CALL TO ORDER
Chair Ted Kuster called the meeting to order at 10:09 AM on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
The meeting was at Lodi Grape Festival (Spring Campout) and via Zoom. Meeting minutes for today’s meeting were taken by Andrea Zelones.
ROLL CALL
Board Members Present at Lodi Grape Festival (Spring Campout): Robin Frenette, Lani Way, Andrea Zelones Ted Kuster and via Zoom: Phoebe Leigh-Suelflow, Bert Daniel, Karen Celia Heil
Board Members Absent: Ashley Readel, Tyler Stamets
Chair noted that Quorum was established.
Officers, Coordinators and Members Present: Pete Ludé, (Executive Director), Theresa Gooding (President / Finance Committee Chair), Debbie Wendt (VP Membership), Darby Brandli (VP Youth Program
Officers, Coordinators Absent: Joel Keebler (VP Donor Experience).
Guests Present: Joyce Hennessey, Emil Nishi, Bubba, Glenn Wallace, Russ Loop, Bruno Brandli, Larry Phegley, Bruce Champion, and Betsy Riger
SETTING THE AGENDA: Approved Agenda Version 2 as circulated.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Approved March 9, 2025 Meeting Minutes Ver 2.
PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON UNAGENDIZED ITEMS: Bruno requests to speak clearly (seniors need to hear).
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Approved the Consent Agenda as circulated.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTIONS: No meeting. No actions.
OLD BUSINESS
Great 48
1st weekend is New Years Day, 2nd weekend has convention. Jeff relocating to Louisiana. We need another volunteer to coordinate. Costs have gone up significantly since years ago for ballrooms. We pay for sound, lights, and concerts. Want to pay stipend to teachers. Crystal Palace was very successful. Looking for feedback and ideas. Jeff Russinsky wants to line up the instructors now (pencil in for now).
Discussion:
Mrs. Leigh-Suelflow- Wintergrass is a lot more expensive. We should send out save the dates too.
Ms. Wendt -Will help out.
Mrs. Frenette-We can promote at Good Old Fashion.
Father’s Day Festival Status
See consent agenda for details.
Ticket Sales: 14% ahead of last year so going well.
Talent: All locked in and set. 6 bands will be on pioneer stage for 50th.
Operations: RV, Vendors, Rentals:
RVs sold out. No electric only because of RV park across the street with FD’s discounts. Sound and stage locked in (Vern’s Pioneer, Ponderosa Bldg, and Main stages). Paul Knight will be doing the house. Molly Tuttle’s monitor mix of the main stage.
Rentals: Not using expensive generators this year. Will have forklifts and flatbed trucks. Bar manager under contract and she’s getting beer, wine, and spirits. Vern’s, Main Stage and Ponderosa will have bars. Dave Linholtz getting repeat vendors (24). Turning away some vendors that are musical. Luthiers Pavilion are running low this year (only 5).
50th Anniversary Historic Displays
Using the tall pines building (50th anniversary buildings with about 10 presentations-will be in planning guide). It will be a museum display (silent auction, Sat night auction called, or bid online). Need more donations of things to auction.
Discussion:
Mrs. Way-Do we have an “ask letter”? Theresa will generate.
Bruno-What’s going with the old electric only? Mr. Ludé says will be there are blocked off areas for tent camping, roads. and fire lanes.
Marketing and Promotion: Another press release going out April 30th.
Comp Ticket Policy: In the consent agenda. Reminder, no double dipping on comp tickets.
Discussion
Ms. Celia Heil-Music camp comp ticket policy. Talk to Adam. May be poorly received.
Mr. Ludé-Music camp volunteers already get generous meals included. There is a speadsheet in the google drive to check off all the comp tickets.
Mrs. Gooding-Who approves (Mr. Ludé, Theresa Gooding, Ted Kuster, Lani Way, Phoebe Leigh-Suelflow).
Mrs. Frenette-Would like to have 5 still photographers plus 5 for Danny Clark. Up to 10 approved. FOMO instant social media. Danny believes it will draw in 100’s of people.
Bruno-Can someone at the gate say I’m with such and such band and I should get in free. Ted says no.
Motion to approve the comp ticket policy as proposed in Consent Agenda was unanimously approved.
Electrical: We are not using the electric only. If we are not going to use the electrical, we should sell it. We can unload at the festival and then have someone buy it.
Ms. Brandli-We should ask Eric Rice (electrician in Grass Valley) from Strawberry. Strawberry is looking to expand.
Photo wrangler: Joyce Hennessey, Karen Walters, and Ray Edlund donated photos. Need a volunteer to wrangle the photos into one place.
Discussion:
Ms. Wendt-Will be the wrangler.
Mrs. Frenette-To put them on the CBA website. Mr. Ludé will help setup the metalinks to the spreadsheet.
Mr. Kuster-Bria light photos. Kathy Kallick ready to share and 3rd on AJ. Would like to put them up as screenings.
Ms. Wendt-She’ll be at the new campsite which may have better Wi-Fi.
Mr. Ludé-We are on fiber.
Sonoma County BG & Folk Festival Status: Nothing to report this month.
Berkley: Nothing to report this month.
Afterschool Bluegrass Club Status
See Consent Agenda. We’ve split it into 2 classes of 10 with a waiting list. ¼ starting with their own guitars. Hired Nick as a curriculum coordinator.
Discussion
Ms. Brandli-updated their books to note ABC.
Ms. Hennessey-Community Center (CMC) in her area.
Remaining appointments for FY 2024-25
Regional Directors- Jeff Sargent is back as our East Bay Regional Director (former CBA chair). Sequoia Rose has not been successful in Northern Region.
VP-Regional Activity-Nothing to report (Still Ted Kuster)
Filling Regional posts
Other year-long volunteer appointments needed.
Assistant Festival Director-Still looking. (Beer & Wine [Ted] Box Office [Andrea], and various task work [Theresa temporarily].
Online Merchandise Coordinator-Still looking (Bruce Sedownick).
Feral Friday
Ebonie will talk with Mrs. Leigh-Suelflow about setting up account and Venmo. Mrs. Leigh-Suelflow to research setting up personal account for CBA business. Donor box is up and running since December. Need square dance on ASCAP.
DEI/Welcome Committee Report
Attribution cart project needs to be self-funding. Propose $100 for baseball card format by local artist of color. Brief story of their life and impact of music on their life. Adam Baker, Elizabeth Cotton, Gus Cannon, Negosi Field’s uncle, etc. Ms. Brandli to pay $100 out of her pocket in CBA’s name.
We could be jeopardizing future donations/grants due to our previous wording. The DEI Committee proposes the following statement:
The California Bluegrass association celebrates the many faceted cultural roots of bluegrass and old time music. We believe everyone benefits from the well-being and continued growth of bluegrass and old time music in California and beyond.
Our community welcomes and encourages participation and involvement by people of all backgrounds. We strive to open our doors to members, fans, and performers who reflect California itself. We work to create a culture that invites all to participate in our events and in the music we play and perform.
Motion to adopt new wording of DEI statement was unanimously approved.
Motion to rename DEI Committee to Welcome Committee and rename DEI Statement to Welcome Statement were unanimously approved.
Discussion:
Mr. Kuster-Will email the name and statement change to all members of the committee.
NEW BUSINESS
SF Bluegrass & Old Time Festival (Salesforce Park)
We gave $1k last year. They have fundraised very successfully and will not need a donation this year.
Motion to approve $100 donation to SF Bluegrass and Old Time Festival was unanimously approved.
Mr. Kuster will let Treasurer know to send check.
Father’s Day 2026 logo
We need to finalize our logo so we can put them in the 2025 FDF program now.
Discussion:
Mr. Kuster-We had a very strong/masculine logo setup before, maybe we should go with a lighter logo. Need input before next board meeting.
Mr. Ludé-May 10 is the deadline for the program.
Mrs. Frenette-Please send email reminder.
Bruce Champion Request
Proposal for a Permanent Home for California Bluegrass Recordings. See consent agenda. Eric Burman has volunteered to help. He needs someone to continue his passion when he’s gone. Mrs. Frenette will take the lead on helping Bruce figure this out. Two items: One getting them into the cloud for safe keeping and two you’d need a lawyer to put these online for public listening.
Discussion:
Mr. Ludé-First we need the recordings, put up on the cloud, and create metalinks. Our performance licenses do not cover recordings.
Bruce-Needs help figuring out how to save these recordings legally. Has put up 600 recordings on Reverbnation.
Mrs. Frenette-Can we add his music to where we keep our Father’s Day? Ted noted discuss next month. Looking for people to help in the recording truck.
Mr. Daniel-Contact Mark Hogan.
Mr. Ludé-We could use help for the CBA archives as well.
Mrs. Leigh-Suelflow-Will look for volunteers for CBA archives as well as Bruce’s project.
Next Meeting: Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 10:00am via Zoom.
There being no further agenda items, the meeting was adjourned at 11:55 pm.