SpeakEasy, 10/20/13

(What is a SpeakEasy? And who are the Friends of Flux?)
(Photo by Isaiah Tanenbaum and friends of our last Have Another, which, while not actually a picture of the SpeakEasy, did at least take place in the same room, the friendly confines of The Thirsty Fan. Post by August Schulenburg.)

A SpeakEasy is the semi-regular (and hopefully more regular!) gathering of Friends of Flux over drinks and food to brainstorm ideas, give feedback and help Flux live up to our mission of building a creative home. A SpeakEasy is somewhere between a Town Hall, a party and a gathering of the knights of the round table.

Coming out of our last Retreat, we identified a four-month plan to strengthen the Friends of Flux program, including:

• A survey of FoFs to learn what aspects of Flux were most valuable;
• Transitioning leadership of the FoF program to be shared between Kia Rogers and Becky Byers, with Gus supporting;
• Stepping up more regular communications with the FoFs;
• Creating a page on the website featuring the FoFs;
• And holding at least one SpeakEasy to dive deeper into what’s working, and what could be improved, in the FoF program.

We’re also working on building an internal FoF-communications system, and developing a seven-month plan to take keep the FoF-strengthening momentum into the next Retreat.

Our SpeakEasy last week was well-attended and boisterous, which I think reflected the renewed energy led by Becky and Kia for the FoF program. Here’s the details of the meeting that are fit to share (some things in Vegas must stay in Vegas):

FOF Speakeasy 10/20/13 at The Thirsty Fan

Attending: August Schulenburg, Heather Cohn, Becky Byers, Alisha Spielmann, Anna Rahn, Katherine Burger, Isaiah Tanenbaum, Lauren Ferebee, Ken Glickfeld, Jane taylor, Jodi Witherell, Emily Hartford, Stephanie Willing, Sarah Amandes, Marielle Duke, Pete Boisvert, Laura Jo Schuster, Marianne Miller, Kia Rogers, Rachael Hip-Flores, Jesse Rosborow, Ryan Andes, Matthew Trumbull, Chris Wight

Agenda (notes thanks to Jodi Witherell):

• Results of Survey(Becky led) ~ Approx. 30 mins
  • General results:
    • Confusion/lack of clarity of mission statement: Questions were asked about what “transformative theatre” actually means; are “transformative” and “capacity for change” duplicative?; if mission doesn’t change, external clarfication is needed around these questions
    • 76% of FoFs believe mission statement is consistently present
    • 67% believe that our Core Values are always present: however, Core Values should be ‘watered’; at regular Flux Sundays, perhaps as part of the curtain speech, etc; Aesthetic Values had much less awareness, and there is concern that Aesthetic Values could be constricting rather than clarfiying;
    • Food:Soul  most popular, then ForePlay, then Have Another: FoFs believe this is connected to the breaking of bread and communal spirit of giving that’s part of Food:Soul; idea: what if at Have Anothers, feedback was given in the form of toasts? (This idea was seconded, and will likely happen). Alisha Spielmann is now taking over Have Anothers w/Isaiah Tanenbaum–email Alisha if you want to get involved (next HA at Jimmy’s #43 on 12/16).
    • Over 80% of folks think the FoF program is important for their relationship w/Flux
  • Fof Reaction to survey: State specifically what Flux finds successful in the Fof program, then ask FoFs how they view success in the program
    • There was interest in adding an optional, targeted feedback section for playwrights as a part of Flux Sunday
    • There was interest in a more social, “getting-to know-you” aspect to SpeakEasys (and a better introduction system for Flux Sundays)
    • There was a lot of heat about an internal communications system for FoFs–either a private Facebook Group or the mysterious-sounding “FluxBook”
• Understand Our Ground Food:Soul(Gus/Heather) ~ Approx. 15 mins
  • Remind folks that event is coming up Nov 6th–RSVP here.
  • Explain why we felt we should do this
  • See if FoFs want greater involvement (email Gus Schulenburg if you do)
  • Heather led a session soliciting online encounters surrounding the Trayvon case that surprised, challenged or changed things for the FoFs. A fascinating story circle emerged.
• Flux Family Feud(Heather) ~ Approx. 15 mins
  • Remind folks event is coming up on November 21st: learn more here, and RSVP here
  • Discuss theme
  • Request for can help with raffle prizes (email Kelly O’Donnell with ideas)
• And then we partied! Thanks to everyone who made this SpeakEasy such a productive blast.