From: Brook Hinton (email suppressed)
Date: Wed Aug 20 2008 - 13:09:18 PDT
Jim, this isn't a case of a "crafts-focused" organization being taken over
by a different type of organization.
This is a case of an organization that provided services to filmmakers -
equipment rental, fiscal sponsorship, and unbelievably cheap workshops -
falling under the weight of enormous debt to the degree that they could no
longer operate. Whether that's just a sign of the times, mismanagement,
whatever is something those of us who were not part of the operation can
debate forever, and ultimately we'll never know.
They had to sell whatever they could to pay off some of the debt. They
didn't just sell the filmmaking equipment. There are literally still
instructors waiting on payment for classes they taught there long ago. They
had an obligation as a non-profit organization before closing to try to find
another non-profit to take over services committed for the future - fiscal
sponsorship, for example - and the fact that the workshops may continue to
be supported by the other organization at least shows they tried to get
existing members something for their remaining membership time. I'm not
trying to defend them wholesale - I have my own issues with how things
transpired, and I don't want to air that laundry here - but this idea that
one thing has been traded for something else if baloney. Nobody wanted that
optical printer to go away. I'm sure nobody wanted the facility to close.
The equipment component obviously wasn't salvageable. What should they have
done? Find someone else to do it at a loss? That wasn't going to happen.
The equipment/facilities were the main draw for me as a filmmaker. There is
nothing comparable to replace that now. It's sad but it's the way things
are.
On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Jim Carlile <email suppressed> wrote:
> In a message dated 8/20/2008 7:12:03 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> email suppressed writes:
>
> Questions to ask yourself regarding FAF (applies to any arts
> organization):
>
> When was the last time you used one of their services or took a
> workshop?
>
> Attended an event?
>
> Renewed your membership, even if you're not in the local community?
>
> Made a tax deductible contribution?
>
> Attended a fundraiser?
>
>
> I don't live in the area.
>
> Jeez, I'm just amazed that no one's bothered by this, and that they approve
> of organizations for organizations' sake. It's all just so secretarial and
> counterproductive-- if not parasitic. The delight of mediocrities.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> It's only a deal if it's where *you* want to go. Find your travel deal *
> here* <http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047>.
>
> __________________________________________________________________ For info
> on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.
>
>
-- _______________________________________________________ Brook Hinton film/video/audio art www.brookhinton.com studio vlog/blog: www.brookhinton.com/temporalab __________________________________________________________________ For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.