Thursday, October 16, 2014

transparency

transparency
[trans-pair-uh n-see, -par-] /trænsˈpɛər ən si, -ˈpær-/  
noun, plural transparencies.
1. Also, transparence. the quality or state of being transparent.
2. something transparent, especially a picture, design, or the like on glass or some translucent substance, made visible by light shining through from behind.

I like transparency.  Issues should be out in the open for people impacted by them to discuss.  The word “transparency” gained a new meaning last fall when I was asked to be a part of The Transparency Movement.  A group of individuals who worked for change through positive action, believed in service above self, and acted with courage and conviction, to bring a new chapter to the life of our beloved organization, the Texas Educational Theatre Association.  It truly is a new day, for TETA, but there are still challenges.  The bylaws have been revised to ensure continued transparency.  Changes in checks and balances have occurred in order for history not to repeat itself.
In the spirit of transparency, here are some challenges that face our organization that we would like to share with you:
  • There are no financial records for at least the past fifteen years.  Our Treasurer, Rachel Mattox, has worked tirelessly with a CPA attempting to recreate budgets and records.  We will share more about that and a projected budget for the coming year at our conference in January.  Not knowing how much different things cost or how things were paid for, has made planning for TheatreFest a challenge.  Please understand that the Board is working hard to make your money work for you as we grow, educate, and continue to learn the art of theatre!
  • Contracts for hotels have been secured for TheatreFest through the year 2020 by our past Treasurer.  For good or bad, TETA is locked into locations and dates for the next several years and we are at the Hyatt Houston for 2015 with a certain number of demands and needs that must be met to fulfill our contract with the hotel.  Again, we are working within those restraints to make this the best conference ever for you!
  • One of the expectations of the contract for 2015 is that we fill 500 rooms for Saturday night in the Hyatt…that is a lot of rooms!  Missey Head and Jerry Ivins are working hard to put together programing that is fun, inspirational, and meaningful for the entire membership from session one to the closing session of TheatreFest.  If it is at all possible, we need members to plan to stay until Sunday.  Enjoy the activities and events of Saturday night, relax in your hotel room one more evening, and then head home refreshed and rejuvenated from four days with fellow theatre educators!  This would be a huge help in meeting our contract with the hotel!
  • Programing.  Programing.  PROGRAMING!  We want the best and versatile programing in the history of TheatreFest this coming year.  In order to do that, we need you!  We have experts in all areas of theatre and our members need to hear from you.  You know you have it in you...click HERE to submit a workshop proposal!  Let’s go all out and have the best programming anyone can remember in the history of TETA.  Contact Missy at the link above!


If you have not registered for TheatreFest 2015, do it now! (Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for our Awards Reception!)  Remember that everyone who registers by November 1st is eligible for the drawing for two free rooms for TheatreFest at the Hyatt.

Thanks for being part of the greatest theatre organization in the world!  My life has been changed because of members of TETA and that is why I am excited by the new and exciting path we are on!  We hope to see each of you at TheatreFest 2015…all the way through Sunday!

Artfully yours,
R. Scott Allen, Ed.D.

TETA BoD, Secretary

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