Aurora Fox Arts Center Board
Meeting Minutes 10/9/2008

Attendance: Gene Jackson, Brian Barney, Suellyn Cota, Chloe Johnson
Marita Kenney

Absent: Margaret Day, Wendy Bullock, Georg Hill, Su Ryden

Staff/Guests: Robert Salisbury, Alice Lee Main

1. Board approved minutes of August 14, 2008 as written.

2. Events Committee Report and Activities:
a) The Board reviewed the 2008 Gala and silent auction.

Committee reported that the 2008 Gala was again a very successful event and everyone enjoyed the food, wine, and “Escanaba In Love.”

Ticket sales were equal to 2007, but net proceeds were about $1,200 less than 2007 due to higher food costs and fewer auction items and lower bids overall.

Board members agreed that holding the silent auction as well as serving dessert in the Studio Theatre was a good idea.

Board members agreed that the 2009 Gala format should be reviewed at the 2009 Board
retreat.

Board members especially thanked Suellyn Cota, and Bobbie Rubin for their exceptional work on the Gala and especially the silent auction. Board also thanked Sue Way for her assistance with the silent auction.

3. Operations Committee Report and Activities:
a) Board Commentary on Market Based Revenue Opportunities Policy:

The Board had no general objections to sponsor displays as long as such displays were tastefully and appropriately (size and frequency) executed.

The Board did express concerns regarding blanket sponsorships in which the Aurora Fox would be required to list a sponsor in their facility, playbills, advertising, or posters, etc., especially when there isn’t any direct benefit to the Aurora Fox, and where costs of providing these activities would not be reimbursed by the sponsor.

In regards to any sponsorship, or naming rights for that matter, involving the Aurora Fox, the Aurora Fox Board needs to be consulted before such contracts are finalized, and the Board feels it is essential that the Aurora Fox receive direct benefits from any sponsorship arrangement.

b) Board commentary on potential restructuring of Parks & Open Space Department and Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Department:

Board felt current structure was working well as is, and didn’t have any specific suggestions for improvements. As a Parks and Recreation Department seems to be the standard operational model for many cities, the Board could see this consolidation as more efficient and productive for these two areas. They did not feel that including Libraries and Cultural Services in this consolidation would be beneficial to those two divisions. An overall consolidation would create an unnecessarily large department that would be unable to equally focus on all its diverse parts. Eventually the needs of the larger divisions in such a department would begin to overwhelm the needs of the smaller divisions, most especially the Cultural Services Division.

The Aurora Fox Board believes that Libraries and Cultural Services are a good fit with each other, having many similar cultural interests and directions, and would merit a separate department.

c) Board Commentary on Council ceremony for swearing in new board members:

The Aurora Fox Board would like the swearing in ceremony to continue as is. They feel that it is an important recognition of the service that they have committed to and are about to perform for, in most cases, the next three years.

4. Fund Raising Committee Report and Activities:
a) The I Built the BOX campaign was a successful part of the Gala night. Board Member Su Ryden and Aurora Fox Producer, Charles Packard presented the new campaign to the gala audience just prior to the evening’s play. Eight people joined that evening with two more indicating a future commitment. The I Built the BOX campaign will continue through the holiday productions.

5. Recruitment Committee Report and Activities:
a) Board members were reminded that election of new Board officers was scheduled for the November meeting. Nominations are to be sent to Robert Salisbury prior to the November meeting.

6. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Submitted by

____________________________________________ Date ________________
Gene Jackson, Aurora ox Board Chairman