Our Newsletter
September, 2011 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
The time has come for Friends of the Braumart to start some serious fundraising! Will you help us raise $75,000 so we can move forward?
The $75,000 will provide us with a detailed plan to move ahead with the all-important process of raising the funds to achieve our goals and it will enable us to complete the first two phases of our Redevelopment Feasibility Study. As a member of 'Friends of the Braumart', you have already shown that you believe in this project. Developing the Historic Braumart Theater into a dynamic Arts Center holds great potential and importance for the community, and how much we can accomplish depends on the continued support of committed members like you…
If everybody gives, we will reach our goal!
The FOTB Board has selected Engberg Anderson of Milwaukee to complete our Redevelopment Feasibility Study. Engberg Anderson specializes in planning and design of historic preservation and cultural projects. They have assembled an impressive team of specialists to address all four phases of our feasibility study. The Board has also selected professional fundraising consultants Jerald Panas, Linzy & Partners of Chicago. Proposals for the Redevelopment Feasibility Study and the Fundraising Feasibility Analysis can be reviewed at our office in the Historic Braumart Theater. Please contact any Board member for an appointment.
Good News:
'Friends of the Braumart' was awarded a $2000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Michigan Preservation Fund. The seed grant funds will be used towards a feasibility study for the restoration and renovation of the theater.
Oktoberfest Non-Profit Showcase:
The Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual fall event - Oktoberfest - at Pine Grove Country Club on October 20. Attendees will vote for their favorite non-profit; the organization with the most votes will receive $500! Reservations and payment are required by October 12 (or pay a higher fee at the door). Details will be mailed or emailed soon. Come on out and vote to Bring Back the Braumart!
Did you know: You can donate via PayPal at www.friendsofthebraumart.org!
We're looking for ideas:
FOTB is always looking for acts to perform at the theater as a way of generating income. What would YOU like to see in a season of performances? Do you know of any regional touring groups? Please send us your ideas!
Annual Election:
Two board positions will be up for election in October. The term of office will be three years (November 2011 to October 2014). We are accepting nominations from any member to serve on the Board of Directors. If you would like to nominate someone for the Board, or if you are interested yourself, please submit the candidate's responses to the following three questions by Monday, October 17.
- Why are you interested in serving on the Friends of the Braumart Board of Directors?
- What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
- What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing the Friends of the Braumart in the next three years?
You may email your responses to info @ friendsofthebraumart.org or mail them to the address below. Please limit your responses to approximately 300 words total. These responses will appear on the ballot. Our Annual Membership Meeting will be 7:00 PM Tuesday, October 18, at the Braumart. Nominations for the Board will be accepted at the meeting. After the October 18 meeting, nominations will be closed and the ballot will be mailed to all current Friends of the Braumart members.
Current Board Members:
President: Jinx Brew; Vice President: Duane Peck; Treasurer: Barbara Kramer; Secretary: Audrey Carlson; Board Members At Large: Shanna Champeau, Sally Jacobs, Robin Tchokreff.
Our Mission Statement:
Our mission is to develop the historic Braumart Theater into a dynamic center which embraces all arts and artists, and provides cultural, educational and economic stimulus for the area.
Send Checks to:
Friends of the Braumart
P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801
January/February, 2011
FRIENDS OF THE BRAUMART NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER/ CALL FOR NOMINATIONS/ MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
P O Box 156
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
info @ friendsofthebraumart.org
www.friendsofthebraumart.org
Dear friends,
Membership dues for 2011 are due!
With the support of people like you, we will soon have a community Arts Center in a beautifully renovated Braumart Theatre. Purchasing and restoring the building is a very large undertaking. We are about to begin a "capital campaign" to raise funds for our feasibility study. Please consider making an additional donation or contributing to our upcoming Capital Campaign.
"Friends of the Braumart" is moving ahead!
Our Request for Proposal
Last Fall, we released a "Request for Proposals" (RFP) for a study to determine the feasibility of purchasing, operating, and renovating the historic Braumart Theater. The study is made up of four phases: a market study, an architectural-engineering-structural analysis, a facility cost analysis, and a management options and final cost feasibility analysis. The RFP was posted on our website, on the League of Historical American Theaters website, and was mailed to several theater restoration firms.
The proposals are in.
We received five responses to our RFP by the December 31 deadline and they have been distributed to our Board of Directors. If any Members would like to review the proposals and offer their input, please contact us via email. We expect to get through the proposals by our March meeting.
The Friends of the Braumart Board has voted to join Iron Mountain Main Street!
Iron Mountain Main Street is a public/private partnership that encourages economic development and historic preservation of the downtown. The cost for a nonprofit to join is $100 and we will get a link on their website. Iron Mountain was recently selected to receive a $50,000 Historic Preservation assessment and National Register of Historic Places nomination service, which shows that people care about revitalizing Downtown Iron Mountain! Naturally, the Braumart Arts Center will be a part of that renewal!
Fundraising
It's time to get serious about raising money. Redeveloping the Braumart building is a multi-million dollar project, and FOTB Board is considering hiring professional Fundraisers and Grant Writers to meet our financial goals. The discussion is ongoing, and we welcome your feedback! Please email info@friendsofthebraumart.org if you have ideas or suggestions. The first phase of this project will be funding the Feasibility Study and purchasing the building.
Membership
Did you know Friends of the Braumart has over 300 members? It's a great start, but we'd love to see even more people behind this project! Our membership dues are only $10 per person per year. If every current member of FOTB brought in a new member, we could reach even more people! Copy this newsletter for someone who cares about the Arts or send them to www.friendsofthebraumart.org and encourage them to join us.
ELECTION UPDATE:
Friends of the Braumart held its first Annual General Membership meeting at the Braumart on October 26th. Nominations for the two open board seats were taken from the floor. Two members were nominated, Duane Peck (current board member) and Audrey Smith (steering committee member). Members in attendance elected both applicants.
A big "Thank You" goes out to Kathy Denny, who served on the Board during our critical first years, and thanks also to Barry Denny for his expert advice from the Steering Committee.
Current Board Members are:
Jinx Brew - President; Duane Peck - Vice President; Barbara Kramer - Treasurer; Audrey Smith - Secretary Other Board Members: Shanna Champeau, Sally Jacobs, Robin Tchokreff
Our Mission Statement:
Our mission is to develop the historic Braumart Theater into a dynamic center which embraces all arts and artists, and provides cultural, educational and economic stimulus for the area.
Are you a member of a service group in our area? We want you to know that Board Members are available to speak to your group about the Friends of the Braumart!
Membership is just $10.00 per person
Additional donations are always welcome!
Send Checks to:
Friends of the Braumart
P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801
September, 2010
FRIENDS OF THE BRAUMART NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER/ CALL FOR NOMINATIONS/ MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
P O Box 156
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
info @ friendsofthebraumart.org
www.friendsofthebraumart.org
MARQUETTE MALE CHORUS PERFORMING AT THE BRAUMART!
The Friends of the Braumart is holding a fundraising concert!
The Marquette Male Chorus is known for great music and family entertainment, and in their 29 years they have mastered almost every genre of music from opera to show tunes to rock and roll. We are so lucky to have the Marquette Male Chorus performing on the Braumart Stage on Sunday, November 7 (2:30 PM Central Time). Tickets are $15 each, or four for $50. You can buy your tickets at the Dickinson Area Partnership or at the door. The concession stand will be offering wine and other refreshments. If you have a raffle item you would like to donate, please contact us at info @ friendsofthebraumart.org. All proceeds will support the Friends of the Braumart!
Our Mission Statement . . .
. . . is to purchase, restore/renovate and operate the historic Braumart Theatre, developing a dynamic art center which embraces all arts and artists and provides cultural, educational, and economic stimulus for the tri-county area.
In 2010:
- We co-hosted Business After Hours at the Braumart (with Dickinson County Community Theater and One Community Through the Arts);
- The Board has developed our constitution, articles of incorporation, and bylaws;
- We have achieved 501(c)3 status;
- We have released a Request for Proposals for our Theater Redevelopment Feasibility Study. Check it out on our website: www.friendsofthebraumart.org.
- We are currently developing a fundraising plan – if you want to get involved, please email us at info @ friendsofthebraumart.org
ELECTION UPDATE:
Soon it will be Election Day around the country, and even "Friends of the Braumart" is holding an election! According to our bylaws, the initial Board (our current Board) serves for staggered terms. There are two Board positions which will be open. The term of office will be three years (2011- 2013). We are accepting nominations from any member to serve on the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Attend monthly meetings and actively participate in assigned committee meetings
- Participate in short and long range planning activities
- Ensure effective financial controls and accountability
- Ensure all legal and corporate requirements are met
- Approve expenditures, the annual budget, annual report, etc.
- Approve major contracts and grants.
- Advocate for the organization.
- Research and discuss issues before decisions are made.
- Troubleshoot as necessary.
If you would like to nominate someone for the Board, or if you are interested yourself, please submit the candidate's responses to the following three questions by Monday, October 25. The three questions are:
- Why are you interested in serving on the Friends of the Braumart Board of Directors?
- What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?
- What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing the Friends of the Braumart in the next three years?
You may email your responses to info @ friendsofthebraumart.org or mail them to Friends of the Braumart, P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801. Please limit your responses to approximately 300 words total. These responses will appear on the ballot. Our Annual Membership Meeting will be 7:00 PM Tuesday, October 26, at the Braumart. Nominations for the Board will be accepted at the meeting. After the October 26 meeting, nominations will be closed and the ballot will be mailed to all current Friends of the Braumart members.
Current Board Members are:
Jinx Brew - President; Duane Peck - Vice President; Barbara Kramer - Treasurer; Shanna Champeau - Secretary Other Board Members: Kathy Denny, Sally Jacobs, Robin Tchokreff
Are you a member of a service group in our area? We want you to know that Board Members are available to speak to your group about the Friends of the Braumart!
Membership dues for 2011 are due soon!
Membership is just $10.00 per person
Send Checks to:
Friends of the Braumart
Attn: Barbara Kramer, Treasurer
P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801
December, 2009
FRIENDS OF THE BRAUMART NEWSLETTER
P O Box 156
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
www.friendsofthebraumart.org
Hello!
When we sent out our last newsletter, we were in the exciting early stages of organizing our Board. The following months were spent doing a lot of careful work on our Bylaws and Constitution. It may not sound like the most earth-shattering news to report, but the work which has been done will ensure that "Friends of the Braumart" has a strong foundation as we move forward! Our goal is an ambitious one: to SAVE and UTILIZE this historic building!
Our Mission Statement . . .
. . . is to purchase, restore/renovate and operate the historic Braumart Theatre, developing a dynamic art center which embraces all arts and artists and provides cultural, educational, and economic stimulus for the tri-county area.
In 2009:
- We have joined the Dickinson Area Partnership;
- The Board has developed our constitution, articles of incorporation, and bylaws;
- Our elected Board Trustees have elected Officers;
- We incorporated as a non profit as of January 2009 with the State of Michigan;
- We obtained a Federal EIN for tax purposes;
- We have applied for 501(c)3 status;
- We have obtained insurance; and
- We developed our own website: www.friendsofthebraumart.org
NEWS UPDATE:
Over 240 people from EIGHT different States have joined Friends of the Braumart.
The ending balance for the October financial report was $5,645.63. These monies were from dues collected and gift donations. Over $2,000 came from the 2008 Zonta Tour of Homes fundraiser. Thanks again to Zonta for their generous gift and hard work!
Board Officers are:
- President……Jinx Brew
- Vice President….Duane Peck
- Treasurer….Barbara Kramer
- Secretary….Shanna Champeau
- Other Board Members: Kathy Denny, Sally Jacobs, Robin Tchokreff
Monthly meetings are the THIRD Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm and are open to the public. The board has agreed to meet at a board member's home during the winter months. Persons wishing to attend should contact Jinx Brew at 906-774-8837 for the meeting location.
We have continued our membership in The League Historic American Theatres, which has proven to be a great resource of ideas and information about theatre restoration! Their website is www.LHAT.org.
Are you a member of a service group in our area? We want you to know that Board Members are available to speak to your group about the Friends of the Braumart!
We are still discussing a LOGO for our BRAUMART ART CENTER. Send your ideas (can be roughly drawn or described) to Duane Peck, Vice President; P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801.
We are seeking members to fill the committees that are being developed by the Board to make this project successful. Committees include Fundraising, Public Relations, Grant Writing, Building Acquisition, and Maintenance. If you wish to join this army of doers please send your name and address to us with the committee/committees you wish to work. We all, the volunteers, will determine the success of this project.
What people are saying about Friends of the Braumart:
| "Wonderful! We're excited to see such appreciation for the arts, downtown and a beautiful historic landmark!!!" | "A project like this will serve the community for generations to come. Thank you for leading the charge!" | "… I'm so glad to see this effort!" |
Membership dues for 2010 are DUE!
Membership is just $10.00 per person
Send Checks to:
Friends of the Braumart
Attn: Barbara Kramer, Treasurer
P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801
April 2009
FRIENDS OF THE BRAUMART NEWSLETTER
P O Box 156
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
www.friendsofthebraumart.org
NEWS UPDATE Steering Committee: Our membership is over 210 strong with members from SIX different States!
The ending balance for March financial report was $4,167.76. These monies were from dues collected and gift donations. The Zonta Home Tour fund raiser for FOTB raised an additional $2,000 plus. Many thanks to Zonta for their generous gift and hard work.
Partnering has been done with Dickinson County Community Theatre; Dickinson Ballet Company; One Community Through The Arts; Iron Mountain-Kingsford Women's Club; and Iron Mountain-Kingsford Zonta Club. Are you a member of a service group in our area? We want you to know that Board Members are available to speak to your group about this important community-wide project!
Election Ballots were counted by the steering committee and our new Board of Directors are: Jinx Brew; Shanna Champeau; Kathy Denny; Sally Jacobs; Barbara J. Kramer; Duane Peck; Robin Tchokreff. Please note the list consists of seven members rather than the original six. Because of a tie vote the steering committee included the two candidates. Members ballot cast count was 110.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEWS
Monthly meetings have been set as THIRD Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Braumart and are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Members wishing to receive a hard copy of meeting minutes may send a stamped, self addressed envelope to the Board Secretary, Shanna Champeau, P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI, 49801. Minutes are also available online. (www.localtheatre.org)
Motion to pay dues to the League Historic American Theatres was approved. Their web site is www.LHAT.org.
Motion to select First National Bank, Iron Mountain as our business bank was approved.
Board Officers elected by the Board Trustees:
President......Jinx Brew; Vice President....Duane Peck; Treasurer....Barbara Kramer; Secretary....Shanna Champeau; Historian...to be selected at later date.
Membership dues for 2009 NOW DUE.
Membership fee $10.00
Send Checks to:
Friends of the Braumart
Attn: Barbara Kramer, Treasurer
P.O. Box 156 Iron Mountain, MI 49801
We incorporated as a non profit as of January 2009 with the state of Michigan. We obtained a Federal EIN. The EIN (number) is used for tax purposes. We are doing a business as 'Friends of the Braumart'. Application is being made to Federal Gov't for our tax exempt status under Section 501c.
The board is busy developing the constitution and articles of incorporation, along with a business plan, and finalizing a financial plan to hire a restoration architect to conduct a feasibility study. Constitution and bylaws will be ready for our May meeting, along with our Mission and Vision Statements. Historic preservation helps save dollars and promotes recycling by using existing building-sustainable development. THE BRAUMART WILL BE THE CENTERPIECE OF OUR DOWNTOWN. We need to SAVE AND UTILIZE this historic building!
The directors are now working on the "Wish List" to present to the architects. If you have something you would like to see become part of the building use please send to the secretary. Remember, it's from small acorns great Oak Trees grow.
We are seeking members to fill the committees that are being developed by the Board to make this project successful. Committees include Fundraising, Public Relations, Grant Writing, Building Acquisition, Maintenance. If you wish to join this army of doers please send your name and address to us with the committee/committees you wish to work. We all, the volunteers, will determine the success of this project.
Do you have an idea for a LOGO? For Our Up an Coming BRAUMART ART CENTRE... can be roughly drawn or described..send to Duane Peck, Vice President; P.O. Box 156, Iron Mountain, MI 49801.
