Board of Trustees

Oakland Museum Of California Board Of Trustees Meeting
July 22, 2004
Museum Restaurant
4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL

Trustees Present:

Christopher Curtis, Richard DeAtley, Virginia Furth, Lance Gyorfi, Melvin Harrison, Harold Jones, Daryl Lillie, John McDonald, Christopher McLain, Phyllis Pfeiffer, Dennis Power, Marianne Robison, Margaret Russell, Mary Perry Smith, Penelope Wong

Trustees Excused:

Ophelia Basgal, William Chiasson, Anthony Harris, Judith McKee, Missy Nelson, Maria Ochoa, Jacqueline Pfannenstiel, Katherine McKenney Shea, Pamela Sher, and Brian Washington

Trustee Absent:

Kirk Miller

Staff Present: 

Jan Berckefeldt, Diane Curry, Marcia Eymann, Richard Griffoul, Barbara Henry, Dorothy Hood, Linda Larkin, Daliah Massehian, William Milny, and Tom Steller

Volunteers Present:

Peter Barnett, Michael Coleman, Lois Corrin, Marlynn Dykstra, Ginny James, Harry Levin, Jean Levin, and Mary Reynolds

Guests Present:

Linda Peterson

1.         CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS - Lance Gyorfi

In the absence of Chair Pfannenstiel, Vice Chair Lance Gyorfi called the meeting to order at 4:12 p.m. and introduced and welcomed new board member Penelope Wong.

2.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Lance Gyorfi

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

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the June 24, 2004 Board of Trustees meeting be approved as mailed.

3.         RENOVATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REPORT – Lance Gyorfi

Chair Gyorfi reported that he and trustees Chiasson, Harrison, and Power met with the City Administrator and successfully negotiated a 50 percent reduction in contract compliance fees to $250,000. He also asked that trustees who have not completed their board assessment to please do so and mail it to Executive Assistant Dorothy Hood.

4.         CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE REPORT

Trustee Christopher Curtis said the Capital Campaign Cabinet met with Linda Peterson who gave useful advice regarding branding the Capital Campaign. Two potential campaign consultants are being interviewed to provide counsel to trustees and staff. A report and recommendation will be forthcoming.

Trustees Gyorfi and Lillie and Development Director Jan Berckefeldt gave a tour of the museum to Roger Schwab of the Hedco Foundation. Trustees who know anyone at the Hedco Foundation were asked to contact Ms. Berckefeldt.

Ms. Berckefeldt said the contract with consultants Phillips and Associates has been terminated and a search is being made for another consultant. The distributed “Campaign Plan” was reviewed. The Capital Campaign is an opportunity to enlarge the membership and donor base and can be accomplished by recruiting many volunteers to help with the campaign. This will encourage a heightened sense of collaboration among staff, docents, volunteers, guild and council members, community advisory groups and the Women’s Board.

Building on the $24 million provided by Measure G, the campaign will seek an additional $45 million in private funding for the Oakland Museum of California’s core master plan projects. There are plans for many mini campaigns as a way to segment the work and to bring in specialist who can target specific areas. Specific donors will be targeted, such as art donors, history donors, and natural sciences donors. A campaign affiliates committee will be establish and will include all the museum guilds, councils, advisory committees, and the Women’s Board. Ms. Berckefeldt said she would like to be informed of anyone’s concerns or issues regarding the plan.

Trustee Virginia Furth thanked Ms. Berckefeldt and her staff for a very well thought out plan. Trustee John McDonald said the goal of $2.3 million expected to be raised from corporations is rather low and more should be asked from the corporations.

Executive Director Power asked former State Secretary Kevin Starr to serve as an honorary chair of the Capital Campaign. Mr. Starr said he would take it under consideration. Mayor Jerry Brown will most likely serve as an honorary chair and the possibility of asking Craig Sullivan to serve has been discussed.

In response to a question as why the foundation’s initial commitment to raise $6.0 million was increased, Ms. Berckefeldt said that the increase was based on need. In addition, the feasibility study was done two years ago and since that time new potential donors, such as Hedco Foundation, have been identified. The motto “the new museum” is a marketing message. It emphasizes that the museum is changing content along with some of the bricks and mortar changes.

Communications consultant Linda Peterson reviewed the Capital Campaign Communications Plan. The plan was developed to ensure that the campaign stays on message and to help support fund raising efforts. The process in developing the plan began with research by reviewing existing information and developing themes and ideas to be tested. Through interviews with friends of the museum and leaders, the themes and ideas were tested. This process resulted in the arrival of the museum’s campaign theme “California: Start Here.” The plan has three phases: 1. Prelaunch, which involves activities and materials to educate and thank campaign ambassadors; 2. Launch, which includes round-the-clock news making events and activities; 3. Life of the Campaign, which includes events to report on progress, sustain enthusiasm, and build awareness of the museum over the long term. Some of the end goals of the plan are to cultivate new friends and potential long-term supporters and for the museum to sustain a higher profile among museums.

Michael Mabry, a highly regarded graphics designer, has been selected to design the campaign logo. Mr. Mabry will be presenting his initial ideas for graphics/logo for the capital campaign, interpreting the “California: Start Here” theme at a meeting to be held on August 19, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. in the executive director’s office. Trustees were invited to attend. As the material to be included in a campaign packet is not available at this time, the Development Department will put together materials for specific donors, such as the Hedco Foundation, as needed.

5.         NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Daryl Lillie

Trustee Lillie submitted the name of Laurence O’Neil for election to the Board of Trustees. Mr. O’Neil has traveled widely, is a long-time resident of the area, and holds the Oakland Museum in high regard. Mr. O’Neil is the Senior Vice President for Human Resources of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.

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

RESOLVED, that Laurence O’Neil is elected to the Oakland Museum of California Foundation Board of Trustees for a term ending as of the Annual Meeting in October 2007.

6.         DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Dennis Power

Executive Director Power reported that California Collection and Research Center (CCRC) Ad Hoc Committee interviewed project managers for the construction of the CCRC. The Ad Hoc Committee will report back to trustees when the selection of the project manager has been decided. Regarding main museum renovations, the Design Review Committee has met with the three finalist architects and will report later as to which one was selected to be the architect for the Master Plan. In the future, Gallagher & Associates will give a presentation to trustees on the Master Plan.

Trustees were asked to review the distributed “Measures for the Renovation Impact” report, which will be discussed at the September Board of Trustees meeting. Any questions trustees have about the gallery renovations should be sent to trustee Gyorfi. These questions will be incorporated in the comments on exhibition interpretation. Trustees were also asked to inform Mr. Gyorfi if they would like to serve as a liaison for the Art, History, or Natural Sciences galleries renovation meetings.

7.         STATUS REPORT OF “WHAT’S GOING ON?”

Executive Director Power introduced the staff members working on the “What’s Going On?” exhibition: Marcia Eymann, Curator of “What’s Going On?”; Diane Curry, associate curator of the exhibit; Barbara Henry, Chief Curator of Education; and Marketing Director Richard Griffoul.

Mr. Griffoul said the Vietnamese consultant for “What’s Going On?” resigned last spring. He and some Southeast Asian community members felt that not enough of their experiences were being included in the exhibition. Executive Director Power wrote a letter to members of the Southeast Asian community to address their concerns. Mr. Griffoul said he and staff have had a least eight meetings with Southeast Asian groups and has met with the Vietnamese press in Los Angeles. In addition, individuals from these groups have donated items to be used in the exhibition. If trustees are asked questions that they cannot answer regarding the exhibit, Mr. Griffoul asked trustees to have a staff member answer the question.

Ms. Eymann said the desire of the Vietnamese community to have more of their experiences included in the exhibit does not fit within the scope of the exhibit. Out of eleven panels, two are devoted to the Vietnamese; also included are Vietnamese oral histories and items. This exhibit is about American social history that has many components to it. The exhibit’s history encompasses the years starting in the 1950’s to the present.

8.         ADJOURNMENT – Lance Gyorfi

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m., followed by a tour of the “What’s Going On” exhibit.

Christopher M. McLain
Secretary