The Mammoth Lakes Foundation Board recently determined it needed to slash its permanent staff from four members to two in the wake of the Covid crisis. 

“In order to preserve cash and refocus the organization on its core mission, we have made strategic changes to both staff and programming,” said Board President Gary McCoy in a press release issued last week. 

As part of that strategy, Executive Director Rich Boccia has elected to retire, effective June 1. Current Development Director Betsy Truax will assume the Executive Director role on June 1. Her previous position will not be filled.

But Boccia’s departure does not come as a terrific surprise. He’s already made the rounds in Mammoth, with previous stops as Mammoth Unified Schools Superintendent and as Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s Executive Director. 

The surprise is the Foundation cutting official ties with Shira Dubrovner, who has operated the Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theater under the Foundation’s banner for the past decade. 

She also launched the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival.

As the press release states, “COVID-19 has impacted arts programming across the globe and will prevent performances in the Edison Theatre for the foreseeable future. Consequently, MLF intends to support, rather than produce live theater and other events going forward. MLF will no longer own or operate Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre or the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, resulting in the elimination of the Artistic Director position previously held by Shira Dubrovner.

“Shira’s contributions under the auspices of MLF over the last decade are very impressive, and it is unfortunate that it had to come to this,” McCoy said. “Her future work is sure to be equally impressive.” 

Board members Luan Mendel and Shields Richardson confirmed that the Foundation intends to abandon the dba’s (fictitious business names) for Mammoth Lakes Repertory and the film festival, allowing Dubrovner to assume both. 

“I’m committed to continuing in Mammoth Lakes with the performing arts, and will do what it takes to survive,” said Dubrovner, before breaking into Gloria Gaynor lyrics over the phone.

Dubrovner said her main focus right now is the rescheduled Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, which will take place September 16-20. She said the festival will observe whatever Covid protocols are in place at that time. 

Dubrovner said post-festival she’ll contemplate the future of Mammoth Lakes Repertory at that time. “By then, we will have a clearer view of what’s possible,” she said. 

The Board’s thought process was fairly well laid out in the press release.

The cancellation of fundraising galas and events further exacerbates the situation, straining finances, capacity, and resources. Estimates suggest that more than half of all nonprofits could disappear over the next two years due to financial challenges and reduced funding. Like many other organizations, MLF has recently been forced to take decisive and difficult actions in order to survive the COVID-19 crisis. 

“Shira’s contributions under the auspices of MLF over the last decade are very impressive, and it is unfortunate that it had to come to this,” McCoy said. “Her future work is sure to be equally impressive.” 

The restructuring will allow MLF to focus its limited resources and efforts to assist local college students during this crisis and into an uncertain future. Many people are unemployed, including the families of Dave’s Scholars and the students themselves, and they need mentoring and support from the organization more than ever.  

Board member Luan Mendel elaborated upon a few items in a phone conversation this week. 

The MAC (the proposed $20 million Arts Center) has not been abandoned. Rather, the project is on “pause.”

Mendel said donors who earmarked gifts to the Foundation for MAC construction have the option of having their donations refunded or letting their donations ride. 

*The largest private donors for the MAC, ironically, were largely recruited by Dubrovner – patrons who enjoyed the quality of her theatrical productions. 

“We’re about $1.5 million out on a $20 million project,” said Mendel. If and when the project is built, “We’ll figure out who the heck will run it. We might not be able to do that in-house.” 

As for “support” of the arts, that can mean a whole bunch of things. “But we don’t have the luxury of wandering from our core mission any longer,” said Mendel. “Higher education is priority number one.” 

Incoming Executive Director Betsy Truax said the Foundation contributed $23,000 in direct financial support for Cerro Coso students in FY 2018-2019, not including housing scholarships. In addition, the Foundation provided indirect support in the form of mentoring and career counseling 

“Tough times call for tough actions. We believe the unfortunate but necessary actions the board took this week will help us make it through this crisis,” said Gary McCoy