Van Slam Family Meeting Agenda June 27th 2010
Members in Attendence: Sue McIntyre, Sean McGarragle, Duncan Shields, Chris Gilpin, Jeremiah
1) An update on the Monday shows and a financial presentation:
Sean gave a report outlying that costs are up this year with regards to flights, hotel, etc. ($6000.00+ compared to last year) and explained that revenues for the show are slightly down this year because the youth slam is now a separate entity with its own bank account as opposed to last year at this time it was splitting its revenue with the Van Slam. The team has been asked to raise approximately $2000.00 out of the approximately $20,000.00 spent on the team’s two major tournaments (CFSW and NPS).
2) Special Projects (ie the Jamie Dewolf show on the 26th at the Rio, pulling the erotica slam off of Mondays, salmon slam, etc.)
The Family has asked that Sean and Duncan look into doing further “special projects” but if the upfront cost outlay is above the usual $300 maximum discretionary allowances then it should be put out to the family (in the form of an online poll) in advance of said spending. Sean will be speaking to the Rio and possibly the Screaming Chicken Burlesque Society about possible collaborations in the future.
3) Marketing (expanding the brand, merchandise, stickers, cross pollination shows, etc.)
A suggestion from the two slammaster to purchase a ton of stickers and flyers for the slam.
The Family approved a proposal from Duncan and Sean to produce 1000 colour, waterproof Van Slam stickers to be disseminated for the purpose of expanding the slam brand.
4) VIP and the effect on the slam
--Presentation and Discussion
The family heard that Duncan will be taking care of Finals night next year and will be working with people on promo, logisitics, etc. while Sean and everybody else helping out takes care of the rest of the festival.
5) Moving to the 8PM start time for the slam starting in September (if the cafe goes for it)
--Presentation, Discussion and Voting
The family voted in favour of checking with the Café Deux Soleils and if its amenable to them then we will try out starting all the shows at 8PM for a period of 4 months and then re-evaluate.
6) Rules Committee election
Thus far, only Kyle Mallinson has put their name forward as being interested.
--Presentation, Discussion and Voting
Kyle Mallinson was appointed to the Rules Committee. No one else stood for the position.
7) An update from the team (how goes fundraising, practices, etc.)
--Presentation from Sasha Langford
Sasha Langford could not make the meeting and thus the team report will have to wait until the next Van Slam Family meeting in the fall.
Awards Committee Presentation:
From the Awards Committee,
“Be it resolved that the Van Slam Family strike a standing awards committee to:
receive nominations for awards; and to make recommendations to the Van Slam Family on awards recipients in advance of finals night each year.; and to establish a selection process for awards recipients which honours the grassroots, democratic origins of slam poetry.
Be it further resolved that for the purposes of these awards, a year shall be the time between finals nights, including alternative slams and the summer seasons.
Be it further resolved that the Van Slam Family grant the following award each year at finals night beginning in April 2011.
1. Rookie of the Year
An Award open to a poet new to the Vancouver Poetry Slam who gave a poem (including slam, open mic, and sacrifice) on the Van Slam stage that year, provided they slammed in competition at least once. Special consideration will be given to poets new to slam poetry. This award is open to members of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team, including the WOWPS an IWPS poets.
2. Spirit of the Slam Award
An award open to any member of the Van Slam Community who contributed to the betterment of the community that year. This award is open to poets and non poets, including volunteers. This award is open to members of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team, including the WOWPS an IWPS poets.
3 Poet's choice awards- The ‘Vladdy’
An award in memory of the Vlad E. Vostock, open to any poet who gave a poem (including slam, open mic, and sacrifice) on the Van Slam stage that year and who demonstrates the greatest growth of their craft or who served as an inspiration to our community. Special consideration will be given to a nominees who have not scored highly in competition. Vancouver Poetry Slam Team members, including the WOWPS an IWPS poets are ineligible for this award.
Nominated for this award will be made to the awards committee only by poets who have given poems (including slam, open mic, and sacrifice) on the Van Slam stage that year.”
The family approved all three awards but suggested we could do nominations from the show (ballots handed out to attendees of the slam) and then voting for all of the awards to be done online. The ballots for nominations will be disseminated in January. With the help of the Awards Committee, the two slam masters will speak to Clint Wilson (the person whom crafted the Championship Belt and the Team trophy) to look into creating three more trophies or in the case of the Vladdy, modifying it to include spaces for the award winners names. The election of an awards committee was pushed till next meeting in September/ October.
