2021 Annual Report
What happened in 2021
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The fourth annual Alcona Small Farm Conference scheduled for February 2021 had to be canceled because of covid. |
Although we tried to offer virtual versions, the after-school guitar and ukulele lessons were victims of covid all year. |
The Grand Art program that links senior citizens and schoolchildren in art projects was also closed down by covid. It resumed early in 2022. |
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The Art for Adults class began in February but had to shut down in mid-March. It resumed briefly twice as covid rules changed, then returned for good in April 2021. |
The Alcona Authors writing group was also able to resume, with interruptions for covid waves, during 2021. |
Dockside Jams' summer outdoor series was able to run 17 dates from June to September. |
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The new Harbor Nights concert series held 14 Friday night performances at the outdoor pavilion above Harrisville Harbor. In August, Inspiration Alcona sponsored the first Bay to Beacon half-marathon. |
Summer Art for Kids moved to Alcona Elementary School for the first time. Because of covid feats, the annual Alcona Arts Retreat had fewer students than in the past, but it was an artistic success. |
Inspiration Alcona became a major sponsor of the Sunrise Side Music Festival held in August. The annual Lost Lake Writers Retreat also returned after taking 2020 off for covid. |
2020 Annual Report
What happened in 2020
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The 2020 Alcona Small Farm Conference featured Zingerman's Bakehouse managing partner Amy Emberling as the main speaker. The January event was the third annual. |
Also in January, the Scheer Genius Diversity Circus performed for Alcona Elementary students, emphasizing respect for others no matter how different. |
After-school music lessons in guitar and ukulele were running as usual until mid-March 2020, when covid issues suddenly ended them. The lessons will return in September 2021. |
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The after-school Grand Art program also shut down in mid-March for covid concerns. These art sessions for kids and senior citizens together will resume in September 2021. |
The new Art for Adults class began in February but had to shut down in mid-March. It resumed briefly twice as covid rules changed, then returned for good in April 2021. |
Dockside Jams' summer outdoor series was able to run from June to September under then-current covid rules and drew over 1,400 people to 15 concerts. It had to shut down for the cold months but resumed June 1, 2021. |
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A special summer outdoor concert featuring Detroit singer-songwriter John D. Lamb drew almost 100 people. |
Summer Art for Kids also fell victim to covid. |
The annual Alcona Arts Retreat and Lost Lake Writers Retreat had to be cancelled because of covid restrictions. |
2019 Annual Report
Plein air artist Richard Jordan demonstrates just down the hill from the Lost Lake Woods Club lodge at the 2019 Alcona Arts Retreat.
What happened in 2019
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The new Dockside Jams weekly open-mic music sessions drew more than 1,000 people to play and listen. |
In February Inspiration Alcona began the weekly Grand Art sessions for elementary kids and senior citizens. |
Guitar and ukulele lessons for Alcona Schools students went from alternate weeks to weekly sessions. |
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The second annual Alcona Small Farm Conference was held in January. |
The eighth annual Alcona Arts Retreat was held in September. |
The fourth annual Lost Lake Writers Retreat was held in October. |
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In June and July, Summer Art for Youth featured new teacher Brooke Green. |
Check the past events page on the website for more events held in 2019. |
Yearly Trends
Local Programs Attendance
Inspiration Alcona's first goal is to serve the people of Alcona County. In 2015, approximately 450 people came to one or more of the local events in the charts on this page. In 2021, that number has grown to just short of 2,500. This reflects both the growth of original programs and the introduction of several newer and very popular events. Dockside Jams and the Harbor Nights concerts are major drivers.
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Visitor Programs
One of Inspiration Alcona's goals is to bring new people to the county to see all we have to offer. Outsiders are welcome at any of IA's events, of course, but three special events are designed specifically to attract visitors: the Alcona Arts Retreat in September, the Lost Lake Writers Retreat in October and (beginning in 2018 and continuing to 2020, before covid shut it down) the Alcona Small Farm Conference in February.
The charts above show, first, that most of Inspiration Alcona's program participants are coming for free. Most of the paid participants come to one or more of the three special events.
The larger number of paid participants in 2017 and 2018 come from fundraising through special dinners for the first Alcona Small Farm Conference in early 2018 and related subsequent events. The increase in 2021 reflects Inspiration Alcona's partnership in the Sunrise Side Music Festival, a ticketed event.
The charts above show, first, that most of Inspiration Alcona's program participants are coming for free. Most of the paid participants come to one or more of the three special events.
The larger number of paid participants in 2017 and 2018 come from fundraising through special dinners for the first Alcona Small Farm Conference in early 2018 and related subsequent events. The increase in 2021 reflects Inspiration Alcona's partnership in the Sunrise Side Music Festival, a ticketed event.
Where the money comes from
Inspiration Alcona's income model is to earn money from its retreats and the farm conference and use that income to match grants that bring in more cash.
The sharp rise in donations in 2017 and 2018 reflects a successful crowdfunding effort to begin the Alcona Small Farm Conference.
Because pricing is different for the three big events, the Lost Lake Writers Retreat brings in the most money and the Alcona Small Farm Conference the least, even though more people come to the conference than come to either retreat.
The sharp rise in donations in 2017 and 2018 reflects a successful crowdfunding effort to begin the Alcona Small Farm Conference.
Because pricing is different for the three big events, the Lost Lake Writers Retreat brings in the most money and the Alcona Small Farm Conference the least, even though more people come to the conference than come to either retreat.
How the money gets spent
As you can see in the first chart, most of the money Inspiration Alcona spends goes directly to its programs. On average, about 80 percent of all expenses goes to programs.
About 64 percent of all program money goes to pay instructors. The largest totals go to the teachers and speakers at the three big events. But we pay $30 an hour to local artists and other local instructors for their work in lesson series designed for Alcona residents.
Other program expenses include snacks for participants, opening and closing gatherings for the retreats, class supplies (especially for youth programs) and venue charges.
Overhead expenses grew in 2021 with the purchase of sound equipment for our two concert series and of multi-year web contracts.
Because Inspiration Alcona is an all-volunteer group, no money pays salaries.
About 64 percent of all program money goes to pay instructors. The largest totals go to the teachers and speakers at the three big events. But we pay $30 an hour to local artists and other local instructors for their work in lesson series designed for Alcona residents.
Other program expenses include snacks for participants, opening and closing gatherings for the retreats, class supplies (especially for youth programs) and venue charges.
Overhead expenses grew in 2021 with the purchase of sound equipment for our two concert series and of multi-year web contracts.
Because Inspiration Alcona is an all-volunteer group, no money pays salaries.
