Midsumma Festival

[ecclipse83]

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Planning for the 21st Birthday of Midsumma, Melbourne's Premier Queer Festival - a celebration of all people under the one umbrella in our community is well under way!

But after some negative press, crying and whining, i put it to you as Melbournites to make a difference to the festival, as the festival moves into it 21st year i personally encourage you to become a financial member of the festival and have your say at the next AGM, being a member gives you voting rights and the ability to have more input.

Given, 35,000ish people passed through some type of Midsumma produced event this year, as it stands the festival only 41 financial members, producing an income of around $1640, I ask you how is a festival that attempts to encapsulate all of the under the strong umbrella that is Melbournes GBLTi community supposed to survive of such cash?

Let's do the math, if 100 community members paid a membership fee of $40 that would provide $4000 of usable funds to improve the festival, if 1000 people became members that would equate $40,000 of funds. SameSame comes to the party in the way of sponsorship and has done for a few years, why can't you in some small way?

My mind boggles at the face that 1000 individuals of out an audience of 35,000 whom are part of a community that is in the top money earning bracket depart with $40 for something that is produced in response to needs and wants of their community.

do you part and become a member today by contacting the Midsumma Office:

Telephone: +61 3 9415 9819
email: molly@midsumma.org.au
web: www.midsumma.org.au

(notation; i am not referring to SummaClub
THIS IS NOT A MESSAGE FROM THE MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL JUST A PERSONAL VIEW)

Cheers Queers,

B:cool:

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[mindstar]

my boyfriend is a patron - so we already help, but he's thinking of not renewing due to the fact that it seems that the patrons were forgotten.
Another friend joined midsumma as a member at carnival - he's still waiting on his membership kit.

i know midsumma is run by volunteers but realistically there needs to be a slight increase in the level of professionalism

[ecclipse83]

my boyfriend is a patron - so we already help, but he's thinking of not renewing due to the fact that it seems that the patrons were forgotten.


This is a shame as Patrons are another valuable part of the organization, your partner should contact Paul Curran, Director - Patrons & Fund (paul@midsumma.org.au) to discuss this.


Another friend joined midsumma as a member at carnival - he's still waiting on his membership kit.

This is strange, but possibly due to the resignation of Jarrod Hughes as General Manager and Timothy Dart as Treasurer. Maybe your mate should follow up with Molly Whelan, Festival Administrator.


i know midsumma is run by volunteers but realistically there needs to be a slight increase in the level of professionalism

Midsumma is currently being governed by an interim Manager who is highly experienced in festival administrator as part of his current vision is to create a 5 year strategic plan.

I highly encourage you, your partner and your friend to attend the Annual General Meeting on June 13th (possibly 16th) and have your say.

Additionally, Adam Lowe, Interim Manager is happy to discuss the vision and strategic plan with members and patrons, please feel free to contact him in the office.

But as the Acting, Volunteer Coordinator i am also working to increase the professionalism of Volunteers and the way they conduct them self within the organization through the provision of training and development and am myself conducting the process of writing a 5 year strategic vision.

Regards,

Bradley :rolleyes:

[mindstar]

This is a shame as Patrons are another valuable part of the organization, your partner should contact Paul Curran, Director - Patrons & Fund (paul@midsumma.org.au) to discuss this.


there's really nothing to discuss - the patrons this year were treated like crap... (and I'm pretty sure the board has already analysed what went wrong this year)

I admire your passion, although I think you should have really admitted your link to midsumma in your first post.

And also the high income earner remark is a bit insulting to those people who aren't high income earners. Your basically implying that people who actually have a decent income should support midsumma - midsumma should be for the whole community and should be seeking support from the whole community.

I think the midsumma board has a very large challenge ahead of them. I don't have the time myself to get involved (and I accept the implications of that). I find midsumma tries to hard to be something to everyone and thats where it falls apart. Maybe it needs to get back to basics...

You may also want to suggest that how to become a member or a patron is a bit more prominent on the website, or is actually put on the website <- its stuff like this that smacks of unprofessionalism.

[ecclipse83]

But as the Acting, Volunteer Coordinator i am also working to increase the professionalism of Volunteers and
Regards,

Bradley :rolleyes:


This actually only happened after this post was made, i have noted the lack of member information on the website and will pass on your concerns

[Travis de Jonk]

Midsumma is an important and very valuable community organisation. People need to be reminded of that, not just during the festival, but in the off season too.

People need to feel a connection and ownership of the festival, before they are willing to support it and part with hard earned money. I don't think they feel that at the moment for Midsumma, like they do about MQFF or JOY FM.

Have a close look at what those organisations are doing right to garner all that community and corporate support.