Citizens to form non-profit for Humota


Wednesday afternoon was the final merchant movie of the season at the Humota. The tradition during the holiday season and in the summer is something that can hopefully be continued after the theatre changes ownership. Humboldt Independent photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
Citizens in Humboldt will be developing a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation to operate the Humota Theatre.
That was the offshoot of a 50-minute meeting last Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the Humboldt/Dakota City Chamber and Welcome Center.
About 40 interested citizens/stakeholders attended the meeting.
Andy Milam, a Humboldt resident and marketing and public relations coordinator with the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, knows a little about 501(c)3 corporations, and formulated an ad hoc steering committee along with Humota Theatre co-manager Sarah Vanord and few others.
Milam set up some temporary bylaws and operations work and then asked an attorney to vet it. He emphasized that the documents can be changed according to the 501(c)3 non-profit board’s direction. He said his initial work is just one small piece of the overall work to get the non-profit operating.
The members in attendance not only overwhelmingly favored the non-profit corporation route, they also favored a model set up in the community of Webster City, where a non-profit Board would operate and oversee the theatre, but there is paid staff in the form of a manager and some part-time help to handle much of the retail end of the business.
Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken said the indication from the group on Aug. 1 does not preclude having an LLC or a private buyer, but if there is someone or a group interested in that route to save the theatre, they should contact Goedken at (515) 332-3435 or travisg@cityofhumboldt.org as soon as possible.
The next step will be details about forming the non-profit and developing a board, officers and official bylaws.
Read more about the meeting in this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe to print or digital editions by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

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