maybe SPAC could ask APPLE for a few bucks to Save the New York City Ballet at SPAC.

Rumors are rampant that Apple,APPLE, as in Steve Jobs-RIP, the largest and richest company in the world is coming to Saratoga County......and SPAC is decimating the greatest ballet company in the world in Saratoga, the New York City Ballet.  They are dancing ONLY  5 days in 2013 and nothing certain for the future.  Surely, Saratoga County is being promoted for its great cultural offerings.  What is SPAC doing to continue that reputation?  Not much.  Article in today's Saratogian below:

 

SPAC unveils 2013 classical program dates; will break even in 2012

Published: Friday, December 07, 2012

By PAUL POST
ppost@saratogian.com
Twitter.com/paulvpost

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Thursday unveiled its classical programming for 2013 that includes one week of New York City Ballet and two other ballet companies.

The schedule opens on June 29-30 with the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival and runs through August, which includes the Philadelphia Orchestra and Saratoga Chamber Music Festival.

SPAC also announced that it will break even financially in 2012, its eighth straight year of operating in the black.

“In 2013, more than 700 classical artists will be part of our season and more than 130 masterpieces will be performed live,” Marcia White, SPAC’s president and executive director, said in a statement.

However, next year marks the first time ever that the financially-plagued New York City Ballet will have a one-week Saratoga residency. The dance company lost $1.1 million and saw attendance drop 4 percent at SPAC this year.

In addition, the ballet cost SPAC more money this year than it did in 2008, when it still had a three-week summer season. One cause was the high cost of producing elaborate performances of “Romeo & Juliet.” Trucking, lighting and labor were some of the main expenses.

Overall, SPAC’s programming costs rose about 10 percent this year — roughly $400,000.

SPAC’s board on Thursday approved an $8.4 million budget for 2013.

Ticket sales pay for less than half the ballet and orchestra’s residencies. SPAC makes up the difference with membership fees, corporate sponsorships and individual gifts.

SPAC Chair Susan Philips Read has said she would like to get the ballet back for two weeks beginning in 2014. Next year, two other companies will make up for New York City Ballet’s shorter season. They are the National Ballet of Canada and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Continued...

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Next Thursday, SPAC will make the first in a series of online programming announcements, called “Building a Season.” Each week, a selection of artists, works and events that are part of next year’s season will be announced at the website www.spac.org.

By announcing programming online, SPAC can highlight each artist with streamed videos, YouTube interviews, photo galleries, media articles and reviews. A similar initiative, which debuted last year, increased off-season traffic to SPAC’s website by nearly 60 percent, White said.

The website had more than 1 million visitors this year, highlighting the importance of modern electronic marketing strategies. In addition to its website, SPAC will publicize the weekly announcements through digital channels including Facebook, Twitter, email and its digital sign on Route 50.

“The format and timing of ‘Building of a Season’ encourages people to explore the breadth and depth of that artistry, which ultimately enhances appreciation of the programs they’ll experience here at SPAC,” White said. “In this digital age, the series is also a powerful tool for educating people about the classical performing arts, which is a key component of SPAC’s mission.”

2013 SPAC classical program schedule

• June 29-30 — Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival
• July 9-13 — New York City Ballet
• July 16-18 — National Ballet of Canada
• July 24-25 — Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
• Aug. 7-24 — Philadelphia Orchestra
• Aug. 4-20 — Saratoga Chamber Music Festival
• July 19-Aug. 3 — Live at the Algonquin Cabaret Series

 

vicpool@aol.com

the committee to Save the New York City Ballet at SPAC strongly urges you to sign and send this letter to the NYS Comptroller to audit SPAC's finances.

sign and send this letter or your own to the two addresses listed for the Office of the New York State Comptroller to trigger an audit of SPAC's finances.

asanfilippo@osc.state.ny.us

StateGovernmentAccountability@osc.state.ny.us

 

The Honorable Thomas P. DiNapoli

New York State Comptroller

Office of the State Comptroller

Division of State Government Accountability

110 State Street, 11th Floor

Albany, NY 12236

December 1, 2012

Dear Mr. DiNapoli,

I am writing today on behalf of the effort to save the New York City Ballet’s summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which, in 2013, will be diminished to merely one week. I believe this decision places the future of SPAC in jeopardy.

On February 27, 2004, more than eight years ago, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) commenced an audit of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Inc. (SPAC). Most of the findings and recommendations from that audit have never been instituted.

While SPAC is a private, non-profit entity, it is unique in that it enjoys a significant asset at public expense in the form of its rent-free license for its premises. It is dependent on the state’s ownership and responsibility for capital facilities and receives both direct and indirect publicly funded support for its purposes and programs. I ask that your office inquire into its current operations, based on recently legislated initiatives.

First, a Governor's task force was appointed to investigate the executive and administrator compensation levels at not-for-profits that receive taxpayer support from the State. The State Comptroller is responsible for ensuring that the taxpayers’ money is being used effectively and efficiently to promote the common good. The current administration at SPAC has ignored the recommendations made by the State and is not operating efficiently or effectively. The Executive Director’s salary and experience is not benchmarked against similar positions at like venues and is excessive.

Second, as part of an ongoing effort to make government more transparent, accessible and accountable to New Yorkers, the Comptroller’s office selected the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to be audited this year and a report was issued on October 26. As a follow-up to that procedure, I request that OPRHP initiate an audit to determine the financial standing at SPAC, a facility that receives significant public support, and why the recommendations from the OPRHP 2004 audit have not been followed.

Best regards,

ATT, Page 2: Pertinent recommendations

Pertinent Recommendations from 2004 Audit

Request for 2012 investigation

•             SPAC’s financial difficulties are the result of inadequate fundraising and outside support.

•             The President, an employee of SPAC, does not perform at the level commensurate with her compensation. The duties of the SPAC President and its Director of Development should be clearly defined, performance goals established, and compensation awarded based on attainment of those goals, commensurate with similar positions in like organizations.

•             SPAC needs to reaffirm its mission and commitment to the fine arts.

•             The fundamental purpose for SPAC is centered on its music and dance residencies, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York City Ballet. These two internationally renowned cultural organizations are much more than tenants that occupy space at the performing arts center during the summer months, they are true partners with SPAC and have been at the core of its mission since its inception.

•             Due to the past and continuing investment of public funds in SPAC, it would be appropriate for the public to have a greater voice in the operation of the corporate affairs of SPAC.

•             Compensation provided should be tied to specific goals and performance expectations that are clearly defined at the beginning of each fiscal year and benchmarked to appropriate similar venues.

•             SPAC is disproportionately dependent on ticket sales and on Clear Channel and needs to revitalize its Endowment Committee.

•             SPAC should hire an experienced fundraiser.

•             SPAC should analyze fundraising expenses on an annual basis and benchmark their dollars raised to expenses incurred.

•             SPAC consider increasing the size of the Board of Directors and explore items such as members at large, term limits and rotating committee assignments.

happy December 1st, 6 months(more or less) to go till pooltime.

does SPAC get any of the money for the cell antenna?

Cell antenna planned at SPAC

Device to benefit Verizon customers

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

By Lee Coleman (Contact)
Gazette Reporter  

Text Size: A | A

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A second cellphone communications antenna will be erected on the top of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in the Saratoga Spa State Park within the next four months, a state official said Monday.
One 4-foot cellphone antenna already is located atop the SPAC amphitheater, said Randy Simons, a spokesman for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. This antenna provides cellphone coverage for AT&T customers.
He said these antennas are typically 4 feet high and 6 to 8 inches wide.
Another antenna is located on top of an old smokestack in the Spa State Park, behind the Lincoln Baths building on Route 9.
Simons said the cellphone antennas are not “cell towers.” In fact, the smokestack antenna is just a circular band around the top of the stack, he said.
“There are no cell towers in the park,” he said.
Verizon applied to have a second antenna system erected on the SPAC amphitheater to improve its telecommunications in the Saratoga area,
“That one is going up in the first quarter [of 2013] between January and March,” Simons said.
The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which owns the buildings in the park, receives a host benefit for allowing the telecommunications companies to locate an antenna there.
The state has an agreement with a company called Crown Castle, which describes itself as “one of the country’s largest independent owners and operators of shared wireless infrastructure.”
Simons said the state reviews and approves the cell antenna placement, and then Crown Castle works out the details with the customer. Crown Castle’s customers include the country’s major wireless carriers: Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.
The state and Crown Castle typically share the lease revenue from the wireless company. For the new antenna on the amphitheater, the split will be 50-50.
Simons said that by the end of 2013, the state will receive approximately $1 million in annual revenue from telecommunications antenna lease agreements in parks across the state.
Louise Goldstein, co-founder of Save the Victoria Pool Society and a supporter of Save the New York City Ballet movement, said she hasn’t noticed the antenna on top of the amphitheater or on the smokestack at the other end of the state park.
Michael Greenslade, Saratoga Spa State Park manager, said the antenna is attached to the top of the SPAC amphitheater in such a way that it is not easily visible.
“Most people don’t even know they are there. It’s not a big tower,” he said.
Goldstein said she would like revenue generated by the cell antennas to be used to extend the New York City Ballet summer season at SPAC.
The New York City Ballet will perform for only one week next summer rather than the two weeks it has been performing the past four years.
Two other ballet companies, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada, will also perform at SPAC during its 2013 summer season.

 

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New Chairwoman of SPAC Board cannot fundraise. Outrageous while they cut NYCBallet to 5 days.

New leader of SPAC's board of directors discusses opportunities, challenges for the Saratoga Springs venue

Published: Monday, November 26, 2012

By PAUL POST
ppost@saratogian.com
Twitter.com/paulvpost

Click to enlarge

Susan Phillips Read

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In May, Susan Phillips Read, a justice on the New York State Court of Appeals, took over the reigns of Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s board of directors, succeeding chairman William Dake.

Recently, the Averill Park resident talked about her career, her love for the arts and SPAC’s future.

Briefly describe your legal, education and family background.

Growing up in small-town Ohio, I was taught ballet by a refugee from New York City who filled my head with visions of George Balanchine. I studied piano and voice and spent hours listening to my dad’s classical recordings of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

I graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago Law School, where I met my future husband, a native upstate New Yorker. After a short stint at the State University of New York, I worked for almost two decades in the private sector, first at General Electric and then in private practice. I joined the governor’s staff in 1995 and have been a judge since 1998, first on the Court of Claims. I’ve been on the Court of Appeals since 2003.

Judges are not allowed to fundraise for political campaigns. Are you allowed to fundraise for SPAC? If yes, do you see that as part of your job, and how will you do it?

Judges may serve as members or officers of a not-for-profit cultural organization such as SPAC. While judges may assist in planning fundraising, they may not personally participate in the solicitation of funds or other fundraising activities. They may not use or permit use of the prestige of judicial office for fundraising or membership solicitation, but they may be listed as a member or officer, including on letterhead.

Although I may not ask for donations to SPAC, there are 23 other board members and a staff who are not similarly constrained.

What was your first SPAC experience? What do you like best about SPAC?

Given my love of the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra, I was naturally attracted to SPAC after moving to the Albany area as a young married woman in 1973, when I attended my first performances. I became a member in 1977 and have donated every year since then, always anonymously until 2012 upon becoming chairwoman. I have a separate history of significant giving to the New York City Ballet and its affiliated School of American Ballet. Continued...

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New York City Ballet on 60 Minutes tonight! november 24,2012.

All of our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Sandy..

wishing everyone calm waters from now on..........

You can help Save the New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs.

A very productive planning meeting of Save the New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs was held at the home of Louise Goldstein last night. The group will be giving a big push to educate all businesses about the loss of money to Saratoga Springs with the ballet being reduced to one week by spac for july 2013. In addition, petitions will be available to sign supporting the nyc ballet summer residency in Saratoga. We want to educate and raise awareness of politicians, residents, visitors, shop, hotel and restaurant owners as to what this loss would mean to the special and unique culture and brand of Saratoga Springs.

The NYC Ballet is the foremost ballet company in the world and is unique in US artistic history. Solely responsible for training its own artists and creating its own works, the New York City Ballet was the first ballet institution in the world with two permanent homes, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.

If you want to help please email, call, sign the petition or come to the next meeting.

Daily Gazette review of a thrilling October NYCBallet performance and world premiere at Skidmore.

Regional DANCE REVIEW : NYC Ballet, city share the love at Skidmore BY WENDY LIBERATORE For The Daily Gazette SARATOGA SPRINGS — One could say Saturday’s “Saratoga Dances II” was an exercise in mutual admiration. New York City Ballet dancer and resident choreographer Justin Peck offered his homage to Saratoga Springs in two ballets, one of which was a world premiere. And Saratoga audiences, which have a deep and abiding love for the New York City Ballet, demonstrated their affection by packing the Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College for this rare glimpse of New York City Ballet dancers outside of the summer months. And the dancers, and choreographers, satisfied the off-season craving with a varied program: George Balanchine’s “Apollo,” with Ask La Cour as the young god, was followed in the second half by the two Peck tributes to Saratoga Springs. The evening also featured a divine work by the chairwoman of Skidmore College’s dance department, Debra Fernandez. Finally, live music was finely played by the Hyperion String Quartet for both Fernandez’ “Swan Song” and Peck’s ballet from “Saratoga Dances I,” “The Enormous Room.” But first and foremost, there was the world premiere — Peck’s “Yaddo Shadow.” This work, as in Peck’s “Enormous Room,” refl ected upon the life of an artist — in this case, in the studio. This duet, with Daniel Applebaum and Ashley Isaacs, has the two appearing in rehearsal — Applebaum, the choreographer who winds up Isaacs, and Isaacs, the dutiful dancer. To Nico Muhly’s “Quiet Music,” Isaacs was putty in the hands of Applebaum, but their relationship was oddly cool. She was his instrument — but hardly his muse. As he stood back and watched her dance his steps, he looks bemused but not impassioned. Of course, it was unclear if this was Peck’s intention. If so, this was an unfl attering portrait of a dance maker. The work was brief, however, and if felt like Peck could delve deeper into the theme of artist and his medium. Likely, he will. Certainly, he polished his “Enormous Room,” to music by Mendelssohn. Danced by the wonderful La Cour with Applebaum and Teresa Reichlen, the dance clearly juxtaposed the wild abandon with constraint. Peck said it points to his sentiments about Saratoga Springs, where he feels free, and New York City, where he does not. Fernandez’s “Swan Song” was a beauty. Featuring the New York City Ballet’s Abi Stafford and Andrew Scordata, along with Skidmore student dancers Alison DeFranco and Victoria Stroker, the dance brought into play the large windows at the back of the stage to a marvelous and mysterious effect. Stafford sat and looked out onto the trees, where Scordata lurked and eventually drew her out. To music by Richard Danielpour, “Swan Song” was both surprising and magical. Finally, the evening opened with Balanchine’s iconic “Apollo.” LaCour, who does not dance the role for the New York City Ballet, took on the god of the muses with a romantic artistry not seen before. The women were terrifi c.

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next meeting to save the new york city ballet at spac, 10/25.

 

The next meeting to save the new york city ballet at spac will be Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 7PM.

 

Location is 55 Railroad Place, apartment 414 in the

new Price Chopper building. Ring #414 and press the green bell symbol and take the elevator to the 4th floor.  Building entrance is at corner of Railroad Place and Division St.   One week of the greatest ballet company in the world is not enough.  Bring your good ideas for ways to raise lots of money.
for more information: email: vicpool@aol.com
                                    call:   518-683-8476

oh, how we miss the morning light at Victoria Pool already.

"gone with the wind" sunset on Railroad Place" Saratoga.

Saratoga one of the "super cool" cities......with the best pool anywhere.

e talking about, or will be Saratoga one of `super cool’ cities: site September 26, 2012 at 10:58 am by Mark McGuire Comments(8) | E-mail | Print Broadway and Washington Street in Saratoga Springs. (Times Union Archives) Saratoga Springs is pretty cool. The track, Broadway, SPAC in the summer, the Victorian homes. Yeah, pretty cool. But “super cool”? A new website dedicated to highlight communities as ideal to travel or move to named five dozen “super cool” cities around the world. Making the list: Saratoga Springs. “Saratoga Springs is a natural to be on any list of the world’s super cool communities,” said Andy Brack of Charleston, S.C., founder of TravelorMove.com. “With its sporting culture, cozy village atmosphere and outstanding quality of life, it’s no wonder Saratoga Springs ranked high on our list.” “Travel & Leisure magazine says Saratoga Springs is one of America’s greatest Main Streets: ‘Historic Broadway Avenue looks like a Main Street on steroids, with grand buildings of Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival styles. It feels almost heroic in scale, but when crowds fill the streets to browse and nosh, it takes on a more accessible feel.’” Using the definition you deem best, what is the most “cool” community within an hour or so of Albany? Saratoga Springs (66%, 146 Votes) Other (14%, 30 Votes) Woodstock (9%, 20 Votes) Albany (6%, 13 Votes) Great Barrington, Mass. (5%, 11 Votes) Total Voters: 220 Loading ... Comments(8) | E-mail | Print Posted in General | 8 Comments We Recommend You might like: Adirondack cafe owner dies after motorcycle crash (Times Union News) State IT workers are being consolidated (Capitol Confidential) Woman found unconscious under NY overpass dies (Times Union News) And the band played on: Drummer dies mid-song (this site) San Diego dog walker kills attacking pit bull (Times Union) Fitness: Working out with your spouse can be healthy for your… (this site) From Around the Web Selected for you by our sponsor: 'Bigfoot' Killed by Car in Montana Baffles Even Police (CafeMom) Six Essential Black-and-White Watches (Departures.com) Photography: Creepy Places (Away.com) Tiny Houses: Living Large in a Small Space (DIY Network) The 10 Innovations That Changed Architecture Forever (Condé Nast Traveler) [Sponsored links] steelwheels says: September 26, 2012 at 12:43 pm Saratoga feels like it tries very hard to cultivate exactly the image reflected in this ranking. If you have to try to be cool, you’re not. I spent a weekend in Rhinebeck a couple of years ago and remembered thinking, “This is what Saratoga thinks it is.” It was graceful, laid-back, welcoming and interesting, and not a chain store to be found. In other words, it was authentically cool. Hal Jordan says: September 26, 2012 at 1:03 pm If other cities want to get on this cool list they better take up smoking. Virginia Fields says: September 26, 2012 at 3:05 pm Saratoga is a beautiful town and does not even have to try to be cool. It already is and has been. Walking the streets of Saratoga Springs is one of my favorite all time things to do. Chad9976 says: September 26, 2012 at 3:21 pm How could Cooperstown not make the list?! Baseball Hall of Fame AND Ommegang brewery! Mark McGuire says: September 26, 2012 at 3:25 pm @Chad: Atop my personal cool places list. Kathy says: September 26, 2012 at 9:51 pm I love Rhinebeck and agree with #1. Love Terrapin and the other cool restaurants. Saratoga may be cool to visit but it gets a “meh” for living here. Same old same old and Broadway gets sleepier every year. RJ, the One & Only says: September 27, 2012 at 6:31 am Saranac Lake is very cool. Seriously, you need a sweater. KGB says: September 27, 2012 at 3:56 pm I’m a huge Saratoga fan so it gets my vote, but I would add Hudson NY as a strong “Other” candidate. RSS feed for comments on this post. Post a Comment Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Note: All comments are read and approved before they display. Comments with profanity or personal attacks will be rejected. CD Rates That Don't Stink Click to see which bank takes 1st place for 1, 2, 3 & 5 yr CD Rates. RateFinder.org/Top-CD-Rates Albany Medical College Advance Your Career with Medical College Degree. Financial Aid OK! AcceleratedDegree.com/College Albany Medical College Get your degree online faster than you think. Financial Aid Available. University-College.com/Medical Ads by Yahoo!

the letter below has been posted on: savethenycballet.wordpress.com

Sep25

Save the New York City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center!
Marcia White and the Hon. Susan Read need to go from SPAC immediately!
Saratoga Springs and the Capital District want the New York City Ballet at its Summer Home at SPAC for 3 weeks, NOT 5 Days which is the current plan of SPAC.
SPAC was conceived and built as the permanent summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
******************************************************
Marcia White, President(for life) of SPAC and the Honorable Susan Read, President of the SPAC Board(who cannot fundraise because she is a judge) are dumping the New York City Ballet. Fundraising is the main job of any board of directors.
Saratoga Springs, New York prides itself on being the most fabulous city between Manhattan and Montreal. It has top notch culture, history, horses, architecture, springs, restaurants, shops, hotels, education, parks, pools and a downtown second only to Madison Ave., 180 miles to the South in New York City.
The unique and successful flavor of Saratoga Springs is a result having the very best of everything. The New York City Ballet is simply the best ballet company in the world. It is the only ballet company in the USA with a permanent summer home since 1966 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Mr. George Balanchine, the greatest choreographer of all time, who founded the New York City Ballet was the reason SPAC was built. The New York City Ballet has a world class orchestra. There is no other ballet company in the world that can compare, and Saratoga Springs is the richer in every way to have been chosen as its summer home. A whole ballet industry has grown up in Saratoga and the Capital District because of this company.
Except for a much appreciated Resolution from the Saratoga Springs City Council supporting the NYC Ballet several week residency at SPAC, Saratogians have mostly been silent? Where is the outrage of the business community, the Chamber of Commerce, the Real Estate moguls and Bankers, and the huge dance industry that has sprung up because the NYC Ballet has always been in residence?
If Saratoga’s racetrack shut down the screaming would be deafening and the money to keep it going would instantly start pouring in like an avalanche from the state.
If the dancers, musicians and choreographers leave Saratoga, we will all be the poorer-in mind, body and spirit. The loss to businesses, real estate and many other financial endeavors would be incalculable.
Wake up Saratoga! Save the New York City Ballet or you WILL regret it.

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Missing our pool on the first day of fall.

times union editorial by Bray to save SPAC.

Bray: SPAC needs new advocatesPAUL BRAY Published 9:06 p.m., Thursday, September 13, 2012
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Larger SmallerPrintable VersionEmail This Georgia (default) Verdana Times New Roman ArialFontPage 1 of 1The Saratoga Performing Arts Center was created to be a world-class facility for the classical arts. Duane LaFleche, an editor of Albany's former Knickerbocker News, was a visionary who helped establish SPAC in the 1960s. He said it would be our region's Tanglewood, only better.That meant having the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra for four-week summer residencies. SPAC itself was to have a sloping lawn that provided better visual sight lines to the stage than the Tanglewood lawn.Tanglewood emerged from a soggy farm in the Berkshires to go after visions like those of Serge Koussevitzky, former conductor of the Boston Symphony. His Tanglewood vision was to have "radiation of the beams of high culture over a nation and the whole world," according to a New Yorker magazine article last month.***SPAC made its home in the beautiful Saratoga State Park, but it has not radiated visions of high culture. The New York City Opera only lasted at SPAC from 1986 to 1997.The Philadelphia Orchestra's season is now three weeks. The New York City Ballet is swan diving from its original four-week residency to just a modest five-day visit next year.When the ballet was here for four weeks, company members made their home in Saratoga Springs. Dancers could be seen at places in the community.The current situation brings back memories of 2005, when former SPAC president Herb Chesbrough tried to end the ballet's residency. That was a step too far for Saratoga and the region, and Chesbrough was let go. Thankfully, a grass-roots group, Save Our SPAC, has formed again to save the ballet. (Http://savethenycballet.wordpress.com).There are steps to be taken to realize Duane LaFleche's vision and save the classical arts at SPAC.First, any entity dedicated to the classical arts needs an artistic director with charisma, imagination and organizational flair to highlight and excite people from near and far about the superb ballet and orchestra. SPAC, alas, has no artistic director.SPAC's current leader, Marcia White, previously was a nurse and a legislative employee. Her predecessor as president was a comptroller. Neither was close to being an artistic director.***The recent appointment of Judge Susan Phillips Read of the state Court of Appeals as chair of the SPAC board is another mistake. Judge Read got the OK to take that position on the condition she would not do any fundraising. Yet that's the primary responsibility of boards of nonprofit arts organizations. To have a chair who must recuse herself from fundraising activity, as personally committed to SPAC as she may be, makes no sense.While SPAC may be the "summer place to be" and relatively close to New York City, Boston and Montreal, its leadership has done a woefully poor job of attracting audience and wealthy patrons from these areas.Creating a world-class, high-tech economy depends on being home to all kinds of excellence like a residency of the New York City Ballet. Yet, local funding is not adequate for excellence.Times Union editor Rex Smith quoted White as saying, "How much more can you ask people to give?"Leaders of successful artistic and education institutions don't think like White. They never hold back from asking donors or potential donors for more.Finally, SPAC should move beyond its reliance on Live Nation, which besieges SPAC with live rock concerts. It needs to connect the classical arts with assets of Saratoga Springs — like the racetrack, which according to a recent New York Times article, makes Saratoga Springs give Manhattan "chase as a city that never sleeps."The article pointed out "the magnetism of the track is what brings all these people here, whether they go to play the horses or just experience the atmosphere."Why can't SPAC take advantage of that magnetism?We need another advocate like Duane LaFleche, who got me and many others — including then-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller — excited about having the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra perform in Saratoga.Paul M. Bray was the founding president of the Albany Roundtable civic lunch forum. His e-mail is Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Bray-SPAC-needs-new-advocates-3864097.php#ixzz26RoExVDY

Missing the wonderful Victoria Pool already.

Labor Day 2012

Labor Day brought great farewell weather for our annual luncheon.

Last call for Victoria Pool bring-a-dish Labor Day Lunch.

Monday, Labor Day, September 3, 2012. Come one come all.

The real Victoria Pool appears.

yes, folks, yesterday this beautiful little girl whose name is Victoria Pool came to our pool and was totally suprised they have the same name. Victoria hails from Massachusetts and is 9 mos. old and a true beauty like her pool.