FY17 October BOD Meeting Minutes

Cantus
Board of Directors Meeting—1201 Marquette Avenue, Suite 100
October 24, 2016


Present: Katie Berg, Pete Cochrane, Jim Dorsey, Chris Foss, Wendy Holmes, Katie Imholte, Patricia Kirkpatrick, Libby Larsen, Brock Metzger, Chuck Peterson, Jeff Reed, Karl Reichert, Paul Scholtz, Craig Shulstad, Jonathan Guyton
 
Staff: Jeff Bina, Joey Hillesheim, Carly Thornberry
 
Absent: Martha Graber, Noel McCormick
 
BOARD AGENDA
5:30 - 7:00pm
 

1. Call to order                                                                                         5:31pm
   1. Wendy Holmes presiding
2. Approve: Minutes of FY17 August meeting

Motion: Jeff Reed; 2nd Libby Larsen; approved.

1. Wendy: Executive Director Search Update
   1. Committee reported a strong candidate pool.
      1. Committee narrowed pool from the top ten down to the top four.
   2. Committee will interview during the first week of November.
   3. Reviewed top four candidates.
   4. Discussed process going forward, including the involvement of the staff, singers, and board.
2. Chris: Artistic Update
   1. Discussed positive audience response to “No Greater Love Than This”
      1. The tour of the show will begin this week.
   2. Discussed the artistic successes as well as the surmounted logistical challenges of the Cantus/Chanticleer collaboration.
   3. Ensemble visited schools participating in the High School Residency Program (St. Michael-Albertville, Washburn, Johnson) and performed an hour-long concert. Singers will lead master classes three times throughout the year beginning in November.
      1. Asked board for suggestions for next year’s HSR participants.
   4. Reported on plans for an open rehearsal with Big Brother’s Big Sister’s.
3. Chuck: Treasurer’s Report
   1. FY17 YTD Financials
      1. Reported a decent September with no major deviations from budget.
      2. Expects improved cash flow situation in October.
      3. This month’s financials represents our new chart of accounts.
   2. Cantus/Chanticleer Income & Expense
      1. We exceed our net revenue by almost $6,000
      2.  Discussed effect of Cantus/Chanticleer concert on season ticket sales and tactics for leveraging the success of the collaboration.
   3. Next Finance Committee meeting will focus on FY18 budget.
   4. Plan to review and bring to the board a final Romeo and Juliet budget at the November meeting.
   5. Plan to spend about an hour at November’s board meeting to Romeo and Juliet.
4. Accept: FY17 September Financials

Motion: Chuck Peterson; 2nd Pete Cochrane; accepted.

1. Pete: Governance Committee Update
   1. Committee met three weeks ago.
      1. Updated board pipeline, discussed succession planning, and talked about training for new board members.
   2. Parcel board training into a review of expectations, spending time with staff, and meeting with board member.
   3. With four members rotating off the board this fiscal year, the committee will target five to six new board members.
   4. Committee will continue to monitor list of 20-25 potential new members who are at various stages in their relationship to Cantus.
   5. Discussed strategies for diversifying board members.
2. Noel/Carly: Engagement Committee Update
   1. Discussed slump in ticket sales for “No Greater Love Than This.”
   2. Individual giving has been in-line with giving last year.
   3. Engagement Committee will make phone calls to major donors to build relationships and encourage continued support.
   4. GiveMN day will take place November 17.
   5. Wendy will follow up with Bridge Fund donors.
3. Brock: Cantus Idol       
   1. Brock and Marit have volunteered to form and lead a Cantus Idol Committee.
      1. They expect a committee of about seven to ten.
   2. Committee will focus on:
      1. Reaching goal of 300 attendees.
      2. Finding ways to reduce expenses.
      3. Looking for sponsors for the event.
      4. Identifying seed-money to ensure success of auction.
4. Romeo and Juliet Update
   1. Contracts have been signed with Mainspring and Libby Larsen. Contracts being finalized with choreographer and director.
   2. Two alternative performance schedules have been created, but have not been finalized.
   3. Mainspring delivered a preliminary budget for the project – which will be reviewed further by the Finance Committee.
      1. Finance Committee had grave concerns over the budget and recommends not signing a contract with Guthrie until the full board sees the project budget in the context of FY18.
5. Adjourn                                                                                                 6:50pm

Motion: Craig Shultsad; Karl Reichert; meeting adjourned.

1. Executive Session at 6:50 pm