Spanish Colonial Arts Society

Spanish Colonial Arts Society

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

5.00 PM, Monday September 14th, 2015, at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art

Present: Brian Colón (President), Max Myers (Vice President), Joel Goldfrank (Secretary), Mark Rhodes (Immediate Past President), Robert Gallegos, Penelope Hunter-Stiebel, Joe Moure, William Frej, Rob Coffland, Ambassador Romero, Diane Martinez

Apologies: Jolonda Field (Secretary), Kris Lajeskie, Alan Bell

Artists’ Liaison observer: Jerome Lujan

Staff Present: David Setford (Director), Jim Kutsko (Finance/bookkeeper), Maggie Magalnick (Markets Director)

The minutes of the previous meeting on were considered: acceptance of the minutes was proposed by Mark Rhodes, seconded by Joel Goldfrank, and approved by all.

President’s Report

The President reported that the Executive Committee had met at 4.00pm, and has favorable discussed the candidature of Larry Lujan as a returning Board Member; and reported that after a preliminary hearing our Counsel reported that the Beltran-Kropp counsel seemed to be considering mediation. Brian reiterated how important it was for Board Members to pay the full dues, as we build our capacity and reduce our yearly draw on investments. In addition, he reported on an upcoming Board Dinner on December 12, hosted by Jolonda Field, and reminded Board Members that fundraising Board Dinners or similar events were another creative way to help the Society with finances. Board Dinners hosted by Brian himself and by Joel Goldfrank had already been very successful in 2015. Brian reminded Board Members to study the Committee Policies and Procedures and the Guidelines for Jurying, Judging and Vetting, which were part of the Board packet, and which would be voted on at the next meeting.

Treasurer’s Report

In the absence of the Treasurer, Brian Colón and staff made the financial report. It was noted that so far the financial picture in 2015 was good, income from Board, Individual and Government running at least level with Budget. It was further noted that so far in 2015, Markets were making a profit due to no longer using the Convention Center, and to holding Preview in the Eldorado Hotel, which was a great success. In addition, the $30,000 grant from the Tourism Department for Las Cruces Market covered much of the hard costs of that successful event. Rather than being the Markets which are a financial draw on the Society, it was shown that the Museum was running at a loss, and that the Gift Store was at best breaking even. Membership at this time was running behind Budget. However, it was reported that of the overall $120,000 draw the Board had authorized for 2015, only $85,000 had so far been taken. Tough cuts were continuing, and it was mentioned that Education Programs continued to run at a bare minimum, while at Preview there were no heavy hors d’oeuvres as in previous years. The new financial format which was in a transitional phase for presentation at this meeting would give a better picture for the year and allow insight at a glance into profit and loss areas within the Society’s operations. Diane Martinez mentioned that the report given at the present meeting did not give a whole lot of information, and that while she was not in favor of 50 pages of financials, something in between would be appropriate. Joel Goldfrank informed the Board that something in between was the aim of the Finance Committee. Acceptance of the Treasurer’s report was proposed by Joel Goldfrank, seconded by Max Myers and approved by all.

Collections Committee Report

Bob Gallegos reported that the Committee had not met since the last Board Meeting (the last meeting of the Collections Committee having been on March 19th). Bob asked David Setford to report on the acquisition of the late eighteenth century Mexican oil on copper painting of San Pascual. David reported that after he negotiated a special museum price of $18,000, the Collections Committee had authorized use of $9,000 from the Collections Fund towards the purchase of the painting, the rest to be raised through an appeal. David reported that the appeal had actually raised $12,250, so the draw on the Collections Fund ended up being less than expected, which he counted as a success in that it showed that there was substantial interest in our support group for providing financial support for the right projects.

Governance/Nominations Committee Report

The Board welcomed back returning Board member Joe Moure and new member Rob Coffland, both approved at the last meeting.

It was noted that Board Member Ed Garcia had reached the end of his first term, and was eligible for a second term. The Board then discussed the potential return of Larry Lujan as a Board Member. Joe Moure noted that Lujan was high energy and a good Board Member. Joel Goldfrank noted his business acumen and his passion for the arts. Mark Rhodes noted his vision, Ambassador Romero mentioned his legacy to New Mexico and Diane Martinez added that he was an excellent choice who we were lucky to get. A motion to accept Larry Lujan as a returning Board Member and to extend a second term to Ed Garcia was proposed by Joel Goldfrank, seconded by Mark Rhodes and approved by all.

Executive Director’s Report

David Setford reported that the Gala auctioneer would be Mark Johnson who had been recommended by Charmay Allred, and who had been very successful with the SWAIA Auction. David also mentioned that the date had been brought forward from December 12 to November 7th, as Jim and Rebecca Long were the chosen honorees and would be out of the country on December 12th. Jim would be providing a list of business associates of Heritage Hotels so that David could find new buyers for tables and seats, as well as sponsors.

David also reported on the upcoming trip to Dallas (November 12th – 15th) which so far had 12 travelers in total. He also noted that in 2016 SCAS Travel Committee were planning back to back trips to Mexico. Oct 1-12 a trip would feature the Yucatan and Chiapas, and October 13-26 the second trip would feature Chiapas and Oaxaca. The trips had been arranged through the aegis and hard work of Board Member Bill Frej, whose contact Mariana Aquirre from Mexico had organized the trips. The trips can be taken back to back, and are very affordable, at $2,450 each excluding air fare, of which $600 per traveler per trip would be a donation to SCAS.

David reported that the “Summer of Color” had been a great success, and had driven museum visitation from June 13th to September 7th up by 55% in as compared with the same period in 2014. The gate had increased in the same period from $7,779 to $13,783!

Finally David reported that by all accounts Summer Market had been a great success, with many artists having their best year for some time. Certainly sales were better than the year before. Jerome Lujan, the Artists’ Liaison, noted that he had received 75 surveys back, and all responses had been good. Maggie Magalnick informed the Board that we were looking at addressing the perennial problem of the artists on Washington in 2016, with the idea of providing a new location that would be much more visible and would feel much more a part of the Market.

Old Business

The e-mail from our Counsel in New York regarding the preliminary hearing on the Beltrán-KroppFoundation matter was included in the Board packet. As the President had already reported, it was noted that Attorney Griem for the Beltran-Kropp Foundation expressed an interest in possible mediation to resolve issues which the judge thought a good idea. The Board authorized this approach

Next meeting

Next meeting was agreed for December 14th, 2015.

Meeting Adjourns

There being no further business, the Board Meeting adjourned at 7.00 PM.