Proposals : Cafe Huntington

Category : Proposals

Forth Presenter – Picnic With The Pops

May 17th 2012 Posted at May 2012, May 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
Pinic with the Pops – Sizzling Sounds of Summer

Project Importance:
The Huntington Symphony Orchestra (HSO) needs to count on its assisted funding for substantial financial support. It needs corporate support this season and in the coming seasons.

The HSO is dedicated to regular performances of the broadest range of classical music during its winter season and the liveliest popular music during its summer season. Under the baton of Mr. Kimo Furumoto, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, and formerly Assistant Conductor of the Lexington Philharmonic, Conductor of the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Lyric Mountain Festival for the Performing Arts during its summer season.

The HSO brings the opportunity of live orchestral music to music lovers of this area and through its outreach programs in the schools introduces our children to live music. It also features guest artists to enhance the orchestra’s talented and acclaimed musicians. The HSO represents a significant opportunity for musicians of the area to perform with a major regional symphony orchestra and play under the direction of the HSO’s Music Director and Conductor.

The HSO relies on the generosity of donors. No orchestra in the USA today can sustain itself financially on the basis of ticket sales alone. Corporate sponsorship can be achieved by a contribution of any amount of money according to the corporate group’s interest in the HSO.

The Pops offer the full spectrum of the HSO — its musicians, soloists and conductors playing popular music in live performances. Held outdoors at the Harris Riverfront Park amphitheater, these concerts present the talent of the HSO professional musicians and conductor performing popular music along with all time favorites. In the picnic atmosphere, the audience enjoys a professional symphony orchestra like . . .Your Huntington Symphony Orchestra

Did you know . . . .

The members of your Huntington Symphony Orchestra are all paid union professional musicians.
Your Huntington Symphony Orchestra was started in the early 1930′s and on the average has 65 musicians performing, plus featured local, national and world renown guest artists
Your HSO has an educational program which reaches and is open to all students in Cabell, Wayne Counties in West Virginia, Lawrence County Ohio and Boyd County in Kentucky
Your Huntington Symphony Orchestra has relocated to a new centrally located office in downtown Huntington making it more accessible for everyone.
Tickets Sales are only 18% of the total budget of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra the remaining 82% is maintained (hopefully) by acquiring donations and sponsorships. The average cost to produce just one performance is $60,000.00. Your HSO offers group discounted rates and has several sponsorship plans for your business to join.
In the year 2009 the slogan “Be Part of the Tradition, Start the Memories” was developed for the HSO as an incentive to maintain the history of the orchestra and encourage new patrons.
It has been proven that having a symphony orchestra in a city is a strong value point which draws valued businesses and citizens to an area. Most major cities compete for orchestras just like pro sports teams
During the Picnic with the Pops season your Huntington Symphony Orchestra received national attention for innovative marketing, performance planning and attendance drawing crowds as well as receiving acclaim from several top orchestras from across the United States.
During the winter season of your HSO, performances are held at the historical Keith Albee Performing Arts Center in downtown Huntington, Total Available Seating: 1,800
Your Huntington Symphony Orchestra, received national attention in 2009 & 2010 for its innovated marketing and program scheduling
The overall attendance of the HSO performances has increased by 78% in just one year, a strong marketing tool for businesses to sponsors.
Your Huntington Symphony Orchestra’s summer ‘Picnic with the Pops’ series is held at the Harris Riverfront Park located on the banks of the Ohio River. Total Available Seating: estimated 8,500

How Money Will Be Used:
If chosen the funding would be used to help promote the Arts and Picnic with the Pops events. The 3 Huntington Symphony Orchestra presents these 3 concerts each summer, the average attendance is 2500 to 4000 people.

3 Month Goal:
he Picnic at the Pops Season of the HSO consists of three concerts during the summer, usually June, July and August of popular music by the full orchestra and involving guest artists. It offers the full spectrum of the HSO — its musicians, soloists and conductors — playing popular music in live performance and incorporating guest conductors and soloists whose music reaches out to the audience, Held outdoors at the Harris Riverfront Park amphitheater, these concerts combine the talent of the HSO’s musicians and conductor for interpreting American popular music together with the feelings of the audience who sense that music played in this environment satisfies their needs for enjoying a professional symphony orchestra as the HSO.

Third Presenter – Richard Cobb and the LitterGitters

May 14th 2012 Posted at May 2012, May 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
Our volunteer litter abatement group now numbers 4,201 citizen volunteers who have adopted the block on which they live. They have pledged to keep it free of litter, including cigarette butts. We diustribute litter pickup sticks at no charge to the volunteers. We started our mission in 2006 with just two volunteers.

Project Importance:
As a longtime manager of convention centers and sports arenas, I have always known that the physical appearance of a city is of paramount importance in attracting visitors and for promoting economic development. The “curb appeal” of our city is sub-par. Everyone who comes to Huntington to visit our museum, attend a cultural arts performance, sporting event or stage performance, leaves our city with an opinion of our hometown. In short, litter and improperly disposed of solid waste shames us all. Our volunteers are committed to ensuring that the blight of litter in Huntington is eliminated – one block at a time. Huntington – Clean & Green!

How Money Will Be Used:
We depend on contributions from the business community. We are only limited by the numer of pickup sticks we are able to purchas. Each stick costs approximately $4.95. We will deposit the money into our account at the City of Huntington Foundation, request a bid from our vendor in California, present the written price quote to the foundation and have them issue a check to pay for the equipment. The amount of the check will be determined by the number of sticks that can be purchased from the grant from Cafe.

3 Month Goal:
We will acquire additional volunteers, as we visit Huntinton neighborhoods, by passing out free litter stick, while explaining our mantra of citizens adopting JUST their own block – and no more! We believe that, if you can get a citizen to volunteer to take on a task that is small enough to accomplish and grand enough to see the grand results of their personal effort,, we will continue seeing a marked improvement in the cleanliness and attractiveness of Huntington – Our Hometown.

Second Presenter – Elizabeth Watson and ShineOn! Studios

May 14th 2012 Posted at May 2012, May 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
ShineOn! Studios is a non profit organization aimed towards grade school and special needs youth who face many life challenges. This program offers at no cost music and art lessons to awaken and accelerate their creative side. This will give them a positive alternative way to express themselves. They will gain sense of accomplishment by preforming concerts and art shows throughout the community. The basic idea is that if we can keep these youth out of trouble now, they will be less likely to face even greater hardships down the road.

Project Importance:
With music and art being taken out of the school systems children have limited ways to find their creative side. It is so important to us as humans to tap into this living in the world we live in today. What better way to assist in this by starting with the youth in our community. Primarily youth that hasn’t been given a chance or who has many life restrictions. ShineOn! is here to give them a positive creative solution to express themselves through music and art! If we can keep these youth out of trouble now by giving them this positive outlet, they will be less likely to face even greater hardships down the road. It is vital to offer an alternative for these children who aren’t involved in anything outside of school or in their community.

How Money Will Be Used:
The money used will go towards another kids guitar, art supplies, and lawyer costs to file for 501c3 status.

3 Month Goal:
Over the next three months this money will have assisted in our filing for our 510c3. This is a huge step in our outreach to help us branch out into the tristate area. Once we are granted this we can apply for grants to have our own studio, offer transportation, and have all the essentials we need to reach many more children!

First Presenter – Jessica Lynn Fox

May 4th 2012 Posted at May 2012, May 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
Dance Education at American Ballet Theatre: Training for 2 local dance artist’s to go to ABT in New York City for the first part of a series of three training sessions. Taken directly from ABT materials, here is a descriptive look into the project: “ABT’s National Training Curriculum is a program for the development and training of young students that embraces sound ballet principles and incorporates elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training. Under the direction of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, ABT’s National Training Curriculum was designed and written by Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens in collaboration with ABT’s artistic advisors and the medical advisory board. ABT’s National Training Curriculum aims to assist beginning through advanced teachers in training dance students to use their bodies correctly, focusing on kinetics and coordination, as well as anatomy and proper body alignment. Artistically, the National Training Curriculum strives t
o provide dance students with a rich knowledge of classical ballet technique and the ability to adapt to all styles and techniques of dance.”

Project Importance:
This project is important for many reasons. 1. It will allow us as artists to expand our wealth of knowledge. As artists we understand the urgent need to always hold growth and expansion in the highest priority. 2. It will give all the students we teach (with a reach of about 400 at the moment) more knowledge and experience they cannot get elsewhere. Our outreach includes Marshall University (both artists are faculty members), Jeslyn Performing Arts Center (both artists are directors), the Huntington Museum of Art (both artists direct free workshops to the community and perform), and many more outreach programs that we are both affiliated with. 3. It will bring a high level of dance training back to the Huntington tri-state area. Our goal is to provide the best training possible here in Huntington!

How Money Will Be Used:
The money will put towards paying tuition and materials fees. The tuition per dancer is $1500.00 for a total of $3000.00, and the materials fee is $150.00 per dancer for a total of $300.00. In total our tuition fees equal $3300.00. There is additionally travel, lodging and meal costs during the training.

3 Month Goal:
The next three months are when all money is due for this project. Tuition deposit is due June 1st, total tuition is due July 2nd and the training takes place August 1st – 8th, 2012.

Fifth Presenter – Stacy Garrett

April 13th 2012 Posted at April 2012, April 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
We are a group of local food consumers and producers working to provide a marketplace in Huntington that connects our two groups for sale and purchase of locally grown agricultural products. Our project is focused on providing local food producers with a viable economic outlet for their products and providing consumers access to fresh, healthy, locally produced foods. The market will supply products only from food producers within a certain mile radius from our store, keeping money in the local economy by supporting the local farmers and other local food producers. Our vision is a consistent, abundant supply of local food on the market shelves and a community that recognizes the impact their food buying decisions have on the local economy. We will staff the market with a manager, so farmers can drop off their produce at the market and the market will be responsible for handling the point of sale. This allows farmers more time to work on the farm. The market will provide the
producer with almost retail price, keeping only a small amount to cover the daily operations of the market. Our project involves doing what it takes to get this market off the ground and running.

Project Importance:
This project meets several needs of the local community:
-It strengthens the local economy. Food dollars kept within the community means existing local food producers will make money and more jobs will be created in our area as demand increases.
-It provides 7-day a week, year-round access to local food. Currently, the only option for consumers is to purchase from farmer’s markets that are only open on certain days or during certain times of the year. While we encourage and support the use of farmer’s markets, we also strive to increase market share by offering a more consistent marketplace.
-It supports the health of our people. Food grown in faraway places is grown and treated in ways that focus on preservation and transportation, not consumption. These growing practices and treatments negatively affect the food’s nutrient quality. Local food does not have to be concerned with these treatments and is therefore more nutrient dense.
-It provides a tasteful alternative. The taste of untreated, local, farm fresh food is far superior.
-It is easier on the environment. A side effect of buying local food is the lessening environmental impacts that come with the decision to buy local. Food purchased locally does not have to travel long distances, saving gas and carbon emissions.
-This project increases self-reliance of our own food supply, allowing us a greater opportunity to feed ourselves without being dependent on big industrial agriculture companies or other countries.

How Money Will Be Used:
Any money awarded would be applied toward marketing materials. We are currently holding a public contest to “Name that Market.” Once the market is named, we will pay a local designer or marketing firm to assist us in establishing our brand by creating a logo. As funds allow, we will also acquire assistance in developing a website and designing other marketing materials that allow us to consistently and effectively communicate with both producers and consumers of the market.

3 Month Goal:
The next three months for us are critical as we are launching the business. We must work closely with local food producers to ensure our shelves are stocked to meet the demand of consumers. We must work with the community to secure and increase demand. The grant money awarded here will help us establish the cornerstone of our brand strategy, our logo, giving us a strategic way to present ourselves to both groups and paving the way for our overall marketing strategy to be created.
Month 1 – Logo created
Month 2 – Marketing materials created
Month 3 – Website designed

Fourth Presenter: Beth and Graham Rankin

April 12th 2012 Posted at April 2012, April 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
Creations By BG was born from a crafts project with a 10-year-old gone wild and a desire to do something with a wine cork collection grown viral. In addition it is part of our retirement planning….not only will it produce an income stream but it will also keep Graham busy. *G* Beth sews bags, each one uniquely designed. No two are the same. Young girls’ bags, adult purses, totes for food shopping or more, gym bags, wine bottle bags. Use of interesting fabric and trim work makes these bags different. Graham uses his wood shop and picture framing skills to make various projects with wood: cork board trivets, trays and bulletin boards; cheese boards and more. Various woods and stains are available. Special orders are accepted and ideas are popping! We want to keep the prices affordable. For example, a hand crafted bag is often priced $60 or much more. By keeping the price of the most intricate bag to $35 or lower, more people can afford wearable art. By using recycled
fabric as well as shopping for interesting fabrics at great prices, keeping prices low is achievable. Similarly, Graham currently uses available woods at the local bigbox stores, but he also wants to start reusing wood from other sources.

Project Importance:
You know little puppy dogs that follow you when you get up and leave the room? Well, Graham has a tendency to follow Beth when he is not immersed in some activity. Part of retirement planning is to enhance those activities that will keep him active. *G*

Seriously, retirement planning involves not only awareness of the future income flow, but the joy in discovering that new freedom permits exploration of interests. Creations By BG provides an income stream to supplement other planned sources. It also offers a reason to get out into the community and region to visit restaurants and local wineries (to request corks of course) as well as offering opportunities to market products to those places. Additionally, networking with other regional crafters not only provides for new ideas but also marketing opportunities.

How Money Will Be Used:
When Beth starting, she sewed the first bags by hand and each took about 6 hours. There was a machine in the attic as part of the mounds of stuff her daughter Lisa stored there. The electric cord was not in the sewing machine box, however. After sewing 4 bags and each taking way too much time, Beth then took about 2 hours to go through all of Lisa’s boxes in the attic and finally, in the last box of course, found the cord. The next bag took an hour to sew. Phew!

As the bags have become more “sophisticated” with layers of fabric and batting, Lisa’s poor machine has been showing signs of stress. In other words, it is not strong enough to handle the job. Before her machine is killed completely, Beth would like to replace it with one made specifically for variable thicknesses of fabric. A good quality machine for this kind of production will cost between $300 and $400.

Graham has a great basic set of tools including routers and saws but sees that a bench planer, bench sander, scroll saw and better router bench would enhance the production by permitting him to more quickly and safely produce cork boards and other woodcraft products for sale. We have already invested in a drill press, table saw, router and various power hand tools.

Below are typical power tools (in priority order) we intend to purchase with whatever funds we receive. Although our total budget exceeds the usual amount CAFÉ Huntington awards, we will make up the difference out of our household budget.

Router Bench (used for creating custom molding and finished edges on projects) $170
Shop Vac (attaches to several different power tools to reduce dust and shavings in the work shop) $99
Bench planer (even thickness and smooth surfaces of recycled wood) $275
Total Budget: $1192 (includes $400 for sewing machine)

3 Month Goal:
A sewing machine that is built to handle the types of projects Beth currently has and plans will provide for less time unjamming and then replacing broken needles. Therefore, her stress level and blood pressure will stay healthy. A reliable work horse of a machine will provide for better stitching, enhancing the quality of end product for all who actually inspect stitch length. There is no question that the machine needs to be replaced. If not with the assistance of the grant money, then we will pay for it out of household budget and will adjust some other aspect of our spending to cover this needed expenditure.

As described above, each of the power tools will allow me to produce woodcraft product more efficiently and safely. I have received one major commission (delivered) already to supply 12 cheese serving trays to SIP, the new wine bar opening soon in Heritage Station. They are considering ordering up to another dozen in the near future. Huntington Prime is also interested in having custom designed and locally produced serving trays. I have a number of cork boards and serving trays in Bottle & Wedge, Café Cimino (Sutton, WV) and Starving Artist Gallery (Clarksburg, WV) for sale as well as on our own website (CreationsByBG.com). Being able to produce more quickly will enable me to have an adequate inventory to show at local and regional crafts fairs. Wherever possible, we will purchase locally to keep the money in the community.

Third Presenter – Karan Ireland and “Bad Reception”

April 11th 2012 Posted at April 2012, April 2012 Proposals
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Project Description:
Bad Reception is a short-form web series following the mostly long-distance friendship of current West Virginia resident Karan, and native West Virginian and current Florida resident Fred, as they attempt and mostly fail to write and produce a web series. Most episodes will feature a segment that follows the action of each of the two main characters, with brief phone exchanges (marking the beginning, midpoint, and end of the episode) to keep a focus on the relationship between them.Through surreal self-discussion, mind reading, alcohol induced misadventure, and heavy references to Electric Light Orchestra, Fred and Karan both indulge and dispel the stereotypes and myths of Appalachian culture and the nature of male/female friendship.

Project Importance:
In a world full of economic insecurity and a 24-hour news cycle that relies on sensationalism in order to sustain itself, people need a break. Bad Reception is smart and funny without being mean-spirited. We are serious about comedy.

How Money Will Be Used:
Episodes are already scripted. The cast is minimal and will be comprised of friends and family. Editing software is already in our possession.

The major obstacle is obtaining suitable audio/video equipment, and Café funds would be used for renting or purchasing those items. We also have to consider other minor transportation and production costs.

3 Month Goal:
Production can be completed in the course of one month with three weekend filming sessions, each followed by a week of editing.

Scripts are in place, locations have been scouted, and we are able to begin production as soon as funding is secured.

The season will span three months with one new episode posted each week for three consecutive weeks. Every fourth week, we will post a short video with updates, behind-the-scenes, and viewer interactions.

Ideally, we would like to find a way to introduce the completed first season of Bad Reception to a local audience during Festivall 2012.

We already own the domain badreceptionshow.com and have set up coordinating Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Second Presenter: Norman Branch and Stars R Us Theatre Troupe

April 10th 2012 Posted at April 2012, April 2012 Proposals
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Our second presenter is also an alumnus of the CAFE events. Norman and his theatre troupe were also runners-up in the past. We are excited to welcome them back!

Project Description:
Stars R Us Theatre Troupe is a community theater company at the start up level, we are planning a season of productions for 2012. Our performances are traditional, modern and classical theater.

Project Importance:
Stars R Us theater We aim to broaden, strengthen and enrich the experience of the theatre going audience, enhancing the local, regional, national and international reputation of African-American theatre in the tri-state area of West Virginia,Ohio and Kentucky. This project will allow some youth to be involved in theater arts for the summer while promoting education and health skills.

How Money Will Be Used:
We will use the money for productions of plays, props, venues, technical equipment. The money will help us with our summer production working with our youth troupe.Our purposes are outreaching to at-risk youth and adults through prevention and intervention programs, to counter the social issues that our communities face, to develop positive attitudes and productive citizens. Provide alternatives to violence, drug alcohol abuse, and teen-pregnancy and low graduation rates.

3 Month Goal:
The money will assist us in having venues and dates set for upcoming productions for the 2012 year. We will set up our shows for the next three months and marketing to promote the shows. The Eagles Who Thought They Were Chickens.

First Presenter: George Palton

April 10th 2012 Posted at April 2012, April 2012 Proposals
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George returns after a long haitus (he was the first presenter in the first ever CAFE event) and we’re happy to have him back. Here is his project:

Project Description:
CD Project

Project Importance:
This CD project is a balanced collaborative effort featuring local musicians including Henning Vauth on piano, Steve Hall on percussion, Julio Alves on guitar, Martin Saunders and Brianna Blankenship on trumpet, Stephen Lawson on horn, and Michael Stroeher on trombone. The recording will primarily feature new compositions that have not been previously recorded. In addition, the project will contain works by many living composers, American composers, and female composers. It will be released through Mark Custom Records, a label that primarily services music education. With this in mind, they offer an enhanced CD. An enhanced CD includes bonus materials not in the paper booklet, but on the CD as a PDF file. It adds extended program notes, performance notes, biographical information on the music, pictures, and historical information. Mark Custom Records also streams online through outlets that are typically subscribed to by educational institutions.

How Money Will Be Used:
The funds will go towards the production costs of the CD. These costs include recording and editing, audio mastering, producing the CD artwork and notes, and mechanical reproduction rights.

3 Month Goal:
If the funding is received it will allow the project to move towards completion, hopefully by Mid-June. I am very fortunate to have the assistance of my friends and colleagues on this CD project. It has kept the production costs far below the typical amount for this type of project. Furthermore, most of the composers have waived their mechanical reproduction rights because they are eager to have their art reach a broad audience. It is not uncommon for this phase of a CD project to cost thousands of dollars where as $300-400 will cover the costs mentioned above. I am also fortunate to have a business partner in Mark Custom Records. The reproduction costs will be a much less than similar CD projects. At the same time, a business partner with prolific distribution amongst music educators will ensure that the music, and our local artists, are heard both locally and internationally.

Third Presenter: Lauren Kemp

January 23rd 2012 Posted at January 2012, January 2012
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Project Description:
Huntington has several organizations educating the public about healthy eating and cooking practices but the community’s current demand cannot be supported by locally produced food. This research will focus on the barriers of producers in Huntington’s existing local food system to increasing production or selling products at a market location. In order to set the rules and establish the basics of the Local food system Unlimited Futures Inc., is bringing a high profile speaker; Anthony Flaccavento is director of rural SCALE and will facilitate the conversation for the community. This grant will specifically assist with the speakers fees.

Project Importance:
Since earning the title of fattest city in 2008, Huntington has placed a spotlight on health but the movement began years before as a small group of residents. Healthy Huntington was created in 2003, to begin initiatives in the school system and community. The group successfully limited soda consumption and advocated for healthier meals in the school system. The movement did not gain traction until in 2009, when Jamie Oliver piloted a reality show about the city’s eating habits. Many residents were weary that the show was exploiting a social problem pervasive throughout the tri-state region. Food and eating habits are pressing issue for the Huntington community; in order to tackle to problem there needs to be a change in how we eat, what we eat and where it comes from. These systematic changes will take time and should be inspired by the community they aim to help. Oliver’s show portrayed the community as resistant to accepting his healthy advice but residents are stuck i
n a food system that they have no representation and limited voting rights.
A decentralized food system with the local farmers acting as the producers and the residents of Huntington its consumers would provide better access to food by addressing specific needs of the community. It would be advantageous for the local food system to cooperate with the food assistance programs, so that the local food system improves access to fresh food by low income people or those with limited transportation. Huntington possesses many key elements required for a decentralized food system. The community is already trying to create better access to food with community gardens in Marcum Terrace and the surrounding neighborhood. Their programs engage members of the community in learning about growing food and healthy eating. Jamie Oliver’s Kitchen has transformed into Huntington’s Kitchen and still provides fresh food cooking classes and has a variety of weekly farm markets. Even though opportunities exist to seek out local food it is certainly not the primary way
that people in the area attain food products.
As the local food movement in Huntington continues to build support and momentum; demand for farm products will increase as residents begin to take advantage of the local food system. In the Huntington area the demand already exceeds the supply, according to Andrea Leffingwell and Gail Patton. The focus of expanding local food efforts in Huntington needs to be directed towards professional development for farmers and young people interested in farming. Building a base of supply will not only require getting conventional farmers on board but also training and selecting to next generation. The local food movement in Huntington, in order to survive needs to band together and use their collective power for real solutions in the community. Together community groups and local government can liberate residents from an unhealthy, exclusive and unsustainable agriculture and food distribution system.

How Money Will Be Used:
In order to support the development of the community a expert will be brought in to facilitate the conversation between producers and consumers to begin to set the rules and regulations of the Market organization.

3 Month Goal:
The money will allow the community to have a critical conversation that may result in the development of a Local Food Hub.

A Hub is defined by the USDA as, “a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products”.

This hub would allow farmers to sell their products with more consistency, which will raise expectations of consumers at the local food market. Consumers will more clearly demand local products when there is an easily accessible way to access them. This money will take this idea to the next level!

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Cafe Huntington

Feeding The Creative Spirit