Hello!  And welcome to the latest edition of the Members News.  I hope you are finding the information helpful and it is keeping you up to date with the goings on at PTP!  Please be sure to let me know if you have anything you would like to include in this forum.  If you want to share a special upcoming event involving our members or something theater related that might be of interest to folks, please send me a note at [email protected].

First, let me say how heartbroken I am to say that a long time PTP Member, Harrieton “Mike” Merritt passed away on October 30, 2020.  He was a staple of our community and is sorely missed.

On November 4, 2020 the Board met for its monthly meeting.  Here are some of the highlights of that meeting:

• Financial reports were presented and Mike Gahan has been diligently applying for grants to help us stay afloat.  We have applied (and in some cases already received) grants from the Charles County Arts Alliance, Maryland State Arts Council and Charles County Charitable Trust.  He is constantly on the search for any support we can get from Arts Support Groups.  Please keep in mind that these grants are only partially helping.  We still need your financial support to keep us going during these trying times.
• Productions – we are still trying to come up with a workable timeline for reopening our theater.  In the meantime, we are discussing options such as more readers theater, drive through theater (in the spring, possibly) or partnering with other local theater groups.  With the increase in COVID-19 cases, it’s like trying to “wrangle cats” to come up with a confirmed opening plan, but the board is working hard to keep our family going.
• Costumes – the organization and clean up of the loft continues.
• Public Affairs – working with Membership, the committee has started the membership update “survey”.  This will give us the chance to get our database up to date.  Please watch for the notice and complete it so we can get things current and make sure ballots for the election can get to everyone eligible.  Small Business Saturday will be totally virtual for us.  We have great deals for the holidays.  Check out the website for discounts on flex ticket packets
• Membership – Membership survey is up and running!  Please take a few minutes to update all your contact information and involvement preferences (if any).  The membership envelopes and the website are being updated to include the Lifetime Membership option.  A Lifetime membership is available to those 16 and older at a cost of $250.  Keep an eye out for sneak peaks on the renovations – you never know what you’ll see!  (or not see!)
• Fundraising – we had a wonderful fundraiser with Outback Steakhouse.  We sold 160 dinners and made over $1350! 
• Education – still working on finalizing some of our projects of classes and virtual performances.  Committee is also working on putting together a Theater Arts Virtual Classroom.  You can log into a “classroom” and depending on what you click on in the class, you may be taken to short video on theater history, make up, set building, trivia, etc.  We are also going to have our “in the director’s chair” interviews imbedded into this area.  It looks like a lot of fun for children and those of us older childlike folks!
  • We are hoping to have virtual makeup class (via Zoom) the first part of December – watch for info on how to sign up and cost.
• Facilities – Roof of the tower portion has been fixed.  We hope we’ve caught all the leaks.  Please let facilities know if you see any problems.  Mike Gahan will be presenting our plans for exterior renovations to the town on November 18 to get final approval (Patio, Canopies and siding).  There are many projects starting to take place.  If you can help, contact [email protected] and find out what’s going on and how your skills can be utilized.

Old business – minutes are updated and posted to the website.  We are still working on updating SOP’s for board members/committee chairs.

New Business - By-laws Committee will be reviewing the submitted changes to ensure they are accurately worded and within the parameters of our existing structure.  They will be sent out the membership to review before January 1, 2021.

Nominating/Election Committee is accepting nominations for the open positions.  We will have 5 open slots on the board. There are 3 three-year posts and 2 one-year posts to be filled in this upcoming election. All interested members should email [email protected] with their name and a short bio that will be distributed to membership. Please copy two members that will act as signatures for your nomination. To be eligible as a candidate for the PTP Board of Directors a person must: 1) have been a regular member as of January 1 of the two consecutive calendar years prior to the upcoming Winter General Membership Meeting and 2) be a current Regular Member at the time of elections. During that time, the candidate must have participated in at least 2 productions, at least one of which must have been other than as a performer and/or actively served on a Standing Committee as attested by committee chair. Questions? Contact Mel Gilpin via [email protected]

Winter Membership meeting will be held virtually on Zoom on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 4:00.  We will be voting on by-laws changes and announcing the new board members.  Be sure to put this on your calendar!

The Board voted to approve 3 documents:

• Minor Protective Policy – this will be given to and acknowledged by adult members and minors with their parents.  This document states the policy regarding protection of minors within our shows and on our premises.
• EEO and Sexual Misconduct Policy – this will be given to and acknowledged by members and defines discrimination and misconduct that will NOT be tolerated by PTP.
• Confidentiality Policy for Board Members and Production Team Members – this is a document that is intended to ensure that certain information from closed meetings, confidential info that is made available to board and/or production teams and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) will remain confidential.  Information that is required to be reported by mandatory reports is exempt from this confidentiality policy.

Next meeting will be held on December 3, 2020 at 7:00
 
Feature of the Month
This is for all the set builder/ repairers/general fix-it people at the theater!  Have you ever been on stage working on a set and realized you had the wrong tool?  You drop what you’re doing and go over to the workbench, grab what you think you need and go back to your task, only to find it’s the wrong size, wrong screwdriver, not working right.  You go BACK to the work bench to try and find what you need, but the last person to use the tools piled them all in a heap on the bench and you have to take time to dig through the pile to find that one thing you need.  Same thing with screws, nails, hinges, etc.  – never nearby when you need them!  Well, the answer is at hand!  Our ever working Facilities Chair Person has built some fantastic cabinets that can store the most needed items and they can be rolled onto the stage (or where ever we need them) so you’re not wandering all over the place trying to find the perfect tool to complete your job.  Now there is a catch – you need to put back the tools you use when you’re done.  Just like putting your dirty dishes in the dishwasher and not dumping them in the sink for someone else to take care of (ok, maybe that’s wishful thinking, but it is the season to hope for miracles!).  Here are the newly built cabinets – enjoy!!!  And Thank You Chris for all your hard work!

We need your help!  We have had some issues in recent mailings that let us know that our database of member information is not “up to snuff.” 
 
The Public Affairs Committee along with the Membership Chair has put together a “survey” in order to ensure we have your current information before we do our mail out in January for the election of new Board members.
 
We are asking ALL members to take a few minutes and click on the link below to give us your current contact info, interests in the theater, and ways you might like to help out. 
 
https://bit.ly/ptpMembership
 
The info will ONLY go into our database for OUR use and will be securely transmitted. We will diligently protect all information you provide.
 
Even if you think we have your information correct, please fill out the document so we can be sure.
 
Thanks for your help!
 
Carol Charnock
Membership Chair

Harrieton “Mike” L. Merritt, 93, of LaPlata, MD -- known to many in the PTP community simply as Mr. Merritt -- passed away on October 30, 2020 at the Charlotte Hall Veteran’s Home.

Born on April 26, 1927 in Smithville, WV to the late John and Verbia Merritt, he is also preceded in death by his second wife, Carol Merritt; brother, J. Kester Merritt; sister, Maxie G. Seabolt.  Mike is survived by his first wife, Ruby Godfrey; sons, Gary Merritt (Dulce), John Merritt and Jeffrey Merritt (Beverly); daughter, Susan Rison (Charles); brother, Ken Merritt; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Mike proudly served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.  He was employed as a Teacher and later as Assistant Superintendent for Charles Co. Board of Education.  He was a devoted member of the LaPlata United Methodist Church, a Mason and Lion’s Club member.  Mike will be missed dearly but never forgotten by those he loved and those who knew him.

The family will receive friends at the United Methodist Church (3 Port Tobacco Rd., LaPlata, MD) on Thursday from 5PM to 7PM, with a private family Service.  A Graveside Service will be held at Ellenboro Masonic Cemetery in West Virginia.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, LaPlata United Methodist Church Food Bank or the Harrieton L. “Mike” Merritt Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 1228 LaPlata, MD 20646)

Service will be streamed on Facebook live at La PlataUmc. Due to our nation’s pandemic, CDC protocol shall be followed requiring masks for all guests and social distancing. Online condolences may be shared at arehartechols.com.
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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harrieton "Mike" L. Merritt, please visit the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home floral store.