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PAST ARTICLE

ACTIVE CO-OP REAPS BENEFITS

By Fredericton based member John Christenson

May, 2002

I'm quickly closing in on the end of my first year as President and I would say it is impossible to have a job with any more highs and lows. I recently reminded Cathie of something she said to me when I first took this volunteer position, "Don't worry, you can do it, most of the heavy human resources stuff was taken care of last year so it should be pretty quiet." Cathie, we need to talk!!

I'm reflecting back on a year of absolute total wow!!!! I couldn't be more proud to represent the Filmmakers Co-operative than right now. We could easily ride on the accolades of the past year for years to come. I feel honoured to work along side a team as strong as our Board and most importantly our staff. (Good God it sounds like I'm running for politics, sorry). Enough of this then let's rehash the past year and, more importantly, recent events for those who haven't heard.

Membership has never been more active. If you think last summer's shooting schedule was busy just wait. As you now the Co-op hosted its first ever, and successful I might add, Tidal Wave Film Festival last fall and we are now busy preparing for a bigger and better event this year. Cathie has been up to her eyeballs in a very successful series of workshops, Tony, on behalf of the Film Co-op, was invited to the Old Governor's House late last fall to accept a National Award for Volunteerism from Heritage and Culture Canada. And Just days ago, I represented the Co-op and accepted the Foundation Prize for Arts Organization of the Year from the New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts. A prize that was created to celebrate an outstanding contribution to the development of arts and culture in New Brunswick. The Film Co-op was one of four inaugural recipients of these Foundation Prizes and Cathie and I were treated like royalty by the Lieutenant-Governor and the Province of NB. (place high-five here) Yes, the NB Filmmakers' Co-operative is being recognized by both the arts community and the government. We all know that this is not why we make films and videos - we do it for the comraderie with fellow filmmakers who share in our need to tell a story. The glitz, glam and pats on the back are just the added benefit.

And we all know that Tony would have been there, and should have been there, to accept the Prize had it not been for his surgery. Get well Tony, and soon, it's just not the same without you.