by Alan Nursall
I was elected Board Chair in December 2018, four long years ago. I found myself in that position feeling like a relative newcomer. I had started a new job in Edmonton in 2014, and that job came complete with a giant screen, IMAX-branded theatre. It had just been converted to digital–it re-opened a week before I started.
I immediately started paying attention to GSCA because I wanted tools and expertise that would make my giant screen theatre successful. It had just received a major capital injection, and we needed to make that investment pay off.
Attendance trends prior to digital conversion were ominous, so we needed intelligence and vision. Thus, the engagement with GSCA. Without going into details, the theatre has shown steady growth over the past 8 years–COVID era not included–and much of that success ties back to the value provided by the GSCA–in all facets of the industry. But recent years have thrown extra challenges at us.
I have nothing but pride as to how this Association conducted itself through COVID. There were many different association voices and opinions at the outset of COVID, many of which involved shrinking or even suspending operations entirely. The Association chose a much more compelling course–a brave commitment to finding every way possible to continue its core mission–to create value for its members.
In-person had to be replaced with on-line, and the Association found elegant and effective solutions. The community that is GSCA was sustained and the massive obstacles faced by Association members were tackled, usually with positive outcomes.
Shared intelligence and cooperation were the orders of the day, and today, we emerge from the COVID period with the Association intact, finances under control, and a newfound energy, ready to take on the future.
There continue to be huge issues facing Association members, but this is why the GSCA exists–to provide a mechanism to support solutions and the evolution of our unique craft. The Association has newly articulated strategic priorities upon which to focus its energies and continue the great work of the past few years. A healthy, energized, active, and brave Association is what is required now.
I need to make a few acknowledgements.
I want to thank Gordon Stalans (Tennessee Aquarium, past GSCA Chair and current Treasurer) for his continued engagement with the GSCA. I inherited this mantle from him and I have benefited immensely from the stability he brought to the Association during his tenure, and from his insight and expertise during my tenure.
I want to thank Jim Remar (Cosmosphere, past Vice Chair, 2023 Chair) for stepping forward and bringing his smarts and enthusiasm to the Association, and I know that he will do an amazing job leading this Board.
But you all know where I am going next.
This Association is nothing without its committed and skilled staff. Not only do they bring deep experience and integrity to their roles with the Association, they have made sacrifices through COVID that allowed the Association to continue its good work. Tammy Barrett and Kelly Germain deserve the deep appreciation of every GSCA member for their tireless, and often thankless, efforts over the past three years of disruption and uncertainty. And they never lost focus–they found and implemented ways to bring value to members during the COVID upheaval. They took pay cuts. They took on the role of financial manager. Their families have filled vital volunteer support roles. And they have not received a pay increase since 2018. They put it all on the table for GSCA, and I am pretty sure we would not be sitting here today without their skill, effort, and courage in the face of almost three years of unrelenting challenge.
I presume I talk to Tammy more than any other GSCA member, and my confidence in her and Kelly has not wavered once in the four years that I have been in this position. They’re not perfect–they trip up occasionally–but the Association should be eternally grateful that we have their impressive skill sets and integrity at work for us. Thank you to Tammy and Kelly for your immeasurable contributions to keeping this strange and wonderful Association moving forward.
Great challenges await. To incoming Board Chair Jim Remar of Cosmosphere, good luck and have fun! To the rest of the Board—thank you and continue your great work on behalf of all the members of the GSCA.
I am not going anywhere. I will continue to serve on this Board. But thank you to all of you for your support and commitment, and let’s continue to work together to advance the wonder that is giant screen cinema.