2020 August - Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 📝

MEETING NOTES 

IN ATTENDANCE:  Stephen Janes, Katy Rogers, Wayne Kelterer, Nicholas Miller, Tyler Thomas, Riley Slack, Callie Gleason, Karen Steinwachs

Item 1: Call to Order

o   Meeting called to order (4:07pm)

Item 2: Board of Supervisors Meeting on Wine Preserve

o   The Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted 5-0 to allow Wine Preserve to proceed

o   BOS stated structure had to be auditable and cannot be used for political advocacy

o   1.5% of tasting room structure is not auditable unless SBC does a great deal of work

o   As a Board, we could be proactive and change structure, or we can wait for SBC County Counsel to tell us

o   BOS does not approve of funds being used to advocate politically

o   Some possible title changes to Wine Preserve funding: “Government Relations,” or “Director of Community Relations”

o   Possible change in structure: 0.75% of all California sales?

o   1% of California sales is more straightforward, auditable, and gets us to revenue that is impactful

o   Wine Preserve can be challenged every year

o   Revenue numbers for wine industry will need to be confirmed with SBC

o   Plan C may be option as previously discussed (raise dues structure)?

o   Could take all political ventures out since not in our by-laws

o   We previously made a major adjustment by dropping assessment from 2% to 1% based on updated revenue numbers

o   “Director of Industry Relations” is a title used by local tourism board

o   All along, we have included a disclaimer that structure could change in accordance with feedback from BOS 

o   Karen Steinwachs makes a motion to adjust Wine Preserve to 1% on all California sales and to update title of Advocacy role to “Director of Industry Relations”

§  Riley Slack Seconds

·      Karen Steinwachs: Yes

·      Riley Slack: Yes

·      Callie Gleason: Yes

·      Stephen Janes: Yes

·      Wayne Kelterer: Yes

·      Nicholas Miller: Yes

·      Katy Rogers: Yes

·      Tyler Thomas: Yes

o   Motion passes unanimously

Item 3: PR Firm for Wine Preserve

o   Since the BOS meeting, anti-Wine Preserve stories have been circulating from different sources

o   These stories have spread misinformation and falsehoods

o   Some vintners think assessment is a tax that will go into SBC general fund and not benefit SBV and wine community

o   Alison would like to hire Kady Fleckenstein of Kadydid Consulting to get correct information across to vintners and to receive advice on strategy going forward

o   Kady would create a media kit, help with “mythbusting,” layout the benefits of the Wine Preserve, and construct all press releases

o   Kady is extremely knowledgeable of area, vintners and political figures

o   Right now, we have been passive and allowed anti-Wine Preserve voices to dictate conversation

o   Kady would be on retainer for the next three months as Wine Preserve is presented to local city councils and BOS meetings

o   Steps forward: Updated structure to Management District Plan (MDP), MDP approved by SBC County Counsel, petition drive

o   Looking to get on agendas for local city councils in October, 2020

o   Retainer is $5,000. Other option is hourly rate but could be more expensive.

o   Stephen Janes makes a motion to hire Kady Fleckenstein of Kadydid Consulting

§  Wayne Kelterer Seconds

·      Stephen Janes: Yes

·      Wayne Kelterer: Yes

·      Callie Gleason: Yes

·      Nicholas Miller: Yes

·      Katy Rogers: Yes

·      Riley Slack: Yes

·      Karen Steinwachs: No

·      Tyler Thomas: No

o   Motion passes 6-2

Item 4: Bike Path Letter of Endorsement

o   Tabled to next Board of Directors meeting

Item 5: Meeting Adjourned

o   Meeting adjourned at 5:27pm