First Annual Report

 

Marion Cultural

Development Corporation

 

[An Oregon Public Benefit Corporation]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2005

 

 

 

CORPORATE OFFICERS

 

 

Richard L. Van Orman                                                                    President

 

Hanten Day                                                                                       Vice President

 

Marisa Newman                                                                               Secretary

 

James R. Schwab                                                                              Treasurer

 

Kathleen L. Fish                                                                               Board Member

 

Daniel W. Hays                                                                                Board Member

 

Kay M. Pendleton                                                                            Board Member

 

Jim Shull                                                                                            Board Member

 

Sharon L. Zielinski                                                                          Board Member

 

 

 

 

REGISTERED AGENT

Jeffrey M. Strickland

David L. Rhoten Law Office

230 Oregon Building

494 State Street

Salem, Oregon 97301

 

FISCAL AGENT

Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments

105 High Street S. E.

Salem, Oregon 97301

 

CORPORATE OFFICES

Marion Cultural Development Corporation

105 High Street S. E.

Salem, Oregon 97301

 

 

NARATIVE REPORT

 

 

This will constitute the first annual report of the Marion Cultural Development Corporation (MCDC).

 

The corporation which held its first organizational meeting February 11, 2004, was formed as a direct result of the plan filed with and accepted by the Oregon Cultural Trust, by the Marion County Cultural Coalition Planning Committee which was chaired by Elisabeth Walton Potter, of Salem.  This report was prepared by a fifteen member committee appointed in June 2003, by the Marion County Board of Commissioners 

 

 The MCDC was organized as an independent, non-profit, public benefit corporation for the purpose of enhancing the development of the visual arts, performance arts, narrative and literary arts, cultural tourism, heritage, history and natural history, and humanities in Marion County, Oregon, through the periodic distribution of grant monies from the Oregon Cultural Trust.  It may also receive, hold and distribute other funds to augment allocations from the Cultural Trust.  The corporation fulfills this function by:

 

1.      Award of grants to qualified applicants with funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust and such funds as the corporation may raise from other sources.

2.      Serve as an advocate and forum for needs and issues related to arts, heritage and humanities.

3.      Maintain a county-wide inventory of the stewards and providers of culture in a searchable database available to the public.

4.      Maintain an up-to-date action plan for cultural development.

5.      Supporting those cultural activities that meet the goals of the corporation as stated in the action plan. 

 

The past seventeen months, leading up to the end of the corporation’s first designated fiscal year, was involved with the establishment of the corporation and preparing to distribute the first grants from monies provided by the Oregon Cultural Trust.

 

A further endowment by the Marion County Cultural Coalition Planning Committee was the receipt of $3,440.75 remaining balance from the $9,509.00 original Planning grant that was received by that committee. This allowed the corporation to have operating capital to proceed with the incorporation.

 

The planning committee entered into a Professional Services Agreement on December 15, 2003, with the Office of David L. Rhoten Law Office who filed with the Oregon Corporations Division, the same day, as the corporation’s first meeting.  This firm has subsequently been designated the Registered agent of the corporation.   

 

In addition to the designated corporate officers, the Board operates with four standing committees; Finance & Budget, Cultural Inventory, PR & Communications, and Grant Programs.

 

The Finance & Budget Committee, under the leadership of the corporate Treasurer and committee chair, prepared an annual budget and established financial policies for the corporation.  The corporation entered into an agreement with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments to serve as Fiscal Agent for the corporation.

 

The Cultural Inventory Committee under, the leadership of James Schwab, established a web-site for the corporation and moved the extensive data already accumulated by the Planning Committee to the new site.

 

The PR & Communications Committee, under the leadership of Hazel Patton and Frankie Bell, prepared a policy statement on public relations.   Under its subsequent chair, Kathleen Fish, it continues to make the activities of the corporation known.

 

The Grant Programs Committee under the leadership of Jim Shull, had the very large task of setting grant application time lines and preparing model paper work for applications and review of grant proposals.

 

On December 6, 2004, the corporation received from the Internal Revenue Service a determination that it qualified as exempt from Federal Income tax under Section 501(c)(3). 

 

The 2004, Oregon Cultural Trust participation grant in the amount of $11,947 was received. In March, announcements were mailed to all parties on the cultural inventory that the corporation had applications available and would be accepted for projects which:

 

·        Address significant opportunities to promote awareness, preserve and stabilize cultural resources.

·        Invest in the vitality of the arts and humanities.

·        Support proposals that have a cultural impact beyond the applicant.

·        Promote excellence in cultural project.

 

Twelve grant applications were received requesting funding in the total amount of $24,650.  After the board, sitting as a committee of the whole, reviewed the requests awards totaling $9,750 was granted to the following ten recipients. 

 

            Brush Creek Players                                                $  500

                        Electrical improvements

Chinese Cultural Academy                        $ 1,250

                        Costumes and props

            Eleanor Berry of Lyons                               $   600

                        Honorarium

Gordon House                                              $   750

                        Art exhibit

            Marion County Historical Society             $1,250

                        Update website

            Mission Mill                                                 $   500

                        Quilt exhibit

Oregon Symphony Association                 $2,000

            Low income student tickets

Salem Youth Symphony                             $   500

            Facility rental

Santiam Heritage Foundation                    $   400

            Preparation of a calendar

Silverton Art Association                            $2,000

            Remodeling

 

Prior to closing this report two persons should be recognized; Elizabeth Walton Potter, Chairman of the Marion County Cultural Coalition Planning Committee, who was responsible for formulation of the plan; and John G. Burke, First Treasurer who spent many hours and energy to assure the financial records of the new corporation were in proper order.