on the website.
Appointment of Members Emeriti/ae
Josh introduced a motion to appoint Mark Nickel as tenor emeritus. The motion passed unanimously.
Strategic Committee for Access, Inclusion, and Equity
Josh, committee chair, introduced a budget and final draft of the AIE strategic plan, which underscored the importance of operating the new choral program for young singers at a venue in the community. Funding for the program will come from foundations, individual donors, and other external sources. The intent is to raise half the necessary funds by January 1, 2022. The Personnel Committee of the Board will monitor development of the program and prepare an annual report to the Board. A motion to approve the plan and the fundraising goal was approved unanimously.
Personnel Committee
Leigh Furtado, chair, introduced the final draft of a vaccination policy, noted strong support for a vaccine requirement, and invited discussion of topics including medical or religious exceptions, requiring proof of vaccination, and ways in which members could provide that proof (e.g., in person, via email, photocopies of vaccination certificate). Josh revised the draft to include points raised in discussion, including a provision for the policy to expire after the 2021-22 season. His revised version was approved unanimously later in the meeting.
Budget and Finance Committee
Dan Hendriksen, treasurer and committee chair, reported that the state of the Singers’ finances is good, with $108,000 in the checking account and $157,000 in Fidelity reserves. Dan screen-shared a provisional budget for fiscal 2022, a conservative plan that assumes a full normal season. The budget, which includes development costs for the AIE choral education program (premiering in fiscal 2023), would lead to a slight surplus (revenue of $238,050 to cover $221,757 in expenses). Discussion included the likelihood of a full normal season and assurances that the budget could be revised in light of changing conditions. The Board approved the provisional budget unanimously.
Resource Development Committee
Mark Nickel, chair, noted uncertainty in setting fundraising goals for the unusual season. Fundraising totals as of April 30, distributed in advance of the meeting, pointed to a successful year, with 137 percent of the overall goal raised ($223,868 toward a goal of $163,000). The Singers’ two endowment funds are healthy and growing. The Fund for the Providence Singers, established in April 2020 with $116,000, now stands at $150,687 and will make its first distribution in December. The Wachner Fund for New Music now stands at $131,571.
Governance Committee
Suzanne Nassise, chair, introduced a slate of candidates for Board offices and a slate for new trustees. Officer candidates for fiscal 2021 include Josh Krugman, chair; Jim Burress, secretary; and Dan Hendriksen, treasurer. There are five candidates for three-year terms as trustees: Margaret Veresko, Michael Templeton, Jenica Reed Conley, Suzanne Nassise (second term), and Mary Ellen Roca. Motions to approve both slates passed unanimously.
Artistic Director’s Report
Christine Noel summarized plans for the 2021-22 season:
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November 6-7 — Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Saturday evening at St. Mary’s Church in Bristol and Sunday afternoon in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul
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December 12 — Messiah in a Sunday afternoon performance at The Vets, with a possible second performance Friday evening
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March 5 — Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration Concert at Grace Church in Providence, including the Schütz Musikalische Exequien and the premiere of Julian Wachner’s We Two Alone, commissioned for the Singers’ fiftieth anniversary
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April 3 — A Sunday afternoon concert of music from the Broadway stage, presented in McVinney Auditorium in Providence with a possible Saturday evening performance in Barrington
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May 6-7 — Two performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Rhode Island Philharmonic
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Christine also presented a proposal to add three or four professional tenors or basses to the artistic staff. These new singers would not form a “professional core” within the chorus but would serve as additional tenor and bass voices to ensure the SATB balance and provide a modest increase in numbers as the Providence Singers returns to full in-person rehearsals and public performance. Aside from their staff positions and modest stipends, they would be no different from current members of the chorus. Funding for the positions was included in the approved budget.
Executive Director’s Report
Elaine Cunningham described plans for a very busy summer, including the launch of a revised website, evaluation of Givebutter’s text-to-give facility, marketing and promotional communication projects, further development of digital systems and CRM, and managing a growing social media presence. Elaine will also work on reconstituting the former managing committee and adding a new volunteer coordinator. Finally, the donated surplus office furniture received almost 15 years ago, will be replaced.
Adjournment
Josh observed that the Singers needs to develop a new five-year strategic plan and could begin early discussions this summer, perhaps in person.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Nickel, secretary