Cultural Preservation Society, Inc.

Board Meeting Minutes

August 13, 2003

Key West Library

Board Members present:

Isaac Valdes, Chairman

Ann Summers, Vice Chairman

Antonio Rodriguez, Treasurer

Sabrina Liguori, Secretary

Jan Nelson

Will Soto

Joyce Straitton

Isaac called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.

Isaac recognized J. J. Heisel from The Key West Citizen and let her explain why she was present and what she had in mind. She would like to begin doing articles on Sunset Celebration for the paper. She would like the citizens of Monroe County to know what goes on at Mallory Square, how we operate our business and let them know we would like their support and offer our assistance on special events for charitable functions. Eddie Woolford and Monica Geers will assist with the articles and everyone is welcome to have input.

The Board thanked her for attending the meeting and for her willingness to help us let the general public know what we do.

Isaac called for the Secretary’s report. Since everyone had read the minutes prior to the meeting Annie made a motion to accept, Jan seconded and motion passed with all in favor.

Isaac calls for the PC report.

Steve Kurstin began the report by telling the Board who had been approved by the PC and what they did. Steve then asked the Board if Twilight participants were allowed to sell products while working in the category. This was discussed in length and the Board decided to table the question while some research was done to find out what the past Boards had done. Steve then posed the question of “can PC members meet in executive session to deliberate the items presented to them at the jury”? A motion was made by Will S. to allow all CPS members to attend the meeting but to only allow PC members and Board Members to sit in on the deliberations. Seconded by Annie, passed all in favor. It was also discussed about what to tell the applicants if they are turned down. It was decided that the applicant should be told why they were turned down and offer advice on what they could do to make their product acceptable to the event. Susanne B. stated that the PC is now giving a welcoming speech to all new applicants and advise them on what is taking place at the jurying and how the event works.

John Rojas asked Isaac when the appropriate time was for him to make an appeal to the Board on a PC decision. Isaac advised him that would come under new business.

Susanne B. had worked with other PC members to try and get a count of the number of people working in any given category for the month of July. It was determined that we have 31 jewelry participants juried with about 22 working on a regular basis. T-Shirts have 19 juried and 11 working on a regular basis. Photographs have 10 juried participants with 6 working on a regular basis. Painting was 11 juried and 8 working on a regular basis. Steve K. asks the Board to advise them what percentage of each type of product should be allowed for our 45 arts and craft spaces. The Board said they would need to discuss this further before making a recommendation.

A motion was made by Jan N. to put a cap on jewelry. This means no new jewelry of any type be allowed. Sabrina seconded the motion and it passed with 6 in favor and 1 abstention.

Jan makes a motion to accept the PC report, seconded by Joyce S. Passed all in favor.

Isaac calls for the Performer’s report. Will addresses the Board beginning with the old business of performer’s being able to sell their own image. They are continuing to work on this and would like to present it to the Board very soon at a Special Board Meeting.

Will then discusses the problem of space during season. There are 19 performer spaces at Mallory and during season not all that show up get to work, the newest being sent home for lack of space. He suggest that the performers be given a specific day each week that they will not work thereby opening up a space for others that do not have seniority. The day off would be selected by the individual performer by order of seniority. Pete I. agrees with this. The Board will think about this and make a decision at a later date.

It was brought up the once a performer picks his space he cannot move to another space without discussing this with the Pier Manager. Also discussed is the ongoing problem of the performers not pulling in their crowds and keeping the walkways blocked. The performers need to use a highly visible rope to allow the public to see where they need to be. Will makes a motion for a sign to be posted at the Kiosk informing the performers that they must use a highly visible approved rope to designate their space and to ask the crowds to move up to the line. They should do this all during their show. Seconded by Joyce, passed all in favor.

Jan wants a letter sent to each performer advising of this and advising them that they must do this or face a suspension.

Since there was not an official Performer Committee report there was not need for Board approval

Isaac calls for the Pier Manager’s report. Pete I. advised that all seems to be going well for now. They have had a few problems with Alex the juggler but Pete will handle them. Pete asks when he will get the shed for items to be stored in. Isaac and Antonio agree to go to Sears and purchase one today. Pete asks if CPS can either have one of our artists paint some signs or ask the city to have signs made showing where the rest rooms are. He says we are paying the Police Officer to tell the tourist where they are located. Pete also follows up on the first aid kit issue. He is waiting for a place to open that sell at a very good price before he purchases another one. Will asks if the PM or someone from the Board has asked the City about the lights on the pier not working. He was advised that they had been notified. Isaac wants to purchase metal outlet covers for the ones that are broken and all members agreed. Isaac makes a motion to have the performers purchase lights on tripods to be placed on the land side with halogen lights shining on the performers. They would be plugged into the outlets on the land side. Seconded by Joyce. Passed, all in favor.

Isaac states that the ATM machine will be installed today or next week. It will not cost CPS any money and we will receive seventy five cents a swipe as our fee. The company installing it will maintain it and proved the money in the machine.

A motion is made by Will to accept the Pier Manager’s report, Joyce seconded, passed all in favor.

Isaac calls for the Treasurer’s report. Antonio R. states that our current balance is $26,351.30 in the checking account and $400 in the Putnam account. Our insurance is paid for the next twelve months and our rent is paid.

Antonio was asked if letters had been sent to Pepe’s and Sunset Grill asking them to pay their share of the Police Officer fee. A registered letter had been sent to Pepe’s but was refused by them and returned to CPS. Antonio has not gotten a correct address for Sunset Grill in order to send their letter. Other Board members stated that they had discussed this with John Jones and he was personally going to talk to Ocean Key House, Pepe’s and Sunset Grill. He wants all four (including us) to pay the Officers fee. Since the reason we have to have them is the drinks and they are purchased from the other three businesses it is only fair that they share in the cost.

A motion is made by Will to accept the Treasurer’s report, seconded by Annie. Passed all in favor.

Ray Campbell is recognized to make a proposal to the Board. He would like to sell various types of posters at Sunset. There are a couple of ways to do it and he explained the details. The Board will discuss this further and get back to him.

John Rojas is recognized to speak on behalf of his wife Natalie. The want to appeal the decision made by the PC regarding her product. He states that as he reads the guidelines they feel they were not treated in a fair and impartial manner by PC. He states that while working at a recent street fair in Key West an number of CPS members saw Natalie’s jewelry and encouraged her to go to PC with it. John said he and Natalie both felt they were not given the time nor the respect regarding her jewelry while at the PC meeting. They felt some of the PC members were letting their personal feelings about “beading” be used to judge them rather than the criteria in the guidelines. They felt that even if their things did not meet the criteria set forth in the guidelines they should have been respected and not belittled. Steve K. spoke and said that he did not feel that the PC had done anything wrong but apologized if it appeared that way. He further stated the right after the last Board meeting the PC had conducted a count on how many participants we had in that category and spoke with Board members about it. The Board had told them to put a cap on jewelry.

Natalie and John were asked to leave the room so the Board could have an open discussion with PC . Jan asked Barbara Winko if she would remove the items from her table that Natalie had taught her to make. This request was made so as to allow us to let Natalie in with her jewelry due to her jewelry being original and unique on the pier. Barbara agreed to this request. The uniqueness in Natalie’s jewelry is that she creates a flower pattern from her beads and wire wrapping. She also creates other original patterns with her wire wrap and beads.

A vote was taken by secret ballot (Will S. stated he did not want to use the ballot and cast his vote by show of hand). The vote was to let Natalie sell some types of her jewelry. The vote was 4 to 3 in favor. The Board then decided that she would be allowed to offer for sale the . She will be allowed macramé with leather when combined with her own beaded wire shapes. Earring only with her beaded wire shapes. She will not be allowed to sell the macramé with just a purchased bead or stone.

Jan makes a motion to give Pete a $2.00 per hour raise. Pete agrees that he won’t expect or ask for another raise for two years from this date. Seconded by Annie. After discussion a vote was taken. The motion was passed 6 in favor, one against.

Jane Walker and Bert (the Shirt) were present at the meeting and asked that they be granted Grandfather status. Larry had also asked the Board to consider him for the status. Isaac then asked the Board to include Davmar. There was a discussion on the number of days Davmar has participated at sunset and it was decided that it needs to be verified by the Board.

Will made a motion to grant the status to each of the above members when their time has been verified. Seconded by Annie. Passed all in favor.

Isaac makes a motion to give Will S. $300 from CPS to help him since he has not been able to work for about 3 months. Seconded by Annie, passed all in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.