Tom Szalay with new Town of Oliver CAO Heidi Frank.

Frank started August 18th but she was in town for a couple of days with present Town Manager Szalay – touring the assets of the corporation.

Frank comes to Oliver after serving as District Manager in Sicamous.

She has family living in this area and has spent a fair amount of time recently touring the community.

Tom Szalay was hired in 1990 – 24 years ago, 8 general elections ago and seven mayors ago.

Szalay – born and raised in Oliver

• · Graduated SOSS class of 1976
• · UBC 1976 to 1981 – Bachelor of Applied Science
• · Professional Engineer
• · City of Vancouver Engineering Department 1981 to 1990
• · Left City of Vancouver to take current position in Oliver in May 1990
• . Married to Louise with 4 grown up children.

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Mayor Ron Hovanes:

Note that Tom is retiring from his position with the town of his own accord. and has very much been a valued employee of the town for over twenty years. It is a testament to his talents and work ethic that he has spent most of his municipal career right here. Oliver has much to be proud of in its development and Tom has had a hand in most of it. We are recognized as having some of the best practices anywhere for running a small community. Our twinned water system is envied by many and we reclaim 100% of our waste water while many communities return their waste water back into local water sources. All of our development, park improvement and our infrastructure has been built with support of our municipal manager.

Tom has been respected by successive council’s, his peers, contractors, developers and by all professionals that he needs to do business with on a daily basis. Oliver truly has benefitted from having Tom’s skills to rely on year after year.

I have enjoyed working with Tom with four separate councils.

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Frank Venables Theatre opens to rave reviews. Referendum to operate it passes with 75% approval

The Frank Venables Theatre is practical, big, cat walks, practice hall, make up studios, huge stage, great sound and lighting equipment, elevator, and accessible but to dazzle the senses nothing beats the Foyer area with a view beyond compare anywhere in the valley.

Oliver should be very proud.

All answers given by Wendy Newman

What group is running the Frank Venables Theatre?

Answer: The Society is called the Oliver Community Theatre Society.

Who are the Society Directors and Members?

Answer: Jack Frank, Wendy Newman, Bob Park, Christine Rothwell, Carol Sheridan, and Midge Wyse.

How many Directors and Members?

Answer:  Our very first AGM (and therefore the first board elections) will be in the spring of 2015 and we intend to have an expanded membership by that time.

How many salaried Members, Managers and Secretaries?

Answer: The Society Act of BC does not allow members of the board of any Society to be paid for the work they do – so all six board members are volunteers. We have hired an Interim Theatre Manager who is working part-time – 3 days per week – and is currently on contract until mid December. Theatre technicians are engaged to run sound and light — some are volunteers and a few are paid an hourly wage by the user groups. All ushers, ticket-takers etc. are volunteers.

Our Interim Theatre Manager is the only paid position. We hope to hire one full-time Theatre Manager, who would be the only paid staff member for the Theatre.

How many people in the membership?

Answer: As a new Society, incorporated in April of this year, we followed the Society Act on the process of our formation. This means that the six founding members of the Society become the Board of Directors. None were “appointed” by any other agency, though the current Regional Director, Mayor and Council and School District Superintendent and Secretary Treasurer suggested names and all vetted the list of individuals proposed.

Selection Criteria:

Looking for up to eight individuals with a mix of the following skills, experiences and expertise:
Expressed interest/passion for the performing arts as an artist and/or audience member
Experience with not-for-profit organizations as an active volunteer, director, or member of staff
Background in marketing, business, entrepreneurship, legal, financial, or arts and entertainment which would contribute to the leadership team needed to animate and operate a vibrant community theatre
Familiarity with communities in the South Okanagan, especially the Town and District of Oliver
Knowledge of local affairs, especially school/School Board/Town/RDOS relationships
Demonstrated financial development and leadership skills
Willingness to volunteer

How many of the Society Members live in or represent the Rural Area C and how many live in or represent the Town?

Answer: Three live in the Rural Area C, two live in Town and one lives in Osoyoos.

Will the Area C RDOS Director and Town Mayor be automatic ex-officio members?

Answer: No. There are no ex-officio members in the Society’s bylaws.

What is the society membership criteria or can anybody join?

If the Society is in the position to continue to manage the Theatre we would open up the membership. Though we have yet to set down the criteria, it would likely be something like anybody living within the Town, RDOS Area C and the boundaries of School District #53 could join. We have not yet set a membership fee.

Do many or any current members have any proven Community business management experience and what is the projected annual budget?

Answer: The members of the Board have a mix of backgrounds – there is a lawyer, a businesswoman, a recreation manager, an arts manager along with two teachers — one teaches drama the other taught band.