ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE

 

Minutes of Meeting, 9-1-05

Those present:  Rick McAdams, Susie Rickard, Ann Iaria, John Iaria, Billy Warren, Carol Burhans, Jim Lake, Sarah Ford, Perri Scott-Hawthorne, Thomas Ray, Donna Miles, Autumn Harris, Lee Freeman, Andy Betterton, A. J. Mashburn

 

  1. Lee Freeman announced this schedule of speakers and titles for the lectures at the public library in October:
    1. Sunday, October 2, 2 p.m. – Dr. George Makowski (Title: TBA)
    2. Sunday, October 9, 2 p.m. – Lee Freeman, “A Hard Day’s Knight:  Chivalry and Knighthood in the Middle Ages,” and
    3. Sunday, October 16, 2 p.m. – Dr. Tom Osborne, “Renaissance Florence.”

       
  2. Lee Freeman stated that he will have the printed program for the Feast ready for duplication at our September 15 meeting.

     
  3. Billy Warren:
    1. Reported that various churches in the city of Florence are working together to present a history of Christianity during the Renaissance and Reformation (to include a tableau of da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and a portrayal of a portion of the life of Martin Luther);
    2. Reported that the apartment at Kennedy-Douglass Art Center has been reserved for Matt Wilson, the actor who will be an artist-in-residence in Florence City Schools and will perform at the Renaissance Faire; and
    3. Distributed copies of the 2005 poster to those in attendance.

       
  4. In the monthly drawing, John Iaria won an audio CD of French Medieval music.

     
  5. Ann Iaria suggested that we might talk with Larry Bowser to see if Marriott employees can serve at our Feast.  Billy Warren will ask that question when he meets with Mr. Bowser.

     
  6. Jim Lake;
    1. Displayed examples of various kinds of stage scenery that he painted in a workshop (a talent of Jim’s of which we were unaware); and\
    2. Used his laptop computer to display some virtual buildings that he designed for our proposed working Medieval village at Veterans Park.

       
  7. Susie Rickard accepted a copy of the disk created by Jim Lake that features many digital photographs from previous Feasts and Faires.  She stated that she will use the disk and other information, along with images from our website, to publicize this year’s Feast and Faire on Northwest-Shoals Community College’s channel 59 on Comcast Cable.  (Hooray for Susie!)

     
  8. Andy Betterton suggested that we scan the poster and the coin from each year of our Faire and post them on our website.  Billy Warren will talk with Sue Bevis about this possibility.

     
  9. John Iaria suggested that we offer five pairs of free Feast tickets (a total of 10 tickets) to a group of VIP’s whom we would designate.  This would not really cost us anything since 10 tickets represent 5% of the 200 tickets we sell (the caterer always prepares for a least a 5% overrun) and would be a great public relations gesture.  Carol Burhans stated that she will decorate the VIP table if we decide to have one.

     
  10. Billy Warren:
    1. Announced (drum roll, please!) that we recently received a check from the city of Florence in the amount of $1,750 as our reimbursement for the liability insurance premium that we paid in 2004;
    2. Reminded everyone that we have a second meeting this month:  THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, at noon;
    3. Announced (another drum roll, please!) that the Alabama Renaissance Faire has been named one of the Top Twenty Events for the October-December, 2005, quarter by the Southeast Tourism Society;
    4. Complimented Vince Brewton, our webmaster, for the very eyecatching way that he has posted our Top Twenty announcement on our website (check it out!);
    5. Announced that Chief Rick Singleton has agreed again this year to provide two security officers for our Faire:  from 6 p.m. on Friday, October 21, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, and from 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, to 6 a.m. on Sunday, October 23; and
    6. Stated that he will invite Teri Thomason from the Times-Daily to meet with us on September 15 (as she did in 2004) to map out publicity for our October events.

       
  11. Billy Warren distributed paper copies of the revised events page from our website and asked for suggestions regarding it:  deletions, additions, corrections.  Carol Burhans stated that the Rainbow Dancers’ workshop with Mesmera should be listed.  Lee Freeman offered revisions regarding the lectures at the library.  (See item #1 above.)

     
  12. Billy Warren announced that we now have 20,000 copies of our new brochure.  He distributed copies and asked everyone to place them in strategic locations.