HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/11/27 Min. Fdn. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 27, 2007, SPECIAL MEETING
A. CALL TO ORDER
The special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga Community Foundation was held on
Tuesday, November 27, 2007, in the Tri-Communities Room, Civic Center, located at
10500 Civic Center Dr., Rancho Cucamonga, California. The meeting was called to order
at 6:08 p.m. by Chair Parker.
Present were: Board Members: Buquet, Cohen, Galindo, Mize, Nelson, and Parker.
Staff: Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director; Francie Palmer, Community Services
Marketing Manager; Nettie Nielsen, Community Services Superintendent; Paula Pachon,
Management Analyst III and Melissa Morales, Senior Administrative Secretary.
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS/PRESENTATIONS
1. Member Cohen was presented with a plaque recognizing his years as Chair of the
Community Foundation.
2. Newly appointed Member Thomas Galindo was introduced to the Board.
C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
There were no communications from the Public.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. To approve the Minutes of the Special Community Foundation Meeting held July 16,
2007.
2. To receive and file Treasurer's Reports for the months of July, August and September
2007 and PAL Cash Reports for the months of June, July, August, September and
October 2007.
MOTION: Moved by Member Cohen, seconded by Member Mize, to approve the
Consent Calendar, as submitted. Motion carried: 6-0.
E. FOUNDATION BUSINESS
1. Community Foundation Strategic Thinking Process was opened by Director McArdle
who explained the purpose and goals for the Strategic Thinking Process and suggested
that the Board consider whether they wish to address the following areas: Ideal vision
of success for the Community Foundation for the next 5 to 10 years; identification of
current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the Foundation;
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identification of potential actions for each area which would effectively move the
Foundation towards the ideal vision of success and identification of future strategies of
the Community Foundation to accomplish the ideal vision of the future. The Board
concurred with conducting an in-depth discussion that evening of the topics
recommended by staff.
Director McArdle updated the Board on the recent strategic discussion and action taken
by the Library Foundation to end the PAL partnership with the Community Foundation.
The Board discussed and concurred with focusing on the goals of the Foundation
independent of the Library Foundation, while ensuring some level of coordination and
communication with the Library Foundation. Action was taken as follows:
MOTION: Moved by Vice Chair Mize, seconded by Member Cohen, to send the
Community Foundation PAL Cabinet Members to the upcoming PAL Cabinet meeting
with the intent to include discussion on the logistics of ending the partnership of the
Foundations and the future of the PAL Campaign. Motion carried: 6-0.
Discussion of the Strategic Thinking Process ensued. Members were asked how they
envision the Foundation will be described by others if it continues its success.
Comments included: driving force of promoting arts in the community and surrounding
areas; known among the community for the projects involved with; established a
successful balance of cultural and performing arts; reached out to provide "community
benefit"; focused on arts —performing and visual; created a $5 million theatre
endowment; continued support of the PAL Campaign; destination place forthe Cultural
Center; expanded Playhouse programs including children's, adults, headline
entertainers and theatrical productions; supported non-traditional theater including
ballet and classical music; increased Bank of America courtyard activities; more
volunteers — self perpetuating organization; performing/cultural arts grants; dinner
theater promotions and art education/programs in school.
Members were asked how they will know if the Foundation is successful and why.
Comments included: community involvement; money, leadership and publicity.;
volunteers involved in fundraising; financial stability, citywide support; financial stability;
increased support of the Gala for the Arts; increased attendance at the Lewis Family
Playhouse; quality programs. Members were asked specific goals for the next 5 to 10
years. Comments included: making the Cultural Center a destination place; increased
volunteers; increased Endowment Fund; outreach community programs — variety of
venues; focusing on the Cultural Center at least the next five years and cultivating a
new base of support and involvement from the community who are supportive of the
arts and related programs.
Members were asked how the Board could best evolve in the future to best represent
and access the full community. Comments included: seeking input from various
aspects of the community that seek to serve the entire community including art, music
and theatre patrons; conducting public surveys on best use of endowment monies;
November
careful selection of Boardmembers; continued Board development and encouraging a
board consisting of different strengths; conducting "friend raisers"; creating more
programs that "Friends" can be involved with; creating a "Friends" recognition and
appreciation program. Members were asked how they seethe relationship with the City
evolving and responses were made in support of keeping a close relationship with the
City staff.
Each Boardmember was asked how they would be motivated individually and
responses included: new and exciting programs; attending retreats, arts conferences
and/or seminars; clearly established goals and mission and seeing benchmark
successes.
Board strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were discussed. Members
comments on strengths included: ability to solicit large corporate sponsors; well-
connected leaders; ability to raise money; working in tandem with both the City and
Library Foundation; good boardmember relationships; dedication and team of partners.
Weaknesses addressed included: minimal support in the City from small to mid-level
donor range; need to increase audience at Lewis Family Playhouse; small mailing lists;
limited community knowledge of the Foundation, need for more members; need for a
community outreach; need to bond with and use volunteers; need to raise level of
fundraising; need to brand the Foundation; limited time that Boardmembers are able to
spend on Foundation activities and limited number of Board meetings.
Opportunities identified by the Board included: many donor programs such as the
bricks are already in place; the many solicitation opportunities that exist from arts
patrons living in the community; available grants; large donor opportunities; new
residents; planned giving program; effective community outreach; playhouse volunteers
and having a volunteer driven event such as the Gala.
Members commented on threats including: reliance on a small community of support
which may potentially exhaust the patrons; competition with neighboring cities that have
copied what the City is doing; the economic climate; loss of motivation/dedication; the
Cultural Center's newness wearing off and stale programming.
2. Updates on Committee Activities for the Community Foundation's Membership/
Nominating; Fund Development; Gala; PAL House Raffle and Finance Subcommittees
were given. The updates were as follows: Membership/Nominating—Member Cohen
informed the Board that one candidate had been interviewed by the Committee for
possible consideration of appointment to the Board. He gave a brief description of
applicant Lupe Jaramillo's background and work experience. He noted her comments
on her role with her employer USA Today and also her connection with many of the
local schools. Following a brief discussion by the Board concerning the appointment
and the need for a variety of Boardmember strengths, the Board took the following
action:
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MOTION: Moved by Vice Chair Mize, seconded by Member Galindo, to approve
recommending to the City Council the appointment of Lupe Jaramillo to the Community
Foundation Board of Directors. Motion carried: 6-0.
The Committee updates continued. Fund Development—Vice Chair Mize updated the
Board of the subcommittee meeting held that day which included PAL House Raffle
updates and continued discussion of the donor prospect list. PAL House Raffle—Vice
Chair Mize briefed Members on the status of the fundraiser and noted that sales are
similar to this same time last year, with the difference this year of added marketing
costs. He added that the drawing is scheduled for Saturday, December 15"' Director
McArdle announced on Friday, December 7w,the unveiling of a Shakespeare sculpture
and bench acknowledging the donation of Chuck, Suzanne and Charlie Buquet would
be held at the Imagination Courtyard at the Cultural Center. Gala — Member Nelson
described various aspects of the Gala to be held April 18, 2008, including the possibility
of Tony Orlando as the evening's entertainment and Fritz Coleman as Emcee. She
listed suggested sponsorship packages and the possibility of opening the Playhouse
upper level to non-Gala attendees for a show and dessert price. She commended the
subcommittee volunteers on their assistance. Finance - Member Buquet described
discussions held at the subcommittee's September meeting including addressing the
miscellaneous funds that have minimal activity. Review and discussion of existing LAIF
investments was also held. He noted that with the recent resignations of Members
Harry and Judy Gibson, he is the only member on the subcommittee. No other action
was taken.
3. Election of Officers was opened for the Rancho Cucamonga Community Foundation
Board of Directors Vice Chair and Secretary/Treasurer seats. Director McArdle
recommended filling the vacant seats in light of the recent resignations of
Boardmembers Harry and Judy Gibson. The Board took the following action:
MOTION: Moved by Chair Parker, seconded by Member Cohen, to appoint Member
Mize as Vice Chair of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. Motion carried:
6-0.
MOTION: Moved by Vice Chair Mize, seconded by Member Cohen,to appoint Member
Galindo as Secretary/Treasurer of the Community Foundation Board of Directors.
Motion carried: 6-0.
4. Request to schedule a Special Meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga Community
Foundation was opened by Director McArdle who recommended that the Board
consider meeting in the near future to discuss a number of pending Board matters. The
Board discussed possible dates and concurred with calling the special meeting on
December 12"', at 5:30 p.m., to following the regularly scheduled PAL Cabinet meeting.
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F. IDENTIFICATION OF ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
None
G. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Moved by Member Cohen, seconded by Member Galindo, to adjourn the
Regular Community Foundation Meeting. Motion carried: 6-0. Meeting adjourned at
8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
161issa ;Morales
Senior Administrative Secretary
Approved by the Community Foundation: December 12, 2007
Motion carried: 4-0-2 (Absent: Buquet and Galindo).
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