2022 November - Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 📝

Santa Barbara Vintners – Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Date: November 8, 2022

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Location: FOXEN Vineyard & Winery

In Attendance:

Tim Snider, Riley Slack, Nicholas Miller, Jessica Gasca (Zoom), Chase Carhartt (Zoom), Jason Djang, Steven Gerbac, Pierre LaBarge

Item 1: Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 10:07am.

Item 2: Approve Minutes

Motion to approve September meeting minutes.

Motion: Jason.

Second: Riley.

Unanimous approval.

Item 3: CEO Update & Financials

New SBV logo was tested at Laguna grant event; feedback positive.

Financials:

• EIDL loan payment set at $202.90/month beginning 12/01/22

• Original loan: $500,000 at 2.75% fixed (non-recourse to board/members)

• Accounts Receivable outstanding: ~$70,000

• Membership downgrades occurring due to tier reassessments

• Hard to predict consistent cash flow

• Membership engagement initiative forming

• Leadership Luncheon proposed to gather high-tier feedback

2022 Vintners Festival:

• 1,564 tickets sold (higher than projected)

• $18,500 sponsorship secured

• $5,000 received from Santa Maria Chamber

• Participation fee collection ongoing

• SBV and SBVF jointly hired Emily Byram as Event Director (contract role)

• Post-festival survey shows strong emotional connection to festival

• Majority preference for smaller-scale future events (~250 attendees)

• Exploring “Behind the Scenes” multi-location educational format

Item 4: Foundation Update

Jessica provided update on Foundation Auction and fundraising.

• Instant Cellar Raffle raised ~$4,000

• Positive member and consumer feedback

• Foundation Auction scheduled for this weekend with ~40 winery partners

Item 5: Mission Santa Barbara Presentation

Presented by Stephen Janes and Chad Melville.

Purpose of the event:

• Bring key wine buyers and sommeliers to SBC

• Convert them into long-term ambassadors of the region

Discussion:

• SBV covers travel, lodging, meals

• Ideal participants: CA-based buyers

• Leadership tier receives automatic participation

• Target: 35 participating wineries

• August proposed, despite harvest timing challenges (harvest = education opportunity)

Item 6: Meeting Adjourned

Meeting adjourned at 12:20pm.