Minutes from the September 11th and October 9th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Zimfest News Blog
Zimfest Association News
Important Zimfest Board Recruitment Message
Dear Zimfest Community,
Every month, the Zimfest Association Board meets to make decisions for our organization, and minutes from these meetings are posted to this blog. Although the board’s work is less visible at times than that of the annual organizing committee, it has the important role of creating policy for Zimfest, and guiding the festival into the future.
In the past, we have reached out to recruit new members, but this time I am writing with a more urgent request for new board members. As of right now, the board consists of 8 members, the minimum required per the rules for 501(c)(3) nonprofits incorporated in the state of Washington.
Several members of the board are leaving in the near future, due to family commitments, and we need to recruit more board members to fulfill this requirement. Furthermore, maintaining a range of tenures on the board, from new to old, is important for a healthy and sustainable organization.
As a board member, you would be expected to attend monthly meetings by Zoom at 6:30 pm Pacific time on the second Sunday of every month, and additionally take on tasks as required between board meetings. There is no formal tenure for board members, but in general we request a commitment to serve for 2 years, to be renewed as long as you have the energy to serve. More information can be found here.
If you are interested in serving as a board member, please reach out to , or me directly at . I’m also happy to schedule a phone call to go into more details, and answer any questions that you have.
Thank you,
Alex Weeks
Zimfest Association President
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
August Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the August 14th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
May and June Board Meeting and Village Meeting Minutes
The Zimfest Association board of directors has posted minutes from the May 8th and June 12th board meetings and this year’s Village Meeting.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
April Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the April 10th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
Membership Hint
A quickie, folks.
In this first year of using the new membership system, ALL members are considered new, even if you had a membership in the old system. So register as a new member, do not try to renew.
Claire and Daniel
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
2 Comments
March Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the March 13th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
January and February Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the January 9th and February 13th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
December Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the December 12th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
New Membership System
Dear Zimfest Association members and friends,
Once again, we find ourselves at the end of a trying year, but the holidays are upon us and with them comes the Zimfest Association’s annual campaign and membership drive! We want to continue to grow the festival and provide the best experience we can, and here are some ways that you can help.
Become a Member
Thanks to the hard work of the Zimfest Tech Committee, becoming a member is now even easier! Simply go to https://zimfest.org/about/membership/. From there, you can become a member, renew a membership, or verify your membership status by plugging in your email address. We are excited to announce that there is finally an option to auto-renew, which defaults to “yes.” Simply uncheck this box if you do not wish to auto-renew. Previously, memberships went by calendar year, but now the renewal date will be 1 year after the purchase date.
We are also pleased to announce that all Zimfest Association members will not only have their festival registration fees waived as before, but will also have early access to register for all the workshops at the festival! This additional membership perk comes with the decision to raise our membership prices for the first time in well over a decade, or maybe ever. We hope you will decide to take the plunge this year and become a member!
Provide Charitable Donations
Perhaps you’re already a member, but you want to know how you can help out even more? Consider a tax-deductible donation! While membership dues are a significant contributor to our community, your donations continue to be essential. Your money goes straight to things like paying travel expenses for Zimbabwean teachers, paying teachers for performances and workshops, our travel fellowship program for Zimbabwean artists, and most recently, things like paying for studio space and recording equipment for Zimfest Online. To donate, go to the Support Zimfest page.
Other Ways to Contribute
As you’re finishing up your holiday shopping, remember that when you shop on Amazon, you can support Zimfest by choosing the Zimfest Association as the organization you would like to receive 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases (see https://zimfest.org/blog/2014/support-zimfest-when-you-shop-at-amazon-com/). Also, if you’re selling stuff on eBay, you can choose to donate a percentage of the final sales price to the Zimfest Association. See https://charity.ebay.com/charity/i/Zimfest-Association/85993 for more information.
Finally, if your company supports matching donations, find out from your supervisor or Human Resources department how your company can match your contributions!
Whatever you’re celebrating this year, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and we’re crossing our fingers that we will finally see each other again next year!
Warmly,
The Zimfest Board
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
Zimfest 2022 Announcement
Dear Zimfest Community,
It is with great excitement that I am writing to announce the location and dates for Zimfest 2022, which we plan to hold in-person!.
At this point, I need to stress that we will not be able to move forward without additional help on the Organizing Committee, and many more onsite volunteers. Please see the information below to learn how you can make this festival happen.
Zimfest is scheduled to be held June 24-26, 2022 (Friday-Sunday; possibly also Monday), at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, in Mount Vernon, WA. Evening concerts will be held at the classic Lincoln Theatre, a 10 minute walk away.
Being approximately 1 hour north of Seattle, 30 minutes south of Bellingham, and 1.5 hours from Whidbey Island, Mount Vernon is located at the heart of the Washington State Zimfest community and also has ready access to major airports for those traveling from farther away.
We are still early in the planning process, and with the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects of the festival remain uncertain. The board has formed a COVID Safety Committee to make additional recommendations for the Festival, which is likely to include proof of vaccination, and universal masking at all Zimfest events in addition to following local and state guidelines/mandates in place at the time of the Festival.
Finally, I want to thank Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator, and the small group of volunteers who have already stepped up to serve on the 2022 Organizing Committee. This year will require more volunteer involvement during the planning stages due to some unique aspects of the venue.
If you want Zimfest 2022 to move forwards, please contact Claire Jones (claire[at]zimfest[dot]org), or volunteers[at]zimfest[dot]org as soon as possible to learn more about how you can help. The Organizing Committee meets by Zoom, so both local and more distant volunteers are welcome.
We need you to make Zimfest 2022 a success!
Sincerely,
Alex Weeks
Zimfest Association Board President
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
2 Comments
Village Meeting and November Board Meeting Minutes
The Zimfest Association board of directors has posted minutes from the August 1st Membership/Village Meeting and the November 14th board meeting.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
Important Zimfest Board Recruitment Message
Dear Zimfest Community,
Every month, the Zimfest Association Board meets to make decisions for our organization, and minutes from these meetings are posted to this blog. Although the board’s work is less visible at times than that of the annual organizing committee, it has the important role of creating policy for Zimfest, and guiding the festival into the future.
In the past, we have reached out to recruit new members, but this time I am writing with a more urgent request for new board members. As of right now, the board consists of 8 members, the minimum required per the rules for 501(c)(3) nonprofits incorporated in the state of Washington.
Several members of the board are leaving in the near future, due to family commitments, and we need to recruit more board members to fulfill this requirement. Furthermore, maintaining a range of tenures on the board, from new to old, is important for a healthy and sustainable organization.
As a board member, you would be expected to attend monthly meetings by Zoom at 6:30 pm Pacific time on the second Sunday of every month, and additionally take on tasks as required between board meetings. There is no formal tenure for board members, but in general we request a commitment to serve for 2 years, to be renewed as long as you have the energy to serve. More information can be found here.
If you are interested in serving as a board member, please reach out to , or me directly at . I’m also happy to schedule a phone call to go into more details, and answer any questions that you have.
Thank you,
Alex Weeks
Zimfest Association President
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
August Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the August 14th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
May and June Board Meeting and Village Meeting Minutes
The Zimfest Association board of directors has posted minutes from the May 8th and June 12th board meetings and this year’s Village Meeting.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
April Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the April 10th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
Membership Hint
A quickie, folks.
In this first year of using the new membership system, ALL members are considered new, even if you had a membership in the old system. So register as a new member, do not try to renew.
Claire and Daniel
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
2 Comments
March Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the March 13th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
January and February Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the January 9th and February 13th meetings of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
December Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the December 12th meeting of the Zimfest Association board of directors have been posted.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
New Membership System
Dear Zimfest Association members and friends,
Once again, we find ourselves at the end of a trying year, but the holidays are upon us and with them comes the Zimfest Association’s annual campaign and membership drive! We want to continue to grow the festival and provide the best experience we can, and here are some ways that you can help.
Become a Member
Thanks to the hard work of the Zimfest Tech Committee, becoming a member is now even easier! Simply go to https://zimfest.org/about/membership/. From there, you can become a member, renew a membership, or verify your membership status by plugging in your email address. We are excited to announce that there is finally an option to auto-renew, which defaults to “yes.” Simply uncheck this box if you do not wish to auto-renew. Previously, memberships went by calendar year, but now the renewal date will be 1 year after the purchase date.
We are also pleased to announce that all Zimfest Association members will not only have their festival registration fees waived as before, but will also have early access to register for all the workshops at the festival! This additional membership perk comes with the decision to raise our membership prices for the first time in well over a decade, or maybe ever. We hope you will decide to take the plunge this year and become a member!
Provide Charitable Donations
Perhaps you’re already a member, but you want to know how you can help out even more? Consider a tax-deductible donation! While membership dues are a significant contributor to our community, your donations continue to be essential. Your money goes straight to things like paying travel expenses for Zimbabwean teachers, paying teachers for performances and workshops, our travel fellowship program for Zimbabwean artists, and most recently, things like paying for studio space and recording equipment for Zimfest Online. To donate, go to the Support Zimfest page.
Other Ways to Contribute
As you’re finishing up your holiday shopping, remember that when you shop on Amazon, you can support Zimfest by choosing the Zimfest Association as the organization you would like to receive 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases (see https://zimfest.org/blog/2014/support-zimfest-when-you-shop-at-amazon-com/). Also, if you’re selling stuff on eBay, you can choose to donate a percentage of the final sales price to the Zimfest Association. See https://charity.ebay.com/charity/i/Zimfest-Association/85993 for more information.
Finally, if your company supports matching donations, find out from your supervisor or Human Resources department how your company can match your contributions!
Whatever you’re celebrating this year, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and we’re crossing our fingers that we will finally see each other again next year!
Warmly,
The Zimfest Board
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
Zimfest 2022 Announcement
Dear Zimfest Community,
It is with great excitement that I am writing to announce the location and dates for Zimfest 2022, which we plan to hold in-person!.
At this point, I need to stress that we will not be able to move forward without additional help on the Organizing Committee, and many more onsite volunteers. Please see the information below to learn how you can make this festival happen.
Zimfest is scheduled to be held June 24-26, 2022 (Friday-Sunday; possibly also Monday), at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, in Mount Vernon, WA. Evening concerts will be held at the classic Lincoln Theatre, a 10 minute walk away.
Being approximately 1 hour north of Seattle, 30 minutes south of Bellingham, and 1.5 hours from Whidbey Island, Mount Vernon is located at the heart of the Washington State Zimfest community and also has ready access to major airports for those traveling from farther away.
We are still early in the planning process, and with the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects of the festival remain uncertain. The board has formed a COVID Safety Committee to make additional recommendations for the Festival, which is likely to include proof of vaccination, and universal masking at all Zimfest events in addition to following local and state guidelines/mandates in place at the time of the Festival.
Finally, I want to thank Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator, and the small group of volunteers who have already stepped up to serve on the 2022 Organizing Committee. This year will require more volunteer involvement during the planning stages due to some unique aspects of the venue.
If you want Zimfest 2022 to move forwards, please contact Claire Jones (claire[at]zimfest[dot]org), or volunteers[at]zimfest[dot]org as soon as possible to learn more about how you can help. The Organizing Committee meets by Zoom, so both local and more distant volunteers are welcome.
We need you to make Zimfest 2022 a success!
Sincerely,
Alex Weeks
Zimfest Association Board President
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
2 Comments
Village Meeting and November Board Meeting Minutes
The Zimfest Association board of directors has posted minutes from the August 1st Membership/Village Meeting and the November 14th board meeting.
Posted In: Zimfest Association News
No Comments
