I am very pleased to report that there was a tremendous turnout for today’s AGM: about 70 people with more people who sent regrets! Congratulations and welcome to the new Board of Directors:
President – CaroleAnn Leishman
Vice President – Phil Murphy
Secretary/Treasurer – Ann Nelson
Directors – Amy Sharp, Chloe Smith, Deb Zagwyn
Past President – Roberta Pearson
After the AGM, there was a meeting to discuss the digital conversion and various ideas for fundraising. The board is now tasked with reviewing the (AMAZING!!!) ideas and where best to focus the society’s efforts for the immediate future, as well as long-term planning. Stay tuned!
The post-AGM meeting also reviewed the relationship between the society and the theatre: The Patricia Entertainment Co is a private company owned by Ann & Brian Nelson, and it has an agreement for sale with First Credit Union for the theatre. The Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society is a registered non-profit society dedicated to the preservation of the theatre. It is not, however, a registered charity and can not issue tax receipts. Laura Berezan advised that she had spoken to CRA and the possibility of the society getting charitable status is basically nil because their purpose is to raise funds to preserve a building that is owned by a private corporation. Co-ownership between the The Patricia Entertainment Co. and the society would not qualify for charitable status – the Society must own 100%. If one of the objectives of the society was not preservation of the building, then the society could move forward quickly with charitable status.
Digital Conversion: Ann Nelson fielded questions around the digital conversion. Is it possible to lease the equipment? No, because the business is not currently able to service more debt. It should be noted that the society was formed to take care of some maintenance items that had been deferred by the prior owner and restore the heritage building to a community and tourism asset. Other things that need to be done are the cosmetic items as well as structural, but there is still a huge list after the digital conversion is completed, like rewiring, a non-fossil-fuel dependent heating system, another cap on the roof in a few years, etc. The digital conversion and other projects represent a long-term investment for the whole community. What is the time frame? There are only 2 companies in Canada that have contracts to install & maintain the digital equipment and they report that if we are able to make an order today with a $45K deposit, we would be put into the schedule and it would happen within 2-4 weeks and $45K due & payable upon completion. The closer we get to the completion of the conversion of all the Canadian chains (est June), the longer lead time it will take and the studios will no longer feel obligated to keep an inventory of 35mm films. The total is about $90K: $75K for equipment + HST + freight + electrical modifications to the booth. The Patricia Theatre has a third bay which means we can keep our 35mm equipment and could conceivably be the last theatre on the continent that still has its 35mm projector. Will the digital system upgrade the sound? Yes! There will be a brand new sound processor and the sound will be direct from the hard drive instead of off the side of the film. Annual maintenance costs for digital? Yes, $2K/year compulsory maintenance contract. Will there be an ability to incorporate advertising and if so, would it be national or local? It is possible and typically it is at the local level, but there is a building resentment among audiences toward this.
If you would like to contact the new board, please email them at friendsofthepat@shaw.ca
