Alaska State Fair BoardMinutes
President John Harkey called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Present: directors Bonnie Quill, Bruce Bush, Pete Probasco, Charlie Willis, and Carol Kenley; members Larry Longenecker, Pamella Meekin and Katie Fosselman; general manager Ray Ritari and recorder Donna Tate. Director John Erickson and his son, John, III, arrived at 7:01.
Quill/Probasco/MCU: To accept the minutes and the consent agenda as presented. Person To Be Heard Katie Fosselman, CPA, discussed the new tax regulations for non-profit organizations. She will examine the rules more closely to see if any changes were made concerning directors of non-profit organizations.
Treasurer Bush gave the financial report, which showed total assets of $4,892,083.40, total current liabilities of $314,142.62, long-term liabilities of $525,371.33, and total equity of $4,352,569.45, as of March 31, 2008. Included in the assets was $932,965.45 in the general checking account. Bush also reported the month’s total income, expenses, and net income. It was noted that the Fair’s financial situation is remaining steady. It was reported that the Farm Exhibit Upgrade is included in Senator Green’s recommended state budget, but the Fair will wait to be sure of the dollars before beginning the improvements. General Manager’s Update
The board requested Ritari to present a statement at May’s meeting of how the Fair did with the winter concert series.
An Etix information packet was distributed to each director. Etix will offer more detailed and more immediate reporting. The Fair plans to start using Etix for ticket sales on July 1, after the expiration of the current contract with Ticketmaster.
The membership sub-committee will meet May 5 at 9 am. They will further consider establishing different levels and cost of membership.
Member Comments Longenecker said the reason Fair daily attendance was not previously immediately available was there was no way to track when a person buying a three-day pass attended the Fair nor did the Fair have immediate totals from other points of sale (Costco, Ticketmaster, etc.) Director Erickson’s son John, III, was in attendance to satisfy a Boy Scout requirement to attend a community meeting. Harkey said the phone conversation with Governor Palin’s financial director, Karen Rehfeld, was cordial. He feels if the Fair is unsuccessful in obtaining funding in this year’s state budget, we need to do whatever necessary during the 2008 Fair to accumulate a large number of signatures of people who support the Farm Exhibit project and forward them to the Governor. He complimented the winter’s Cabin Fever Reliever Concerts. Probasco is pleased with the varied year-round use of the grounds. Bush would like to see an ad hoc farm committee appointed to assist in planning the Fair demonstration farm. He said the new President of the State Farm Bureau, Arthur Keyes, wishes to be more involved with the Fair farm projects. Willis questioned Longenecker concerning extending the orange parking lot boundaries. Kenley is excited to be attending her first board meeting as a director. Ritari announced that the Fair has contracted a lawyer to serve as the Fair’s attorney. He spoke of the Fair’s tentative concert lineup and planned activities. He read an email from Bob Fowler concerning his previous bankruptcy. The email stated that Fowler had been completely vindicated by the courts.
Bush (Chair), Kenley, and Quill were appointed an ad hoc farm committee. They will meet 9am April 15 at the Fair.
Quill/Probasco/MCU: To adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm. |