Hello SAM Members and Stakeholders,
I hope you had a terrific summer and took the time to take in some of the excellent storytelling during the Fringe or at other venues. We finished up our Listening sessions in June and they generated a lot of great ideas. The top ideas include hosting social events which allow the membership opportunities to meet and get to know each other. Another suggestion that surfaced again and again was to beef up our website by adding more content, and by making it more user friendly for both SAM members and the public.
As we head into the Fall, the board will be focusing on making your top priorities in the listening sessions a reality for SAM, but we are a membership run organization, and really need your help.
How Can You Help?
1. Member Bios on the website: Regarding the website, we're already working on expanding the directory of storytellers (the "Hire a Storyteller" page) and making the calendar a comprehensive guide to upcoming storytelling programs, classes, workshops, and more. Please submit content for profiles and/or calendar entries directly to Sue Searing (suesearing@gmail.com) or Taylor Dobson (taylor.dobson@gmail.com) or use the form on the website (https://www.storyartsmn.org/new-page/.
2. A new Website and Social Media Committee is being formed to run down the list of recommendations from the membership and implement them. If you have some skills with social media or websites we can use you. The commitment can vary depending upon your interests and availability.
3. Social Events Committee
Do you enjoy organizing social events? Have a great place for people to gather? We would like to hold 4 social events for SAM members to meet and greet and draw support from one another.
If you are interested in helping with either of these two committees, please contact Pam Schweitzer at pls2009@live.com .
The board has set a goal of having 50% of non board members help make SAM run and operate. Many of the ideas that came out of the listening sessions were outstanding and with your energy and skills we will be able to make many of them happen.
Yours in Story,
Pam Schweitzer
SAM President