GI1
Joined: Dec 31, 2020
Posts: 5
Location: METRO NYC
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 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2026 8:29 pm Post subject:
TE-MP0 Membership Meeting Oct 14, 2026 08:30 PM
Subject description: Minutes of Meeting |
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TE-MP0 Membership Meeting Minutes of 10/14/2026
Executive Summary
The TE-MP0 membership meeting on October 15, 2026, covered planning for the upcoming Echoes of TE-MP0 2 event at Bergen Community College on October 24th, along with organizational challenges facing TE-MP0. Despite technical difficulties with Zoom access that prevented some members from joining, the group finalized event logistics, discussed a new policy on public expression, and addressed financial and operational concerns affecting the organization's future.
Event Planning: Echoes of TE-MP0 2
Venue and Schedule
• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
• Location: Bergen Community College, Paramus, New Jersey
• Load-in: 5:00 PM (pending final confirmation with Patrice Devincentis)
• Performance window: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM (with 10:30 PM target for completion)
• Capacity: The recital hall can comfortably accommodate 40-50 attendees.
Performance Order and Duration
1. Dimension Step (Arthur Dorety and Chris) - approximately 45 minutes
2. Michael Victor - 30 minutes
3. Symmetry - 30 minutes
4. Guitarists: Clive Smith and Karl Fury - 1 hour
Breaks of 10-15 minutes are planned between performances. All performers will set up simultaneously at the beginning and at the end of the performances, eliminating the need for changeovers during the event.
Technical Setup
Fixed Equipment:
• Piano (cannot be moved)
• Projection screen and projector (fixed position)
Flexible Equipment:
• All other tables for equipment can be repositioned as needed
• Multiple audio snakes available with both XLR and quarter-inch connections
• Electrical power outlets throughout the space
Audio Support: Patrice Devincentis and her music students will manage the mixing board and audio routing. Performers can connect directly to the snakes without bringing their own direct boxes.
Visual Presentation
After attempts to secure visual proved unsuccessful, Gianni Intili volunteered to handle visual projections using Synesthesia software. He recently acquired a refurbished NEC commercial projector and a new 150-inch fabric projection screen.
He will conduct a basic Synesthesia workshop on Zoom next week before the event to help others learn the software, noting a shortage of visual artists in the community.
Recording and Documentation
• Professional audio recording directly from the mixing board
• Professional video recording (Gianni's godson will bring a high-quality camera)
• Recordings will be made available to performers
Logistics and Directions
Gianni will send detailed parking and loading instructions to all performers, including:
• Parking lot location behind the building
• Loading ramp and elevator access to the recital hall
• Alternative front-of-building access (though security may restrict front parking)
Note for Performers: Plan to be at the venue for 3-4 hours. Bring water, drinks, and snacks as needed. The cafeteria may be closed or difficult to access during the event.
Technical Demonstration
Michael Hunter's VST Plugin
Michael demonstrated his first VST plugin - a quadraphonic audio processor developed using C++ and GitHub Copilot. The plugin features:
• Real-time XY display showing audio spatially distributed across four quadrants
• Tempo-synced movement patterns (whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes)
• Multiple geometric patterns (circle, figure-8, flower)
• Color changes triggered by probability settings
• Visual indicators showing volume levels in each quadrant
• Adjustable radius and rotation direction (clockwise/counterclockwise)
• Probability-based speed modulation
Michael invested over 30 hours developing the plugin despite having no prior C++ experience, relying heavily on GitHub Copilot for code generation. He plans to perform with it at EMEAPP in April and eventually develop a hardware version for microcontroller implementation with tempo-synced echo capabilities on each quadrant.
The demonstration sparked discussion about the growing trend of musicians creating custom VST plugins using AI-assisted coding tools. Steve Horlick was cited as another recent example of this approach.
TE-MP0 Organizational Matters
Meeting Attendance and Quorum Issues
The meeting lacked a quorum due to multiple technical difficulties and absences:
• Zoom access problems: Multiple participants (including Don Slepian initially) experienced errors stating "the host is in another meeting" despite using the correct link
• Root cause: Two different meeting links in the invitation email created confusion; the "monthly" link differed from the "join Zoom meeting" link
Board Elections Status
• Gianni Intili (President) and Michael Hunter (Vice President) have terms continuing until September 2027
• All other officer positions (Don Slepian as Treasurer, Floyd, and potentially Patrice Devincentis) will need to be re-elected
• Nomination and election process postponed to next meeting due to lack of quorum.
New Policy on Public Expression and Event Content
Gianni drafted a new policy addressing public expression and event content at TE-MP0 sponsored events. The policy addresses concerns about:
• Political content in performances
• Gender-related content
• Religious content
• Racial content
• Other potentially offensive material
The policy aims to protect TE-MP0's nonprofit status and clarify liability issues when performers present controversial content under the TE-MP0 umbrella versus performing independently. It builds upon existing provisions in the organization's bylaws.
Next Steps: The policy will be sent to all board members via email for review, with formal introduction, discussion, and voting scheduled for the December meeting.
Electro-Music.org Developments
Howard Moscowitz continues developing the Electro-Music.org infrastructure with new TE-MP0 integration:
• TE-MP0 Forum: New dedicated forum established on Electro-Music.org, which Gianni has begun populating with meeting information and event details
• TE-MP0 Radio Station: Howard is setting up a dedicated 24/7 radio station for TE-MP0 music (Don Slepian assigned to follow up with Howard on this)
• NEEMFest Radio Station: A separate 24/7 station planned for NEEMFest content
• Music Archive: Electro-Music.org hosts over 30,000 tracks dating back to 2002, serving as the only repository for music from many artists who have passed away or never released on commercial platforms
Howard has been successfully recoding the website using AI (Claude/Anthropic) and has already uploaded the NEEMFest 2026 Stage One recording as a single file (Alpha Clone) rather than individual tracks.
Musicians can register for free accounts and upload their music to the archive. This is a non-commercial platform - no payments are made to artists for streams or downloads.
NEEMFest 2026 Workshop Report
The NEEMFest 2026 workshops were reported as successful, though specific details were not discussed in depth during this meeting.
TE-MP0 Financial Challenges
Wells Fargo Banking Issues
Current Balance: Approximately $340 in the account (with $770 showing but some transactions still pending)
Fee Problem: Wells Fargo has been charging $15 per month for the past several months. The original agreement when the account opened in 2023 required a minimum balance of $1,000 for a free checking account. However, Wells Fargo has now changed the requirement to a $1,500 minimum balance without prior notice.
Action Plan: Gianni will call Wells Fargo to contest these fees and attempt to recover the money, arguing that the terms were changed unilaterally after the account was established.
IRS and Tax Status
• TE-MP0 does not need to file taxes because annual income does not reach the $5,000 threshold
• Annual filing requirement: $30 for New Jersey non profit
• Outstanding issue: Getting the nonprofit listed on the IRS website
• Gianni consulted with two IRS agents during COVID about this situation
• Gianni plans to follow up on getting properly listed on the IRS website
Grant and Funding Challenges
Central New York Arts Grant - New Restrictions
A major setback occurred with grant funding for NEEMFest:
New Residency Requirement: Central New York Arts implemented a new rule requiring grant applicants to be residents of one of their six designated counties, with proof of residence (driver's license, utility bill, or similar documentation). Social security numbers may also be required.
This rule appears to have been created specifically in response to NEEMFest’s previous applications. The grant application deadline is in 12 days (from the meeting date), and Gianni has been unable to find a willing resident to serve as applicant of record despite asking approximately 50 people.
The director of the grants program at Central New York Arts knows about NEEMFest’s work and expressed willingness to help if a resident applicant can be found - even offering to conduct a Zoom meeting to walk through the application process. However, without a resident applicant, the application cannot proceed.
Gianni expressed doubt about meeting the deadline and acknowledged that NEEMFest may need to rely entirely on donations rather than grant funding.
Organizational Engagement and Future Concerns
Declining Member Participation
Gianni expressed serious frustration about organizational engagement:
• Poor attendance at monthly membership meetings despite advance notice
• Expected attendees failed to show without explanation especially in view of their upcoming live performances with ECHOES of TE-MP0 2
• Lack of volunteers for grant applications and other organizational tasks
Michael Hunter acknowledged this as a persistent frustration and noted that engagement has declined significantly since the COVID period, when virtual events were more popular and attendance was higher.
Existential Questions
Gianni questioned the organization's future viability:
"If we don't do anything much this year coming up and the interest for this organization is not there, I don't see why continue, you know?"
Michael suggested that problems early in the organization's history drove some people away, and recovery from that has been difficult. He proposed having a dedicated meeting to discuss revitalizing member interest.
Comparison to COVID-Era Engagement
During COVID lockdowns, TE-MP0 had higher participation:
• Successful live streams brought people together regularly
• Nick's Virtual Garage was established (credited to Jeremy DePrisco's initial work on "Cosmic Weekend") with support from TE-MP0
• Members were more active and engaged in virtual events
Post-COVID, people have returned to busy lives with less time for organizational involvement.
NEEMFest 2026 Highlights
Attendance and Performers
Despite organizational challenges, NEEMFest 2026 brought approximately 20 new performers, attracted through several key individuals:
• Jeffrey Campbell: Managed sound and visuals in the community room 3 days straight, brought his own equipment including two subwoofers (requiring two trips from Syracuse). Promoted the event within the ambient, retro, and space music communities, acquiring some 20 new (nearby-local) performers
• Dan Gitlin: Brought performers from Brooklyn and Long Island
• Max Klockson: First-time attendee from New York City
• Gianni Tomasiello (Hyperbolic): Third consecutive year attending from New York City. Works with EEG (electroencephalography) similar to Dr. Brad Garton. Currently on a residency in Tuscany, Italy, after spending summer artist’s residency in Canada. Helped Gianni Intili create the brochure for last year's Echoes of TE-MP0. |
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