President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting. Jerome Brown provided the invocation and Wes Brooks led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Joe Bost thanked A.D. for acting as today’s greeter and thanked Jerome and A.D. for the pledge and prayer. Joe joined us today through Zoom. Lucy Sanguinetti introduced today’s guest speaker via Zoom, Dr. Michael Pinto from Festival South
FestivalSouth costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Sponsorships, donations, and grants help pay some of those expenses making it possible to have inexpensive ticketed events and often free events. The Festival’s economic impact is $1.5 million annually on our local economy.
The Festival has reshaped summers in the Hattiesburg area. FestivalSouth® would have celebrated its 11th anniversary this year but was canceled due to COVID-19. All the lineups were transferred to June 2021.
FestivalSouth began with a small group of individuals who wanted to provide a venue that would celebrate local talents and that could provide entertainment during a period when not much else was happening in Hattiesburg. The first Festival provided 70 events in just two weeks. Next year’s Festival begins on May 31 and ends on June 29. Mike says the events are designed to highlight what we do well in this community.
Thanks to donations, they can stay afloat. They have also relied a lot on live streaming for performances. You can watch these videos on YouTube and Facebook.
Mike informed us how COVID has affected the theatre, dance, and music industry. Those who rely on this as their main source of income, are having a hard time. Mike suggested if you know anyone in the theater or the industry, now would be a good time to call them and just see how they are doing. It means a lot during a time like this.
He also told us how the University of Southern Mississippi has changed the way the orchestras are going to perform. They will no longer gather in the arch position, they will stand 6’ apart, wear a mask, and face forward. Those who play the tuba or any type of horn must have a split in their mask. This is going to create a different sound and will influence the players.
To learn more about the events, donate, purchase tickets, or sign up for a sponsorship, visit Festivalsouth.org or call 601-297-5172.
Mark then asked if anyone was interested in serving on the board. There is a position open since Mallory Donald left. Shane Germany is still looking for someone to take overbooking of the speakers.
There being no further business to come before the club, Mark thanked those who were able to attend today’s meeting and adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”