BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The original organizing group consisted of Shelby Moore, Carol McMurry, Eldona Hughes, Barb Teel, Rose Corey-Vin Riper, Evelyn Lee, and Don Marriage, with the City's Cultural Service Director and the Rialto Manager present in advisory capacities. The first organizational steps were to name and structure the organization, generate a set of By-Laws, form a Colorado Non-Profit Corporation, and apply to the IRS for recognition as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit status.
An initial Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater Guild was established, and consisted of:
| Initial
Board of Directors |
|
| Don Marriage |
President |
| Shelby Moore |
Vice President |
| Evelyn Lee |
Treasurer |
| Barb Teel |
Director |
| Rose Corey-Van Riper |
Director |
| Eldona Hughes |
Director |
| Carol McMurry | Director |
During their first month of operation, the Board generated a set of By-Laws, submitted organizational paperwork to the State of Colorado forming a Corporation, and developed a database of potential members. As soon as the Corporation was official, application to the IRS for recognition as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization was made. Acquiring this recognition was essential to enable the Guild to solicit funds. Recognition was received a few months later as the official IRS letter was received (see Non-Profit Status).
During that first year, the Guild was able to support the Historic Rialto Theater with grants to underwrite program publication and to purchase a professional quality spotlight and several stage lighting dimmer packs to enhance live performances.
Through promotional activities, the Guild was able to increase its membership from just the few Board members to a total of 125 active members.
In its second year of existence (2002), fund raising activities and membership dues enabled the Guild to complete the stage lighting project and to fund the replacement of the original 1920 stage floor. Several progressively more successful seasons of programming had given hard use to the floor, and it was beginning to weaken in several areas. A special fund-raising team (“Tiger Team”) headed by Shelby Moore, with assistance from Don Marriage and Kim Akeley-Charon successfully raised the $20,000 estimated to be required, and floor replacement began in late December 2002 and was completed in time for the first scheduled performance in early January.
Our Annual Meeting convened in the Historic Rialto Theater in early January and drew more than half of our membership. New Board Members Susan Burton, Phil Weber, and Sharon Foley were elected to the vacancies created by retiring members Don Marriage, Evelyn Lee, and Rose Corey-Van Riper. Don, one of the prime movers in the Historic Rialto Theater restoration, and President of the Guild for two years, remains an Ex-Officio Member of the Board to provide corporate memory and technical expertise.
Through several fund-raiser events sponsored in 2003 and membership dues, the Guild was able to make a grant of more than $5,000 to the Rialto to aid in purchasing a professional-quality video projector. Acquisition of this equipment will enable the theater to draw more conferences and seminars, as well as provide an alternative method of movie projection.
2004 was a very successful year! We completed the funding for the professional-quality video projector and guided the Historic Rialto staff in its selection. The Historic Rialto Theater now has the finest video projection equipment in Northern Colorado. Its many uses include support for group presentations, projection of movies that can be obtained in DVD format, and background scenery for stage productions. Additionally, we provided the funding for a top-quality laptop computer for use at the lectern with the capability of being wired in to the video projector. Now all a presenter has to do is bring his CD presentation to the lectern, insert it into the laptop, coordinate with the theater technical staff on sound matters, and begin his presentation.