FY19 February BOD Meeting Minutes
Cantus
Board of Directors Meeting
1201 Marquette Avenue, Suite 100
February 25, 2019
Present: Katie Berg, Pete Cochrane, Chris Foss, Nancy Gaschott, Jonathan Guyton, Patricia Kirkpatrick, Brock Metzger, Jeff Reed, Paul Scholtz, Craig Shulstad
Absent: Jim Dorsey, Katie Gabriel, Francie Nelson, David Niles, Kevin Stocks, Beth Anne Thompson
Staff: Joe Heitz, Joey Hillesheim, Kelsey Sieverding
Guest: Alberto de la Paz, Cantus Tenor
BOARD AGENDA
Board of Directors Meeting
1201 Marquette Avenue, Suite 100
February 25, 2019
Present: Katie Berg, Pete Cochrane, Chris Foss, Nancy Gaschott, Jonathan Guyton, Patricia Kirkpatrick, Brock Metzger, Jeff Reed, Paul Scholtz, Craig Shulstad
Absent: Jim Dorsey, Katie Gabriel, Francie Nelson, David Niles, Kevin Stocks, Beth Anne Thompson
Staff: Joe Heitz, Joey Hillesheim, Kelsey Sieverding
Guest: Alberto de la Paz, Cantus Tenor
BOARD AGENDA
- Call to order 5:31pm
- Approve: Minutes of FY19 January Meeting
- Chris/Paul: Artistic Report
- Reported successful audition day with exciting, well-prepared applicants.
- Board discussion re: logistics of audition day, increase in quality of applicants.
- Reported productive HSR Festival Day; looking forward to culminating concert in May.
- Reported successful audition day with exciting, well-prepared applicants.
- Joe: Executive Director’s Report
- Reported MSAB Arts Access Grant is moving forward thanks to connection that Jeff had with Shakopee prison’s Warden for Operations.
- Described in-progress MSAB Arts Learning Grant application to work with another group at Minnesota Boychoir.
- Reported receipt of unsolicited $5,000 grant from Surdna foundation again this year.
- Board discussion re: Westminster connection to foundation.
- Updated board on 2nd round of focus groups – Beth Anne will compile results to share with singers, staff, and BOD.
- Nancy: Treasurer’s report
- Reported Finance Committee didn’t meet this month due to inclement weather but Nancy and Joe met to go through financials.
- Will have year-end projections to share soon.
- Board discussion re: shortfall in self-bookings, ticket revenue, sales trends, and marketing budget vs actuals.
- Accept: January financials
- Reported Finance Committee didn’t meet this month due to inclement weather but Nancy and Joe met to go through financials.
- Jon/Joey: Engagement Committee Update
- Reported strategies resulting from most recent committee meeting.
- Targeting lapsed donors
- Described spring concert as tracking behind last year.
- Reported upcoming marketing campaigns.
- Brock requested board pledges, suggested inviting friends to concerts.
- Provided status update on Cantus Idol
- 107 tickets sold
- Updated board on new auction items
- Requested board support for Delta gift card
- Reported recent company discussion about sponsorships.
- Reported strategies resulting from most recent committee meeting.
- Pete: Governance Committee Update
- Described updates to committee structure.
- Added Doug Affinito, Sam Green, and Susan Stuart
- Reported recent discussion about board skill priorities for new members: secondary educator, nonprofit leader, diversity.
- Discussed pros and cons of targeting former board members.
- Reported hope to recruit five new members by end of fiscal year.
- Board discussion re: recruiting from existing audience.
- Described updates to committee structure.
- Chris/Paul: Artist Frequently Asked Questions and Discussion
- Board discussion re: collaborative model, role of Artistic Council, how disagreements are handled, timline of concert program development.
- Jeff: Discussion of Revised Strategic Priorities
- Reputation, Relevance, Revenue
- Described intent to prioritize social media presence, leverage 25th anniversary, build more diverse audience, generate new revenue.
- Board discussion re: venues, geographic markets, events whose audience could increase nationwide relevance and reputation.
- Reported staff has been deputized to begin implementing goals. Executive committee will revise exact verbiage for use with grant applications, 25th anniversary, etc.
- Adjourn 6:44pm