Board Election How do I cast my votes? What does the Art Theater Co-op Board of Directors do?

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1 What does the Art Theater Co-op Board of Directors do? Board Election 2014 The board consists of nine intrepid souls who will harness the momentum we ve created in the past two years and lead our co-op into the future! Every March, we hold our board election. This year there are four positions to be filled. Board members are tasked to: - Craft, review, and promote policies that define the work and the future of the co-op (our Ends) - Encourage co-op ownership and involvement - Develop and execute equity drives - Plan and participate in outreach activities Board members do NOT: - Select films to be shown at the theater - Play a role in the day-to-day operations of the theater - Dictate operating policies/procedures What are the Ends of the Art Theater Co-op? The most far-reaching of the policies created by the board define our Ends, which determine what effects our co-op will have on our community and world around us. While the board crafts and refines the Ends over time, the general manager is responsible for determining and implementing the means of reaching those Ends. The Ends of the Art Theater Co-op are: The Art Theater Co-op is a vibrant and welcoming community. Audiences new and old enjoy a classic cinema experience. The engaged audience for art house cinema is cultivated and increased. Local filmmakers find an audience. The art house cooperative movement is strengthened. Wow, that all sounds pretty important! Who are the candidates for the board this year? Glad you asked! We are providing this booklet so you can go forth and peruse the candidates at your leisure. We ve provided pictures so you can recognize the candidates if you run into them. The candidates have provided information about themselves for you to consider. There are four seats up for election this year: Three for 3-year terms, and one for a 2-year term. How do I cast my votes? You can vote online or on paper ballots at the theater box office. Voting ends at 10:00pm on Sunday, March 30 th.

2 Why do you want to run for the Art Theater Board? I want to run for the Art Theater Board because I have a passionate devotion to the institution that is the Art Theater Co-op and its cultural intent and am fully committed to the carrying out of its stated Ends. Why do you think you will be a good member of the board? I believe I will be a good member of the board because I have proven my loyalty and devotion to it not only as a current member in its first 2 years, but as an interim board member who helped develop the Co-op as it exists today. I have worked diligently through the past 3 years helping to form the Co-op, working in the Outreach committee to help develop the initial drive for members, then being elected to the formal board in which I chaired the Digital Conversion Committee that helped the Co-op switch to digital, as well as being a dedicated member of the General Manager Committee that helped facilitate the hiring of our current GM, Mr. McCann. In addition, as a current board member, I attended the first ever Art Theater Co-op Board Retreat and was a member of the committee that helped formulate the Co-op s Ends, and am fully devoted to making those Ends a reality. What is your experience working with groups and group based decision-making, especially any experience working with consensusbased, group decision-making bodies? My experience working with consensus-based, group decision-making bodies is widespread. As I mentioned above, I have been a devoted member of the elected board and the original interim board that helped formulate the Co-op. I have been an active member of that board for the past 3 years. In addition, I also developed and co-founded the Champaign- Urbana Film Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to Film Literacy and Education in Champaign-Urbana. As a founding member of that board I helped to develop the initial scope and goals for that organization, which led to the formulation of the Pens to Lens Screenwriting Competition for Champaign-area youth, held annually here at the Art Theater Co-op. Professionally, as a full-time filmmaker, working with groups is a skill that I employ on a daily basis. Filmmaking is one of the most interesting art-forms because it is the one art-form that is completely reliant on collaboration. Whether its creative collaboration or team management, you are always working with other people to produce a work of art. What other skills do you bring to the position? In addition to my board experience and consensus-based decision making skills, I am also a full-time professional award-winning filmmaker here in Champaign-Urbana, which gives me unique insight into both the independent filmmaking community as well as a strong connection to the business community in Champaign-Urbana. Shatterglass Studios, was awarded the Champaign Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2012 and my studio offices, located in downtown Champaign, currently host the monthly meetings for the Co-op board. As an amateur film historian and dedicated cinephile, I also can provide creative insight into the educational and cultural component of the Co-op s Ends.

3 Angelina Cotler I am an active and committed member of the Urbana-Champaign community since I moved to study a PhD in Anthropology at the University of Illinois. After finishing my degree in 2005 I accepted the position I currently held as Associate Director for the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Illinois. I have participated and collaborated with different groups in the community and the university such as the Graduate Employee Organization, the Campus Faculty Association, the Education Justice Project, and for a brief time as a radio conductor at WEFT. Combining my passion for films and my Latin Americanist background I decided to move beyond the walls of the university to promote Latin American issues through movies to the larger community. Since 2007, I have been the sole organizer of the Annual Latin American Film Festival at the Art Theater: a week-long movie event that showcases the best contemporary feature and documentary films from Latin America. It is a nerve wracking and amazing experience to organize it and see how it has growth and capture the interest of so many people. Throughout the years I ve worked with the Art Theater organizing this event with three different managers, and for the past years I have serve as an informal liaison, with Sanford Hess and Austin McCann and the University, for planning Q&A and special events at the theater. I deeply cherished The Art Theater Co-op space as an independent, community-based art house theater and I want to contribute to its growth and presence in our community. I want to participate at the Co-op not only as a regular movie viewer but also as an active member to offer ideas, contacts, and above all, great enthusiasm and open-mind for collaboration with other board members. I envision the Co-op as a place that can bring together people from different backgrounds and generational stages to appreciate and discuss films from different parts of the world; to be a space that also serves as a trigger to raise awareness about different social realities and as a window to the world. On a personal note, I love to dance, enjoy the company of friends around a good meal and wine; I m an obsessive walker and traveler, and play backgammon to relax.

4 Matt Henshaw Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the Art Theater Co-op Board of Directors. After attending the monthly board meetings as an owner for the last several months, I believe I will be able to make a difference as a board member and help the business grow and thrive in the ever-changing landscape of independent theaters. I was very excited when the decision was made for the Art Theater to become the nation s first cooperatively owned theater. I truly believe in this model of doing business, because a business surviving and thriving is dependent upon its customers, and when the customers *own* the business, then there is a greater opportunity for that business to succeed. I became an owner in fairly short order (#00035)! Shortly after Austin came on as General Manager, he put a request out to the owners for help with some operational items. I answered his request and, having already gotten to know me as a patron, he welcomed my assistance. I ve been volunteering regularly with bookkeeping duties since December 2012, and it s been very rewarding and educational for me. A couple of months later, in early 2013, I offered to volunteer more of my time by working the early Sunday shift. Chances are if you ve been to a movie on a Sunday afternoon, I ve sold you a ticket or popcorn, or swept up your theater! By volunteering at the theater in a number of different capacities, this gives me a unique experience and perspective to bring to the board table. In mid-2013, I began regularly attending the monthly board meetings (which are open to any co-op owner who wishes to come) because I wanted to learn more about the responsibilities of the board and the issues that affect the theater s operation and its future. I am always engaged in the discussions, and I'm already participating with a sub-committee of the board to focus on film education. At the end of the day, I trust Austin to run the theater as a day-to-day business. My responsibility, if elected to the board, is to ensure that the co-op framework continues to work for the Art Theater in the years to come and that we are providing the best movie-going experience for our community. I ve been an auditor for 14 years, and in addition to that exposure to the business world, my work is largely defined by delving into the minutia and providing answers beyond the numbers. In my job, I am consistently working with my team to achieve results. In November of last year, I was selected to participate in a think-tank to make my company a better place to work. In addition to my personal integrity, these skills and values would make me an ideal candidate for stewardship on the Board. I strongly believe in the idea of a cooperative theater that we own together, and I hope other independent theaters will see our success as inspiration to follow our lead. I am a passionate volunteer and patron of the Art Theater Co-op, and I will bring that same level of passion and enthusiasm as a member of the board if you choose to vote for me this coming March. Please feel free to contact me via at matt.henshaw@hotmail.com if you have any questions for me! Thank you again for your consideration.

5 Mark Rhodes Why do you want to run for the Art Theater Board? I was elected to the Art Theater Board in March 2013 for a 1-year term. During the year several important items were accomplished, including: selection and purchase of the new digital projector, improvements to the projector room to support the digital projector, and creation of the Co-op s Ends. Even with these successes, more work is needed to ensure the livelihood of the Theater, and growth of the Co-op. I would like to be part of that effort. Why do you think you will be a good member of the Board? During my term on the Art Theater Board, I served as the Recorder for its monthly meetings and served on several committees including the Digital Equipment Committee, the Policy Governance Committee, and the Building Committee. Also, I helped staff the Art Theater Co-op s table at Pridefest and at the Common Ground Food Co-op. I would like to build on these experiences. By profession, I work for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), an international cooperative project formed from over 250 separate agencies. I am familiar with the unique challenges of consensus-based, group decision-making organizations. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ghana, ), I appreciate the challenges of working with limited resources, and working toward long-term goals rather than short-term rewards. What is your experience working with groups and group decision-making, especially any experience working with consensus-based, group decision-making bodies? I served on the Art Theater Co-op s Board this past year and was its Recorder. Though a small group, the background and expertise of its members is varied. This diversity is both beneficial and essential to the decision making process. It ensures multiple points of view are represented and considered before decisions are made. I am the Quality Assurance Manager for the NADP. The NADP is a cooperative effort between many federal, state, tribal, and local governmental agencies (both national and international), educational institutions, private companies, and non-governmental agencies. I am familiar with the operation and challenges of large cooperative organizations, the need for open dialog between all members of the cooperative, and the need to implement decisions made by consensus. What other skills do you bring to this position? I have an engineering background. This has been useful during some Board discussions. I do not mind taking meeting minutes.