UNISTA Elections

UNISTA ELECTIONS

Please read the following statements by the candidates for each UNISTA Board position.  After reading the statements, click on the link at the bottom of the page and vote once for the candidates you believe are the BEST for each position.  Thank you!

My name is Michael Brown and I am running for the position of UNISTA President for the 2010-2011 school year.  I believe I will be an excellent president for UNISTA because I possess both the experience and vision necessary to lead this great organization.

            Throughout this past year I served as technical coordinator for UNISTA.  During my time as technical coordinator I have installed a new website which has proved to be a powerful communication tool for the organization.  Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, I have overseen the use of both UNISTA and Strayer-Wood Theatre technical equipment in a very responsible manner, ensuring that both the equipment and spaces utilized by UNISTA receive the proper care and respect.  If I am honored enough to be elected President I will personally continue these practices as well as impress them upon the new board.  I believe my experience as a board member this year will allow me to begin work immediately next year as the adjustment to a new position will be relatively simple. 

Personally, I believe that vision is at least as important as qualifications, and I have big dreams for UNISTA in the upcoming year.  Large scale productions are essential and must be continued as they provide designers, actors, and directors with unique opportunities.  Next year, however, I want to do more, be it staged readings, workshops, or poetry slams.  UNISTA needs to be a breeding ground for creative dramatic expression and with your input we can accomplish that goal.  The department of theatre seems to grow in numbers and diversity every year and I believe UNISTA is in a perfect position to capitalize on that growth by producing a strong variety of dramatic work.  Next year, if you elect me as President, UNISTA will become one of the best facilitators for your creative impulses and together we will put together an impressive and exciting volume of work.

My name is Melanie Pickard, and I hope to be considered by the students of UNI for the position of UNISTA Vice President for the 2010-2011 academic school year.   I am currently a junior theatre major, and have had the privilege to serve as UNISTA secretary for the 2009-2010 academic year.  I am extremely passionate about UNISTA and the opportunities it offers to young actors, designers, technicians and managers.   I believe my passion for UNISTA and my past experience on the UNISTA board make me a great candidate for UNISTA Vice President.

      My interest in being on the UNISTA board for the 2010-2011 school year stems from my firm belief in what this organization stands for.  The mission statement says it best: “…to produce theatre which offers students of the university opportunities to explore their creative impulses in a non-critical environment.” UNISTA allows student designers to further develop their talent, student actors to explore different roles and gain more experience than they might on the main-stage, and student technicians and managers to expand as well as improve skills necessary for their field.   I know first hand what UNISTA experiences can yield: knowledge, relationships, and opportunities.  It is for these reasons that I am so passionate about this organization and would love the opportunity to continue to serve it as much as it has served me.

       Serving on the UNSITA board for this past school year has educated me greatly about what makes this organization so successful.   It has also allowed me to discover through my own observations and those of others, where improvements can be made.   For instance, it is often the same few individuals who tend to be involved in UNISTA meetings and productions.  I feel as though the group of students being served by UNISTA could be far greater and stretch across artistic disciplines.  Because of this experience, I believe I am extremely qualified to serve on the UNISTA board and provide ideas to ultimately make this organization stronger.

I intend to run for Treasurer in the 2010-2011 school year for the University of Northern Iowa Student Theatre Association (UNISTA). I am very interested in UNISTA and I feel I am qualified for the position.

      My interest in UNISTA started in the fall of 2009 when I tried out for Almost, Maine. Although I was not cast, I did see two performances and was amazed at the acting, the directing, and production of the show. In the winter of 2010, I auditioned for UNISTA’s 10-Minute Play Festival. I am now in rehearsals for the part of “Max” in Andrea Morris’s Coo Coos and Wedding Bells. I am incredibly excited to be working with Amy Garretson and the cast. I feel that UNISTA is the perfect environment for work in theatre outside of main-stage shows.

      I believe that I am qualified for the position of Treasurer within the UNISTA board. I am extremely organized and think that everything has its place. I am good with money and always know what is coming in and going out of my personal bank account. I have the drive that is needed to keep UNISTA strong. I want to help give incoming, as well as present, students the opportunities that UNISTA has provided for me this past year. I am a very social person and would participate in the public interaction that is required to keep a student organization going.

      UNISTA is an amazing organization that provides opportunities to actors, designers, and technicians that would not otherwise be available. I wish to help further this already outstanding group as it provides experience and leadership to the student body of the University of Northern Iowa.

Over the course of my three years in the department, I've had the privilege to coordinate, participate, and assist with several UNISTA performances and events.  This fall, I directed a full length production, Almost, Maine, through UNISTA, and coordinated and produced Comedy Underground, a stand-up comedy event.  I've also directed and acted three time's in UNISTA's 10-Minute Play Festival.  As a direct result of this involvement in UNISTA in a variety of positions, I feel I have experience and knowledge that would translate well as a board member.

As a production director, I dealt very closely with the UNISTA board and the production guidelines, and, as a result, was able to objectively evaluate both where the current guidelines aided the creative process, and where they hindered it. Encouraging the development and success of student theatre is a great passion of mine, and after experiencing first-hand some of the setbacks to this goal, I'm ready to join the board with fresh ideas and perspectives on how to best serve our student body.  Adhering to protocol is absolutely essential to a well-orchestrated student organization; however, there were many times this semester when I noticed process hampering progress in students' work.  As a board member, I would seek to address this issue, making sure that as an organization, we consistently place the quality and success of our members' work as priority over rigidity and blind adherence to code.  If anything we do as a board hinders our members' success, it is the board, not the constituents, who must evaluate and reconsider their position.

My experience as current Treasurer of the Theta Alpha Phi board also makes me ideally suited for the position of UNISTA treasurer.  As TAP Treasurer, I oversee the organization's account, write all the checks, and meticulously track spending in order to best support the organization's charity events and activities.  This experience would carry over into my work as UNISTA treasurer, where I would be able to assume these responsibilities instantly and with little training.  As UNISTA treasurer, I would seek to organize and effeciently manage the finances of the organization in order to best aid teh creation and financial support of student theatre.

I hope to serve with passion, optimism and competency if elected.  Thank you for considering me to represent you on the 2010-2011 UNISTA board.

Dear Student Body,

I believe I am qualified for the position of Secretary and would be an asset to the board.

I am a very organized person and stay on top of my responsibilities.  I am hardly ever late on anything that needs to be turned in or done at a certain time. I take good notes and keep a calendar so I always know what is going on.  I always attend meetings to the best of my ability and I am on time to those meetings.  My experience as UNI USITT Treasurer has taught me the importance of staying very organized and keeping people informed.  This position has also shown me how to work with a board and be collaborative in finding ways to get things done.  With UNISTA I have been and ASM, a Co Lighting Designer, and a light board op.

I have been involved with UNISTA for a couple of years and I think UNISTA is very important to UNI and to this department.  It is important to learn how to do theatre on our own before stepping out into the real world. It is important to try new things and expand our horizons.  I want to be a part of helping this organization grow to its full potential. 

If elected I promise to have the meeting minutes up every week so you stay informed.  All important information will be posted in a timely manner.  I am willing to take on additional responsibilities as needed while still completing my assigned duties.  I will do all I can to help UNISTA grow and support the students in every way I can.

I hope you vote for me to be a part of the UNISTA board.

Mandy Heath

My name is Ryan Decker, next year I will be a junior Theatre Performance major and Music minor.  I am running for UNISTA secretary for the 2010-2011 Season.

The two of the most important qualities I offer the UNISTA board are my leadership abilities and my familiarity in multiple aspects of theatrical production.  Since beginning at UNI, I have held multiple roles on stage at various theatres, have taught theatre workshops for Scouts of America, toiled in actor coaching, directing and assistant directing for Great River Films and two of UNISTA?s annual 10-minute play festivals, and I have gained employment as an Acting Instructor for the Dubuque Art Center.  Backstage, I have experience in various run crews and work in both the scenic and costume studios.  Front of house, I have held multiple positions including Production Manager, House Manager, Marketing Director, Public Relations & Funds Writer, Assistant to the Director of Marketing, and Artist/Graphic Designer.  Many of these experiences have led to my being named Artistic Director of Trainwreck Productions, a non-profit summer theatre company in Dubuque, IA ? one of the most challenging and rewarding positions I have ever been in, and one I have maintained for two seasons.

As UNISTA?s Marketing Director, I?ve worked closely with both the UNISTA board and the design and production team of eight UNISTA productions over the past two years.  During that time, I have become very familiar with UNISTA?s process and procedures.  The experience is something that I believed has greatly prepared me to be an outstanding candidate for the UNISTA board and my exceptional organization and writing skills lend themselves wholly to the position of Secretary.

When I first arrived at UNI, our student theatre association became something that quickly excited me, and our student productions are something that I am very enthusiastic and proud of.  Theatre is what I am most passionate about, and that passion is something I want to share with everyone.  Please vote for me, Ryan Decker, as UNISTA?s next secretary.   I would greatly appreciate the privilege to be part of the resourceful and creative team that will continue to provide meaningful, quality, and enjoyable theatre experiences to UNI student. 

      My name is Stephanie Wessels and I am a second year Theatre major emphasizing in Design and Production and with a minor in Marketing. I am interested in obtaining the position of Technical Coordinator for the 2010-2011 school year.  

      Since my freshman year UNISTA has allowed me to express myself artistically through different positions during their seasons. My first experience was Assistant Lighting Designer for The Shape of Things in the fall of 2008, where I was given the opportunity to explore the world of lighting design with the guidance of Aaron Mayer. My involvement with UNISTA continued with being the Lighting Designer for Dog Sees God along with Sound Designing “A Night of Miracles” in the spring of 2009. UNISTA has given me multiple opportunities to get involved technically as well as the chance to be on-stage this year with my role in Almost, Maine.  

      I believe that my four semesters at UNI have assisted me with becoming qualified to take on the position of Technical Coordinator. My first semester I took Stagecraft: Scenery and Lights and worked in the shop to fulfill my 40 hours of lab work along with weekend work calls and hangs and focuses providing me with a foundation in the theatre. Second semester I became a Technical Assistant in the Scenic Studio and my practicum assignment consisted of working with Michael Brown as the Assistant Master Electrician for Hollywood/Ukraine. I also assisted Ronnie Wells with scenic painting for Hollywood/Ukraine and Eurydice which provided me with a wealth of experience and growth as a person to learn time management and going through new processes. This year I have continued my Technical Assistant position in the shop as well as being involved with electrics. I am interested in continuing my knowledge in all technical areas of theatre as well as learning from others.  

    UNISTA has done so much for me during my time at UNI through giving me chances to explore my creative abilities. I am looking
forward to giving back through holding the position of Technical Coordinator in the year to come. I hope that I will be able to use my knowledge and excitement to assist such a strong organization in allowing the future support of theatre artists in and out of our department.

Dear Student Body,

I believe I am qualified for the position of Technical Coordinator, and the best person for the job. 

I have years of experience to draw on.  I have worked as a TA in the scenic studio for 2 years and plan to continue my employment next year.  As a TA I help others learn how to increase their knowledge and skills with tools and construction. 

I have taken all of the design classes, so I understand what designers need. And I know how to budget, both through my class work, and my time as UNI USITT’s Treasurer.

This summer I will be working at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, where I hope to increase my knowledge and skills and bring them back to share with students here.

I have also worked on almost every electrics crew during my time at UNI including 3 Master Electrician positions.  I am confident and comfortable with anything scenic or lighting that would come up during a UNISTA show. 

With UNISTA I have been and ASM, a Co Lighting Designer, and a light board op.  

If elected I promise to always be on top of all of my UNISTA duties.  I am very dedicated to projects I am working on and would give my all to every UNISTA show or opportunity.  I will help with making sure things stay updated and the students stay informed.  I promise to always be a collaborator and take everyone’s ideas into account. I also promise to always look for new and exciting ways to do shows and get more people involved.   

I love UNISTA and everything it stands for. I think that providing the opportunity for people to take their art to the next level is very important at UNI, and something we are privileged to have. It should be an open environment for creativity and development. I want to be part of helping this organization continue to grow and affect people’s lives.  And I hope you vote for me to be Technical Coordinator.  

Click the link below to access the ballot.