There was a large turnout on Saturday as village officials, local businesses and concerned residents attended the Ellenville Area Arts Alliance's (EA3) monthly meeting. Prior to the meeting, a large number of emails circulated through the group, suggesting that the meeting would be eventful. They were not disappointed.

In a departure from the group's freewheeling conversational style, Ellenville's Director of Visual Arts Judy Sigunick decided to begin the December 1 meeting by reading from a prepared statement in which she announced that she will not be returning as the village's 'art czar' when her one-year contract expires in April. The move comes at a time when the group has been searching for a way forward from a village-financed initiative into a full-fledged nonprofit entity.

With Sigunick's departure, the village's administration plans to funnel the $10,000 that would have funded Sigunick's position directly into the EA3, equaling the Town of Wawarsing's commitment to funding arts and cultural activities in the area.

Sigunick recommended that village officials and the assembled EA3 supporters try to find a person or committee to head future arts endeavors in the area after she has finished her tenure. She went on to offer a series of suggestions for the group's future leadership possibilities including a request that whoever takes over as head of the group be paid, "an equitable salary with benefits and discretionary consultation monies."

Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan spoke following Sigunick's speech, thanking Sigunick for her continued efforts on the village's behalf. Kaplan expressed his desire that village government's role in future arts initiatives be more 'hands-off' than it has been thus far, but that it would remain more involved until leadership for the organization is established following Sigunick's departure. Kaplan said that his hope was that the village would continue to work to, "keep the ball rolling" in lieu of other leadership and provide a source of funding for the organization.

Ellenville Village Manager Elliott Auerbach suggested that the establishment of a board of directors for the organization would help the group secure a 501(c)3 nonprofit status. But before the organization could establish such a board, several audience members took the opportunity to speak, making suggestions regarding the group's future.

Chief among the topics under discussion was the feeling that the group needed to expand its reach and work as an umbrella organization for any arts event in the area, not just visual arts. Audience members spoke about the importance of including and promoting performing arts, music, dance and film.

Eventually, EA3 advisory board member Linda Rogers stood and gave a call to action for the group, asking that they do something to try to rectify the stalled momentum regarding the group's projects and the proposed MarketStreet Art Center. The Shadowland Theatre's Brendan Burke then moved that the group create a board of directors at the meeting, causing Auerbach to bring a large pad into the room, onto which names of people who were both nominated and who volunteered to sit on the board were to be written.

The group eventually settled on eleven members; they include EA3 treasurer Iris Friedman, Brendan Burke, Marty Rabkin, Hal Brill, Judy Sigunick, musician John Simon, Denise Kasell, and EA3 advisory board members Barbara Huff, Joy Webber, Debbie Briggs, and Linda Rogers.

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