Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. Chairman Jim Price: “I did not have a clue how we were going to do this.”

ABSTRACT: After Mayor Sue McCloud presented Executive Director Jack Globenfelt with a Certificate of Appreciation for his service to the Sunset Center and Carmel-by-the-Sea, acting Chairman of the Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. Board of Trustees Jim Price remarked that the answer to his not having a clue as to how to effect “diversified programming” at Sunset Center was Jack Globenfelt. Ironically, Price then cited the Carmel Authors & Ideas Festival (“conference”) as an example of “diversified programming.” The irony is the fact that both Executive Director Jack Globenfelt and Chairman Perry Walker are on the public record as stating that the Sunset Center was an uncompetitive venue for “conferences” and as a result “conferences” were not a priority for bookings. The Board did not vigorously support Jack Globenfelt; instead it appears the Board sided with Mayor Sue McCloud and her advocacy for conferences.

City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting
October 2, 2007

IV. Extraordinary Business

Presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to Jack Globenfelt for his service as Executive Director of the Sunset Cultural Center.

After Mayor Sue McCloud presented Executive Director Jack Globenfelt with his Certificate of Appreciation, Jim Price, Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. Chairman of the Board of Trustees stated, as follows:

“...four years ago, some of us appeared before this council as well as various public meetings to advocate the development of a nonprofit group to become the managers of the Sunset Center. During those presentations, we said, and promised, that we would provide diversified programming at Sunset Center. I did not have a clue how we were going to do this. The answer was Jack Globenfelt. He has the national contacts, and I guess some international, that brought this community performances that would never have been booked without his connections, his leadership and his hard work. Jack, this community has experienced something that I’m not sure anybody expected at the Sunset Center. And you caused that to happen. And we will work very, very hard to see that it continues to happen."

"An example of that, for which we actually can’t claim credit, is the weekend event of the Authors & Ideas conference, which will be spoken to late. But that’s an example of diversity that no one would have expected, it’s never, as far as I know, nothing like it has ever happened at the Sunset Center. So Jack, thank you.”

Later, Jim Price spoke of the retiring SCC board members, including, founding members Sarah Brown, Karen Kaduschin, Perry Walker and member Katherine Bucquet.

Notes:
Other members who have resigned prior to October 2007 include Fred O’Such, Jim Saunders, Demi Briscoe and Gary Luce.

Sunset Center’s web site lists the current SCC, Inc. Board of Trustees, including Deanna Adolph, Steven Hillyard, Michael McMahan, David S. Parker and Jim Price. (Source: http://www.sunsetcenter.org/theatercenterinc.htm)

COMMENTS:
Although now acting Chairman of Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. Jim Price gave credit to Executive Director Jack Globenfelt for “diversified programming at Sunset Center,” and even admitted at the time he “did not have a clue” about how to accomplish that promise to the public, he then ironically cited the Carmel Authors & Ideas Festival (“conference”) as a example of diversified programming. The irony is the fact that both Executive Director Jack Globenfelt and Chairman Perry Walker are on the public record as stating that the Sunset Center was an uncompetitive venue for “conferences” and as a result “conferences” were not a priority for bookings. Moreover, the Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. Board of Trustees did not vigorously support Jack Globenfelt publicly; instead it appears the Board sided with Mayor Sue McCloud and her advocacy for conferences. For a Board to not support the man with the background, experience and contacts and his decisions with regard to Sunset Center programming speaks poorly of the Board and the future of Sunset Center.