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Oakland
Museum Of California Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Regular
Meeting
January 27, 2005
Museum Restaurant
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Trustees
Virginia
Furth, Lance Gyorfi, Anthony Harris, Melvin Harrison, John
McDonald, Christopher McLain, Missy Nelson, Phyllis Pfeiffer,
Dennis Power, Marianne Robison, Katherine McKenney Shea, Timothy
Silva, Mary Perry Smith, Brian Washington and Penelope Wong
Trustees
Excused:
William Chiasson,
Matthew Cox, Christopher Curtis, Richard DeAtley, Harold Jones,
Jacqueline Kane, Daryl Lillie, Judith McKee, Maria
Ochoa, Laurence O’Neil, and Margaret Russell
Staff
Present:
Sue Baizerman,
Amy Billstrom, Inez Brooks-Myers, Carey Caldwell, Deborah Cooper,
Carey Fruzza, Richard Griffoul, Dorothy Hood, Drew Johnson,
Harvey Jones, Aimee Klask, Christiaan Klieger, Daliah Massehian,
Bill McMorris, Mark Medeiros, Arthur Monroe, Karen Nelson,
Carolee Smith, Anne Spears-Dickson, Tom Steller, Scott Thiele,
and Karen Tsujimoto
Volunteers
Present:
Peter
Barnett, Michael Coleman, and Lois Corrin
Guest:
Lynne Heinrich
1.
CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS – Lance Gyorfi
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/Furth), the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED,
that the minutes of the November 18, 2004 Board of Trustees meeting
is approved as mailed.
3.
CHAIR’S REPORT – Lance Gyorfi
Chair Gyorfi briefly reviewed the report, Executive Director
and Board of Trustees Expectations FY2004/05, which was distributed
with the mailed board packet. Executive Director Power and the
Executive Committee will review it throughout the year.
On a motion
duly made and seconded (Harris/Harrison), the following resolution
was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED,
that the report, Executive Director and Board of Trustees
Expectations FY2004/05, is approved as mailed.
Trustees
were asked to review the Priorities for the Foundation 2004/05,
also included in the board packet. Chair Gyorfi said
all members who attended the Board Retreat would receive
an individual assessment letter that indicates the amount due
for incurred
retreat
expenses. He asked that checks be sent to Executive Assistant
Dorothy Hood. Several members who brought items to be donated
to the White
Elephant Sale told a story as to why the item was of significance
to them. Trustee Furth reminded members that the White Elephant
Sale Preview would be on Sunday, January 30, 2005. 4.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Dennis Power
Executor Director Power announced that Development Director
Jan Berckefeldt has resigned and will leave February 11,
2005. Ms. Berckefeldt will be working on an architectural
restoration project at the Palace of Fine Arts. The director
and trustee Gyorfi have begun looking for a replacement
for Ms. Berckefeldt. Ms. Berckefeldt was praised for her
contributions to the museum over the last seven years.
The
What’s Going On? exhibit attendance has averaged
750 visitors a week for a total of 15,500 visitors since
its opening. The exhibit will be heavily advertised for
the next five weeks until its closing. Trustees were asked
to encourage others to attend What’s Going On?
The California Cultural and Historical Endowment awarded
the
museum $2,887,500 and representatives from that organization
will conduct a site-visit on February 25, 2005.
As
a result of the budget deficit, steps have been taken
to cut back on museum programs and the proposed Aftershock exhibition. It is proposed that part of the budget
balancing will be to use funds from the sale of unaccessioned
art.
The deficit will have to be less next fiscal year.
Chair Gyorfi said there has been a deficit for the last
three
years and in addition to the low attendance of What’s
Going On?, operational cost have been higher than anticipated.
Director Power will determine what needs to be changed
and then make the necessary recommendations to the
Finance Committee.
Mark
Medeiros, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, reporting
on gallery renovations said the schematic
design for the Art Gallery is 100% completed. The
schematic design for the History and Natural Sciences
galleries
are at 85%
now and expected to be 100% completed by the end
of February.
Chief Curator of Art Phil Linhares said the art staff
and Gallagher and Associates worked very well together
and
the department is pleased with the design. Mr. Medeiros
described how the input provided by the trustees
at the offsite was incorporated into the schematics.
5.
AUDIT COMMITTEE - Christopher McLain
Trustee McLain said a new law regarding the annual
audit of the Foundation and financial statements
mandate that
there be an Audit Committee which oversees of the
audit. The Audit Committee is independent of the
Finance Committee
and shall meet with the auditors and staff regarding
the audit. The committee also has the authority
to recommend the appointment or firing of an auditor.
Trustees
were asked to approve the Audit Committee Charter that
was included in the board packet with
changes as
follows:
Compositions
Paragraph
1 – “The Committee will consist of
not fewer than three members who may or may not be members
of the Board.” Changed to read: “The Committee
will consist of not fewer than three members (who may or
may not be members of the Board) as
appointed by the board from time to time.”
Paragraph
2 – “….Members of the Committee
may be removed or replaced by the Chair of the Board.” Changed
to read: “….may be
removed or replaced by the Board.”
General
Principles as to Independent Auditor
Paragraph
1 – “The committee has the sole authority
and responsibility for the appointment, compensation, evaluation,
oversight and where appropriate, termination of the Foundation’s
Independent Auditor and will review the quality control
procedures, experience and qualifications of the senior
members of its audit team…..” Changed to read: “The
committee shall recommend to the Board the appointment
or termination of the Foundation’s Independent Auditor.
The Committee has the sole authority and responsibility
for the compensation, evaluation, and oversight of the
Foundation’s Independent Auditor, and will review
the quality control procedures, experience and qualifications
of the senior members of its audit team….”
Paragraph
4, 3rd indentation – the following sentence
was deleted because it was stated in 1st indentation: “Actively
engage in a dialogue with the Independent Auditor with
respect to any disclosed relationships or services that
may impact the objectivity and independence of the Independent
Auditor.”
On
a motion duly made and seconded (Washington/Harris),
the following
resolution was unanimously
adopted:
RESOLVED,
that the Oakland Museum of California Foundation Audit
Committee Charter is approved
as changed.
A
copy of the finalized version of the Audit Committee
Charter
is attached
to
these minutes.
6.
WOMEN’S BOARD REPORT – Mary Perry Smith
Trustee Smith thanked members
who made donations to the
White Elephant
Sale
and encouraged
all trustees to attend
the sale to meet and greet
shoppers. Another $80,000
will be given
to the museum, which
brings the total
contribution from the Women’s
Board for this year to $730,000,
and an additional $116,000
is now held aside for future
acquisitions.
7.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS – Brian Washington
Trustee Washington briefly
reviewed the committee’s
minutes previously distributed to trustees. One of the
committee’s goals
is to deepen the relationship
with city administrators
and to make contact with
each city
council member. Trustees
were asked to inform Mr.
Washington or Mr. Gyorfi
of any personal city contacts
they may have.
8.
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT – Anthony Harris
Trustee Harris distributed
an Audience Development
Committee Update report.
9.
MARTS & LUNDY REPORT – Lynne Heinrich
Consultant Lynne Heinrich
of Marts & Lundy reported
on the results of the “situation analysis” that
was requested by the
board. Twenty-five
influential people
were interviewed. Ms.
Heinrich found that
the range of
gifts being considered
from interviews to
date ranges from $1.0
to $2.5 million. Recommendations
include:
o
Dropping the proposed campaign goal from
$69 million to
$39.6 million, made
up by $23.6M from
Measure
G, $4M for public
and private funds already
raised, $10M
in
new public and private
funds, and $2M
in planned gifts
for the endowment fund.
Thus the
new campaign goal
for trustees to consider
is $10
million.
o A phased campaign
as follows: Preparation
from January
through July 2005,
a
Quiet Phase from
August 2005 through
July 2007, and a
Public Phase from
August 2007
through
July 2009 or
2010.
o Revise the campaign
mix to be relevant,
appealing, and
exciting.
o Review the current
exhibition and public
programs calendar
to ensure
sustained
and renewed interest
in and visibility
for the museum.
o Broaden the donor
base while maintaining
ties
with the traditional
constituency.
o Design “high-touch” communications and cultivation
strategies to convey strength and vision of leadership.
o Re-engage the Leadership
Task Force on a one-on-one
basis.
o Review methods
of mass communication
the funding
constituency.
o Negotiate an MOU
between the museum
foundation
and city of
Oakland.
o Deepen the relationship
with museum guilds.
o Counteract the
possible concern
of some about
architect Kevin
Roche’s reduced involvement in the renovation.
o Regarding museum
staff, replace the
resigning
development director,
plan
on spending
$.15-.20 per dollar
raised on campaign
costs, and
realign the executive
director’s
workload to allow 60 percent of his time to be spent on
the campaign.
o Regarding campaign
leadership, consider
a multi-tiered
approach with a few
key leaders and ensure
that the museum board
is fully
supportive and gives
generously.
Chair
Gyorfi thanked Ms. Heinrich for
her presentation
and reviewed
some
of the Foundations
priorities.
Current cost for
Phase I is now
$44.6 million,
which
is
$5
million over the
total of money
in hand and
to be raised.
The
following should
be taken into consideration
in
the making
of adjustments
to Phase I:
o
What will have the most influence
on stability
and growth attendance
over
time?
o Most likely
to entice large
donors
to participate – create
success in fundraising?
o Must do to
retain accreditation
o Most important
Mission and our
societal role?
o Address needs
and experience
to make
visitor experience
most pleasurable – to enhance a likely return
o Most likely
to generate the “wow” sensation
The
next step in making decisions
regarding
Phase I is
for the Campaign
Cabinet
and Senior
Staff to review
and
discuss the
Marts & Lundy
report and to
make a final
recommendation
to the board.
Chair Gyorfi
will bring that
recommendation
back to the February
board meeting.
10.
ADJOURNMENT – Lance Gyorfi
There being no
further business
Chair Gyorfi
adjourned the
meeting at
6:15 p.m.
Brian Washington
Secretary |
