Hello Guild Members,
As you may recall I am asking you, the membership, to consider a major
change to the guild constitution. I have outlined this change in the July
07 newsletter
(http://www.sfbapg.org/newsletter/archives/july%2007%20newsletter2.pdf) and
am including a description of this possible change below. We will be
discussing this restructuring of the guild at the guild meeting this month
(info at bottom of this email) on August 25 at Oakland Fairyland. This is
your time to be heard on this possible change to the guild constitution and
bylaws. After the meeting, proposed changes to the guild constitution will
be mailed out with the membership renewal forms for your vote. This is the
time for discussion, starting right here on this email forum. Should the
guild adopt the changes as currently described, the officers just elected by
the guild would no longer be officers, but would become 5 of the nine member
board. Other members would have to be added to complete the 9 members,
either by appointment or election to start with, but then always by election
(except in the case of the loss of a board member during his/her term, in
which case the president would appoint a new board member to finish the
term). Then officers would be chosen from among the guild board by the
guild board. This is a model similar to that used by Puppeteers of America
and UNIMA-USA.

READ ALL OF THIS OVER AND THINK ABOUT IT, AND SEND YOUR THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS
TO THE GUILD LIST, AND/OR BRING THEM TO THE MEETING ON AUGUST 25.
Proposed guild structure change, from July newsletter:
I would like to propose that the guild consider adopting a nine member
board, with board members' terms being 3 years each and three new board
members being elected every 3 years. This board would then be charged with
making the guild decisions that in the past were done in the town meeting
style of membership meetings. A 9 member board would offer more diverse
points of view during discussions as well as spread out the work load of the
guild among more people. Meetings could then be less frequent (as the guild
just voted at the last meeting) and when we have general membership meetings
they could be more program and social oriented, and not have to include
business meetings. The board could communicate with the membership through
the newsletter, the guild
website and the guild email list. And, of course, guild members could take
any business they wished to be considered either to the board or the
membership at large (there would still be at least one regular guild
membership meeting a year and possibly short meetings as needed or requested
at any regular guild event.) Guild officers would be elected by the board,
from within the board, for 1 year terms. This is a change in the basic
structure of the guild, but it is a change to a model that many other
similar organizations already use with much success.
I am proposing this suggestion in the newsletter and on the guild email list
(which will then put it onto the guild website.) Let me know your thoughts,
concerns, or ideas. It is my thought that should the membership look
favorably on this idea, that when the guild
membership renewal forms are mailed out in August, there would also be a
proposition ballot updating the bylaws of the guild to make this change in
structure. This gives us some time for discussion before making our
decision. --
Michael Nelson
SFBAPG President

SUMMER GUILD MEETING
AUGUST 25 AT OAKLAND
FAIRYLAND PUPPET FAIR
As you read in the last issue, the guild
has voted to go to a schedule of having
4 regular meetings a year (with other
guild events informally planned inbetween,
the next one being a trip to
Avenue Q!) On August 25 the guild's
summer meeting will take place at
Oakland Fairyland's annual weekend of
puppetry. While there are shows
throughout the day, the guild meeting
itself will start at 4:30 pm at the
Fairyland puppet theater, followed by a
potluck and a surprise presentation of
"The Unexpected Performance" just for
the guild.

DETAILS:
Volunteers Needed: The guild
will be hosting the craft booth
starting at noon. Volunteers
will be needed to lead the craft
project provided by the guild.
Also volunteers are needed to
watch the puppet exhibit and
talk to visitors about puppetry
and the guild. Anyone wishing
to volunteer please contact Lee
Armstrong at 707 996-9474.
Food: If you are bringing a pot luck
item that needs refrigeration, contact
Randal Metz at 510 569-3144 to make
cool arrangements. Main dishes are
always appreciated.

Admission: Admission to Fairyland is
free when you flash your puppetry guild
membership card.

Parking: Parking is on Bellevue Ave
(City of Oakland sometimes charges $3
to park there on weekends). In the case
of folks unloading, that is set up through
Randal so they can contact him directly
to get details . Volunteers may be able
to get special parking (ask Lee.)

WANT to save gas, parking fees, and
hang out with other puppeteers?
Arrange carpooling through the guild
email list! Meet and park cars at the
nearest park and ride (find them on the
internet) and ride-share. It's fun and
saves the environment.

Agenda: In addition to committee
reports and treasurer report, the guild
will discuss a major change in guild
structure, the proposed move to a nine
member board of directors. Come and
be heard or let your views be known
through a proxy (any current officer
would be willing to deliver your written
opinions.) If you have an item for the
agenda, contact guild president Michael
Nelson (contact info on page 1.)

SCHEDULE OF PUPPET FAIR
EVENTS:
11:00 am and 4:00 pm Puppet Show:
Aesop's Fables. Featuring the tales of
The Tortoise and the Hare, The Lion
and the Mouse, and The Grasshopper
and the Ant. Enjoy seeing what happens
to Aesop's famous animal friends when
they discover they all have to work
together to help the turtle win his race.
A merging of all of these charming
lesson tales into one fun-filled
production set in Greece. Script by
David C. Jones. Puppets by Lewis
Mahlmann and David Jones.

12:00 pm Puppet Show: Why
Mosquitoes Buzz in our Ears. A tale of
misunderstandings involving funny
characters such as the iguana, the
python, the rabbit, the crow, mother owl
and many other entertaining creatures
of the jungle. Adaptation and puppets
by Randal Metz and scenery by Lewis
Mahlmann. Presented by The Puppet
Company (Plaza)

12:30 and 3:30 pm Pinocchio: The
Hip-Hopera. Enjoy a fairy-take classic
with a modern twist! Pinocchio, the
wooden puppet, follows his journey to
finally become a real boy. On his path,
he learns valuable lessons about telling
the truth, acting with kindness to others,
deciding between right and wrong. This
modern version features jaw-dropping
hip-hop choreography by Funkmode
Dance, beats by Oakland teen Chukhudi
Hodge, and original raps written in
collaboration with the Children's
Fairyland Personalities and Funkmode
Dance.

1:30 pm Puppet Show: Nick Barone
Puppets performs "T-Rex
Thunderlizard's Wild West Show!"
(Emerald City Stage)

2:30 pm Puppet Show: The Vagabond
Puppets, performs "A Day in the Forest
- 3 Pigs, Marx Brothers' Style."