report to the community - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ...

DEVELOPMENTIn 2008, between securing financial support for programs and general operations, thecapital campaign, and the upcoming 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,the Development office experienced one of the most successful—and busiest—years inits history. In May, new Vice President for Development Greg Harris joined us after 14 yearsat the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.MembershipFinancial support from Rock Hall members helps ensure continued excellencefor exhibitions and educational and community programs. In recognition of thissupport, members received exclusive benefits during 2008 that were availablethrough no other means. Members were:• Invited to preview the eagerly anticipated exhibitions Mike McCartney’sLiverpool Life and Sparkle & Twang and meet the charismatic artists whomade them possible.• Sent advance notice of Rock and Roll Night School, the summer film seriesand the From Songwriters to Soundmen program, many of which featuredpersonal appearances by influential music-industry figures.• Admitted to exclusive events tied to the biggest Rock Hall events of the year:Riot Girls and Rebels and the American Music Masters concert celebratingLes Paul.The Membership staff took every opportunity to promotethese benefits, setting up enrollment tables in the main lobby,contacting prospective members via postal and e-mail, andpromoting the Museum at rock music events as far away asNorth Carolina. By the end of 2008, the Museum had nearly10,000 new or renewed members.It’s Only Rock and Roll Annual Benefit ConcertThe eighth annual It’s Only Rock and Roll Annual Gala and Benefit Concert, held inMay at Cleveland’s historic Public Hall, was the most successful ever and raisedmore than $ 250,000 to support the Rock Hall’s educational programs. Kim Carnes,Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Roy Head, Howard Hewett of Shalamar, Rob Parissi ofWild Cherry, Louis Prima, Jr., Patty Smyth and the Sugarhill Gang put on afantastic show for a fantastic cause.Annual BenefitBook-signing with Mike McCartneyAnnual BenefitThe Campaign for the Rock HallIndividual, corporate, and foundation donors gave generously in 2008 towardthe Campaign for the Rock Hall. This capital campaign, the first since theMuseum’s founding, will fund:• construction of the new Library and Archives building• an operating reserve to fund the important programs at this facilityfor its first 10 years• a redesign of Museum exhibition spaces and lobbyAt the end of 2008, total commitments stood at $ 23 million, more than twothirdsof the way toward the $ 35 million goal. During 2008, the Museum’sFinance team continued working to finalize a $ 10 million bond financing to besecured by the county hotel bed tax. In early 2009, this project was completedwith the support of Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland and Cleveland -Cuyahoga County Port Authority. The completion of this transaction brings totalcommitments towards the $ 35 million goal to $ 33 million.The Board and Development staff members will increase campaignsolicitations in 2009, approaching current donors and also the Museum’scorporate founding donors. This final push should bring the Campaign forthe Rock Hall to a successful close as scheduled: prior to the grandopening of the Library and Archives.Library And Archives ConstructionThe main focus of the capital campaign is the 22,500-square-foot Library andArchives now near completion on the campus of Cuyahoga Community Collegein downtown Cleveland. This dual-purpose facility, in a structure shared withthe college, will contain a non-circulating book, periodical, and recording libraryfor public use and a separate secure archive to house the Museum’s collectionof individual and corporate papers, rare or unique audio/visual recordings, andpromotional materials.Construction crews broke ground at the site in October 2007. By the end of2008, concrete floors had been poured, exterior walls completed, and theplumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems installed. A teal-and-white bannerfacing I-77 informed inbound commuters that it was the future home of theRock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Library and Archives. The Rock Hall,meanwhile, hired Andy Leach, a Columbia College librarian and archivist, aslibrary director. The building will be ready for occupancy in 2009, when thenew director and several staff members will move in and begin thesubstantial task of preparing the collection for use. The Libraryand Archives is scheduled to open to the public in 2010.Major Contributors:Jann Wenner and Joel Peresman,The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame FoundationJerry Sue Thornton,Cuyahoga Community CollegeThe Cleveland FoundationGregg & Madelyn FosterBrian Ratner, Forest City EnterprisesHenry Juszkiewicz, Gibson GuitarsThe George Gund FoundationJohn P. Murphy FoundationMedical MutualJules BelkinFrank Sullivan, RPM International Inc.Curtis SchenkerJohn Shiely,Library Briggs and & Archives Stratton CorporationKey BankThe Summers FamilyAlec Wightman, Baker & Hostetler LLP.Library and Archives14 15