WHO WE ARE...
Explaining why a paid membership is so important when a social media site has already brought so many alumni together for free.
In the 50 years of "Tecumseh!", there have been financially successful seasons, and seasons that barely paid the expenses and payroll. In 2013, we again saw the dangerous slope the show was on, and it concerned us all. But as onlookers, the Alumni needed a unified frontline to do anything of substantial significance to be a viable entity that might provide to the future of our "alma mater". While our first offers are to volunteer free assistance to the show as they might accept, we believe that a thriving membership that will pay in annual dues, could direct into an annual charitable donation of significant amounts. With 50 years of cast & crew who are still alive, that could indeed be a substantial amount - therefore we incorporated into a 501(c)(7) Non Profit Organization to do this with the utmost legal and ethical business strategies. The TAa, Inc. IS more than just a "high school" alum function.
Those of us in this startup group have all invested personal contributions just to get the Secretary of State paid for incorporating, and the IRS to gain non-profit status. We have to fund insurance for liability and to protect the Ghost Tree Memorial. The shirt sales are meant to inspire membership with an awesome custom logo , and assist in building the foundation to fund the goal of an annual contribution to the theatrical/historical production. It's a slow rolling ball of wax pulling together hundreds of cast and crew from now 45 years of one outdoor drama, all aiming for that highest goal - to assure the continuance of the show that made us Family .
THAT is the message we need to get out to all those making use of the free social media. We are not meant to be in competition, we are desiring to join forces, otherwise, those social media sites will be what the alumni is presumed to be - reveling in the past as the show fades into the sunset. It is for such a mission that Era Reps are needed - people of influence to their peers of their era in the show, to inspire and prove to those enjoying their free networking to "drop a coin in the bucket" ($15/year) for the show that made us all family! Then we can revel in the continued success of this beloved outdoor drama!
Thanks to all who will offer support to the TAa by your questions, ideas, and information that will help others understand the goals of this incorporated organization, and why it was formed. Even more thanks to all who will strive with us to join the membership, and help us find the thousands of other alumni (or co workers, if you prefer) and increase the membership rolls, and thereby increase the financial and volunteer contributions to support our beloved "Tecumseh!" . We NEED your passion, your hands and feet in the effort to make this organization achieve the goal of keeping the outdoor drama open for future generations.
Bottom line, the TAa was formed for more than the emotional reconnections that are the common denominator of Alumni groups; it was formed as a means to assist the show, for we all fear to see it go dark forever. We've seen it go from have 120+ cast to <60; from a cast of N.Y. Equity stage actors, to a well done semi-professional theater. We who love the show, understand the excellence of the stage. And all of us who put blood, sweat and tears on that sandy stage, know the excellence of "Tecumseh!" We breathe the Mountain air, in a way, more deeply than any person who just loves to watch it.
We who formed this alumni organization aren't all just silly old people who miss our acting days. We've brought our skills and business savvy to the table to try and preserve the one thing that represents "real" theater in south central Ohio. When it goes, Columbus, and Cincinnati and Cleveland will keep their opera houses and megaplexes and comedy houses, and Chillicothe will go back to being a medical/industrial small town -losing the one thing that made Chillicothe unique - "Tecumseh!" at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater.
THAT is why the TAa was formed and what we are trying to uphold and promote. And we want to prove the significance that a paid membership organization formed of 50 years of cast and crew is more than just finding each other on social media. Then maybe, just maybe we have a chance to pool our resources and significantly contribute to "Tecumseh!" so the amphitheater won't go the way of so many outdoor dramas before it. The clock is ticking, changes have been made, and good management is making strides to sustaining the show. But, why not be the Alumni who step up to help make "Tecumseh!" a continuing outdoor drama success?
Those of us in this startup group have all invested personal contributions just to get the Secretary of State paid for incorporating, and the IRS to gain non-profit status. We have to fund insurance for liability and to protect the Ghost Tree Memorial. The shirt sales are meant to inspire membership with an awesome custom logo , and assist in building the foundation to fund the goal of an annual contribution to the theatrical/historical production. It's a slow rolling ball of wax pulling together hundreds of cast and crew from now 45 years of one outdoor drama, all aiming for that highest goal - to assure the continuance of the show that made us Family .
THAT is the message we need to get out to all those making use of the free social media. We are not meant to be in competition, we are desiring to join forces, otherwise, those social media sites will be what the alumni is presumed to be - reveling in the past as the show fades into the sunset. It is for such a mission that Era Reps are needed - people of influence to their peers of their era in the show, to inspire and prove to those enjoying their free networking to "drop a coin in the bucket" ($15/year) for the show that made us all family! Then we can revel in the continued success of this beloved outdoor drama!
Thanks to all who will offer support to the TAa by your questions, ideas, and information that will help others understand the goals of this incorporated organization, and why it was formed. Even more thanks to all who will strive with us to join the membership, and help us find the thousands of other alumni (or co workers, if you prefer) and increase the membership rolls, and thereby increase the financial and volunteer contributions to support our beloved "Tecumseh!" . We NEED your passion, your hands and feet in the effort to make this organization achieve the goal of keeping the outdoor drama open for future generations.
Bottom line, the TAa was formed for more than the emotional reconnections that are the common denominator of Alumni groups; it was formed as a means to assist the show, for we all fear to see it go dark forever. We've seen it go from have 120+ cast to <60; from a cast of N.Y. Equity stage actors, to a well done semi-professional theater. We who love the show, understand the excellence of the stage. And all of us who put blood, sweat and tears on that sandy stage, know the excellence of "Tecumseh!" We breathe the Mountain air, in a way, more deeply than any person who just loves to watch it.
We who formed this alumni organization aren't all just silly old people who miss our acting days. We've brought our skills and business savvy to the table to try and preserve the one thing that represents "real" theater in south central Ohio. When it goes, Columbus, and Cincinnati and Cleveland will keep their opera houses and megaplexes and comedy houses, and Chillicothe will go back to being a medical/industrial small town -losing the one thing that made Chillicothe unique - "Tecumseh!" at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater.
THAT is why the TAa was formed and what we are trying to uphold and promote. And we want to prove the significance that a paid membership organization formed of 50 years of cast and crew is more than just finding each other on social media. Then maybe, just maybe we have a chance to pool our resources and significantly contribute to "Tecumseh!" so the amphitheater won't go the way of so many outdoor dramas before it. The clock is ticking, changes have been made, and good management is making strides to sustaining the show. But, why not be the Alumni who step up to help make "Tecumseh!" a continuing outdoor drama success?
Sylvia (Duncan) Cloud, (Alum 1980-81); Founder & President TAa, Inc. 2012-2023
2014 Reunion Committee (Back l-r)
J.C. Haughn, Anne Snodgrass Eversole,
Kathryn Snodgrass Chancey, Amy Mengers Walters,
Chip White. Front (l-r) Stephanie Burdett Boehle, Sylvia Duncan Cloud
Association Board of Trustees and Executive Officers:
Sylvia Cloud - President Stephanie Burdett Boehle - Vice President
Rebecca Nutter Cassidy - Treasurer Molly Jones - Special Events Organizer
If you live within the local Ohio region and would be willing to meet once or twice a year serving on the Board of Trustees for the Tecumseh Alumni, please contact us via email or speak to one of the Board members. We need willing hands and passionate hearts!
Meetings of the TAa are every June, and September. The Alumni Weekend is the third Saturday of July every 5th Year. 2022 was the 50th Anniversary, so the next Reunion is 2027. Contact us for more info on becoming a member of the Board of Trustees of the Tecumseh Alumni Association, Inc. if you can attend these meetings.
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"Live your life"
"So live your life that the fear of death can never
enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home." Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation |
