Meraki Meeting Notes for March 15 2022; Next meeting: April 12 2022

Present: John Boynton, Mellen D., Deb G, Jason A., Kari P., Parks Mc., Lori H.,Blair F., Rebecca B.

Dancer’s age: Unanimous decision- stick with our policy of no children (younger than 13) inside or out. Mellen will contact Marin to see if she is thinking about any occasional family events (outside) that we could promote.

Review of first indoor dance on March 13

Positives:

• Per Kari & Lori – smooth check in. No pushback on vax cards and masks.
• Thea (from Ketcha) is coming to the next dance
• Dancers were happy to be indoors together.
• Outdoor access is a plus (for good weather)
• Windows and views of outdoors were nice!
• Brightness and openness

Concerns:

• Outside greeter table: can it be indoors?
• Need gatekeepers to catch late comers and ask for vax proof- table indoors makes that easier. (Rebecca, Mellen & Kari are open to doing this—we should recruit more to help to spread out the responsibility). Idea- have a list of times for “gatekeeping” at the greeter table for sign ups – ½ hour or 15 minute commitment (not decided)
• Too much speaking on dance floor – need to remind dancers –
• Bring signs from Avant with “rules of the road” re: talking, safety etc. (Blair to do)
• Floor could be cleaner (though it was swept numerous times)
• Sound: it was muddy and echo-y. Possible solution- reorient speakers to bounce off side wall.
• 45 people counted and room felt quite full – concerns about future suitability as more dancers return.
• Understand need for masks (for now) but it was “distancing” not to see faces.
• Rebecca will contact Rudy about scheduling a Can We Dance committee meeting to discuss any changes to dance precautions.

Space discussion:

• General sense- settle in to Ketcha space for now, but continue to look for larger space based on various concerns expressed.
• Overall concern is that a minimum of $450 needs to be collected at each dance to cover expenses and the Ketcha space may not be large enough to allow enough dancers to bring in sufficient funds.

Agreed to:

• Continue to look for larger space.
• Jason is willing to informally look for space again, and to be the point person for any leads. Ketcha is 32’x64’, 2200 square feet.
• John provided a link to the spaces that had been previously vetted to assist in this.

Finance update:

John: there has been a steady decline in income during covid. Balance is around $7K and some annual bills come due in the spring- insurance, web host, corporate registration. Current income and expenses are not sustainable. Reminder to Meraki of importance in keeping a reasonable balance in case of challenges (such as covid). Corrective action needs to be taken if balance goes below 7K. John will provide a quarterly financial report (Jan-Mar) for the next meeting.

Brainstorming on need for financial support:

• Be explicit with dancers: state that minimum $450 needed to sustain dances (reality check)
• Remind dancers at closing circle
• Add text to weekly announcement
• Explore yearly membership opportunity – pay all at once?
• Make donation box more prominent
• Can PCD be the recipient of an estate (yes, but not for tax deduction)
• PCD is a 501 c4, (not a c3) and donations are not tax deductible, but anyone can make a gift to PCD.
• Could do a dance fundraiser if needed
• Have greeter(s) emphasize need for financial support

Greeters

• Many thanks to Lily for consistently greeting
• But continue volunteer greeters because it builds community and helps with the more involved intake process of vax cards etc.
• Emphasis on donations is needed

DJ’s

• Mellen & Deb will gather the DJs to discuss future availability now that dances are indoors.
• Mellen will contact Lisa (DJ for March 27) to update her on the indoor space.

Equipment Storage:

Still not resolved at Ketcha. Temporarily an informal equipment crew of John, Blair and Jason will work out storage between dances.

Items that arose for WIZ to handle:

• Kari will call a meeting of WIZ members.
• Location of greeter table inside
• Securing gatekeepers to watch for new dancers after greeter table closes
• Large sign needed on greeter table emphasizing vax proof
• Post signs Blair will bring to next dance.

Questions about return to weekly dances. Decision depends on:

• Suitable equipment storage
• Available DJs

Upcoming dance dates:

• Dates are set through August
• No Sept dates are open! Later discussion needed for how to handle – are there evening dates open that might work? Or alternate location.
• Kari and Thea will set definite dates through the winter for 2^nd and 4^th Sundays.

Next Meraki meetings:

Tuesday, April 12, 7 pm

Tuesday, May 10, 7 pm

Group was lukewarm on the idea of in-person Meraki meetings in the near future. Continue with zoom.

Submitted by:

Mellen Deschenes

Secretary, pro-tem