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Oakland
Museum Of California Board Of Trustees Business Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes
November 29, 2007
MUSEUM RESTAURANT
4:00 P. M. – 6:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Trustees
Dale Block, Brian Cherry, Christopher Curtis, Rich Edwards,
Lori Fogarty, Virginia Furth, Lance Gyorfi, Tamra Hege, Joseph
Hurwich, Jerry Johnston, Jacqueline Kane, Anita Martinez, John
McDonnell, Christopher McLain, Marianne Robison, Katherine Shea,
Bruce Westphal, and Penelope Wong.
Trustees
Excused:
Steven Anderson, John Bowe, Susan Chamberlin, Ralph Clark,
Matthew Cox, Richard DeAtley, Quinn Delaney, Steven Douglas,
Anthony Harris, Harold Jones, Steven Read, Margaret Russell,
Sandra Wolfe, and Sheryl Wong.
Staff
Present:
John Burke, Ann Dickson, Dorothy Hood, Linda Larkin, Philip
Linhares, Douglas Long, Susana Macarron, Mark Medeiros, Bernadette
Powell, and Ariel Weintraub.
Volunteers
Present:
Gay Auerbach, June Cohen, Patrick Gaughan, Yvonne McCredie,
and Gail Weininger.
Guests Present:
Linda Crittondon, Emily Hall, and Tom Gard
1.
CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS – Lance Gyorfi
Vice Chair Gyorfi called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.
2.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Lance Gyorfi
On a motion duly made and seconded (Shea/Kane), the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, , the October 25, 2007 Board of Trustees meeting
minutes as mailed. are approved.
3.
CHAIR'S REPORT – Lance Gyorfi
In the absence of Chair Wong, Vice Chair Gyorfi asked trustees
who have not made their annual contribution, to please do so.
4.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT – Christopher McLain
Trustee McLain introduced auditor Tom Gard of Armanino McKenna who reviewed
the auditor’s report distributed at the meeting. In summary, Mr. Gard
said the Auditor’s Report is a clean opinion, there were no major problems
found. The Foundation’s total net assets have increased by more than
$ 2 million due to the Capital Campaign. Also, there were no new footnote disclosures
this year and nothing significant will be included in the Management Letter,
which is in the process of being prepared. If trustees find they have questions
about the audit, they should funnel their questions through Mr. McLain or Deputy
Director Mark Medeiros who will pass them on to Mr. Gard. Chair Gyorfi thanked
Mr. Gard, McLain, and Medeiros for their work in preparation of the audit.
5.
INTRODUCTIONS – Lance Gyorfi & Lori Fogarty
Mr. Gyorfi introduced Emily Hall of Olive Grove Consultants who is assisting
in our board development and leadership initiatives and will make a presentation
later in the meeting.
Ms. Fogarty introduced the recently hired Chief Curator of Natural
Sciences, Douglas Long. Mr. Long will lead the Natural Sciences
staff on a tour of several
Southern California museums to investigate exhibition ideas and new exhibits
and possibly apply what they have learned to enhance the Natural Sciences Gallery.
Chief Conservator John Burke and History Registrar Susana Macarron were also
introduced. Both are part of the team removing the collections from the Art and
History galleries in preparation for the closing of those galleries, and are
also working on a couple of major conservation projects. Mr. Burke said the Museum’s
collection is the City of Oakland’s second most valuable asset with real
estate being the most valuable. The Conservation Department and the Museum have
been very successful in securing grants for conservation, with fourteen conservation
grants applied for and all fourteen received. A recent grant of $50,000 from
the Luce Foundation will be used to conserve some of the paintings needing repairs,
cleaning, etc.. The Museum is also working on re-housing of the Native American
basket collection through support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Ms. Macarron said the Museum has about 3500 Native American baskets and a sampling
of them is being tested for mercury and other toxins. An industrial hygienist
consultant will be brought in to provide guidelines on how to handle possible
toxic artifacts. Staff is also working on improving the documentation of various
articles.
6.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Lori Fogarty
Executive Director Fogarty reviewed several major
initiatives that are underway that all relate to organizational
change and transformation. She reminded the trustees
of the purpose of the diversity initiative, funded by
the IMLS grant, which is to have all staff understand
what diversity means for the entire museum and for their
own individual positions. Three training sessions for
all departments, including staff from security and the
store, were recently completed. The purpose of Irvine
Leadership Initiative is to support the growth of the
Executive Director and Senior Staff, as well as the Board.
Finally, a grant from the Irvine Foundation’s Artistic
Innovation Fund is to support programmatic as well as
structural changes needed for arts institutions to respond
to the changing demographics in California. In March
2008 the Board of Trustees and Senor Staff will use the
offsite Retreat to establish objectives, as part of ongoing
strategic planning work in coordination with senior staff.
Emily Hall reviewed her role in focusing on trustee governance
and providing opportunities for the board to work as
a team. Ms. Hall will contact all trustees and this information
will used in preparation for the Board/Senior Staff Retreat
on March 15. Participants broke into small groups to
list, discuss and answer questions distributed at the
meeting; questions such as, “How do we learn to
look at the organization through the eyes of key stakeholders?” Each
group reported on their responses.
Ms. Hall said there needs to be thought given the following:
o Who are we really serving?
o What is our goal?
o Need to tell public that things are happening here;
need a buzz.
o Should take advantage of the museum’s strength;
largest collection in Northern California but no one
knows where it is, etc.
o Relationship between the City and Foundation.
o How are we serving our constituency?
o How the museum can share collections with other communities?
o What makes the museum relevant and how can it stay
relevant?
o What’s the proper way to use technology to
stay relevant?
Ms. Fogarty said it has to be determined which are the
urgent questions that need to be addressed and those
selected questions will be discussed at the March Retreat.
Ms. Hall asked trustees to write down two items or
information that would be helpful to their training. The next
step
is to form a task force in preparation for the Board/Staff
Retreat.
7.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Virginia Furth & Sandra
Wolfe
Trustee Furth reported that most areas of fundraising
are proceeding on track, with the one area needing attention is individual
gifts at the $10,000 level. Wachovia Bank made a grant of $100,000;
$50,000 of the grant will be applied the Gala. The Luce Foundation
made a grant of $50,000, as noted earlier for conservation. Following
the recent presentation at the Board on Planned Giving, two trustees
and a Women’s Board member reported they are participants in
the Planned Giving program. Ms. Furth suggested that a $55.00 tax
deductible museum Family Membership would make a great holiday gift.
8. GALA REPORT – Dale Block
Trustee Block said supporters have begun to respond
and a total of $109,650 has been received so
far. Wachovia Bank is the lead contributor with
$50,000, which is the largest donation ever made
to the Gala. Some of the other contributors are
Chevron Corporation for $10,000; The Clorox Company,
$10,000; Matson Navigation Company, $5,000; Wells
Fargo Bank, $5,000; and Diane Disney Miller,
$5,000.
9. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REPORT– Sheryl
Wong
In the absence of Chair Wong, Ms. Fogarty said the
Capital Campaign has received $45.7 million toward
the $53.0 million goal. Proposals have gone out to
several major Foundations. All the guilds and councils
are participating and supporting the Capital Campaign.
There will be a three day “Off the Wall Celebration” in
preparation of the closing and renovation of the
Art and History galleries. The weekend will begin
on Friday, December 7th with live music at First
Friday’s After Five, vendors, and Velocity
Circus performing in the galleries. Some of the activities
happening on Saturday, December 8th are storytelling,
behind the scenes curator tours, and the Axis Dance
Company. Sunday, December 9th is admission free Family
Day with various activities throughout the museum.
Ms. Fogarty has been interviewed by Robert Taylor
of the Contra Costa Times regarding the Capital
Campaign. The public phase of the Campaign will
commence in
2009.
10. WOMEN’S BOARD REPORT – Tamra
Hege
Ms. Hege reported there is now a White Elephant Sale
website at www.WhiteElephantSale.org. Also, the Preview
Sale will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2008 from
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets for the sale are
$12.50 and it was suggested that people should consider
giving the tickets as stocking stuffers.
The Women’s Board approved $113,000 for the
School Programs and $35,000 for the Oakland Museum
of CA History Exhibit. At the December meeting they
will consider and vote on the Bob Walker Photograph
Show proposal for $66,205 and the Birth of the Cool/Remix
proposal for $170,550.
11. RENOVATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REPORT – Lance
Gyorfi
Mr. Gyorfi said the committee met with the Cahill
contractors and Mark Cavagnero and it was determined
that the costs are within the budget. All involved
are focusing on finishing the project on time and
within the budget. Ms. Fogarty said the plans for
the History Gallery addressed some of the questions
discussed previously at this meeting with regard
to how to make the Museum relevant and are being
addressed in the plans.
12. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT – Rich Edwards
Trustee Edwards said the departments
with earned income have been requested to give
a report twice a year. Howard Thornton, General
Manager of the Store, gave an impressive report
for the store. Mr. Thornton is working on a prototype
for a store just for kids. Mr. Gyorfi said that
Mr. Thornton is doing a good job.
There is now an accounting system in place that
can produce monthly reports that show where we
are with revenues and expenses on a monthly and
year-to-date basis. The Finance Committee, Senior
Staff and the Finance Department have begun work
on a museum “dashboard” – a
visual indicator of key metrics for the institution
that will be presented at Senior Staff and Foundation
Board meetings. 13.
ADJOURNEMENT – Lance Gyorfi
There being
no further
business
Vice Chair
Gyorfi adjourned
the meeting
at 6:00 p.m.
Christopher
McLain
Secretary
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