Fall 1999 p. 9

ABBREVIATED VASTA CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES
July 31 1999
Toronto

Present were Kate Burke (KB), Janet Rodgers (JR), Kate Ufema (KU), Lisa Wilson (LW), Rocco Dal Vera (RDV), Bettyanne Leeseberg-Lange (BALL), Sandra Shotwell (SS), Dorothy Runk Mennen (DRM), Craig Ferre(CF), Candice Brown (CB) and Philip Thompson (PT)

After a call to order and approval of the minutes of our last meeting, JR requested further input any on changes to VASTA’s by-laws. This will be a major agenda item for our November meeting. This Autumn, BALL will send out to the membership a slate of candidates to fill vacated board seats. JR reported a request made by Marth Munro that VASTA officially endorse a voice and movement organization called SAPAME being formed at her university in South Africa. JR will write a letter of support to Marth Munro. RDV presented his report on the Voice and Speech Review. RDV called for suggestions to fill some associate editorships. BALL moved that individual subscription to the Journal alone be $35.00, SS seconded. The motion passed unanimously

JR announced that Virginia Commonwealth University has agreed to store the VASTA archives. JR reported on some preliminary plans for the 2000 conference. Information is available on the VASTA website at: http://www.vasta.org/conf2000.html. JR reported on her efforts to "reconstruct" VASTA's advisory board. JR announced that Rena Cook will take the position of assistant ATHE planner. JR also announced that Wendy Hagenow will serve as grad student assistant on site for the 2000 VASTA Conference. SS began her Newsletter report by introducing Craig Ferre as the neweditor.

KB gave the ATHE report. KB detailed the ongoing difficulties in getting money from ATHE which is designated for support of focus groups. KB will detail for LW the current procedures for receiving this money ($250). Apparently, this funding will no longer be offered to focus groups, but be made available to any proposal in any amount. JR proposed for our ongoing consideration the following question : "what is our relationship with ATHE and is it valuable?” JR reported for Barry Kur that the committee has begun a publication concerning the relationship between Vocal Coach and Director, and a list of courses in Voice and Speech which would be useful for students training as directors. BALL moved: that VASTA give up $1000 to the Advocacy Committee addressing near reach to theatre directors in order to fund printing and mailing of the two proposed documents with the following amendments: 1) the "how to" document for directors should include information relating to work in film and television; 2) the inclusion of "voice and speech" as a subject in director training curricula. DM seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

LW gave the Treasurer's Report. The key issue brought to our attention was a significant drop off in membership. This is likely due to a temporary lapse in the sending out of reminder cards. A new procedure was suggested by members of the board: PT will send out two reminders‹one before expiration and another after. To further capture the attention of our membership, defaulters will be promptly removed from the active mailing list and not receive the Newsletter. Current projections for the Clyde Vinson Scholarship Fund show that we will eventually deplete it. It is important to find ways to enrich the fund. We will hold our November Board Meeting on the weekend of November 5-7. At approximately 5 PM we adjourned

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Membership categories:
Voice/Speech Professional: Has voting privileges, receives the VASTA Newsletter, the Voice and Speech Review, the Membership directory, and VASTA Guidelines. Eligible for reduced VASTA Conference fee. As of January 1, 1999, annual dues are $65.

Student member: Currently enrolled in a training program. Receives same benefits as above. Annual dues $35.

Affiliate Member: Professional in related field, business or organization. Receives same benefits as above but has no voting privileges. As of January 1, 1999, annual dues $65.

To join VASTA, log on to <www.VASTA.org>; print out the application, fill out, and mail with dues (US currency only) to: Lisa Wilson, 1535 S. Florence Ave., Tulsa, OK 74104.
VASTA membership year is dated from the date of receipt of dues to the same date of the following year.

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