Minutes from June 5th PTO-Steering Committee Meeting

OISE Peace Lounge 3:30 – 5:30

Attending: Robyn (chair), Brendan, Emily (and Kai), Duncan, Simon, Hartley,
Stephen, Jenni, chris (minutes)

Regrets: Deborah, Margo, Matt, Corvin

1. Report on 2008 PTO Conference
- Stephen began reporting on conference and Simon joined in. Below are some points touched on.

• Stephen found it quite positive; highlights included meeting people, going to workshops
• Julian Boal workshop on legislative theatre at beginning and end
• Opening ceremony not unpleasant but not as big a success
• Therefore opening ceremony is very important – Shannon woman reciting letter line-by-line with translation in Spanish
• Native American woman keynote – a bit them/us, then they left; talked about 53 hangings at Fort Snelling – heavy, heavy, heavy, heaviest
• Problem: Boal’s death not acknowledged until 11:00 pm
• Spontaneous memorial Sat.
• Spanish speaking community appreciated being listened to
• Organizers were very approachable, open, nice, waned to share
• Food Not Bombs session to talk
• Workshop on Sunday morning – Gender in Science
• Workshop on last day day – kids show was highlight – about young black males and invisible father
• Simon found keynote speaking out of context → you became a spectator during the keynote presentations; felt a little monologic
• Presented legislative theatre at 10:30 – going to City Hall – only 3 people came from City
• PO/TO balance – Victor Cole workshop; Deborah Arts & Activism
• TO group divided – Weinblatt – oppression; Boal purification
• Jokers meeting in Rio in July
• PO/TO confused

2. Program

• Pre and post conference
• Mixed Company and Catalyst will do one-pagers describing pre and post conference ideas/proposals
• Pre and Post will liaise with/join program committee
• Stephen suggested thinking about themes for pre and post which would remove pressure form theme for conference

3. Outreach

• Committed to approaching community organizations soon
• Robyn will talk to 519
• Committee will prepare outreach package
• Chris will contact some TCHC folks – youth human rights course participants
• We could do an Outreach event in late August/September

4. Space

• Report in E-mail
• Look at U of T theatre space

5. Budget

• 2007 expenses were ~$120,000; revenue was ~$106,000 leaving a shortfall of ~$12,000
• see draft budget – chris spoke to this briefly pointing out the need to decide on a base registration rate – e.g. past conferences have charged ~$75/day (including early reg fees, student and unemployed rates, etc.)
• Finance committee to meet

6. Liaising with PTO Board

• There were 7 retirees from PTO Board
• Simon Malbogat joined PTO Board
• Kelly – president elect
• Brendan will continue to be liaison to Board

7. Timeline

• Brendan will send timeline for input

8. Next Meetings

• June 26
• July 24
• August 28

9. Subcomittees

• All subcommittees to meet
• Subcommittees to write descriptions of what they do