May 25, 2021 BOD Meeting Quick Notes

Kansas City Barbeque Society
Board of Directors’ Meeting QUICK NOTES
Tuesday May 25, 2021 6:00pm
 
Membership Requests to Address the Board:   None
 
Call to Order
Meeting was called to order at 6:00pm
 
Roll Call: 
Candy Weaver, Randy Bigler, David Qualls, Richard Fergola, David McAllister, Chiles Cridlin, Rick Wagner, Ralph Williams, Nancy Goldsmith, Stan Dobosenski, KCBS Office:  Emily Detwiler  
Absent: Myron Berry, Corey Linton - Richard Fergola Joined at 6:12PM 
 
Board Pledge:
Recognizing barbeque as America’s cuisine, the mission of the Kansas City Barbeque Society is to celebrate, teach, preserve, and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, sport and art form.
I accept my duties as a KCBS director to further the KCBS mission so that truth, justice, excellence in barbeque and the American way of life may be strengthened and preserved forever.
 
Consent Agenda
            Notice concerning Committee Reports. Some committees do not meet monthly, If a report is presented, it will be included as attachments to the Agenda.
 
  • Minutes of April 27, 2021 Meeting
  • April 2021 Financial Report
  • Finance Committee
  • Contest Report
  • Sanctioning Committee
  • Judging Committee
  • Contest Representative Committee
  • Rules Committee
  • Foundation Committee
  • Nominating Committee
 
Discussion of any items removed from Consent Agenda
 
Nancy Goldsmith- I Move to Approve the Consent Agenda.
Second- Qualls– Motion Passed Unanimously
 
 
Chief Executive Officer’s Report
 
  • Membership Updates –
  • Staff working to proactively drive membership renewals and convert both lapsed and guests.   For May, the focus was on the National BBQ Month promotions for both new members and for lifetime members. 
    • For new members, it is now $35 in honor of our 35th Anniversary that will continue thru December.  With Sadler’s, we also did a Sadler’s/KCBS Prize Package for the first 35 new members in May (sold out). May New Members - 174 that is up 26% over LY at this time
    • For existing members that upgrade to a lifetime membership, they receive $100 off thru the month of May.   163 Lifetime Memberships purchased through 5/20. up 60% from same time last year. 
    • total active paid members for May is 15,284, as of the 21st. 
 
 

 
  • Membership renewal plan
    • For May, we have 980 members set for renewal and thus far 60% of them have renewed.
    • We continue to hold a monthly renewal drawing for members, to encourage members to renew.   For May, we will be giving away a KCBS Solo Stove to a member that is for a member that has  upgraded to lifetime membership, plus we are giving away KCBS Prize Package to renewal
 
  • International Membership
    • This was a big month for International membership as they are currently at 1585 (this includes lifetime members).  We have also seen several upgrade to the lifetime membership.   Canada is showing the most promise with more than 240 members.  We currently have 36 countries.
 
  • Business Affiliate Updates
    • Currently at 31 listings in just four-months after the launch of the program.  Restaurants and BBQ supply stores making up the majority of the mix.  We will amp up efforts  in June.
    • Visit https://www.kcbs.us/kcbs_business_affiliate_progra.php to learn more and sign up.
Earned Media - National BBQ Month
  • Hosted a Media Pro-Am at KCBS on May 1st to launch National BBQ Month with seven local pitmasters and five media personalities from tv, radio and online publications.  We have received great feedback and more than 500,000 impressions.
  • Have asked Marketing committee to work with Emily and Carolyn to engage members to celebrate KCBS’s 35th anniversary.   Content received will be used each week for 35 weeks to feature a KCBS member with their IAMKCBS story.  PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORIES, sending to kcbs35@kcbs.us .
 
  • CBJ Processes:
    • For May we have three (3) classes on the schedule.  The largest being the American Royal that was held May 11th an 12th.  The class had more than 50 participants, 40% becoming KCBS members prior to the class.  
    • Hosting two classes in June at companies for their employees and key staff -- Smithfield and iDS
 Partnerships Discussions
  • Working on all partnership fulfillment for 2021; including preparations for KCBS World Invitational.
  • Continuing to receive feedback and interest in additional outreach to other potential sponsors, both general and for World Invitational!
  • Beginning planning approach for 2022
  
  • CONTEST and EVENT UPDATES:
    • Projected # of Events for 2021:
      • 320 Contests currently scheduled for 2021
      • 24 contests have already postponed; with no new date
      • 26 have cancelled
      • 58 contests already rolled over to 2022
      • 17 CBJ, 3 TC of Classes scheduled for 2021
      • From November 1-May 16 -72 contests have happened (7 have been One Meats)
    • The Jack is back.
    • The American Royal is back. Working with the BBQ Planning team on bi-weekly meetings.
 
COMMUNICATIONS:
  • Bullsheet  April –  33.36% Open rate among 15,954 members who received Bullsheet
  • Meat Sheet mid-month newsletter 26.07% open rate
    • 22 clicks on KCBS social media links
    • 128 clicks to lawsuit
    • 33 clicks to emergency procedures
    • 12 clicks to turkey smoke
    • 102 clicks to view the May BullSheet(pdf version)
    • 304 clicks to BullSheet page
    • 64 clicks to KCBS Gear Store
 
  • PR/Earned Media: May 
    • 35 news articles mentioned KCBS (up 169 % over this time last year); Potential Reach of 74 million
    • Total Advertising Value Equivalency (AVE) - $740,000
    • Social Media:  92 mentions for KCBS.
  • Social Media: May Updates 
    • Working on content calendar and putting tools and resources in place to help us better create, manage and report on social media.
    • Continue to use social media to drive member conversion, promote KCBS brand, showcase our sponsors, events and provide value to our members through fun and educational content. 
    • May: new sponsor posts, member conversion messaging “join now”, 35th Anniversary, National BBQ Month, features on Turkey Smoke and Celebrate Real Pork, 180/700 Club, Chase Winners, kicking off DC Virtual BBQ Battle and announcing the World Invitational. 
    • Total Audience for May  (as of 5.21.21) -  128,989 (up .3%)
      • 66,066 FB, 18,900 Twitter, 18,500 Instagram, 1,760 YouTube subscribers
    • All of our social media stats improved this month over last month.  The biggest call outs:
      • New likes on FB - up 229, New followers - up 85,
      • FB Engagement - +75% over last month, Twitter Engagement - +20% over last month,
      • FB Page views - +56% over last month
      • Twitter again did very well for us this month, especially with the Media Pro-Am  below are a few examples of posts we received from media partners.
      • Video continues to do well for us  -- up another 131% over last month 
 
World Invitational:
  • Announcement of date/location went out on 5/21. Website www.kcbsinvitational.com is live with updated info and dates.
  • Hotels:
    • Negotiated and finalized two different hotels with room blocks for KCBS members.
    • BOD to cover their own hotel needs again this year; including scheduling reservations
  • Event to include double-header for Master Series; Invitational Day being just for GC and RGC. “Open” is Master Series for any KCBS Member.
  • Registration for Teams, Judges and Banquet tickets will be on August 9.
  • W.I. Work Group is meeting 3rd Tuesday of the month at 3pm CST if anyone would like to join.
  
  • International Updates:
International COVID concerns
  • Countries are constantly locking down, opening, then locking down again. Even if the country is relaxing their COVID requirements, many have closed their borders. Our contacts around the world are saying that they have no idea if anyone will be able to travel to the US this year
  • Vaccines in Europe and Canada are just beginning now and are being given 3 months apart while vaccine availability is much slower in Central and
  • International contests are dropping…many going to 2022. Because teams cannot travel between countries to compete, contest numbers are low internationally
  • Teams not able to cook or travel because of monetary considerations. Contests losing sponsors
Jack Daniel’s International Team Participation
  • 2019-2020 Year (August 1, 2019-July 31, 2020)  29 qualifying KCBS contests held in 13 countries.
  • 2020-2021 Year (August 1, 2020-July 31, 2021)  6 qualifying KCBS contests held in 5 countries
 
 
Old Business  
 
Chiles Cridlin- I move to take from The Table the Motion on Signatures from the April Meeting
Second- Goldsmith– Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Tabled from the April 27, 2021 Meeting
  • Discussion and Consideration of Judge Signatures on participating in multiple events on same day
Original language currently reads;
 
A CBJ or MCBJ CANNOT get double signatures the same day (e.g., doing a Master Series and a Backyard Series the same day). A CBJ or MCBJ will receive only one signature for Double Duty for Table Captain and Judging per contest. The Judge can choose the Volunteer signature or judging signature.
 
 
Chiles Cridlin- I move to Amend Item 2 of subsection “When to sign the Book” of the Rep Manual to read as follows;

A CBJ or MCBJ may obtain multiple signatures on the same day (e.g., doing a Master Series and a Backyard Series or Single Meat Series on the same day). A CBJ or MCBJ will receive one signature for each separately sanctioned contest.   A CBJ or MCBJ will only receive one signature for Double Duty for Table Captain and Judging per sanctioned contest. In the case of Double Duty Table Captain, the judge can choose the Volunteer signature or judging signature for either a Master Series or four meat Backyard (See Rule 12).
 
Second- Goldsmith– Motion Passed Unanimously
 
 
 
New Business
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Approving Sanctioning Committee recommendation of the Country Roads BBQ Battle, Morgantown, WV, July 17-18, 2021
Randy Bigler- I move to Approve the sanctioning of the Country Roads BBQ Battle, Morgantown, WV, July 17-18, 2021
Second- Goldsmith– Motion Passed Unanimously                
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Approving Sanctioning Committee recommendation of the Smokin' Deltanna BBQ Challenge, Delta Junction, Alaska, July 23-24, 2021
  • Randy Bigler - I move to Approve the sanctioning of the Smokin' Deltanna BBQ Challenge, Delta Junction, Alaska, July 23-24, 2021
  • Second- Goldsmith– Motion Passed Unanimously               
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of referring to the Rules Committee to finalize Amending Rule 15 Concerning Foreign Objects
Consensus to Send to Rules Committee
  • Discussion and Consideration of referring to the Rules Committee to review and revise the existing rule on Pork
Consensus to Send to Rules Committee
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of any needed changes to the COVID Policies
Randy Bigler- I Move to Amend our COVID Policies to follow Local COVID Guidelines for mask mandates’s  
Second- Weaver – Motion Passed with Goldsmith voting against
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of establishing rules concerning the intended use of Non-Certified Judges
Discussion Only Referred to Sanctioning and Rep Committees for Review
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Amending Rep Advisory 1.06B concerning procedures for verifying entry boxes after the contest by teams
Ralph Williams - I move to allow teams to verify their alternate box number after awards have been presented at a KCBS event. Specific guidelines and procedures, as approved by the BOD, are in place and must be followed
Second- Qualls – Motion Passed Unanimously
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Required Reps needed for Backyard and Single Meat Events
Ralph Williams- I Move to allow the use of a single Rep to officiate certain Back Yard or single meat events In the event of extenuating circumstances.
Second- Goldsmith – Motion Passed With Bigler and Weaver Voting Against
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of whether a material interest exists in accordance with 2005 Missouri Revised Statutes - § 355.416. — Director's conflict of interest and Article XVII of the KCBS Bylaws in the Execution of a contract with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
NOTE: David Qualls left meeting at 7:08PM
 
Stan Dobosenski- I Move to determine that there is no conflict of Interest based on the information presented by the C.E.O.
Second- XXX – Motion Passed With Bigler Voting Against
 
NOTE: David Qualls returned to meeting at 7:13PM
 
 
Closed Session Agenda:
Scholarship Committee Selection Report
Legal, Financial, and Real Estate
Marketing and Promotions
Discussion of Judge Certification Update Program
Discussion of Contests
Discussion of Foundation
 
Ralph Williams- I Move to Enter in to Closed Session
Second- Cridlin – Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Entered Closed Session at 7:14PM
 
Board Returned to Open Session at 8:44PM
 
After Closed Session:
 
The Board may take any necessary actions including Motions on any or all matters discussed in closed session
 
David Qualls- I Move to Resolution R-05-25-21-A Concerning Legal Counsel
Second- Goldsmith – Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Nancy Goldsmith- I Move to Approve the Scholarships as presented to the Board with letters to go out to all applicants no later than the middle of June
Second- Dobosenski – Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Chiles Cridlin- I Move based on information preceded that we begin a Request For Proposal for quotes in regards to creating the content as requested for the Judge update program
Second- Goldsmith – Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Chiles Cridlin- I Move to combine the existing Judge MP3 along with the New message created for presentation into one single consolidated MP3
Second- Dobosenski – Motion Passed With Bigler Voting No
 
Adjourn or Suspend
Ralph WIlliams- I Move to Adjourn
Second- Bigler– Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Meeting Adjourned at 8:47PM
 
Attachments and Reports
 
Contest Report
 
BOD Approval –    
Country Roads BBQ Battle 7/17-18/2021 Morgantown, WV
Smokin' Deltanna BBQ Challenge 7/23-24/2021 Delta Junction, AK
In-house Approval –    
Smoke in the Valley (International) 10/30-31/2021 Perth, Australia
Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 1 (Backyard) 10/15-16/2021 West Salem, WI
Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 2 (Backyard) 10/16-17/2021 West Salem, WI
SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 1 10/22-23/2021 Summerville, SC
SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 10/23-24/2021 Summerville, SC
GBC Summer Showdown 7/30-31/2021 Cumming, GA
GrillBillies BBQ Shootout 6/4-5/2021 Wendell, NC
Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Day 1 9/3-4/2021 Augusta, GA
Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Day 2 9/4-5/2021 Augusta, GA
Mother Road BBQ Competition Day 1 4/1-2/2022 Waynesville, MO
Mother Road BBQ Competition Day 2 4/2-3/2022 Waynesville, MO
Nevada Chamber Low and Slow Barbecue Cook Off 8/27-28/2021 Nevada, MO
The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 10/8-9/2021 Lyons, GA
RBC County Fair Backyard Cookoff 8/5-6/2021 Meeker, CO
2nd Annual Obion County Fair BBQ Cook Off - Day 1 5/13-14/2022 Union City, TN
2nd Annual Obion County Fair BBQ Cook Off - Day 2 5/14-15/2022 Union City, TN
Great Americana BBQ Festival 8/27-28/2021 Franklin, TN
     
Pending- None  
 
 
 
Sanctioning Committee
 
 
Judging Committee
May 18th, 2021
Invitees: Chiles Cridlin, Emily Detwiler, Rick Wagner, Amy Acock, Dave Grousnick, Nancy Goldsmith, Jennifer Eggleton, Frank Gonzales, George DeMartz, Kelly McIntosh, Bill Jones, Dave Druetzler, Paul Buob
Not in attendance – Rick Wagner, Amy Acock, Jennifer Eggleton,
New Agenda Items –
  • More Discussion of new MP3 that was released for the KCBS Judges meetings
    • The goal is to encourage judge’s review their own scoring habits to determine if they are consistently lower than their table average, use the KCBS Judges portal to review their scores and to encourage more comment cards.
    • Develop a new MP3 that will combine the new message along with the standard MP3 content. – Chiles will develop a new MP3 script and send for review. Ongoing Agenda Items
  •  Goals for the 2021 CBJ Committee.
    • Develop Online or Web Based 2022 Certification Update Training course (In progress)
    • Develop Online or Web Based CBJ Training for new judges (Not started)
      • Review of conceptual updates to the KCBS Scoring System (100%)
      • Define Objectives (This is a separate document 95%)
      • Determine content (Most common misconceptions as seen in the judging tent 90%)
      • Develop a story board (not started)
      • Build test questions (not started)
        • Start with the ones we have and review them first.
        • Create questions based on new content and objectives
      • Write script (25%)
      • Choose LMS Platform (KCBS.US website has the capability) (Not started)
      • Gather media needed (Not started)
      • Assemble video or training program (Not started)
      • Beta testing, review and deploy (Not started)
  • Update related documents
    • CBJ Training manual (Not started)
    • Reps manual
    • Rep Advisory manual and Redacted Rep Advisory Manual (handed off to Nancy Goldsmith) (100%)
    • Judging Tri-fold (part of the Rules pamphlet)
    • Judges MP3 (currently under review again)
    • Determine if there are others
 
Contest Representative Committee
May 11, 2021
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM BY Chairman Ralph Williams.  Other members present were: Scott Grinstead, Steve Grinstead, Mike Winter, Julie Poe, Jeanne Titus, Dave Druetzler, Debby Gage, Phil Morrow and Alan Rothrock. Invited guests were David McAlister, Rick Wagner and Emily Detwiler.
An MP3 was developed to be played at all KCBS events.  The MP3 was to bring to the attention of everyone the outlier judge, that person who consistently scores 2 or more points below the average of those judges at their table.  Judges are encouraged to go online to view their scoring averages and compare them to the judges at their table.  If they have questions, they can visit with the contest Rep as to the correct judging processes.
An idea of revising the current turn-in times was presented for discussion.  The proposed times were: 12:00 chicken, 12:45 pork ribs, 1:30 pork butt and 2:15 for brisket. Lots of good comments for and against these times.  The overall consensus was to leave them as they are now.  These times will most likely be used at the AR to help teams that are only one person and for those teams that are located quite a distance from the turn-in locations.
The overall focus for this meeting deals with showing alternate numbers to cooks after the event is over.  Cooks feel that once the event is over it should not make a difference what alternate number was used.
Our current process allows a cook to see their box(s). The Rep will pull the box(s) and peel back the alternate number to verify the box has that cooks’ number on the box.  However, cooks are wanting to see the alternate number of the scorecards and verify the scores on the cards match the scores on their individual information sheet. 
After much discussion covering many possible scenarios, the Committee feels the following steps should be taken: 1. Have a third-party person as an observer to all actions taken and any dialogue between the various parties.  A safety net for everyone. 2. Continue our current practice of showing the team number on the box. 3. Pull the cards for the category in question and read aloud those scores for each of the cards. The cook should follow along, checking their scores on their individual data sheet. 4. If a discrepancy is noted, the Rep will then conduct an audit of the contest scores for that team.
It was also noted that number labels, upon getting moist, are hard to remove from the box without destroying the label. We were reminded that using a bright light, one can hold the light under the box lid and the number can be seen.  If black ink is used, the number shows through better.
We are still looking for possible new Reps in specific areas.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 pm.
 
KCBS Contest Rep Committee Special Meeting
May 24, 2021 6:30 p.m
Special Contest Rep Meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m.   Members present were: Scott Grinstead, Steve Grinstead, Jeanne Titus, Mike Winter, Dave Druetzler, Debby Gagge, Phil Morrow, Julie Poe, Emily Detwiler and Ralph Williams.  Absent: Alan Rothrock
The primary focus of this special meeting is to address the need of contest Reps in isolated areas. The question being:  Can a Back Yard or Single meat contest be efficiently run by one KCBS contest Rep?   Answer:  YES, with the following criteria being met.
1.  Each event is on a case by case basis with extenuating circumstances being the need for one Rep                  (ex. Isolated event, long distance, lack of available Reps)
 
2. Maximum of 24 teams, 4 tables of judges’
 
3. Maximum of 2 meat categories
 
4. One hour between turn-in times   (times approved by the office)
 
5. Organizer to provide cooks with turn-in information well ahead of the event.
 
6. Normal invoicing to occur
The Rep on site can use this opportunity to encourage the organizer to move to a Master Series event utilizing all 4 meat categories. Thus, furthering the KCBS brand to a new level for their event.
Note:  If a Master Series event has a Back Yard with that event, the organizer cannot utilize the one Rep concept.
 
 
Rules Committee
 
The Rules Committee met on 5/18/2021.  General discussion was help on Projects for the remainder of the 2021 year.