2020 July - Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 📝
MEETING NOTES
IN ATTENDANCE: Stephen Janes, Katy Rogers, Laura Booras, Wayne Kelterer, Nicholas Miller, Tyler Thomas, Riley Slack, Callie Gleason, Karen Steinwachs, Jessica Gasca, Tim Snider
Item 1: Call to Order
o Meeting called to order (9:07am)
Item 2: Approval Minutes – May 2020
o June 17, 2020 & June 30, 2020 minutes approved
Item 3: Cal Poly Wine & Viticulture Department
o Allyson Dela Cruz & Benoit Lecat were present to give an update on the program & new facility
o The program is thriving and sending new candidates into wine industry prepared
o Candidates work all over the world, but a lot stay local in Santa Barbara County: 700 graduates in California
o The program is centered on learning by doing
o Own vineyard & pilot winery for students to learn
o Lab for research, bonded winery, sales & hospitality program included
o Brand new facility for Wine & Viticulture Department to open soon
o There is a pipeline for Cal Poly students to become interns in SBC wineries
o Cal Poly students are required to complete one formal internship to graduate
o Job portal available to list internship opportunities with Cal Poly
o Best tactics to get a good intern: Competitive pay ($18/hour), free housing or low cost opportunities, visit campus and do a guest lecture about winery
o Tour of current and future facilities available to board & membership
Item 4: CEO Update
o Vintners Festival: City of Solvang asked if we would be interested in one of their venues
o Sponsorship could potentially be greater with City of Solvang
o Tourism boards may show more interest if in Solvang
o More sponsors may jump on board
o Historically, there were smaller events organized by SBV around VF but these did not make money and in some cases loss money
o SBV now promotes events individual wineries organize around VF
o We will attempt to table the announcement of VF21 until we confirm venue
o Financials
§ Same cashflow projections as last board meeting
§ EIDL loan has helped significantly
o Grant
§ Not realistic to do tastings in LA
§ Currently in talks with the CDFA
§ Working on reallocating funds
§ Increase digital advertising and traffic to site
§ Currently promoting that we are open responsibly with protocols and guidelines
§ We are able to extend the campaign
o Wine Preserve: Five Year Plan Discussion
§ Built a five year budget to help show industry the benefits of the Wine Preserve
§ Three categories: Promotion, Protection, People
§ Allocated a person for marketing and will come out of the Promotion category
§ Proposed two visitor centers: Santa Barbara proper & in the valley; start with SB
§ Collateral: Digital & Touring Guide out of Promotion
§ Protection: Government affairs to monitor movements on county & state levels
§ This five year budget was built to show vintners what we would actually spend money on
§ Advocacy costs less money but uses more time: Research, meetings, travel, etc.
§ E-commerce will cost $3-$5,000 to do right
§ Social media advertising has been very beneficial
§ We can be the marketing for wineries that don’t have a budget for it
§ Revenue under People allows for education and training of workforce
§ Charitable ventures are not allowed with Wine Preserve funds
Item 5: SB Wine Preserve “No Vote” and Presumed Yes Team
o Form committee to talk to wineries about the status of their Wine Preserve stance
o Stephen will talk with Board Members and decide who will talk to who
Item 6: Sonoma County Winegrowers
o SCW is using their grape commission to market and sell Sonoma fruit to wineries outside their county
o Marketing and informational Zoom presentation
o Could be a possible avenue to make money for association?
o Board will consider after Wine Preserve
Item 7: Agriculture Advisory Update
o Last meeting focused on hemp in relation to cannabis in the county
o Recently adopted cannabis ordinance amendments: 50 foot setback, process indoors if on-site, reasonable odor abatement plan
o Carpinteria Growers Association: Stated they have to work on odor
o Hemp will have to go through own ordinance drafting process
§ Projections show it will be hard to make money with hemp in SBC
o Committee will write a letter to Board of Supervisors about plastics in Ag.
§ The benefits that plastics bring to Ag industry
§ Write a plan that will allow no plastic in ocean
§ When letter is done, will be sent to Board of Supervisors
Item 8: SB Vintners Foundation
o Foundation could help with educational ventures with their non-profit classification
Item 9: Vinous Maps
o Stephen spoke with Lacey Fussel of Muse PR & Antonio Galloni
o SBV will not fund the map project but Stephen will help raise funds from vintner community
Item 10: Meeting Adjourned
o Meeting adjourned at 12pm