With a recent court ruling that supports the centers ability to use whatever means necessary to collect, the MCC board now has a variety of options to consider and will begin to evaluate assets of the various parties who owe the center money. While this may provide some assurance that these overdue payments will be made good on eventually, this process will likely take months or longer to bear fruit. As it stands currently, MCC has operating capital sufficient to continue operations through the beginning of February 2009, after which the center will be forced to close its doors and cancel its programs and events if the settlement money continues to remain unpaid. With a number of rentals already on the calendar for next year, closing the doors would have immeasurable impact on a large number of community groups and hall users and would also have severe, if not irreversible, affects on the centers ability to produce treasured annual events such as the Summer Arts and Music Festival, Reggae on the River, Recycled Youth, and the many other community and youth programs central to our local identity.

In an effort to stem this harsh, but seriously potential reality, the Mateel Community Center is now launching a major fundraising effort to try and raise $100,000 by the end of January 2009. These funds will be used as operating capital, allowing the center to keep it doors open, continue with our precious annual programs and services, and maintain a core staff to attend to the basic operational needs of the center while continuing to implement and refine the business plan the Mateel has been operating under since January 2008. This plan represents the first time in many years that the center has sought to cover operations with the value of its inherent assets and a key aspect of its success was in the production of increased in-house events and programs to raise the necessary operating capital. By in large, the business plan was highly successful and came very near to covering the total operational expense of the center in 2008. With some minor adjustments to the event plan and the communitys support to continue on this course, MCC is confident that the plan for 2009 would not only cover operations, but also leave enough at the end of the year to begin with the following years planning.

While Mateel recognizes that $100,000 is a lot of money to raise in a short amount of time, there is hope that local patrons who recognize the value of the center and its events/ programs will consider becoming a lifetime member. With a current membership totaling over 700 and conservative estimates of more than 10,000 users of the hall in 2008, if only 100 of these people were to step up their commitment to the center with lifetime memberships, MCC could easily achieve this goal. For those who would like to support, but are not in a position to make this kind of contribution, basic membership in the organization is also crucial and 2009 memberships are currently available. And, there are still two MCC events left before the end of the year, both of which will support this fundraising effort. These events are the 32nd annual Winter Arts Faire on December 13-14 and MCCs final concert of 2008 on December 20 with Peter Rowan & The Free Mexican Air Force, Crooked Still, and a chili cook-off. Please come out for these great events and help the Mateel in its Herculean efforts to keep the center operational in the absence of the critical settlement funds from Dimmick, Bruno, and People Productions. For more information about the events, programs, and services of the Mateel Community Center and how you can get involved, please stop by the MCC office in Redway, call 923-3368, or send an email to [email protected]. Your patronage is greatly appreciated!