[Frameworks] Millennium Film Workshop

Wed Sep 30 04:16:26 UTC 2015

Thank you Dr. Walley. Thank you David.

It is worth noting that MFW has kept this document off their website.
Strictly speaking you're right about the "President" thing, which I'd
forgotten about--but it's really a technicality, as the title doesn't bring
any special powers. George was not elected to this or any other position,
but was . As I recall it, after Howard stepped down, a member-consensus
decision was made to keep the director off the board, and to have the ED be
appointed by the board. All of which makes good sense, especially given
everything that had transpired during the latter phase of the Gutenplan
period, though this emergency measure should have been ratified by a timely
revision of the bylaws. So "President" here is just an honorific--same
term, different meaning--so that the board looks the way boards are
supposed to look.

If only the board had acted the way a board's supposed to act.

One other quibble, David: the verb: "to Gerrymander" implies that elections
are in fact taking place. The *mot juste* would have been "to steal."

***

George,

I didn't receive your email as you didn't send one to me. Apparently the
fact that I don't agree with your failure to follow MFW's bylaws means that
I'm not to be counted a "Friend" of Millennium--or is it simply a friend of
yours? My partner, Stephanie Wuertz--who previously occupied your
office--did receive a copy but deleted it, wanting nothing to do with MFW
ever again. Another life you've touched. The email is, of course, also
posted on an orphan page on your site. How could I have missed that?

Your texts are, needless to say, mendacious in the extreme. Millennium
didn't pack up shop because the MoMA money was late. Millennium sank
because you and PK were incapable of providing financial information to go
with the grant narratives I wrote for you. When you did finally massage the
books into order, I'm pretty sure it involved making some shit up, in
particular Jay Hudson's undocumented ATM withdrawals.

Your claim to transparency is belied by the fact that nobody knows what's
going on at MFW and next to nobody cares, as well as by a prior email from
you instructing me 1) not to talk about MFW in public and 2) not to share
"confidential financial and other information without authorization,"
namely PK's insane budget for FY2014. I should note that PK had himself
informed me that all MFW documents--minutes, books, etc.--were available to
anyone who wanted to see them. And why not?: it belongs to its members and
to the community, and not to you.

If you'd like to have a discussion about Millennium's future, I'd encourage
you to do so in full view of your constituency, which I'm sure you'll agree
extends beyond present membership and self-selected "friends". Here are
some places to begin:

Could you put text of MFW's present bylaws on your website--preferably not
on an orphaned page.

How many active members does MFW presently have? How many of them do you
consider elligible to vote? How many lapsed members would you consider
eligible to vote upon renewal? According to what criteria?

How much cash does MFW have on hand?

What are its month-to-month expenses?

What were its FY2014 net income and expenditures, exclusive of the MoMA
money?

How much income did MFW receive from workshops and equipment rentals FY14?
How much profit on the same?

Has the board passed any resolutions to compensate Peter Kingsbury? If so,
for how much?

ON WHAT DATE, IN OCTOBER, IS A MEMBERS MEETING TO BE HELD?

Finally, there is the question of "slander." I was careful to frame certain
statements speculatively, and in your last email to me you enjoined me
to "desist
from broadcasting via Frameworks opinions and speculation that are not
based on facts." The present opacity of MFW makes a necessity of
speculation. I do, however, know these people. Lili, for instance,
attempted to program herself in a Millennium show at the New School, with a
$200 honorarium for a single film. Steph and I stepped in, and those with
conflicts of interest were replaced by Jen Reeves and Peter Hutton, among
others. Lili promptly one-upped herself by having her husband build
Millennium a website. MFW was stuck with unauthorized, recurring,
exorbitant paypal payments. The website Mark built was so shitty it had to
be replaced by the current shitty site.

MFW has furnished me with many more interesting anecdotes. And I should
note I have been a model of restraint insofar as I have not contacted or
the NY arts press, regulatory bodies, or your prospective funders. That
stance is subject to revision.

Yours in cinema

Sasha Janerus

PS I have a sneaking suspicion certain phrases in the trash you've been
sending out as "Outreach Coordinator" were derived, consciously or not,
from the grants and other fluff I wrote. It's the sort of vague,
pseudo-descriptive language that is meant to sound inspiring when the
situation is anything but.

On Tue, Sep 29, 2015 at 10:08 PM, David Baker <dbaker1 at hvc.rr.com> wrote:

> Dear Mr. Spencer,
>
> Your skill as an Outreach Coordinator is certainly evident.
>
>
>
> I mean no disrespect in asking who designated you President of
> Millennium Film Workshop?
> As I read the bylaws (with which Howard Guttenplan was wrested
> from his long time role as Executive Director), it stipulates in Article
> I  #2,
> the President is to be voted on by the membership.
> I have no recollection of this election occurring in regards to you
> holding this office.
> Is it possible I missed this important event?
> Perhaps I am in some way mistaken.
> It is my understanding that the original bylaws are applicable
> until the membership chooses to ratify a new set of bylaws.
> Is this not the case?
>
> Attached are the original bylaws as they were sent to me by Jay
> Hudson on 9/21/11.
>
>
> I do not think Sasha Janerus is alone in the perception that this
> venerable institution has been gerrymandered by a coterie of insiders bent
> on personal
> enrichment of one sort or another.
> This may in part explain the precipitous decline in Millennium's
> membership from last year's 89 to the current 40 active members
>
> (as I count them on this recent list,
> http://millenniumfilm.org/memberlist/ )
>
> I would very much appreciate a response from you here in this forum.
> Herein I also appreciate Jonathan Walley's caring constructive words
> as they pertain to this matter.
>
> Thank you,
>
> David Baker
>
>
>
> On Sep 27, 2015, at 8:55 PM, George Spencer wrote:
>
> Hi, fellow experimental film enthusiasts-
>
> The great institution of Millennium Film Workshop, which over 49 years has
> done much to support the development of artists cinema, has been under
> financial threat since 2011.  Our governing board, executive director, and
> volunteer staff have struggled in extremely difficult circumstances not
> only to maintain our workshops, screenings, film journal, and equipment
> access programs, but to restructure our governance and operations.
>
> THESE are the questions some of you are asking on FRAMEWORKS, and here is
> MFW's reply:
>
> *- Is there any foundation to the original **allegations** posted on
> 7/10/15?*
> NO.  Millennium’s finance and operations are transparent, with best
> practices internal controls. Its board wholly supports and appreciates the
> work of its Executive Director, Peter Kingsbury, who will step down on October
> 31. Accusations against a public service non-profit such as Millennium
> are a disservice to the experimental cinema community;  and slander
> against individuals is morally repugnant and a violation of the Frameworks
> terms of service.
>
> *- Is there a more objective account of what’s gone on at Millennium that
> we might be able to read and discuss?*
> A “status update” letter emailed by the board to our Members and Friends
> on 7/23/15 provides some perspective on recent developments.  It can be
> found at: millenniumfilm.org/boardupdate
>
> *- Is there anything we could do to improve things? To intervene? *
>
> YES, YOU CAN HELP IN MANY WAYS.
> 1. Become a member or supporting member via our web-site:
> millenniumfilm.org/membershipandsupport/
> 2. Join our email list at millenniumfilm.org to get news and program
> announcements.
> 3. Come to our screenings, currently being held at Spectacle Theater in
> Williamsburg Brooklyn.  See the schedule at:
> spectacletheater.com/millenium-film-workshop-at-spectacle/
> 4. Subscribe to the Millennium Film Journal at mfj-online.org
> <http://www.mfj-online.org/>
> 5. Attend our Members & Friends Informational Meeting on Wednesday 10/7
> at 7:00 pm at Brooklyn Fireproof (119 Ingraham Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237
> -two blocks from Morgan Ave stop on the “L” subway).  Learn about our
> organizational restructuring and plans for the future.  Contribute ideas
> and volunteer some time.
> 6. Finally, and most importantly, “Take a Turn for Millennium”.  Make a
> short term volunteer commitment (see
> <http://www.millenniumfilm.org/volunteer>millennium
> <http://millenniumfilm.org/takeaturn>film.org/volunteer).  Millennium’s
> restructuring and transformation over the last few years has been difficult
> and frustrating work by a very small number of filmmakers who believe in
> its promise and potential.  We have made significant progress toward “the
> new Millennium”.  But to get there *we urgently need volunteers *to
> perform simple but necessary tasks in the next few months to sustain our
> screenings, workshops, film journal, and equipment access programs.
>
> *- What’s happening right now?*
>
> We are planning workshops, programs, and fundraising in celebration of
> Millennium50, our fiftieth year.  We are searching for a new Executive
> Director.  We are working with our lawyers to finish our new Bylaws, which
> will improve Millennium’s governance and support, and enhance member
> participation.  After their approval by members, we will hold elections for
> our new expanded governing board.  In preparation for elections, we are
> defining the diverse knowledge, skills, and experience we will need on our
> new board, and our expectations for candidates.  We will ask members and
> friends for candidate recommendations, and ask people to serve.  Finally,
> we are asking people to volunteer, to “Take a Turn for Millennium” (see
> <http://www.millenniumfilm.org/volunteer>millenniumfilm.org/
> <http://millenniumfilm.org/takeaturn>volunteer).
>
> This email list serves parties interested in the cinema art.  Please join,
> volunteer, or otherwise show your support for Millennium, an organization
> that has effectively supported that art for nearly a half century.
> Encourage others to become involved.  You will be revitalized by personal
> interchange with others of like mind, and your own cinema practice will be
> supported by becoming part of our community.  MFW continues to be a place
> where the passion and expression of hands-on, personal cinema, is studied,
> nurtured, and celebrated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> George Spencer,
> President, Millennium Film Workshop
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