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 membership@ptplayers.com.

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 facilities@ptplayers.com 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 president@ptplayers.com 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 president@ptplayers.com

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.

Welcome to the second edition of the Members News! 

I hope you enjoyed last month’s info.  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 membership@ptplayers.com.

On October 8, 2020 the Board met for its monthly meeting.  Here are some of the highlights from that meeting:

• Financial reports were presented as well as a budget analysis.  The Budget Analysis listed current bank balances as well as on going expenses.  We calculate that we have about 10 months of financial reserves to keep us going
• Productions – Producer/Director meeting being planned for January.  However, this may shift depending on our theater re-opening.  Discussion was held and the Board is considering postponing the opening of the theater until June/July time frame.  We will continue to monitor the COVID guidelines for a timeline for opening.  We are aware that other groups are doing limited performances and we will continue to watch these events to see how they handle the event and if there are any repercussions to the performances.
• Education – lots being planned here!  The committee is working on upcoming virtual classes, discussions and performances.  One upcoming project is Director’s Cut sessions (similar to “Inside the Actor’s Studio”) featuring many of our “stellar” directors The team has also planned several classes including Musical Theater Tips and Tricks for Auditions (led by Chad Mildenstein), Make Up Classes (led by Kaitelyn Dieguez) and a producer’s workshop (led by Kathy Mead).  Classes will have a cost of $10 and will be done by Zoom meetings and the Director’s Cut sessions will be on YouTube Channel -donations for these sessions will be gratefully accepted!  The committee is also looking into adding Cabarets to the entertainment.  Keep an eye out on Facebook for dates and times of these wonderful events!!  And in case you missed it, there was a dramatic reading of “The Importance of Being Earnest” on October 9, 2020.  You can still access this wonderful reading on the Port Tobacco Players YouTube page.
• Cultural Diversity, Belonging and Accountability Council – Shemika Berry presented a very enlightening talk about micro aggressions.  It made me much more aware of how small words can bring big hurt.
• Membership - still working to get the information form ready to send out to update the membership database.  We will get this out just as soon as we can.  Please watch for it and complete it so we can be sure our database is current before elections come up!
• Public Affairs – La Plata is not holding its Scarecrow competition this year (boo-hoo!)  but will be doing a Small Business Saturday event on November 28, 2020 from 10AM to 5PM.  A few businesses will do in person experiences.  PTP will be doing a virtual store for people to purchase tickets and items.  We will also accept donations this day.  More details to follow.
• Facilities – Patio paving is done and it’s GORGEOUS!  If you happen to go by the back of the theater and look – it will give you an idea of the beauty that is yet to be seen inside the theater.  Flooring and ceiling tiles have been purchased for the front of house, sound system is being installed, wall covering for theater area is done.  We are still planning a “sneak peek” of the changes.  We’ll let you know when that will happen. 

Board meetings are open to membership to observe.  Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 7PM.  If you would like to observe, please contact facilities@ptplayers.com.  Chris will send you a link to the meeting.
On a sad note, the Players lost long time member Nancy Gasparovic on October 3, 2020.  She is greatly missed by her many friends in the PTP family.  Here is a lovely write up of her life.

Ticket prices for Musicals have been raised to $20 for Adults and $18 for Seniors, Students and Military.  This increase was made because of the rise in the cost of putting on musicals.  The royalties, script/orchestral rentals and general overhead has been going up a lot in the last few years and we need to increase the prices to patrons to help cover the costs.

The 301 Derby Dames are sponsoring a “Trunk or Treat” party at the Charles County Fairgrounds on October 24, 2020 from 6-9pm.  PTP will be sponsoring a “trunk”.  Admission is free and it’s a drive through event.  Please consider supporting the 301 Derby Dames and vote for the PTP trunk as the best!

If you are interested in running for the board, please send a brief note to president@ptplayers.com.  The note should state who is being nominated and contain the signatures of 2 current regular members and the signature of the nominee.  Please watch for more details on the nomination and election process.

Looking for ways to support Port Tobacco Players during our closure (we can sure use it!)?  Here are some possibilities:

1) Regular donations can be made through our website.  Any amount is certainly welcome.  If you like, you can specify where your money goes.  Maybe you can help pay a month’s electric bill?  Telephone bill?  Put the money towards the sound system?  Your choice!

2) Purchase items from our Amazon Wish List (discussed last month). Go to ptplayers.com -> “Support” -> “Donate” -> and then scroll down to see the many ways you can support your theater!

3) With the Holiday Season coming up, your purchases through Smile.Amazon.com can result in a donation to PTP.  Click here to set PTP as your charity on Amazon, or: set up a Smile.Amazon account (if you don’t already have one!), log in, select your charity (Port Tobacco Players) and Amazon will send us a percentage of your purchase price.

4) PayPal has identified PTP as one designated for the PayPal Giving Fund.  That means that 100% of any donation given through PayPal will go to us.  They will no longer deduct processing fees.

5) Brick Pavers – It’s never too late to get a brick with your name, memory, comment on it!  Click here for information on how to purchase one!

6) Purchase PTP apparel!  We have hats, scarves, shirts, sweatshirts – all embroidered with the PTP Logo!  Great Christmas presents!  Click here to shop.

Help me keep you informed.  Let me know what’s happening and what you want to hear about.  I will do my best to research your ideas and get you information.

– Carol Charnock, Membership Chair

Written by Ladd Gasparovic

It's with great sadness we announce that our loving, energetic, larger-than- life mother, Nancy Hardin Gasparovic, passed away yesterday in Fredericksburg, VA.

My sister Shannon Gasparovic Christianson and I couldn't have asked for a better mom to raise us and show us what it looked like to succeed in faith, family and in life.

Our children- her grandchildren - couldn't have asked for a "Gigi" to love them more or have more fun with them. Nancy- our mom- was one of a kind. She was the eternal optimist. An always positive force in life that always made things more fun and more interesting! She loved fiercely and deeply - not just our family - but her VAST "extended family" of friends (many of whom we've never even met) that was always and still growing. She never met a stranger! She always made things more fun. She had incredible energy and she could still keep up with the best of them even into her 70's!

She grew up in Beech Creek KY in a house that didn't have indoor plumbing. She won beauty pageants and scholarships to attend college (a first in her family), and put herself on a path to become an extremely successful woman in family, business, life, and in her faith. She put others first all the time. She changed not only her trajectory in life but the rest of her family and impacted and influenced so so many more.

The world is definitely a better place because Nancy Hardin Gasparovic lived in it while she did. She played life BIG while she was here, helping so many people and always giving back to the community and to others in need. She was always helping others. Always.

She taught us and SHOWED us that we could do anything... ANYTHING. And she believed we could. And we believed it because we watched her live life fearlessly and accomplish so many things not just for her or our family, but for others and the community.

I'll miss my mom in so many ways. I owe so much gratitude of who I am and what I have to her influence and passion for life. She was our choir director. She was our music teacher in school. She was so much to so many. She cut a wide path and a deep path.

Most important of all, she's always been a believer- a true Christian. She loved the Lord, and we know she's in heaven wrapped in His arms. She wasn't scared to die. I won't say that she was ready to go, because she loved life so much and I know she would've wanted to hang around longer to watch her grandkids grow older and graduate college and to have more fun in this world. But I can tell you from the conversations we had this year about the ** 2020/pandemic/murder hornets/"is the world possibly ending?"** environment we've been in, she and I had conversations specifically about dying. She told me that if the Lord was really coming in 2020, that she was ready to go! She wasn't scared to die because her faith was strong and she knew who she belonged to. I have faith because she did first and we're continuing to create the generational faith in our family that she helped grow and strengthen. That's a true legacy.

What's the hardest part of losing her now? Those who know her know this... she loved PEOPLE and PARTIES! Her service would've never been a small, stuffy funeral, but a massive Celebration of Life!... A party to celebrate a life that was very well lived. Obviously with COVID and health and safety precautions we won't be able to give her that huge celebration at this time. But it will happen, we promise, when it's safe and possible. And it'll be exactly what she would have wanted: Her friends and family and those who love her, being together, having fun, sharing laughs and memories, making new memories, and sharing the love and joy that life offers us when we share it together.

It sounds cliché, but tell your family and friends you love them. I would give anything to hang out with my mom one more time. But I do know that the last time I spoke to her I ended the call telling her I love her. We always did that. And I know she knew she was loved by me, Shannon and our families, and all of you. And I know she knew she was loved by and belonged to the Lord.
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Mom, Rest In Peace. We wish you were here longer with us, but we'll go on without you in this world in the way you'd want us to, and we'll continue to live life and create memories and adventures and help others and continue to honor you, our faith and your legacy in all we do.