Board of Trustees

Oakland Museum Of California Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
June 24, 2005
Restaurant
4:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Trustees

Dale Block, Susan Chamberlin, Christopher Curtis, Virginia Furth, Lance Gyorfi, Anthony Harris, Melvin Harrison, Harold Jones, Jacqueline Kane, Daryl Lillie, Judith McKee, Christopher McLain, Missy Nelson, Phyllis Pfeiffer, Dennis Power, Marianne Robison, Deborah Roessler, Katherine McKenney Shea, Mary Perry Smith, Brian Washington, Sandra Wolfe, Penelope Wong, and Sheryl Wong

Trustees Excused:

William Chiasson, Matthew Cox, Richard DeAtley, John McDonald, Maria Ochoa, Margaret Russell, and Timothy Silva

Trustees Absent:

Harold Jones, Daryl Lillie, and Margaret Russell

Staff Present:

Lori Anderson, Gail Bernstein, Deborah Cooper, Barbara Henry, Dorothy Hood, Christiaan Klieger, Linda Larkin, Mark Medeiros, William Milny, Ambrus Reese, Carolee Smith, Ann Spears-Dickson, Tom Steller, Licia Wells, and Elizabeth Whipple

Volunteers Present:

Michael Coleman, Lois Corrin, Anne Curran, Bob Freidenberg, Jean Levin, Mary Reynolds, Nancy Stryble, Helen Tryon, and Elsa Wollenweber

Guests Present:

Linda Crittondon, Jacqueline Edwards, and Scott Mallwitz

1. CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS – Lance Gyorfi
Chair Gyorfi called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. and welcomed new board members Susan Chamberlin and Sandra Wolfe. Also welcomed was Deborah Roessler who will replace Mary Perry Smith as the Women’s Board representative to the Board of Trustees.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Lance Gyorfi
A correction was made to record Daryl Lillie as being excused (and not absent) from the May 26, 2005 meeting. Also, under the Women’s Board Report it should be recorded that $161,000 (not $100,000) has been allocated for the Acquisition Funds. The Chair’s Report, the third paragraph regarding the Pardee Home, was corrected as italicized to read as follows:

The will of Helen Pardee states the trusteeship for the Pardee Home shall dissolve when the last of the two original trustees resigns or on November 27, 2006, whichever is later. The house and assets are then to be transferred to the Oakland Museum Foundation. If the museum declines to assume the responsibility of the Pardee Home, the house and grounds would go to UC Berkeley and the furnishings and other collections to the museum.

On a motion duly made and seconded (McLain/Furth), the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the May 26, 2005 Board of Trustees meeting is approved as corrected.

3. CHAIR’S REPORT – Lance Gyorfi
On a motion duly made and seconded (Furth/McKee), the following resolution, prepared by Chair Gyorfi, was unanimously adopted in recognition of Mary Perry Smith whose term has expired:

WHEREAS, Mary Perry Smith has served with distinction as President of the Women’s Board for the 2004 fiscal year with an outstanding White Elephant Sale and contributed to the Museum; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smith has served as trustee on the Oakland Museum of California Foundation during a time of great challenges and opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smith provided much wisdom, hard work and dedicated participation on the board and in committees that helped to significantly move the Foundation forward on several fronts in achieving its mission.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Trustees of the Oakland Museum of California gratefully thank Ms. Smith for her unselfish work, and for her unconditional gift of thought, time and energy on behalf of the Museum, the Board and the Women’s Board; and

RESOLVED FURTHER, the Board offers its warmest thanks, very best wishes and lasting friendship to Ms. Smith.

Ms. Smith introduced the new Women’s Board President Deborah Roessler. Ms. Roessler is retired from Wells Fargo and is active in the community and has been president of several organizations.

Chair Gyorfi thanked trustee Lillie for all the effort she put into organizing the Trustee’s Handbook. The three-ring binder is meant to be a flexible resource for trustees.

Lois Corrin reported Kathryn Seabrook will replace her as Chair of the African American Advisory Committee (AACA). Ms. Corrin said the AACA is a good resource and hopes the committee will be used as a resource in the selection of the Executive Director.

Jacqueline Edwards of the City of Oakland Personnel Office was introduced. She and Adrienne Horn of Museum Management Consultants have been working together on the Executive Director search. They have met with staff to get their input and will also conduct a session with Donor Forum members. Ms. Edwards said the Executive Director’s job will be posted by July 1, 2005. Ms. Edwards asked trustees for suggestions as to the qualifications they think the Executive Director should have. Some of the qualifications suggested are as follows:

o museum professional with vision and passion
o people person
o effective fundraiser
o excellent managerial skills
o previously experienced at another museum that is at least the size of the Oakland Museum
o worked at museum that had a Board of Directors
o ability to work with and take direction from a volunteer board
o competent enough to work with a complex organization

Ms. Edwards said it is very important that in working with the City the Executive Director understands what the City Charter prohibits.

4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Dennis Power
Director Power thanked Ms. Corrin for her support and for the hard work she put in as Chair of the AARC and her participation in various programs. The Henry J. Kaiser Center will remain in the museum’s budget until January 1, 2006. Dr. Power briefly reviewed the Foundation’s Earned Revenue Report as of April 2005 and said revenues are slightly ahead and the expenses being a little lower compared to the revised 04/05 budget. Both revenue and expenses are significantly under the original budget.

5. TREASURER’S REPORT – William Chiasson
In the absence of trustee Chiasson, Chair Gyorfi said the committee and staff worked many hours to balance the 2005/06 budget. Dr. Power, Mark Medeiros, William Milny, and Ambrus Reese were thanked for their efforts. Mr. Milny will be leaving the museum as of July 1st and will work in the city’s Revenue Division. Also reported:

o the Women’s Board has allocated $650,000 to the operating budget in 05/06
o the number of visitors projected for the baseball exhibit is 10,000 a month
o there has been a decrease in the Marketing Department’s expenses with the elimination of Marketing Director’s position
o the Disney exhibit is not reflected in the budget
o the Henry Ford Museum will provide the Oakland Museum with $400,000 to use to market the Disney exhibition

Trustee Harris said the Audience Development Committee is working on the suggestions made by the Harvard Business School Community Partners. Trustee Harris also said a consultant is working with the Audience Committee and the Community Partners and he is sure the Community Partners recommendations will be fulfilled. Chair Gyorfi said additional staff cuts will be made if the budget is not balanced.

Trustee Furth said the Development Committee has been reactivated and will meet quarterly. The committee has not been meeting because many of the same committee members are on the Capital Campaign Committee. The budget includes $150,000 in personal trustee giving, plus an additional $150,000 that the Foundation board pledges to raise. The Development committee and department will meet June 27, 2005 to discuss goals, specific plans, and specific tasks. Chair Gyorfi said it is necessary to raise additional funds just to cover increases in wages and benefits as well as programs and exhibitions.

On a motion duly made and seconded (Wong/Furth), the following resolution was adopted by the majority with one abstention (Shea):

RESOLVED, that the Oakland Museum of California Foundation hereby adopts an FY 2005/06 operating budget of $5,640,353 in revenue and $5,632,833 in expenses.

6. WOMEN’S BOARD REPORT – Mary Perry Smith
Trustee Smith distributed copies of the Women’s Board Annual Report for 2005. She said the WES warehouse will be open several times a month to receive donations and the next date it will be open is July 16th from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

7. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT – Brian Washington
Trustee Washington reported the language in the draft MOU between the Foundation and City are in negotiations. Trustee Washington said that he and Chairman Gyorfi and Executive Director Power will meet with the City Administrator. Coming to an agreement with the City about the MOU may not be finished until the fall. Chair Gyorfi thanked Mr. Washington for his hard work and thanked members who called city representatives regarding the budget.

8. CAMPAIGN CABINET REPORT – Sheryl Wong
Trustee Wong said the committee is scheduled to meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month and the sub-committees will meet the 4th Tuesday of the month as needed. At the last Cabinet meeting, Linda Larkin gave a presentation regarding naming opportunities. Trustees Gyorfi and Power are meeting with City Treasury Department personnel to determine how D&A is defined regarding Measure G money.

The Cabinet is working on getting more corporate support and trustee Kane has offered meeting space at Clorox. The Cabinet has set goals for board giving and Ms. Wong said that she and trustees Lillie, Gyorfi, and Furth will be asking trustees to pledge their financial support. It is vital that there is 100% participation by trustees because funders look at who is donating and at what the board is doing. It is proposed that the Board of Trustees commit to raising $2 million toward the campaign. Trustees can make a three year pledge and if it is a large donation the time can be negotiated. The goal is to receive the $2 million within five years. Trustees will be solicited between now and September.

On a motion duly made and seconded (Wong/Furth), the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees’ Capital Campaign goal is $2 million within five years with 100% participation of Trustees and that this sum is part of the overall campaign goal of $10 million.

9. OTHER
Trustee Lillie distributed a list with information regarding the expected participants at the next Board Conference and asked that she be informed of any changes.

10. ADJOURNMENT – Lance Gyorfi
There being no further business Chair Gyorfi adjourned the meeting at 6:05 p.m.

Brian Washington
Secretary