submitted by Dave Nelson; photo by John Bonsett-Veal
Ted DeDee outlined the challenges he faced when he became president and CEO of the Overture Center for the Arts in 2012 and the achievements at Overture during the six-year period that will end with his retirement at the end of the 2017-2018 season. DeDee inherited a public dispute about the management of Overture, as Overture was transferred from city management to private nonprofit status. He organized Overture as a start-up company while respecting the history of the Center and the role of the extraordinary Frautschi contribution. During those six years, Overture maintained a positive financial situation with donor support going from $12.4 million to $22.6 million; generated a cash reserve of a million dollars; and developed programming that included 11 weeks of Broadway shows that brought ticket buyers from all over the Midwest. DeDee particularly noted that the Frostiball had become an invaluable part of the Overture fundraising program.
Another change under DeDee’s leadership was an increase in diversity and inclusion. People of color now comprise the Overture Board, and Overture works with over 200 community partners to make performances accessible to students who might not otherwise afford performances. Club 10 offers $10 tickets to more than 50 shows during the year.
As DeDee’s retirement approaches, Overture is beginning to develop a “living strategic plan” that will provide flexible directions for the next decade.
If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch the video here.
Zach Brandon, President of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, wants civic leaders to see a great new future for Madison. Today’s perception is that Madison is a place of government and education and not a very good place for business. But that is not the Madison that is evolving before our eyes, he asserted in a spirited talk.
Two Rotarians, Trey Sprinkman and Amanda White, are part of the effort to create a public market in Madison, and they reported to us today at the Alliant Energy Center. In addition, nine vendors were available prior to the meeting to provide free samples of the goods they might have available at the new market. These vendors remained after the meeting to show and sell their goods (including dog treats made from Wisconsin trout!).
Greg Reinhard provided us with an entertaining and informative presentation on the current status and future prospects of baseball in Wisconsin and the Midwest. He is a former professional player who played for the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs. He now owns, with a business partner, the GRB Academy in Windsor. The baseball academy develops players who seek to play at the collegiate and professional level.
On March 28 John Nichols (left) and Dave Zweifel (right) shared with Rotarians wisdom and tales from their new book, The Capital Times: A Proudly Radical Newspaper’s Century Long Fight for Justice and for Peace. Nichols noted that as the Madison newspaper celebrates its centennial, it is still committed to the principles on which it was founded by William T. Evjue: promoting world peace, exposing discrimination and calling out corruption. Nichols noted that many newspapers don’t last 100 years, especially those that take such bold stands.
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 