Email to Bent Lenses Members
4 May 2007
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Proceed to Bent Lenses Website... Dear Community,
We apologise to our members and regular
attendees for the delay in getting up
and running this year. CMAG, our
regular venue, suffered damage as a
result of the hail storm earlier in the
year and don't expect to be operational
again until at least June. Our attempts
to secure an alternative venue have come
to nought.
As you may know, Bent Lenses Inc. has
been screening periodic films each year
since 2000 and has also been running a
Film Festival as part of SpringOUT since
that time. However, this year we find
ourselves at a cross-road regarding the
future of the Association. Some matters
that are challenging us and making us
consider our future are:
·
As each year goes by, the cost - both
financially and time-wise - of running
the Association increases, putting a big
strain on the committee. (Please note
that the Association is currently in a
good financial position.);
·
Within a highly mobile population such
as
Canberra, the turn-over on the
committee is high and on-going, putting
further strain on those remaining;
·
There are limited suitable venues for
hire with a correspondingly high cost
involved; and
· With
the increasing ready availability of
Queer films for hire or purchase, the
sourcing of new / unseen films is
becoming harder.
So, we are contemplating whether it
remains viable to keep the Association
running due to the above. We have given
ourselves until mid May to make a
decision around the group's future.
As part of our deliberations, we are
seeking input from the community on your
interest in seeing Bent Lenses
continue. And if the Association was to
continue, what assistance might be
forthcoming to help with its
continuation.
Your thoughts / comments etc would be
greatly appreciated by Friday, 11 May
2007.
As a consequence of all of the above,
Bent Lenses will have to continue its
current hiatus till mid May, if not
June, depending on community feedback
and venue availability.
If the Association was to continue then
we expect to be resuming monthly
screenings (hopefully) from June, with a
reduced Film Festival in November.
However, should the committee's decision
be to wind up, we have given thought to
holding one last hurrah for members
before closing up shop. Remaining
liabilities will be addressed and any
residual monies will be donated to a
deserving community group or charity.
For your information.
The Bent Lenses Crew
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