Great stage performances belie reality of Tallac Assoc.
By Kathryn Reed
CAMP RICHARDSON – The Tahoe Tallac Association board and staff could take some pointers from the characters on stage at the Boathouse Theatre.
The five woman starring in the play “Dixie Swim Club” are fabulous in how they capture the nuances of a friendship born in college that lasts into their 70s when there are only four of them left.
Sheree Hollinger (Teri Leve), right, consoles Jeri Neal McFelley (Amy Sando) who is the least likely of the friends to become pregnant. Photo/Kathryn Reed
They laugh, they yell, they console, they cry, they endure – they find a way to make their lives work as individuals and as a team.
The behind the scenes maneuverings of the Tahoe Tallac Association – the 30-plus-year-old organization that oversees the annual Valhalla Music and Arts Festival – does not resemble a team.
Lake Tahoe News in September reported the financial difficulties the South Shore organization was having.
It’s only gotten worse. Grants have not been secured – which is the major source of income to pay the acts, employees and keep the lights on. Marketing seems to be a foreign word to the group. Press releases are sent by the acts coming, if at all, not the association – which makes for a lack of cohesive message or no message.
A once robust volunteer corps was not to be seen July 8 on the second night of “Dixie Swim Club.” Instead it was Executive Director Lori Cramer selling tickets. Volunteers used to receive regular emails about when to sign up for work detail. That hasn’t happened this year.
Unfortunately the realities of TTA sound more like the ingredients board member and theatrical director Dave Hamilton could write into a script. Instead, he and those left behind must figure out a way to dig themselves out of financial hole that seems to keep sucking them under.
On July 7, Eric Taxer resigned from the board. Last month the board met without the executive director – a highly unusual move. The next meeting, presumably with the board and staff, is July 11 at 5:30pm – most likely in the Twin Cabins in front of the Valhalla Grand Hall.
In Taxer’s letter to the board that was obtained by Lake Tahoe News he writes, “We will be starting our new Fiscal Year with approximately $38,000 of debt. The only immediate source of income with the new fiscal year will be the holiday faire and gala, expected to generate $12,000 in income. But, we will have snow removal expenses, winterization expenses, continued insurance, utilities, and payroll. I have repeated in prior meetings for over a year the importance of fundraisers. I have stepped up to the plate and organized such. Other members who have committed to do so have basically bailed on their responsibility.”
If the workings of the nonprofit, which is run by a volunteer board and an executive director who is owed thousands of dollars is back pay, were near the caliber of the programs put on at the various venues near the shore of Lake Tahoe, it would have coffers overflowing with greenbacks.
Cramer is the TTA’s fifth executive director. She was a board member before taking over for Steve Farnsley, whose services the board said it no longer needed. Before Farnsley it was Kathy Farrell at the helm. She embezzled from the organization, though the board chose not to press charges.
Hamilton and Taxer have loaned the association thousands of dollars that have yet to be repaid.
The remaining board members, according the TTA website, are: Norm Glenn, Hamilton, Ginger Nicolay-Davis (who is worth catching in one of the remaining six performances of “Dixie Swim Club”), Bruce Rettig, Frank Riley (catch him with Tahoe Improv Players on Aug. 2), Pam Taylor and Kim Wyatt.
Nicolay-Davis and Cramer were sent an email last week by Lake Tahoe News asking some general questions – nothing about the financial situation. That day, July 1, Nicolay-Davis responded, “We will get info over to you shortly.” The deadline to answer was July 7. Lake Tahoe News never received answers to its basic questions – Like what is new this year?
One thing LTN knows is new is greater access to the lawn area – including free concerts on select dates.
Another new thing is better dialogue with the U.S. Forest Service, which owns the land just beyond Camp Richardson. Taxer deserves a great deal of credit for being tenacious in researching documents and getting the appropriate people to listen. When Deputy Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais was hired he helped foster an atmosphere of cooperation between landlord and tenant.
While the board figures out how to function more effectively, the shows will go on. Here is this year’s festival schedule.
What a shame to hear such sorry news! It sounds like mostly arts people are on the board when what is needed is business people who are interested in the arts. Hmmmm……
I hope the Tallac Historical Society, the Forest Service and Tahoe Tallac Association can work together to save this great area in our community. Right now, if you contact the association to do an event, they have to get permission from the Society and the USFS. Teamwork with big goal for all is what will work.
The events scheduled this year are very nice so I hope people go and enjoy them.
I used to volunteer a bit many years ago when Carol was the long-term Executive Director. Carol was an amazing visionary and engaged many locals and organizations in a cooperative effort to pull EVERYTHING together: Finances-fundraising events; shows and other events; membership drives and lots of email listserv information sharing. It is difficult to be the ED in a non-supported environment. I suggest getting community support by digging out the old listserv & using it; adding to it; publicizing like crazy (the SLT community is good about posting info); Stay in contact with our news-media!; maybe getting some advice & assistance from the LTCC Business and Performing Arts departments; contact the yacht clubs for volunteers & memberships, & get grantwriting help. Track down Carol, the original ED and ask for her advice. Re-vitalize!
As president of TTA, I can attest to the ongoing financial challenges that we like so many other non profit arts organizations face in these difficult financial times. Our board, volunteers, and supporters continue to work hard to secure funding. Arts grants across the country are scarce but we are committed and are up for the challenge to secure funds for our amazing organization and site. The work that is done by our volunteer board, volunteers, and supporters is a real labor of love as we want the Valhalla site to continue to be a special part of our community that offers quality arts and culture to our locals and visitors. Every time we have a new visitor to our site/theatre they are are moved the way I was the first time I set foot on the site, it really is a Tahoe Gem. Our site connects people to arts, culture, and the beauty of Tahoe like few places on the lake. I want to thank the volunteers and supporters of our organization as we push forward. I also want to thank the US forest service who has worked so hard hard with us this past year to help us through our current financial situation. We welcome dialogue and would love more ideas, volunteerism, and financial contributions from our community members. Please visit our website http://www.valhallatahoe.com or call our offices at 530-541-4975 or my direct line 530-318-6686. Thank you for the posts, comments, and ideas. Our Board and staff is committed to providing performing arts at our amazing site for years to come.
Things started going downhill after Carol left and after TTA closed and locked the front gate all of the time. Now the Cultural Arts Store has also been closed. As a past frequent volunteer, I will hold off helping TTA until they straighten all this out. And no, you hardly ever see any advertising for events. It’s pretty embarrasing when only a few people show up for what should be a sold out event. Bring Carol back.
I saw a really nice full page ad in the Action, I think it was. Have never seen an ad in the papers before that I can remember.
Hope they can get the having to ask the Forestry permission to do anything resolved. I don’t think anyone sees this venue as a place to do “wild and crazy things”, just a nice venue to have a wedding, luncheon, listen to some jazz, see a play, etc…
The ad on this website got me to an event. But the ad is one of the small ones above a headline. I’m just not sure everyone knows what a Valhalla is. And I still have no idea what the graphic element on the left of the ad is. With limited ads — since no one is seeing them if they are out there, you would think they would have ones that get people interested and say something.
As a past board member (and past Board President) I would like to encourage everyone, especially those writing comments, to help keep one of our greatest treasures active & vital. With diminishing art grants and donations, I can only imagine the hard decisions the Association has had to make in order to keep the summer festival operating and the facility open to the public as often as possible. I would imagine there is a reliance on the good graces of our local media outlets for free advertising and marketing, a call to performers to donate time and/or consider other options for payment, a plea for building maintenance discounts, and a significant cut in staff hours and/or staff which ultimately affect public accessibility and outreach communication.
Criticism is so easy to make when you are looking from the outside, but I know for a fact that the board members, volunteers, and staff have been working extremely hard to keep the summer festival in existence and to keep the Tahoe Tallac Association financial viable. As a community, we should embrace this historic treasure and this Association that has worked to keep it open for the public use. It is an organization that is worthy of our time, our energy, and, for those able, our financial assistance.
There are few locations around the lake that so readily exemplify the true spirit of Tahoe and our heritage. The Valhalla Grand Hall, the Boathouse Theatre, and the surrounding outbuildings and grounds are jewels to this community and, as a community, we should seek ways to help the struggling Association to stay afloat so the summer festival and public accessibility continues.
That said, here’s a list of ways you can help support the Tahoe Tallac Association: 1) Become a member (as little as $50/year) or buy season tickets 2) Become a volunteer 3) If you are a performer, consider donating a performance 4) If you are a media outlet, consider donating space for advertising 5) Donations 6) Grant information 7) If you are a business, consider being a sponsor 8. If you have expertise in an area that would help, consider donating your time and advice 9) And finally, come out to see one or more of the many fine shows & events. Some are free to the public!
Thank you to all the community members and visitors that have already donated time, money, and energy to Tahoe Tallac Association and have enjoyed the events at Valhalla this summer. Forgive my lack of creativity in reusing a possibly worn out phrase, but it truly does take a village!