Board of Trustees

Oakland Museum Of California Board Of Trustees Business Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes
April 24, 2008
MUSEUM RESTAURANT
4:00 P. M. – 6:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL

Trustees

Dale Block, Brian Cherry, Christopher Curtis, Richard DeAtley, Quinn Delaney, Steven Douglas, Richard Edwards, Lori Fogarty, Virginia Furth, Lance Gyorfi, Anthony Harris, Tamra Hege, Joseph Hurwich, Jerry Johnston, Harold Jones, Anita Martinez, John McDonnell, Christopher McLain, Marianne Robison, Bruce Westphal, Sandra Wolf, and Sheryl Wong.

Trustees Excused:

Steven Anderson, John Bowe, Susan Chamberlin, Ralph Clark, Jacqueline Kane, Steven Read, Margaret Russell, Katherine Shea, and Penelope Wong.

Staff Present:

Gail Bernstein, Ann Blair, Ann Dickson, Dorothy Hood, Linda Larkin, Philip Linhares, Douglas Long, Mark Medeiros, Maggie Pico, Louise Pubols, Emily Quist, Adam Rozan, Rah Saladdin, Howard Thornton, Karen Tsujimoto, Ariel Weintraub, and Elizabeth Whipple.

Volunteers Present:

Lois Corrin, Dave Elliott, Dianne Fristrom, Carolina Juarez, Yvonne McCredie, Bobbie Neidleman, Suzanne Riess, and Susan Schroeder.

Guests Present:

Mark Cavagnero, Roslyn Cole, Linda Crittondon, John Fung, Ruth Geary, Lynne Heinrich, Lonny Israel, Mary Ellen Landis, and Brad Thomas

1. CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS – Sheryl Wong
Chair Wong called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Sheryl Wong
On a motion duly made and seconded (Furth/Edwards), the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, , the January 28, 2008 Board of Trustees meeting minutes are approved as corrected.

3. CHAIR'S REPORT – Sheryl Wong
Chair Wong reported that 650 Gala seats have been sold thanks to Gala volunteers and corporate support. Trustees were encouraged to review the list of auction items and perhaps joining with friends to purchase group items. Also, trustees who have open seats at their table and are willing to share them with other guests, should contact Bernadette Powell in the Development office.

A report of the March Board and Staff Retreat will be given at the May meeting and trustees who attended the retreat should make out a check for $200.00 to cover retreat expenses and send to Executive Assistant Dorothy Hood. Both the Annual and Regular Board of Trustees meetings will be held on May 22, 2008. The résumés of nominees to the Board of Trustees will be emailed before the May meeting to all board members.

4. RENOVATION PROJECT UPDATE – Lance Gyorfi
Trustee Gyorfi gave an overview of the Renovation Project and its finances and reported that the $53.7 million campaign goal and $1.6 million from Measure G interest has created a $55.3 million budget for the renovation. The current revised budget estimate is $55.1 million with the contingency for Phase I construction at $1 million or 8% and the exhibits contingency held at 8%.

Over a period of time, the Master Plan and funding for the renovation were reassessed in several stages. In 2005 consultants Marts & Lundy recommended the Phase I goal be raised to $40 million and in 2006, with support of the foundation board, the goal was further raised to $53 million. Phase I and Phase II were combined to be one Capital Campaign with two building phases.

Phase I elements include the renovation of the Art Gallery and enclosures; History Gallery; main entry, ADA ramp and stair canopies; basic building work; CCRC; and the Capital Campaign for a total of $39 million.

Architect Mark Cavagnero presented Phase II scoping work which included renovation of Natural Sciences Gallery; expand the Education Department; relocation of store; and base building work for a total budget of $16 million. It has not been fully investigated where moved spaces will go, such as the Collectors Gallery, Art Library or the Art Gallery storage. Building leak repairs will be incorporated in the renovation as covered by the City of Oakland funding.

Trustee Gyorfi reviewed possible future renovation projects that are not included in the current Campaign goal and budget, such as, revamping the restaurant; renovating the restrooms (minor) or renovating restrooms (major); and refurbishing the James Moore Theater and Lecture Hall. These projects will be discussed further in the future.

Chair Wong thanked trustees Gyorfi, Christopher Curtis, and the Renovation Oversight Committee for their guidance through the renovation process.

Associate Development Director, Linda Larkin, briefly reviewed the Campaign Newsletter distributed at the meeting. The newsletter will be mailed to members three times a year and will keep them informed on the project and the campaign; it also is on the museum’s website.

Chair Wong introduced three board members who have made generous contributions to the Capital Campaign and asked that they share with the other members their reasons for giving. Trustee Christopher McLain said he and his wife, both former Natural Sciences docents, have a long history with the museum as they have been involved with the museum since shortly after it opened and continue to believe it is the place to be involved in. Although trustee Christopher Curtis said he was initially a little hesitant about joining the board, he and his wife find the museum to be a very enriching experience. Trustee Quinn Delany, a former Art docent who also has had a long history with the museum, said she is excited about what is happening in the museum and how it will connect with the community.

5. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE – Lynne Heinrich
Consultant Lynne Heinrich said 90% of the Capital Campaign goal of $53 million goal has been met with $47,963,248 raised so far. Only 11% of these funds have been allocated as restricted gifts because of the contributors’ confidence in the leadership. More than half of the Valley Foundation Challenge grant of $12.5 million has been matched with an additional $5.9 million to be raised.

Thirty-one of the forty Board of Trustees members have made a commitment to the Capital Campaign. Presently gifts and pledges from trustees total $3.9 million which is 195% of the original goal of $2.0 million. Some San Francisco foundations have been very supportive and have made significant contributions. Corporate contributions to capital campaigns are, in general, very difficult to secure but efforts will continue to find corporate sponsors for the $50,000 to $200,000 levels. Capital Campaign discussions will be held with volunteers and docents regarding family gifts and public solicitations beginning in 2009.

6. MUSEUM BRANDING UPDATE – Lonny Israel
Trustee McLain said that the Audit Committee had met and discussed the auditor’s Management Letter. The Letter found no material issues or problems with the Foundation’s accounting procedures. The previous Management Letter issues were resolved with the 2006/2007 audit.

7. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REPORT – Sheryl Wong
Consultants Lonny Israel and Brad Thomas of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) began working on the branding of the museum after receiving input from staff and volunteers and other information all gathered by consultant Linda Peterson. Mr. Israel gave an overview of the process used to determine the appropriate branding of the museum. The Oakland Museum’s prior logos were reviewed along with other museums logos. Also looked at were other California buildings, Eames furniture, and various graphic designs. At the end his presentation, Mr. Israel revealed the approved logo/brand of the Oakland Museum of California. Marketing Director Ann Dickson thanked Mr. Israel and Mr. Thomas for their work and is looking forward to incorporating the new logo and branding with the museum’s marketing efforts. The new logo will be posted on the museum website by June or July and will gradually go public over the next eight or nine months.

7. ADJOURNEMENT – Sheryl Wong
There being no further business Chair Wong adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m

.
Christopher McLain
Secretary