Members Council FAQ

What is Members Council?

Members Council is a group of 10-25 EST Member Artists whose purpose is to “advise, facilitate communications and act as an advocate/ombudsman for the membership on all matters to the Board, Officers, and EST staff.” (That’s from the EST Bylaws.) A list of current Members Council members and co-chairs can be found here.

When are the meetings and why should I go?

Members Council meets via Zoom at 5:00 the second Monday of every month. (To get the link for the zoom, email membersonly@estnyc.org.) Each meeting features an update from EST staff and an update on all Members Council initiatives so attending is a GREAT way to find out what’s going on at the theater and where you might want to get involved. Plus, it’s on zoom—you don’t even have to leave your apartment.

What kind of stuff does Members Council do?

Since the pandemic, Members Council has focused on peer-to-peer fundraising for the Marathon, community building and supporting the Transition Team by offering a forum for members to ask questions and get information regarding the leadership transition. Recent Members Council projects include: the Kickball fundraiser, the Memberfest short plays over zoom fundraiser, supporting the Bowlathon, ESTea zoom hangouts, the EST picnic, and restarting and supporting the production of Memberfests. Not to brag, but the Kickball fundraiser alone raised $12,000 (who knew?). Initiatives are also in place to review the process of identifying, evaluating and onboarding new members.

How can I become a member of Members Council?

Attend a Members Council meeting and tell the co-chairs you would like to become a member.

How can I reach out to Members Council with questions, ideas or concerns?

The email membersonly@estnyc.org goes straight to the Members Council co-chairs, so you can reach out there.