www.thefolkschoolfairbanks.org

Annual Report 2015

Mission

Toenrichlivesandbuildourcommunitybypassingontraditionalskillsandpersonalknowledgeinclassesthatarehands-on,family-friendly,non-competitive,affordable,andconnectpeopletotheplacestheylive.

GoalsOurprimarygoalsin2015weretoexpandourprogramsandclasses,deepenourrootsinthecommunityandfacilitateastablestaffandboardteam.

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OurTeam

BoardofDirectors(Current):JennaHertz,Co-PresidentLenKamerling,Co-PresidentBruceCampbell-VicePresidentJulieGonneringLein-SecretaryMarianneStolz-TreasurerSusanCampbell-NBGLiasionNatalieOttSchuldtSusanKerndt2015BoardMembers:JohnMantheiJessPenaJohnPierceJesseHenselStaff:KimHanisch,OperationsDirector

January2016-presentLoriHanemann,DevelopmentDirector

May2015-presentMaiaJones,WebMaster

2013-presentSaraHensel,Intern

Summer2015SusanPost,OperationsDirector

March2014-November2015

SuperstarVolunteers:ElaineWilliamsonTerryRobertsJonZasada,Jr.SusanCampbellLarryFogelsonSaraHenselTaberRehabumBrandonMcGrath-BernhardVolunteers:Over100peoplehavevolunteeredtheirtime,energy,andpossessionstousthisyear.Thesecontributionshavemadeeverythingwedopossible.Ourbiggestthankstoyou!

Instructors:Toomanytofitonthisbriefreport!Wedeeplyappreciateyourcourageinsharingyourtalentsandknowledge.

2015inNumbers

700+StudentsEngaged150+Members88ClassesTaught45Instructors

22ofourInstructorswerenewin2015

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OrganizationalImprovementsPlanning-InOctober,TheFolkSchoolheldourfirststaff/boardretreat.WewerefortunatetohaveJonZasadaJrandTaberRehbaumfacilitateourcreationofacohesivevisionforourfutureandasolidannualoperatingplan.Staff-Inthesummerof2015,wemadethegreatmovetohireLoriHanemannasour1stDevelopmentDirector.Loriworkstomovetheschoolforward,makingnewrelationshipsinourcommunity,seekingfundingsources,andcultivatingnewinstructors.SusanPostcontinuedherfantasticworkofstreamlining,improvingandcreatingnewsystemstoallowtheschooltofunctionandflourish.Herattentiontodetail,glowingpersonality,andtirelessworkethichasbeencriticaltotheprogresstheschoolhasachieved.Shesetahighstandardthatwehopetoemulatemovingforward.SharingOurSpace-Weaddedpartnerstoourbuilding.Inthewinter,theNorthwoodsBookArtsGuild(NBG)movedintoourup-stairsbedroomspace.NBGisacommunityofartistsactivelylearningaboutandcreat-ingartistbooksinFairbanks,Alaska.TheGuildpromotesallaspectsofbookartsthrougheducation,participationinexhibi-tions,andcommunityoutreach.Theirsum-merprogrammeetings,“OpenBook”studiosessions,andnearlyalloftheirworkshopsareheldattheFolkSchool.Theyhaveava-rietyofbookmakingsuppliesandmaterialsforsaleintheirstudioshop.Checkouttheirwebsitetofindoutmore:nwbookarts.org.Inthefall,theAlaskaSongbirdInstitute(ASI)movedintoourbasement.Thisgroupworksontheconservationofborealsong-birdsthroughecologicaleducationandre-search.ASIoperatestwo-longtermresearch

andeducationprograms,thesongbirdband-ingstationonCreamer'sFieldandaswallowecologystudythroughoutFairbanks.FormoreinformationcontactTriciaBlakeattricia.blake@aksongbird.org.

CouncilofAdvisors-Attheendof2015wecreatedaCouncilofAdvisors.Thepurposeofthisgroupistoprovideanesteemedhon-orarypositionwithintheorganizationtocontinueontheculturalknowledge,connec-tions,andexperienceprovidedbyadiversegroupofchampionsoftheFolkSchoolandtoretaintheirpresenceintheorganization.Currentmembersinclude:JohnManthei,Jes-seHensel,JessPena,JohnPierce,AndyReynolds,andSusanPost.

Volunteers-havealsocontributedinsignificantways-runningourmonthlynewsletter,doingaccountingwork,helpingwithfacilitiesimprovements,fundraising,doingoutreach,hostingeventsandkeepingusgoing.

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NewProgramsUpwardBoundPartnershipInJunetheFolkSchoolpartneredwithUAF’sUpwardBoundprogram.ThisprogramtakeshighschoolagestudentsfromruralAlaskaVillagesandbringsthemtoFairbanksforanintensivesummerprogramwiththegoalofhelpingthemtransitionintoasuccessfulcollegecareer.AvarietyofFolkSchoolinstructorsand15UpwardBoundstudentsworkedcollaborativelytomakebirchbarkcontainers,shrinkboxes,woodenspoons,willowrattlesandfrictionfires.AccordingtoJohnManthei,therewas“lotsofstorytelling,goodconversation,laughingandsomewhatlessthanaboxofbandagesused.”Welookforwardtoanexpandedversionofthisgreatprogramin2016.

SavorWildAlaskaWeekAttheendofAugust,theFolkSchool,TananaValleyWatershedAssociation,U.S.FishandWildlifeService,andotherpartnerscreatedaweekofhands-oneducationalclassesallaboutsafeandsustainablewaystoharvestfoodfromourwildAlaskanbackyard.Weheld10classesrangingfromfreelecturesonpoisonousplantstoshortcoursesonbutchering,renderingfats,cuttingandsmokingfish,cookingwithberries,wildplantsandevenfermentation!TheweekculminatedwithaSavorWildAlaskaPotluckFeastintheFolkSchool’sbackyard.

AllThingsBoats:2015wasagoodyearfortheAllThingsBoatsprogramatTFS.BeginninginMarch,BruceCampbelltaughtaclassbuildinghomemadelapclampstoemployinlaterbuildingclasses,andlaterinMarchhetaughtaclassonbuildingaShipwright’sToolbox,whichappliedthegluedlapstrakebuildingmethodtoashapelytoolcarrier.InMay,AndyReynoldstaughtacanoeandkayakre-pairclassforplasticandfiberglassboats.TheninlateJulyandearlyAugust,AndyandBruceteameduptoteachaclassthatbuiltaStand-upPaddleboard.InNovemberAndyReynoldstaughtafourtheditionofhisCarv-ingaPaddleclass,followedcloselyinDe-cemberbyapresentationofatalkandscreeningofthefilmCesar’sCanoe,givenbyRandyBrownasanintrotothetechniquestobeusedinhisclassBuildinganAthabaskanbirchbarkcanoe,in½scale.

LetterpressThe Folk School and the Northwoods Book Arts Guild (NBG) have collaborated to refur-bish two Kelsey tabletop letterpresses. One of the presses and 17 drawers of type were donat-ed to NBG by Charlotte Bird, a Fairbanks Artist currently living in California. The other Kelsey press was purchased in the early 1900’s by Bruce Campbell’s grandfather. Bruce, a TFS Board member, brought the press and all its ac-couterments to Fairbanks and has spent count-

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less hours helping NBG members get both presses running. Interest in this traditional craft and the possibilities for creative projects have led to a series of Letterpress classes that are now part of The Folk School class roster.

ModelAthabascanBirchBarkCanoe

DuringtwoweekendsinearlyDecember,agroupoffivestudentsjoinedinstructorsRandyBrownandDavidJonasattheFolkSchooltobuilda9’modelofanAthabascanbirchbarkcanoe.BirchbarkcanoeswerecriticalcomponentsofNativematerialcul-tureininteriorandwesternAlaska.

AthabascanbirchbarkcanoesweredifferentinappearanceandconstructiondetailsthanotherNorthAmericanbirchbarkcanoes;theyhadnarrowbottoms,hardchines,flar-ingsides,widelyspacedribs,abottomframe,andotheruniquefeatures.Thestu-dentsworkedforfourdaysbuildingthemodel,shapingandbendingwood,manipu-latingbirchbarkandspruceroots,andpre-paringandapplyingthesprucepitchsealant,justasonewouldwithafullsizecanoe.ThemodelwillbehousedanddisplayedattheFolkSchool.

EventsInthesummerof2015FolkSchoolinternSaraHenselpioneeredaseriesofweeklypizzapartiescalled“FireweedFriends.”Thesegatheringsfeaturedpizzamakinginourmuch-lovedmudoven,music,andfun.Wehavealsohostedanumberof“friendraising”eventstoraisefunds,celebratetheseasonsandintroducenewpeopletoourcommunity.In2015,theseeventsincluded:OpenHouse,NorthwoodsBookArtsGuildSilentAuction,LocalHarvestFeast,Spookytown,HalloweenHauntedPath,ChristmasCarolingandCookies,Librarydisplayandmore.Inthesummer,weparticipatedintheTananaValleyFamer’sMarketBoothandinthefallweranasuccessfulboothattheirHolidayBazaar.

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FinancialsTheFolkSchoolgrossreceiptsfor2015were$110k,anincreasefromthe$84kin2014,andalmostdoublethe$56kearnedin2013

LookingForward:Whenwelookinto2016wehopetoseeourgrowthandexpansioncontinue.Wewantto:

§ Strengthenandsupportourstaffwithfulltimeand/orsalariedwork.

§ Articulatealong-termstrategicplan.§ Securesustainablefunding.§ Add3newmemberstoourboardof

directors.§ Continueboarddevelopment.

§ Publishaclassesandprogramscatalog.

§ Instituteseasonallydrivenclassthemes.

§ Establishmorerecurringprograms.§ LaunchourFolkSchoolAmbassador

program.§ Hostmorepresentationsand

seasonalevents.§ Attract20newinstructors!

0

50000

100000

150000

2013 2014 2015

FolkSchoolGrossRecieptsOverTime

2015Expenses

InstructorFees FaciliAes Staff Other

Classesand

Programs

DonaAons Other

2015Income§ 65%ofourrevenuecamefromclassandprogramproceeds.

§ 24%comesfromindividualcharitablegivingandlocalbusinesssupport.

§ 11%ofourrevenuecamefromgrants,storesalesetc.

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ThankYouEnMemoriam-WemournthepassingofElaineWilliamson,awonderfulFairbanksanwhogenerouslyhelpedtheFolkSchoolwithtaxes,accountingandfinancialsystemmanagement.Wewillmissherprofessionalismandencouragingpersonality.Sponsors-SponsorgroupsarelocalbusinessesthatgiveTheFolkSchoolover$500incash/year.2015Sponsors(inalphabeticalorder)

• MetropolitanGarage• TheCuttingEdgeandMarkKnapp

CustomKnives• WildRoseSummerCamp

Partners-PartnersarebusinessesandorganizationsthatsupportTheFolkSchoolbyproviding

goods,services,fundingand/orsupporttotheFolkSchool.

2015Partners

1. AChimneySweep2. AlaskaBirchcraft3. AlaskaDept.ofFishandGame4. AlaskaFolkSchool5. AlaskaIndustrialHardware6. AlaskaPublicLandsInformation

Center7. AlaskaSongbirdInstitute8. BillandJenniferKilgore9. CalypsoFarmandEcologyCenter10. CustomWoodworking11. FairbanksPotter’sGuild12. GoldenHeartEmergencyPhysicians13. IronHorseConstruction14. Jon’sMachineShop15. Kohler,Schmitt&Hutchinson,PC16. LarryFogelson17. LenKamerlingandJulieKaufman18. NorthwoodsBookArtsGuild

19. PhilSchad20. PolhavnWoodfabrik21. RachelGarcia22. Samson’sTrueValueHardware23. Saytek24. SpenardBuildingSupply25. SpinachCreekFarm26. StarElectric27. Stonecastle28. StoneyHollowWoodworking29. TailsoftheTrail30. TananaValleyWatershedAssociation31. TheFairbanksPaddlers32. TheForakerGroup33. UniversityCeramic’sDepartment34. ValerieMTherrien,AttorneyatLaw

P.C.35. WaterWagon

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Joinus!

Sharetimeandideas–JoinaCommittee

Staff-BoardDevelopmentCommittee-Thisgroupworkstohireandmanageourgreatemployees,recruitnewboardmembers,strengthenandformalizeboardprocedures,anddevelopavolunteerprogram.Formoreinformationonthiscommittee,contactJennaHertzatJenna.Hertz@gmail.com.ProgramsCommittee-Thisgroupfocusesonstrengtheningexistingprogramsandclassofferingsanddevelopingnewones.Theyareworkingondevelopingayearlycalendarofclasses,seasonallythemedeventsandclasses,marketing,andoutreach.Formoreinformationonthiscommittee,contactNatalieSchuldtattworiversotter@gmail.com.FinancesCommittee–Thisgroupsetstheyearlybudget,doesmonthlyfinancialreviewsandassistswithfundraising.Formoreinformationonthiscommittee,contactMarianneStolzatralfundmarianne@hotmail.com

Youcan:PleaseconsiderMAKINGADONATIONtodaytosupportTheFolkSchool.

• Donateonourwebsite(www.thefolkschoolfairbanks.org)

• Mailyourdonationto:TheFolkSchoolP.O.Box83572Fairbanks,AK99708

• BecomeaMemberwithTheFolkSchool

foroneyearatthefollowingrates:

o $20studentandmilitaryo $35individualo $50family

Youwillhelpsupporttheimportantworkofprovidinglearningopportunitiesforcuriousmindsandactivehandsandpreservingtraditionalskillsthatareevermoreimportantinourchangingworld.