I.

Calling of the Meeting to Order – Diane B. Wilsey, President

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, September 14, 2006, in the Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 12:55 p.m. by Diane B. Wilsey, President.

President Wilsey welcomed Trustees Kermit H. Boston, Penny Coulter, and Trevor D. Traina, who were attending their first Executive Committee meeting.  She noted that Trustees Denise Fitch, Gretchen Kimball, Kathryn Lasater, Monica Maduro, and Arlene Schnitzer, appointed to the Board of Trustees in either April 2005 or April 2006, were also present having just attended the Orientation Session for new Trustees preceding this meeting.

President Wilsey presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.

II.

Calling of the Roll

Present:

Kermit H. Boston
Marion Cope, Vice President for Annual Support
Penny Coulter
Marianne H. Peterson
Michael H. Podell
Louise H. Renne
Randolph H. Scott, Vice President for Audience Development and Civic Affairs
Trevor D. Traina
Lonna Wais
Diane B. Wilsey, President

Excused:

Iris S. Chan
Robert P. Morrow III
Jeanne Robertson

Other Trustees in Attendance:

Denise Fitch
Richard W. Goss II
George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections
J. Burgess Jamieson
Gretchen Kimball
Kathryn Lasater
Monica Maduro
Steven MacGregor Read
Arlene Schnitzer
Paul A. Violich, Vice President for Finance

III.

Report of the President – Diane B. Wilsey

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the June 8, 2006 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the minutes of the June 8, 2006 meeting of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved.

B. Report on Saturday Closure of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park

President Wilsey expressed appreciation to Tomasita Medál for her efforts in coordinating the community response opposing the Saturday trial closure of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park.   In mid-May, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed the ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors to close John F. Kennedy Drive for a six month trial basis. 

C. Consideration and Possible Action to Set the Dates of the 2007 Executive Committee Meetings

President Wilsey discussed a proposed change in time for the Executive Committee meetings from noon to 3 p.m.  The move of the Administrative Offices from downtown San Francisco to the de Young Museum has made it more difficult for members with offices in the financial district or on the Peninsula to attend mid-day meetings.  This change is being considered at the suggestion of several Committee members, who prefer meeting at the end of the day. 

The Executive Committee concurred that a change in time for the 2007 Executive Committee meetings from noon to 3 p.m. was timely.  President Wilsey presented the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby set the following dates, times and locations for its 2007 regular meetings:

Thursday, March 8; 3 p.m.; Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young
Thursday, May 10; 3 p.m.; Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young
Thursday, September 13; 3 p.m.; Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young
Thursday, December 13; 3 p.m.; Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Executive Committee voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1607.

D. Consideration and Possible Action to Change the Time of the December 14, 2006 Executive Committee Meeting from Noon to 3 P.M.

In keeping with the previous resolution adopted by the Executive Committee, President Wilsey introduced the subsequent resolution changing the time of the December 14, 2006 Executive Committee from noon to 3 p.m.:

RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby change the time of its December 14, 2006 meeting from noon to 3 p.m., with the location remaining unchanged, namely, the Piazzoni Murals Room at the de Young Museum.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Executive Committee voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1608.

 IV.

Report of the Director of Museums – John E. Buchanan, Jr.

A. Update on City Budget

 Mr. Buchanan reported that the City Budget request for Fiscal Year 2006-07 was approved and totals approximately $9,500K to cover the cost of guards, some administrative staff, and utilities at both the Legion of Honor and de Young Museum.  In addition, the approved City Budget also includes about $150K for Legion of Honor repairs, primarily a boiler replacement at that facility. 

B. Report on the New de Young First Anniversary Celebration – October 13 -14, 2006

Mr. Buchanan reported on plans to celebrate the first anniversary of the new de Young on October 13-14, 2006.  It is anticipated that by the time of the first anniversary approximately 1.6 million visitors will have walked through the doors of the de Young Museum. To commemorate the historic opening of the new de Young and to thank the public for its support this past year, a celebratory weekend is being organized.   

The festivities will begin on Thursday evening, October 12^th, with the opening cocktail supper for two exhibitions at the Legion of Honor, Claude Lorrain:  The Painter as Draftsman and Transparent Reflections:  Richard Pousette-Dart Works on Paper 1940-1992.  This event will welcome the Museums’ International Council to its annual meeting on October 12^th-14^th. 

The next day, Friday, October 13^th, the International Council will hold its business meeting in the morning followed by a luncheon at the de Young Museum.  That evening, from 5 p.m. to midnight, “Friday Night at the de Young†celebrates its first anniversary.  All galleries and special exhibitions will be open to the public.  The evening will feature live entertainment and a dance party at 9 p.m. to Latin rock in conjunction with the Chicano Visions exhibition.
 
On Saturday, October 14^th, the de Young Museum will be open free of charge to the community all day. Activities will include music, performances, artist book signings, family programming, and birthday cake for all.  More than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend.  That evening, a special event, the “Starlight Danceâ€, honors the Museums’ Charter Members, totaling over 80,000 member households.  It is anticipated that this ticketed event at $45 per person will be sold out. 

Trustees will receive invitations to the various New de Young First Anniversary events shortly.

C. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Loan Requests

Mr. Buchanan presented the following loan requests:

1. From:  The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY

For:Georges Seurat:  The Drawings
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY:  10/9/07 – 1/7/08

Georges Seurat (French, 1859-1891)
Study for “La Parade de Cirqueâ€, 1886-1887
Black crayon on laid paper
Sheet:  233 x 308 mm (9 3/16 x 12 1/8 in.)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase,
Archer M. Huntington Fund
1947.1

Stipulations:The work on paper will be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to New York City and return to San Francisco.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

*****

2. From:  Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

For:Once Upon A Time – Walt Disney
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada:
3/8/07-6/24/07
Maxfield Parrish(American, 1870-1966)
From the Story of Snow White, 1912
Oil on panel, 30 ½ x 24 ½ (77.5 x 62.2 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Bequest of Hélène Irwin Fagan

Stipulations:The painting will be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to Montreal and return to San Francisco.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the two loan requests noted above.  There was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the loans subject to the conditions stated.

D. Other Informational Item

1. September 21, 2006 Reception and Viewing of The Quilts of Gee’s Bend Exhibition

Mr. Buchanan discussed a special evening at the de Young Museum on Thursday, September 21^st, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., celebrating The Quilts of Gee’s Bend Exhibition.  This exhibition on view in the Textiles Galleries is highly popular, attracting visitors from our local community and beyond.  A number of the Gee’s Bend, Alabama, quilters will be present.  The exhibition is sponsored by Dr. Kathy Hull and Mr. Bill Grisvold, Union Bank of California, and the Ross Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums.

V.

Public Comment

Members of the public may address the Executive Committee on items that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  Speakers may address the Executive Committee for up to three minutes; the President or the Executive Committee may limit the total comment to thirty minutes.  The following individual gave public comment.

Tomasita Medál encouraged the Museums to initiate visitor surveys for both The Quilts of Gee’s Bend and the Chicano Visions exhibitions to determine their impact on audience demographics and the programming of interest to these visitors.

VI.

Meeting Schedule, Future Events and Current and Future Exhibits

A. 2006 Board of Trustees Meetings

B. 2007 Board of Trustees Meetings

C. 2006 Executive Committee Meetings

D.2007 Executive Committee Meetings

E. Future Events

F. Current and Future Exhibitions (*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF)

Legion of Honor - Major Special Exhibitions

de Young Museum -  Major Special Exhibitions

 VII.

Adjournment in Memory of Trustee Jacqueline Hoefer, Trustee Emeritus Keith Eickman, and Trustee Emeritus Marshall I. Wais, Sr. – Diane B. Wilsey, President

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:17 p.m. in memory of Trustee Jacqueline Hoefer, Trustee Emeritus Keith Eickman, and Trustee Emeritus Marshall I. Wais, Sr.

Respectfully submitted,



Judy Gough
Executive Secretary




These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Executive Committee on matters stated, but not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.