frances p. crowe community room
The Media Education Foundation (MEF) welcomes the use of the Frances P. Crowe community meeting room by non-profit organizations engaged in civic, cultural, educational, recreational, and public information meetings. As a progressive non-profit organization, MEF is committed to supporting other similarly minded organizations. The community room is located on the lower floor of MEF in the historic firehouse at 60 Masonic Street in Northampton, MA. Click here for a map.
Click here for the Friday Night Free Films schedule, organized by the Northampton Committee to End the War in Iraq.
Fees
The community room is available to non-profit organizations at no cost, though donations are welcome and appreciated. Groups may use the wall-mounted digital projector, DVD player, CD player, or laptop connections for $20 per event. Businesses will be charged a fee of $100 for meetings less than four hours in duration or $200 for meetings more than four hours in duration. Businesses may use the room for non-commercial meetings only. MEF reserves the right to refuse the use of the room.
Reservations
Meeting room use is by reservation on a first come, first serve basis. We cannot guarantee the availability of the room. Please make a reservation with Kelly Marciano or call 413.584.8500. MEF meetings and activities have priority use over the community meeting room. Groups meeting on a regular basis may schedule up to four months in advance, but may only have 4 reservations on the calendar at a time. A minimum of 24 hours is necessary for the cancellation of a booking, or that group may have restrictions placed on future reservations. When booking the community room, please take into consideration allowing enough time for set-up and clean-up. The doors to the building cannot be opened prior to 8 am and will automatically lock at 10 pm. Key cards are only active from 8 am to 10 pm. Please come to front office at least 30 minutes prior to your event between 9 am and 4:30 pm to receive your key card. Keys will be given out no more than 1 week in advance.
Care and Use of the Facility
Since MEF allows groups to use our room at no cost, we expect mutual respect in return. Please note the following regulations for the care and use of the community room.
- Costs for damage resulting from use of the meeting room that requires replacement or professional cleaning will be the responsibility of the organization using the room. This does not include normal wear and tear, but it does include any damage that MEF will need to repair.
- Groups may rearrange the room in any way, but it must be returned to its original set-up at the end of your event. There are approximately 35 folding chairs, three foldout tables, and two large tabletops. A fee will be charged for failing to return the room to its original set-up. All other additional equipment must be provided by the group. MEF employees will not assist with any set-up.
- Please leave the carpet free of all debris. There is a vacuum cleaner located behind the black curtains, which groups should use at the end of their event. A fee will be charged if the carpet is not left clean.
- Groups cannot exit out of the emergency exit door (unless it is an emergency). The door will set off an alarm. In the case that this happens, groups are responsible for paying the $25 police response fee.
- There is a trash bin located in the community room. Groups must empty the trash when the receptacle is full (or almost full) and bring it to the green dumpster located in the parking lot. Trash bags can be found behind the black curtains.
- Equipment, supplies, or personal items may not be left in the meeting room before or after the scheduled meeting. Please bring everything with you at the time of your event.
- Nothing may be used to attach items to the walls which will damage the walls in any way. If walls are damaged, a fee will be charged.
- Attendance at meetings must be limited to a capacity of 70. Any capacity larger than this will be in violation of fire code.
- Meetings must take place between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm.
- People attending meetings should take care not to disturb customers or employees of Woodstar café.
- No flames of any kind are permitted, including lit candles and Sterno cooking fuel.
- No alcoholic beverages are permitted.
- Groups may post signs advertising their event only on the white glass exterior door and on both wood doors in the entryway. Groups cannot post their signs more than 24 hours in advance and must remove their signs upon the end of the event.
- Organizations using the room may not charge admission or solicit sales. Fundraising events, however, are acceptable, as is collecting donations to recoup the cost of the event.
- Groups must return the key card promptly to MEF. The key must be delivered in person, or placed in the key card drop-off box located at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the front office. A fee will be charged for replacing lost keys.
- Guests may not park in the MEF parking lot. Cars parked there will be towed at the owner’s expense. On-street and nearby lot parking is available.
- Please report any problems or damages to the community room to MEF front office staff or call 413.584.8500.
Donations
MEF is committed to providing the community room to not-for-profit groups at little to no cost. We do, however, gladly accept donations to help us with the upkeep of the room and equipment maintenance. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Sut Jhally, Executive Director, at 413.584.8500 x2203 or donations@mediaed.org, or you can drop off a check, made out to the Media Education Foundation, at the front office.
