2023 December - Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 📝

Santa Barbara Vintners – Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Date: December 12, 2023

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Location: The Thornhill Companies

In Attendance:

Tim Snider, Pierre LaBarge, Chase Carhartt, David Djang, Steven Gerbac, Kevin Gleason, Dan Glaeser, John H. Haan Jr., Nicholas Miller, Denise Shurtleff (Zoom)

Item 1: Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 10:00am.

Item 2: Approve Minutes

Approve November 2023 Meeting Minutes.

Motion: Dan.

Second: Chase.

Unanimous approval.

Item 3: Events

Emily discussed upcoming programming.

Emily working 50/50 across SBV & SBVF.

Proposing 2024 Vintners Festival on October 19, 2024.

Phil to assist with membership-related educational tastings and leadership-focused programming.

Mission SB planning underway:

– Focus on ~20 California-based wine buyers

– Free for Leadership tier

– $1,200 for Community tier

SBVF Updates:

– Holiday of Hope benefited 60 families

– Golf Tournament scheduled for June 2024

– Wellness event in August 2024

– Wine Auction in November 2024

Item 4: CEO Update

Board Seats & By-Laws

Two Community seats currently open.

By-Laws being amended.

Key change: Seats will belong to individuals, not wineries.

Replacements appointed by the Board.

Business Members eligible to hold seats.

Wine Institute / BID Context

Wine Institute meeting reaffirmed regional alignment and collaboration support for BID strategy.

Paso Wine Alliance discussion showed no resistance to BID concept.

Ag Enterprise Ordinance

Alison advocating on feasibility of setback requirements; presented illustration at Planning Commission.

Item 5: Guest Discussion – Grape Commission

Guest: Mark Chandler, former Executive Director of Lodi Grape Commission.

Key points:

– Commission formed by industry majority vote

– Funds can support marketing, education, research

– No multi-county commissions currently exist

– Success requires strong leadership and transparency

Next Steps:

Research feasibility of district boundary configuration.

Gauge support among major growers.

Explore interest from neighboring counties.

Item 6: BID Update

Communication plan being developed.

Press release targeted for 01/19/24.

Semi-annual meeting tentatively scheduled for 02/13/24.

Item 7: Meeting Adjourned

Meeting adjourned at 12:01pm.