#1
Posted: 9/28/05 at 7:53pm
Two yrs ago, Barry Levitt (MAC BOD Pres.) set a public precedent when he permitted Scott Barbarino (current MAC BOD VP) to not only attend the MAC Annual Mtg, but also to stand up & say that he was not a MAC mbr & that he (Barbarino) would decide AFTER the mtg whether or not he would join. Barbarino made this comment more than once during the course of that evening. Last night, I stated out loud that I intended to stay for the mtg & make my final decision whether to join after the mtg. While Mr. Levitt permitted this of Mr. Barbarino, he would not permit this of me.
In addition to attending the mtg with the intention of making up my mind as to whether I would rejoin, I was giving the opportunity to the MAC BOD to address the points in my email to them, during the mtg. With that in mind, I passed out to those in attendance copies of my email to MAC BOD mbrs Barry Levitt [Pres], Scott Barbarino [VP], Cynthia Crane, Brent Winborn [VP] & Larry Hernan [then admin asst (now resigned), for distribution to the rest of the MAC BOD]. My email to the MAC BOD was in response to MAC BOD VP Scott Barbarino’s disingenuous invitation to concerned mbrs of the cabaret community (That was Barbarino's language. The invitation was not directed to MAC mbrs only.) to convey their thoughts, concerns & questions to the MAC BOD. The purpose of my passing out my MAC BOD email was so those in attendance would have the ability to follow along. BTW, today is day 87 w/o a response from the MAC BOD to my email that followed THEIR rules of putting comments & questions in writing to them. Sadly, at no point while I was at the mtg did anybody fr the MAC BOD indicate that they were intending to respond to my email of July 5 to the MAC BOD.
Someone stated today that I “burst in” to the mtg. I did not burst in. I walked into the mtg room calmly with a smile on my face. I handed out copies of my MAC BOD email very pleasantly. Greeted people, even got a hug fr new MAC BOD Richard Skipper. I was proceeding to my seat in the front row & heard my name called. I glanced up to see that MAC BOD Pres. Barry Levitt was asking me if I was a MAC mbr. A female voice called out “no” before I could respond. Levitt said that this was a mbrs-only mtg & asked if I was prepared to join. I responded that 2 yrs ago he permitted Scott Barbarino (current MAC BOD VP) to attend the MAC Annual Mtg. after Barbarino announced that he was NOT a MAC mbr & that he (Barbarino) would decide AFTER the mtg whether or not he would join. I announced that that was my intention. Levitt told me that I had to leave. So, w/o another word fr me, I picked up my things & made my way to leave. I heard Shelley Roberts (former long-time MAC BOD. current mbr of the MAC Advisory Cte., former MAC PR rep and current DIRECTOR OF PRESS RELATIONS AT NJ PERFORMING ARTS CENTER) call out loud into the room for everyone to hear, “Leave! and take your **** with you!” As I was leaving, still with a smile on my face, I could hear what I believe was the same voice again call out loud “good riddance” and applause followed. I stood o/s of the mtg door & continued to hand out copies of my MAC BOD email, to people entering the mtg.
MAC BOD Sec. Sue Matsuki came o/s the door & told me I had to leave. I made no argument. As we proceeded down the hall to the exit, Matsuki said that she was going to the studios’ mgmt to have them make me leave the premises & throw me out. She also told me to “get a life”. I told Matsuki that I had no problem standing o/s the entrance of the studios by the elevators & hand out copies of my MAC BOD email to people on their way to the MAC mtg. I did just that, all the time with a smile on my face.
At no time did I cause a scene.
Certainly, from the behavior of the MAC BOD & its officers, as well as those who applauded my leaving the mtg., I think it’s safe to say that I will not be rejoining MAC.
MAC seems very arbitrary in enforcing their rules in that it was OK 2 yrs ago for then non-MAC-mbr & current MAC BOD VP Scott Barbarino to attend a mbrs-only mtg & speak out several times in a questioning & “show me” attitude towards MAC, yet I was not accorded the same privilege. It has been stated that I should have stopped by the front desk upon entering and ask if attending the mtg as a non-mbr was an option. I did get around to stopping at the front desk which I doubt Mr. Barabarino did 2 yrs ago to announce that he wasn’t a mbr the yr that he attended an annual mtg when he was deciding whether he wanted to rejoin or not. When the MAC mtgs used to have a much larger attendance yrs ago, I don’t remember ea. & every person being cked before they were allowed into the mtg. I hasten to add that Messrs. Levitt & Barbarino had set a public precedent in this regard as to whether 1 had to be a mbr in order to attend.
I would like to point out that the copy of the email that I gave out did not have the MAC logo or MAC name on it, unlike the ALL MAC JAZZ promotional mat’ls. And, IMHO unlike Barry Levitt & Scott Barbarino, I was not misusing the MAC name or logo. I don’t recall reading that the MAC BOD gave their approval for the use of the name & logo for that purpose. BTW, was the controversy of ALL MAC JAZZ discussed?
Someone stated that “[t]he board is ... listening to the members who take the time to communicate DIRECTLY to them, not rant on chat boards.” However, I came w/proof that I had indeed made direct contact with the MAC BOD. As for any descriptions of my email to the MAC BOD as being negative, I do not believe that pointing out perceived problems and requesting that they be addressed is negativity. I hope that the important points I raised were addressed in the mtg.
It has also been stated that the mbrs of the MAC BOD “have no hidden agendas.” Why is the MAC logo & MAC name on privately-produced shows for which both the MAC Pres. & VP are producers & stand to profit from? I hope this point was addressed in the mtg., as well.
The cabaret community has been told again & again to join, be an active mbr, “vote.” “Vote”. That’s exactly what I wanted for the MAC mbrshp, to “vote” on the overhauling of the MAC Awards. MAC mbrs’ votes, regardless of which way they would have voted, were usurped by the arrogant & elitist MAC BOD that did not want to hear what the cabaret community had to say BEFORE they unilaterally changed the MAC Awards system & presented it as a fait accompli. And this, before there was any discussion with the mbrshp or referendum.
I was in the room last night as the mtg. started & felt the number of mbrs in attendance to be embarrassingly small. Apart fr the MAC BOD & Advisory Cte. mbrs, I would guestimate the no. of mbrs that actually attended to be around 30. 2 yrs ago MAC reported they had 800 mbrs. This was down from what I remember in yrs gone by to be around 1,200. I wonder what the real current number is. Would someone who attended the MAC mtg last night please post the number of mbrs that have renewed for the upcoming year? How many more signed up at the mtg? Maybe only 30 people came because they know that the MAC BOD does not care about what they have to say. It has been stated that the MAC BOD is going to reconsider revealing the names of the mbrs of the Nominating Cte., which is standard practice everywhere any way. Out of all the issues raised, only 1 was announced as being reconsidered. This is just 1 of many important issues that should be revisited. How ‘bout the MAC BOD revisiting the idea of taking away the 1st ballot fr the mbrshp’s hands & allowing mbrs to have a genuine discussion & vote on this topic? In the June mtg., this was presented as a fait accompli. No discussion about whether it should be adopted was permitted. I remind readers that cabaret critic Stu Hamstra has written condemning MAC for presenting a plan he thought was harmful to cabaret as a fait accompli & for the MAC BOD’s veil of secrecy.
For the benefit of those many mbrs of the cabaret community who didn’t attend last night’s MAC mtg, let’s get some facts straight here.
At this point, I must correct misinformation in a statement that the MAC BOD is now “fully elected”. It is NOT fully elected. Only 6 people ran for 7 positions, so 6 people got in w/o opposition & the MAC BOD wrote the by-laws so that they could choose the 7th. This does not include anyone else that the MAC BOD may have appointed earlier.
Everything I’m doing is for the benefit of the cabaret community, NOT for the benefit of the MAC BOD. Seeing a change in how MAC is run is what I consider positive.
In the long run, I believe MAC is proving itself to be impotent & inconsequential.
Milla
In addition to attending the mtg with the intention of making up my mind as to whether I would rejoin, I was giving the opportunity to the MAC BOD to address the points in my email to them, during the mtg. With that in mind, I passed out to those in attendance copies of my email to MAC BOD mbrs Barry Levitt [Pres], Scott Barbarino [VP], Cynthia Crane, Brent Winborn [VP] & Larry Hernan [then admin asst (now resigned), for distribution to the rest of the MAC BOD]. My email to the MAC BOD was in response to MAC BOD VP Scott Barbarino’s disingenuous invitation to concerned mbrs of the cabaret community (That was Barbarino's language. The invitation was not directed to MAC mbrs only.) to convey their thoughts, concerns & questions to the MAC BOD. The purpose of my passing out my MAC BOD email was so those in attendance would have the ability to follow along. BTW, today is day 87 w/o a response from the MAC BOD to my email that followed THEIR rules of putting comments & questions in writing to them. Sadly, at no point while I was at the mtg did anybody fr the MAC BOD indicate that they were intending to respond to my email of July 5 to the MAC BOD.
Someone stated today that I “burst in” to the mtg. I did not burst in. I walked into the mtg room calmly with a smile on my face. I handed out copies of my MAC BOD email very pleasantly. Greeted people, even got a hug fr new MAC BOD Richard Skipper. I was proceeding to my seat in the front row & heard my name called. I glanced up to see that MAC BOD Pres. Barry Levitt was asking me if I was a MAC mbr. A female voice called out “no” before I could respond. Levitt said that this was a mbrs-only mtg & asked if I was prepared to join. I responded that 2 yrs ago he permitted Scott Barbarino (current MAC BOD VP) to attend the MAC Annual Mtg. after Barbarino announced that he was NOT a MAC mbr & that he (Barbarino) would decide AFTER the mtg whether or not he would join. I announced that that was my intention. Levitt told me that I had to leave. So, w/o another word fr me, I picked up my things & made my way to leave. I heard Shelley Roberts (former long-time MAC BOD. current mbr of the MAC Advisory Cte., former MAC PR rep and current DIRECTOR OF PRESS RELATIONS AT NJ PERFORMING ARTS CENTER) call out loud into the room for everyone to hear, “Leave! and take your **** with you!” As I was leaving, still with a smile on my face, I could hear what I believe was the same voice again call out loud “good riddance” and applause followed. I stood o/s of the mtg door & continued to hand out copies of my MAC BOD email, to people entering the mtg.
MAC BOD Sec. Sue Matsuki came o/s the door & told me I had to leave. I made no argument. As we proceeded down the hall to the exit, Matsuki said that she was going to the studios’ mgmt to have them make me leave the premises & throw me out. She also told me to “get a life”. I told Matsuki that I had no problem standing o/s the entrance of the studios by the elevators & hand out copies of my MAC BOD email to people on their way to the MAC mtg. I did just that, all the time with a smile on my face.
At no time did I cause a scene.
Certainly, from the behavior of the MAC BOD & its officers, as well as those who applauded my leaving the mtg., I think it’s safe to say that I will not be rejoining MAC.
MAC seems very arbitrary in enforcing their rules in that it was OK 2 yrs ago for then non-MAC-mbr & current MAC BOD VP Scott Barbarino to attend a mbrs-only mtg & speak out several times in a questioning & “show me” attitude towards MAC, yet I was not accorded the same privilege. It has been stated that I should have stopped by the front desk upon entering and ask if attending the mtg as a non-mbr was an option. I did get around to stopping at the front desk which I doubt Mr. Barabarino did 2 yrs ago to announce that he wasn’t a mbr the yr that he attended an annual mtg when he was deciding whether he wanted to rejoin or not. When the MAC mtgs used to have a much larger attendance yrs ago, I don’t remember ea. & every person being cked before they were allowed into the mtg. I hasten to add that Messrs. Levitt & Barbarino had set a public precedent in this regard as to whether 1 had to be a mbr in order to attend.
I would like to point out that the copy of the email that I gave out did not have the MAC logo or MAC name on it, unlike the ALL MAC JAZZ promotional mat’ls. And, IMHO unlike Barry Levitt & Scott Barbarino, I was not misusing the MAC name or logo. I don’t recall reading that the MAC BOD gave their approval for the use of the name & logo for that purpose. BTW, was the controversy of ALL MAC JAZZ discussed?
Someone stated that “[t]he board is ... listening to the members who take the time to communicate DIRECTLY to them, not rant on chat boards.” However, I came w/proof that I had indeed made direct contact with the MAC BOD. As for any descriptions of my email to the MAC BOD as being negative, I do not believe that pointing out perceived problems and requesting that they be addressed is negativity. I hope that the important points I raised were addressed in the mtg.
It has also been stated that the mbrs of the MAC BOD “have no hidden agendas.” Why is the MAC logo & MAC name on privately-produced shows for which both the MAC Pres. & VP are producers & stand to profit from? I hope this point was addressed in the mtg., as well.
The cabaret community has been told again & again to join, be an active mbr, “vote.” “Vote”. That’s exactly what I wanted for the MAC mbrshp, to “vote” on the overhauling of the MAC Awards. MAC mbrs’ votes, regardless of which way they would have voted, were usurped by the arrogant & elitist MAC BOD that did not want to hear what the cabaret community had to say BEFORE they unilaterally changed the MAC Awards system & presented it as a fait accompli. And this, before there was any discussion with the mbrshp or referendum.
I was in the room last night as the mtg. started & felt the number of mbrs in attendance to be embarrassingly small. Apart fr the MAC BOD & Advisory Cte. mbrs, I would guestimate the no. of mbrs that actually attended to be around 30. 2 yrs ago MAC reported they had 800 mbrs. This was down from what I remember in yrs gone by to be around 1,200. I wonder what the real current number is. Would someone who attended the MAC mtg last night please post the number of mbrs that have renewed for the upcoming year? How many more signed up at the mtg? Maybe only 30 people came because they know that the MAC BOD does not care about what they have to say. It has been stated that the MAC BOD is going to reconsider revealing the names of the mbrs of the Nominating Cte., which is standard practice everywhere any way. Out of all the issues raised, only 1 was announced as being reconsidered. This is just 1 of many important issues that should be revisited. How ‘bout the MAC BOD revisiting the idea of taking away the 1st ballot fr the mbrshp’s hands & allowing mbrs to have a genuine discussion & vote on this topic? In the June mtg., this was presented as a fait accompli. No discussion about whether it should be adopted was permitted. I remind readers that cabaret critic Stu Hamstra has written condemning MAC for presenting a plan he thought was harmful to cabaret as a fait accompli & for the MAC BOD’s veil of secrecy.
For the benefit of those many mbrs of the cabaret community who didn’t attend last night’s MAC mtg, let’s get some facts straight here.
At this point, I must correct misinformation in a statement that the MAC BOD is now “fully elected”. It is NOT fully elected. Only 6 people ran for 7 positions, so 6 people got in w/o opposition & the MAC BOD wrote the by-laws so that they could choose the 7th. This does not include anyone else that the MAC BOD may have appointed earlier.
Everything I’m doing is for the benefit of the cabaret community, NOT for the benefit of the MAC BOD. Seeing a change in how MAC is run is what I consider positive.
In the long run, I believe MAC is proving itself to be impotent & inconsequential.
Milla
Updated On: 9/28/05 at 07:53 PM
