Cinema Arts Centre Community Newsletter - April 7,2023

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Board Member Profile: Stephen Fisch

Stephen Fisch has served on the CAC's Board of Directors since 2013, and is also the Board Liaison to the Circle of Friends Volunteers. Steve Grew up in Brooklyn and is a graduate of Cornell University. After a career in the Flight and Marine simulation industry, and having served as Engineering Director of Flight Safety Intl and Marine Safety Intl during acquisition to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire-Hathaway empire, Steve is currently owner of a property leasing company in NJ, Milridge Properties LLC, and a volunteer at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Rescue and Rehabilitation at the LI Aquarium.

Cinema Arts Centre: When did you first start attending the Cinema Arts Centre?

Stephen Fisch: About 30 years ago. It was love at first sight and eventually cut down on frequent trips to the theaters in the City. I had moved to Long Island from Queens a few years after returning to NY from Tulsa, OK.

CAC: What are some of your favorite CAC programs?

SF: I might be in the Guinness Book of Records for having attended the most CAC programs. Favorites include ‘Rock Legends’, ‘National Theater Live’, ‘Film Noir’, ‘Anything But Silent’, ‘Science on Screen’, plus the music, comedy and theme events in the Sky Room Café

CAC: You are the Board Liaison to our Circle of Friends volunteer group (a group of CAC members who support fundraising and outreach efforts.) Can you talk a little bit about your involvement with this group?

SF: The Circle of Friends is a great success story. The group itself started in 2010 by Rene Bouchard as a taskforce to assist in Membership and Fundraising events with me and a handful of volunteers. Since then it has grown to a large number of dedicated members, involved in many different pursuits. They have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the Cinema Arts Centre’s Membership and Fundraising efforts. We are constantly growing and developing new ideas to support the Cinema. 

CAC: What made you decide to make the commitment to Board Service?

SF: I had become so enamored with the Cinema and the role it played in the community that I felt my marketing, financial, engineering, administrative, and decision-making background would make a good fit with the Board. I’d become good friends over the years with our Co-Directors, who always listened to my ideas and who invited me to join.

CAC: What do you think are the most important aspects of your role as a Board Member?

SF: Serving on one of the Committees, which for me is Development; people skills in finding common ground with anyone - young, old, CEOs, and janitors; genuine curiosity about people and issues surrounding the Cinema; honesty and the will to stand up to and discuss my opinions; compassion; knowledge and having much experience with investing and financial strategy; experienced researcher; persistence and dedication; good collaborator.

On my annual road trips around the country, I usually add Independent Theaters to investigate in towns and cities of CA, WA, UT, CO, ND, TX, etc. Most owners are very familiar with the Cinema Arts Centre from also belonging to the Arthouse Convergence so I’m usually greeted with open arms. Being curious about their programs, administration, organization, new ideas, sponsors, membership, impact on the community, etc. is valuable information.

CAC: What do you think are CAC’s most important goals for our future?

SF: Continuing to honor our mission of bringing the best in cinematic artistry to Long Island and use the power of film to expand the awareness and consciousness of our community; maintaining and adding to our incredible range of activities and special events too long to list that is unmatched by any other independent theater in America; continuing our vital role for the community and all of Long Island; more films and events to attract audiences of different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and political beliefs

All of us at the Cinema Arts Centre are so grateful for the contributions of Stephen Fisch and all of our Board of Directors.

In Memory of Klava "Klara" Konovalova

We are saddened to share the news that our beloved Circle of Friends volunteer Klara Konovalova has passed away.

Our Circle of Friends Volunteer Coordinator Peggy Hendrix shared, "Klara was always willing to help with activities that supported the Cinema. Whether it was selling raffle tickets in the CAC lobby, or soliciting donations for our Academy Awards Night Fundraiser, or making calls to lapsed members, or helping out in the office, or volunteering for the Fall Festival, Klara was there. She was one of our 'can do' volunteers. She was even at the Academy Awards Night Fundraiser on Sunday, March 12th helping out. It was great to see her there. She was happy. She was always smiling when she was at the Cinema Arts Centre. She loved being with people and loved being a part of the Cinema Arts Centre family."

Recently Klara volunteered to do some editing on the Cinema Arts Centre's website. It was outside of her comfort zone, but she wanted to be trained to see if she could pick it up because she knew we needed the support. After she completed the project, she was so proud that she told her friends about her accomplishment. It brought her so much happiness to make a contribution. She was always eager to try something new and to be helpful in any way she could. We are so grateful for the time we had with her.

Klara had a kind and generous spirit, and she will be very much missed by all of us at the Cinema Arts Centre.

Join, Renew, or Upgrade during our Spring membership Sale and Save!

Membership is on sale April 1 - June 30!

Members receive discounts on all of our daily first-run features, and our special events - well over 300 special events a year! Check out our Calendar to see what's coming up!

Members also save money with dozens of local restaurants and businesses who participate in our Reel Deals Discounts for Members program.

There are so many ways your membership can pay for itself, and bring great benefits to you, but it does so much more than that...

Your membership brings great benefits to our community and makes you part of our Cinema Family.

Members are the heart of all we do, and make all of our programs possible. We can't do it without you. Your membership brings cultural, educational, social, and economic benefits to our area.

This is our first Spring Membership Sale since we re-opened our doors last May. We are so excited about the films, film events, and cultural programs we are able to present. Your Membership support will help to ensure that we can keep going!

Click HERE to join, renew, or upgrade your Membership today.

OR join, renew or upgrade at the Box Office, via mail, or arrange for a member of our team to give you a call by clicking HERE.

THANK YOU!

The Long Island Jewish Film Festival opens Friday 4/14 with I LIKE IT HERE

Director Ralph Arlyck will appear in person. CLICK HERE for more info, or get your festival pass HERE.

How do we find our place in the world? And how do we make the most of the precious time we have, especially when our days are starting to feel numbered? These may sound like heavy questions, but Ralph Arlyck’s utterly charming personal film is a meditation on aging that is really about survival, memory, and the connections we build with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Arlyck, a veteran journalist and documentary filmmaker, lives in upstate New York. He was interested in making a movie about his neighbor, a reclusive Hungarian immigrant, but the scope of his film expanded, and it became something very universal, capturing the moments in daily life that reveal pitfalls and pleasures of getting old. While always aware of mortality, it is a movie whose ultimate message is “L’chaim.” (US, 2022, 88 min., English | Dir. Ralph Arlyck)

Join Us for more great conversations with Crossing Party Lines!

Our next meeting is Thursday, April 27th at 7:00PM. Our topic will be: Business and Politics: Companies Making Statements on Social Issues

Space is limited. Please RSVP HERE. (https://www.meetup.com/crossing-party-lines-ny-long-island/events/292686488/)

We as individuals express our views on political and social issues all the time, but what about when businesses do the same? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Should your local grocery store be expressing their views on controversial issues? Should your hardware store? What about your employer? What are the implications of a business taking a political stance?

Come and share your thoughts with fellow members about businesses making statements about current issues.

Join the Crossing Party Lines discussion and have a voice in our Nation’s Conversation! People of all views are welcomed, appreciated, and heard.

Please plan to arrive at the beginning of the meetup for Meet & Greet before we sit down for conversation.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

- Facebook @crossingpartylinesli (Facebook.com/crossingpartylinesli)

- Instagram @crossingpartylinesli (Instagram.com/crossingpartylinesli)

- Twitter @crosspartylines (Twitter.com/CPL_LongIsland)

Special Thanks to our Current Program and Reception Sponsors:

CLICK HERE to review current sponsorship opportunities.

Advertise With Us!

Advertise on our screens or in this newsletter! We are currently accepting new and returning advertisers. Now is a great time to advertise with us, as our crowds are coming back to experience our programs in our revitalized space. CLICK HERE for details or contact [email protected].