ST Bulletin – Spring 2013 Open House, atbp…

Hello, Sinag-tala Family. We hope you’re doing well and looking forward as much as we are to rolling out our 2013 Season this Spring. We have so much important news to share with you, so please read this entire e-mail. Here goes:

1. Come to our Spring Open House. On Sunday, April 7, SFTPAA is hosting a get-together so worthy of being called an Open House because our doors at 4200 82nd Street, Sacramento, CA 95826 will be open virtually all day for a mixture of socializing, fun, a little business and, of course, lots of food. Everyone is invited. Here’s what’s happening:

12:30PM – Annual Potluck General Membership Meeting. As many of you already know, we’re gearing up for very, very exciting changes in SFTPAA’s near future, but everything rides on how our precious members want things done. Members in good standing will get to exercise their right to vote on a proposed amendment to our By-Laws that increases the number of seats on our Board of Directors. Members also get to nominate and elect a new set of Board members. We’re looking for great additional leaders. But that’s just for starters. There will be some intriguing crystal ball-gazing on the table, too. Members in good standing are those who are up-to-date on their annual membership dues (only $10 per individual, $20 per family). If you have not applied for or renewed your membership in the last 12 months, you may do so when you arrive at the meeting. And if you’re not sure, we’ll make sure you know. See Marie Garcia. And bring something edible or drinkable to share with others.

By the way, please see the attached Proposed By-Laws Amendment, which we are required to send to our members prior to the general membership meeting, and also our Board recruitment announcement.

1:45PM – The Great ST2013 DVD Reveal. After the business stuff is out-of-the-way, we’ll be premiering the much-awaited DVD, in full screen glory, of Sinag-tala 2013: A Theatrical Revue. If you’re among the wise ST2013 company members who pre-ordered and paid in advance, you’ll not only be the first to get your hot copy(ies) in your hot hands but also to get the chance to enjoy seeing it with those who really understand and appreciate the sweat, tears, agony, marvel and tantalizing secrets behind ST2013. And yes, there will be popcorn. We’ll cheer, and laugh with, each other. If you haven’t ordered or paid yet, be sure to do so as soon as you get there because the surplus stock will be very limited and orders will be handled on a first-come-first-served basis. A copy costs only $30, payable before receipt of the DVD. Remember also – private duplication of the DVD is prohibited.

All Day – The Visit. And of course, we’re also urging all alumni and all those who are interested but have never been to the Sinag-tala Studio before, or lately, to come and see where we do all our work, mind-shaping and cultural discoveries. Sure, we’ll give you a tour.

And naturally, because this is a huge event, we’ll need volunteers to help clean and set up the Studio. If you’re available, kindly drop by on Saturday, April 6, anytime between 10:30AM and noon with sleeves rolled up.
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2. Arts Day of Giving on April 29. On Monday, April 29, from 4:29PM to 4:29 AM, Give Local Now will host the region’s first Arts Day of Giving, an online 24-hour giving challenge. The event is produced in partnership with GiveLocal Now, For Arts Sake, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

We are urging anyone who supports the SFTPAA’s work to participate in this one day campaign, wherein donations made online to the SFTPAA or any other participating arts organization in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado Counties will be matched on a prorated basis from a pool of funds being put together by the organizing entities listed above.

Donations must be made through www.GiveLocalNow.org. Each gift is 100% deductible. The minimum gift must be $25.00. There will be a 5% to 6% transaction fee for each donation, but donors have the option to increase their donations slightly to cover the difference. Those who do not wish to donate through this site may donate through other means, but only those processed through GiveLocalNow will be eligible for a match.

It’ll be a great way to support the young people and the families that SFTPAA serves all year-long. You’ll definitely hear more about this soon. In the meantime, get your credit card ready.

3. The Touring Ensemble is off and running. A combination of tested, well-poised returning performers and eager fresh new faces make up this year’s Sinag-tala Theater Ensemble. Last month, we jump started our training curriculum with our Tinkling Academy, with returnees teaching the newcomers. This week, we began learning the 2013 repertoire in preparation for the Ensemble’s first official booking on March 23 at a Community Victory Celebration for newly elected Assemblyman Rob Bonta of Alameda County, the first-ever Filipino elected to the CA Assembly. A booking at the McGeorge Law School to benefit My Sister’s House follows on March 30.. Other upcoming engagements will be on April 6 for the Filipino Community of Sacramento and Vicinity, at the Rizal Community Center. More bookings have been listed for May and June, including the Sacramento Zoo, Rancho Cordova Cultural Festival, Pacific Rim Street Fest and Filipino American Fiesta, plus even more that are soon to be negotiated for other months. You can never say life is dull for us.

4. The Touring Ensemble’s Prayer. One thing we must note, however: due to the increasing challenges brought on by greatly reduced public and private spending on the arts nationwide, the SFTPAA, like virtually all arts organizations, is feeling the urgency of ramping up its fundraising efforts to meet continually unforgiving operational costs. To help us stay above water, we request all event organizers considering the Touring Ensemble’s participation in their activities to also consider budgeting for a performer’s fee. We are very reasonable and will negotiate. Fees vary from situation to situation and largely take into account the nature of the program that is desired; the planning, training, rehearsals and other preparations that will be required; and various logistical factors. Nothing the touring performers or artists earn go into their pockets – the income goes to our landlord, insurer, contractors, retailers and others with whom we cannot avoid engaging. Thanks for understanding.

5. 25th Anniversary, anyone? 2014 will mark the 25th season since the first Sinag-tala training program was launched. We’re very proud of what we’ve done and we’re so happy to have ushered, since 1990, about a thousand people of all ages, their families and other community members not only into the fascinating arena of the theater and performing arts but the remarkable world of Filipino musical, dance, literary and cultural artists. No other Filipino-community-based arts programming like it has ever existed in Sacramento before. You’re likely to have been a contributor to the incredible Sinag-tala journey, and it’s our hope that you’re looking forward to a worthy celebration of this milestone. We’re looking for creative minds and fearless workers to help us map out a celebratory 2014 Season. Whether you’re a previous or current Sinag-tala performer, artist, Board Member, donor, volunteer or simply a sideline cheerleader, we’d be so honored to have your participation in what we’re anticipating will be thrilling process. Please contact us and become a member of the Sinag-tala 25th Anniversary Planning Committee. The more people, the better. We have a lot of brainstorming and work to do, and time is running.

6. Outstanding. It’s a compliment we always aspire to hear about ourselves. But sadly, it’s also a reference to things that have not been paid. In reviewing our financial books for the past year, we have noted that a number of our friends, company members and families may have unintentionally overlooked amounts that are owing to the SFTPAA for membership dues, tickets, sponsorships, souvenir program ads, t-shirts, DVDs and other things. SFTPAA strives to pay all its debts promptly because it’s only good business to do so and the fair thing. In fact, we sometimes even pester those to whom we owe money for their invoices in order to avoid the risk of unnecessary stress down the road. We respectfully request that if you have an outstanding account with SFTPAA, you contact us right away so we may clear our books, stay financially sound and help take a load off your mind and ours. Thanks for understanding.

That’s it for now. Thank you for your continued interest and support.

SONNY ALFORQUE
CEO and Artistic Director
Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association