Board Member Profile: Michael A. Troisi

Michael A. Troisi, a partner at Rivkin Radler LLP, represents insurance companies across the country in coverage lawsuits. He handles a wide range of first-party and property insurance issues, particularly in cases involving arson and fraud. Michael also counsels and represents insurers in investor frauds and Ponzi schemes.

Recently, Mike spent some time with us to talk about the Cinema and the importance of Board service.

CAC: What is one of your favorite memories at the Cinema?

Mike Troisi: There are many. A personal appearance by Alan Alda was great and, more recently, the thoughtful weekend program addressing Extremism and Hate speech.

CAC: What made you decide to contribute to our Cinema community through Board service?

MT: I was happy to serve on the Board when a spot became available. I think it is important to the community because the Cinema provides alternative programming (lectures, foreign or art house films) that are not available elsewhere on Long Island. It is extremely important that the Cinema remain a viable alternative for entertainment and the arts on Long Island.

CAC: What is most important to you about your role as a Board Member?

MT: The most important aspect of my role as a board member is to always place the long term interests of the Cinema at the forefront of our agenda. We are, of course, concerned with the present, but we are also mindful that decisions we make today will impact the future of the cinema.

CAC: What has been one of the most meaningful successes that you have helped make possible through your role as a Board Member?

MT: I don’t like to dwell on personal achievements because most successful outcomes are the result of a team effort—and the Cinema is no different in that regard. I did derive satisfaction from assisting the Cinema navigate through Covid by negotiating lease terms with the Town of Huntington, among other projects. I also take great pride in the fact that my firm, Rivkin Radler, has been a steadfast financial supporter of the Cinema.

CAC: What do you feel are some of the Cinema Arts Centre’s most important goals for our future?

MT: As for the future, it is obviously important that we expand our membership in order to ensure long-term viability. The Board believes strongly in diversity and inclusion and it is important that we double our efforts to bring diverse groups and people of all backgrounds into the Cinema as members and to have a place on our Board.

CAC: What would you say to someone who may be interested in learning more about our Board of Directors?

MT: If someone is interested in joining our Board of Directors, I encourage them to contact me or any other Board member. I think they will find us to be a welcoming group and we are open to new ideas and perspectives.

All of us at the Cinema Arts Centre are grateful for the contributions of Mike Troisi and all of our Board Members.

To catch up on previous Board Member Profiles, see our past newsletters HERE.

Please Support the Life of Our Cinema

Since our reopening, we have:

- Provided free media classes to 30 teens through the inaugural Media Madness program
- Presented nearly 125 special events, in addition to first-run films in our three theaters every day
- Worked with over a dozen community organizations to elevate issues such as civil rights, humanitarian relief, hunger, animal rescue, health and wellness, reproductive freedom, and more
- Hosted over 60 special guests, including directors, authors, actors, musicians, and scholars
- Replaced the chairs in the Sky Room thanks to a gift from the Cosmo H. Guarriello and Lissa V. De Angelis Happiness Fund at Long Island Community Foundation (new tables are on their way!)
- Awarded over 7,500 months of extended membership to those who kept their memberships current during our facility closure
- Awarded nearly 50 memberships through our new Free for Teens membership offer
- Resumed publication of our Folio, now quarterly, with a new look thanks to generous in-kind support from the team at Maiarelli Studio

It’s been just about six months since we welcomed members and patrons back to our building for in-person programs, and it’s amazing how much we’ve been able to do, all of it made possible in great part through generous contributions from individuals in our community.

We would not be here without you.

However, while we are strongly on the road to recovery, these remain challenging times. We felt it was important to honor membership time that was paid during our closure and deliver on our promise that no member would lose any value on their membership while we were not able to fully deliver benefits, but this has meant a significant reduction in our membership revenue. And while we have sold out many great special events, ticket revenue has still not yet fully recovered for our daily first-run features. At the same time, expenses have increased. Your annual gift to the Vic Skolnick Life of Our Cinema Campaign is critical to our success, and our ability to continue to meet needs and deliver cultural, social, educational, and economic benefits in our community.

We are asking that you please consider a gift of any amount to the 2022 Life of Our Cinema Campaign to help ensure our future. Your gift in the month of December will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $20,000!

CLICK HERE to give.

Information from Charity Navigator:

Tax Benefits of Giving

Article includes:

"IRA charitable rollover offers tax

"The IRA Charitable Rollover allows individuals who are 70 1/2 years old to donate up to $100,000 to charitable organizations directly from their IRA, without that donation being counted as taxable income when it is withdrawn. To qualify, contributions must come from a traditional IRA or Roth IRA, and they must be made directly to a qualified charitable organization. Additionally, the donor may not receive goods or services in exchange for the donation, and they must retain a receipt from each charity to which a donation is made."

Tax-Smart Ways to Give

Charitable Tax Deductions: What Donors Need to Know

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].