Welcome to the Myrna Loy Center (affectionately
called "the Myrna Loy" or just "the Myrna")
and its strategic plan. This plan reviews the strengths, weaknesses,
threats and opportunities the Myrna faces; presents our Mission
Statement; and outlines goals and objectives that to direct the
organization toward achieving its mission.
The Myrna Loy Center has a rich history,
starting in the mid-1970s as an art and foreign film house. It
has developed into a dynamic small-city performing arts center
with a national reputation for excellence.
In the last few years, the Myrna has
gone through a series of dramatic occurrences:
· departure of the founding executive
director;
· financial stress;
· temporary closure and layoff of all employees; and
· reopening, after only six months.
The Myrna closed its doors for a period
in 2000 because revenues weren't keeping up with expenses. The
reaction to this closure from the community was a deafening "No!".
Almost immediately, community meetings were convened to try to
figure out how to save the Myrna. The Myrna's established and
important place in the community became clear. More than one
patron said: "The reason I live in Helena is the Myrna!"
Thanks to a concerted effort by the
Board of Trustees, the help of many volunteers, and a broad-based
campaign called "Reopening the Doors," the Myrna did
indeed come back to life only six months after the crisis hit.
After reopening in September, 2000, the Board of Trustees and
its supporting community re-committed to the Myrna's mission
and to a strong, stable organization that could continue to fulfill
that mission for a long time.
At this writing in early 2002, we are
operating at full speed with a committed Board and staff and
full performance and film programs. After a period of reflection
and hard work, we are ready to face the challenges and opportunities
of the future. This plan represents a roadmap for meeting our
challenges and fulfilling our potential over the next few years.
The audience of the plan is:
· the board of trustees and staff;
· patrons and constituents; and
· funders, both traditional and prospective.
We invite you to download the Adobe
Acrobat Reader version of the Strategic Plan and take the opportunity
to review it. We welcome your comments on our plan. Please call
us at 443-0287 or email us. Thank you for being a supporter
of the Myrna Loy.
