Board Minutes April 12, 2022

Present: John O., Craig, Annette, Kathrine, Debbie, Ruth
Zoom: JT, Mary L., Kristi, Tom, John S.
 
Motion to approve March minutes-m-John S.,s-John O., carried

Old Business

Plein Air (John O.)
19 artists registered so far... lots of repeats and some new. We have joined the Minnesota Plein Air Collective with Red Wing and Grand Marais. The Collective is looking for a venue for a collaborative exhibit with good representation from all 3 events...  rules are still being discussed. Sue Gens from the MSAB is working with the planning.
Discussion on Paint outs for Plein Air: This would be similar to Art in Bloom at MIA. Lake Country Gardens is interested, but needs more discussion. Outdoor Painters of MN offered us a $250 prize for Best Sense of Place, as they do for Red Wing and Grand Marais. We also need to communicate to Plein Air registrants about the Studio Tour and Arts & Crafts Affair.

Marketing
The City of Battle Lake is wondering if we want to be part of their Coupon Books and Flyer offering 10% off. It is $45 to be part of the coupon book and $95 for coupon book and flyer.  OK to both.
 
AOTL Membership
97 members registered so far, last year our total was 135.
 
Art & Craft Affair (Debbie)
43 registered so far, usually have 90-95, but it's early yet.
 
Building (John S.)
Roofing- just waiting for sending out to contractors.  The furnace in the gallery is not working. It is around 7-8 years old. We need to have it working – will call All Seasons. Radon is just waiting on paperwork.
 
Studio Tour (Kristi)
​48 registered. There has been a question as to whether artists could show their work in the AOTL gallery for the Studio Tour. Our by-laws say that, even if artists are on the back porch, their sales would still run through the gallery.
 
Workshops (Kristi)
Spring Workshops-Kathrine's Egg Coloring workshop used 80 eggs and went well. Other workshops set up are Silversmithing with Potomac Beads, Paint n 'Sip at ABC Brewing, Hardanger with Mary Williams, Watercolor with Grace Haverty...waiting for the Ok with or without grants. The grants are reviewed the end of April. Registrations should be able to cover...we just need to be able to pay the artists- discussion. Part of the mission of AOTL is education. Workshops also promote the gallery. Consensus is Ok Go for it with all workshops! Some discussion on concern about online registration. We should have an alternate method to contact us, a phone number for the gallery. Debbie can take credit cards. Contracts and communication with the artists were mentioned.
 
Interns
4 candidates from HandShake were interviewed last Wednesday. Offered positions to 2. 1 turned down and offered to another. Housing is waiting until interns are definitely selected.
 
Treasurer
Ann Smith will join the AOTL Board as Treasurer, subject to membership approval.
 
Laptop
We need a new laptop especially for Zoom. Tom will look into it and make recommendations. Motion to spend up to $2000 on a Windows laptop-John O., second- John S., carried.
 
Guidelines Update
For those who have terms ending, who is returning? JT is returning, John S. would like to be on the Building Committee but not on the Board., John O. is still in the process of deciding. Ruth is not returning.
AOTL Annual Meeting is scheduled for May24, 6:30 pm at the gallery and on Zoom. John O. discussed guidelines- new blood, so no ruts. Board members elect officers at the June meeting - call for board members to be thinking of possible new members for next month.
 
New Business
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• Policies and Procedures (John O.) Mary Smith will put it together and present it to the board next month. John S.-overview of the building for policies and procedures, ie,schedule for replacing the furnace filter, putting money in Escrow to prepare for new roof or new furnace. Discussion. We should ask the new treasurer what is good practice.
  
• Rainy Day Kits: Should we have them for sale in the gallery? They are AOTL funded and AOTL receives the proceeds. Anyone interested in putting kits together?
  
• Gallery opens May 1. New artwork should be in by May 3, which is gallery hanging day. 
  
• Cleaning Day-AOTL board meeting is on May 10, after the meeting, board members will stay and clean from noon on.
  
• LACC is not charging for our use for workshops this year.
  
• Wild Apricot. Tom reported that Wild Apricot is up for renewal in January, he will review technologies to make sure the software is adequate.
  
• Fundraising. Tom met the President of The Arts Partnership- Dayna DelVal. She is willing to come in to talk with us and give insights for fundraising.
  
• ​Workshops. Ruth will talk to Springboard for the Arts about their workshop information as a possible program.

 
Motion to adjourn- Craig, second- Kathrine, carried.