By Tim Leeds
Dee Ann Turck of the Havre Community Concert Association said the membership drive for the next community concert season is nearing the end.
Turck, publicity chairman for the Havre association, said the drive is scheduled to stop at the end of the month, so anyone who wants to purchase or renew a membership needs to do so fairly quickly.
The tickets need to be sold in advance for the shows, because the entire season has to be paid in advance, Turck said. They have to know they have the membership and the commitment to the concerts before setting up the following season.
Turck said the the Community Concert representatives have heard many reasons why people decide not to buy tickets, both from members not renewing or potential members deciding not to join.
One of the reasons, she said, is from the "snowbirds," area people who winter in the south. Turck said that the next season has been designed with that in mind, with concerts in September, November and March.
Turck said a bonus with the Community Concert tickets is that most of the associations have reciprocity agreements. For example, she said, purchasing a Havre ticket also buys admission to concerts in Great Falls, and Great Falls members can attend Havre shows. Turck said if anyone missed the fabulous performance of the Kwon Sisters last fall, they will be performing in Great Falls November 2001.
Turck said people might consider the value a membership has to the community even if the member can't attend all of the shows. She said it is a kind of investment in the community, with the area's image enhanced with the availability of a cultural presence.
Turck said the entire basis of the programs is to allow smaller communities to participate in some higher quality entertainment, such as the Ronnie Kole Trio from New Orleans that performed in the last show of the 2000-2001 season in April.
Turck said the numbers of members has been dropping for the Havre association and that there is a real danger of losing the association if the membership doesn't pick back up.
Memberships for the 2001-2002 season are $30 each, $15 for students and $75 for a ticket covering all of an immediate family. Turck said that people who haven't purchased or renewed their memberships now could call any representative who has contacted them, or call Membership Chair Ruth Carlson at 265-4225.
