TETA Institutional Membership

Good news!
More than 60% of the Institutional Membership schools have already sent their yearly dues and had them processed.

College and universities are applying for their booths and high schools are getting those extra audition students ready.

Congratulations! If you have shuffled that task to the bottom of your “To Do” list, it’s time to put IM at the top of your list. Your yearly $200 dues are needed NOW but we have extended the deadline to November 15, 2015, after this date the dues will increase to $300. 

If you require another invoice, please contact Rachel Mattox, our treasurer@tetatx.com as soon as possible.

TheatreFest 2016 will see the return of several IM traditions. Which is your favorite?

• A separate check-in line for IM schools
• One ticket for the IM school representative for the Friday morning breakfast (e-mail that you are attending by Nov. 15) 
• One IM badge ribbon to attach to the official IM representative’s badge identifying to your fellow IM members and to prospective members wanting information on how to become and IM school
• A CAPS booth with information about HOW to become an IM member and its advantages
• One welcome gift that will help you with running your program of excellence plus the rest of your registration materials.

Check in with us at the IM line for “one-stop shopping!”
Are you wondering why IM is so important? Gilbert Casas at McCollum High School shared, “Having gone through the rigorous process of qualifying for the TETA IM designation, it proved to the administration that we had a state quality theatre program. The IM membership status serves to set us apart from so many high school theatre programs in the area. We are proud to have earned this prestigious designation.”

Sure, there are many benefits such as:

• IM schools can enter one additional student in auditions for scholarships
• IM breakfast for the one official representative from each school for networking with other IM schools and renewing friendships with peers.
• IM official representative has membership fee waived for that year (some schools rotate this honor)
• New IM schools recognized upon their acceptance at the next TETA general business meeting as being a Texas School of Theatre Excellence with an appropriate symbol for display
• IM college/university schools are allowed to recruit at auditions at no cost
• IM members may join the Facebook Institutional Membership page to discuss latest trends, propose ideas for annual meetings, share needs with other IM schools
• IM schools are recognized and emulated by schools hoping to earn the honor of statewide excellence. Not all who apply are qualified but TETA has set a bar for achievement that all schools can work towards
• IM schools receive a reduced Exhibit booth rate from $600 to an IM rate of $200

As Eric Skiles from Lone Star College – Kingwood stated so eloquently, “Being an IM in TETA proves to my administration that we are among the “best of the best” in the state. It allows local high schools (many of whom are also IM) to send their students to us with confidence. It allows transfer institutions to know they are getting a well-trained student. In a time where productions are not the only criteria for a strong theatre program, the IM process legitimizes what we do, who we are, and how we educate our students.”

So each of you need to be sure dues are current, TheatreFest 2016 registration is complete and let’s all prepare to “Dream Big! Make Magic! Make a Difference!”

If you have questions or concerns regarding Institutional Membership, please know that the application is in the “File Cabinet” at the TETA website or contact me at DramMama@aol.com or call 832-729-5663. I look forward to meeting all of you in Dallas!

Jeanne Gilson
TETA, CAPS Chair