LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Members of the Open Sky Creative Society who joined after the society's July 11 to 12 summer festival will see their memberships rolled over into the new fiscal year.

Lindsay Waugh, pictured here acting as the master of ceremonies for the Dufflebag Theatre performance on Feb. 3, has been elected as president of the Open Sky Creative Society. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

That means instead of having their memberships lapse in July, they'll lapse March 31 of next year.

That announcement was made at the society's 2014-15 annual general meeting on Feb. 18.

According to executive director Roxanna Thompson, the rollover is due to the society changing its fiscal year from an October start date to an April start date. That decision was made at the society's last annual general meeting held Oct. 22, 2014.

"This current AGM should have happened in October 2015 but due to staff turnover and the loss of our president it didn't take place at that time," Thompson said. "To put ourselves back into alignment, the outgoing board has proposed that we hold this AGM, wait the necessary minimum of 31 days past our fiscal year end of March 31 and then hold the 2015-16 AGM."

Changing its fiscal year has put the society in alignment with the territorial government which Thompson said is its major funder.

"It makes more sense for us to have this fiscal year," she said.

After electing a new president and board, members at the meeting agreed to change the membership term to align with the fiscal year and roll over memberships.

Board elected

Lindsay Waugh was elected president for the Open Sky Creative Society's board of directors.

As one of the original members of the society, Waugh said it is important for him to maintain Open Sky through the next year.

Audrey Steedman was elected vice-president, while the treasurer will be Alison Brown. Chuck Blyth is past president.

The society elected three directors-at-large, who include Sarah Gordon, Darlene Douglass and Diane Harold. The board also has Deb Stipdonk as its community representative.

New fees take effect

Two new membership fee categories are available for students and elders. During the meeting, society members agreed students, who must provide proof of enrolment in an educational institution, will pay $10 for memberships while seniors aged 60 and up will also pay $10.

Previously, a single person had to pay $30 for membership and families had to pay $50.

The fee for corporate organizations was raised to $100 up from $60.

Members agreed giving students a low rate could bolster youth involvement.

"I think for this new year we're starting here, it's the membership drive we're after. We want participation, for people to come to our meetings and be part of our organization," said Waugh.

Member Renalyn Pascua-Matte said opening the doors to students at a lower rate gives them the option not just of being members but eventually even sitting on the board.

"It's good to have a mix of youth on our board," she said.

A date for the society's next AGM was not decided but will likely be forthcoming in future weeks. The AGM will fall at least one month after the new fiscal year-end of March 31, and will involve a re-election of the board as well as an update on the 2015-16 fiscal year.