KCBS Board Meeting Quick Notes August 12, 2024

Kansas City Barbeque Society
Board of Directors’ Quick Notes
Monday August 12, 2024. 6:00pm CT
 
Membership Requests to Address the Board:   
  • None
 
Call to Order – Joel Fleetwood
 
Meeting was called to order at 6:03
 
 
Roll Call: 
Joel Fleetwood, Chiles Cridlin, Cliff Davis, Randy Todd, Jeanne Titus, Thomas Gearheart, Paul Buob, David Qualls, Chalie Brinza
KCBS Office:  Rod Gray
Absent:  Cliff Davis
 
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 an attachment to the Agenda.
 
  • Minutes of previous BOD meeting
  • Contest Report
  • Sanctioning Committee
  • Judging Committee
  • Contest Representative Committee
  • Rules Committee
  • Foundation Committee
  • Nominating Committee
  • Workgroups:
    • Organizers Work Group
    • Backyard Work Group
    • Bylaws Work Group
    • Technology Workgroup
 
Discussion of any items removed from Consent Agenda:
 
Chiles Cridlin - I Move to Approve The Consent Agenda
Second- Titus- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Chief Executive Officer’s Report:
 
  • CEO Report attached.
  • The Board may take Actions based on Topics and Discussions from this report as New Business
 
 
Old Business:
 
  • None.
 
New Business: 
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Proposed changes to the 2025 KCBS and TOY rules – Rules Committee
Charlie Brinza - I Move to Accept the proposed 2025 Team of the Year Rules as distributed to the Board in Advance.
 
Second- Buob- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Charlie Brinza - I Move to amend the agenda to accept a motionfrom the Rules Committee to accept a proposal to change the qualifications for a Judge at a contest
 
BUOB Second Motion Passed with Qualls and Todd Dissenting
 
Charlie Brinza - I Move to send to for a legal opinion to an ADA qualified Attorney the proposed change for the requirements to be a sanctioned contest Judge
Paul Second
 
David Qualls – I Move to table until September
 
Second Brinza – Motion Passed Unanimously
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Request of Wade Brelje of  Rack Shack BBQ in Eagan, MN to remain designated as a Backyard Team.
  • David Qualls - I Move to Allow Rach Shack to return exclusively to Backyard status for the remaining 2024 TOY Season
 
Second- Cridlin- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of Insurance requirements for Contests.
Discussion Only
 
  • Discussion and Consideration allowing the Red White & Que contest to move from October 18-20 to October 25-27
  • David Qualls - I Move to Suspend the Rules and discuss the Red White & Que contest to move from October 18-20 to October 25-27
Second Gearhart  Motion Passed Unanimously
 
  • David Qualls - I Move to Deny the request of Red White & Que contest to move from October 18-20 to October 25-27 and allow the fees to carry over in this instance
Second- Chiles Motion Passed Unanimously
 
 
 
  • Discussion and Consideration of CEO report on the Rollout of the Hall of Fame as discussed  at the July 2024 BOD Meeting
Discussion Only
 
Closed Session Agenda: 
Discussion of Legal, Financial, Personnel and Real Estate
 
  • Discussion of Financial Report
  • Discussion of Marketing and Events
  • Discussion of Personnel and duties
  • Discussion of Finance Committee actions.
  • Discussion of Bylaws
 
 
Chiles Cridlin - I Move to Enter Closed Session
 
Second- Titus- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Entered Closed Session At 7:24pm
 
Board Returned to Open Session at 10:12 pm
 
 
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 Approve the Team of The Year Payouts for Master and Backyard Series as communicated in the November Board Meeting of 2023
 
Second - Brinza- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
David Qualls - I Move to approve Resolution R-08-12-2024-A Ratifying Actions of the 2023 Finance Committee
 
Second- Titus- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
David Qualls - I Move to Authorize the CEO to secure the facility and begin planning of the 2025 KCBS World Invitational
 
Second- Cridlin- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
 
Board Comments
 
Adjourn or Suspend
 
David Qualls- I Move to Adjourn.
Second- Buob- Motion Passed Unanimously
 
Meeting Ended At: 10:14pm
 
 
 
Attachments and Reports
Contest Report 
 
In-house Approval    
Smokin' in the Valley 8/3-4/2024 Australia
Wings 4 Water VIII 9/12/2024 Lee's Summit, MO
Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival 9/27-28/2024 Jonesboro, AR
Smokin Barrel Fest 6/14-15/2025 Australia
Grills Gone Wild 2/7-8/2025 Davenport, FL
Best in the Southwest 2/21-22/2025 Yuma, AZ
Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 7/18-19/2025 Wise, VA
South Carolina Festival of Discovery 7/10-12/2025 Greenwood, SC
Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) 10/17-19/2024 Roswell, GA
Sutherlin Throwdown 7/18-19/2025 Sutherlin, OR
Q's & Brews 3/28-29/2025 Lake Havasu, AZ
Almost Heaven BBQ Bash 6/13-14/2025 Buckhannon, WV
BBQ Jackpot 12/6-7/2024 Las Vegas, NV
Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 3/14-15/2025 Lebannon, TN
Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) 3/14/2025 Lebannon, TN
Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 7/25-26/2025 New Freedom, PA
Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 7/26-27/2025 New Freedom, PA
Muehlviertler BBQ Festival 5/17-18/2025 Austria
Muehlviertler BBQ Festival 5/17/2025 Austria
Muehlviertler BBQ Festival 5/17/2025 Austria
Jaco Beach BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT RIBS) 1/24/2025 Costa Rica
Jaco Beach BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) 1/24/2025 Costa Rica
 
 
Financial Report
 
To be reviewed in closed session before publication.
 
Sanctioning Committee
 
No Report.
 
Judging Committee
 
No Report.
 
Contest Representative Committee
 
No Report.
 
Rules Committee
 
The Rules committee met on July 29 with 7 members present.  The main objective was to finalize proposals on refining judge requirements for sanctioned KCBS contests and define options for teams having head cooks from more than one team competing as a team in a competition. 
 
The committee's proposals will be distributed to Board members in advance of the August meeting for discussion and potential votes for changes to the 2025 judging and Team of Year rules.
 
The next meeting agenda will include discussion on expanding guidelines for legal turn-in boxes in response to the elimination of Styrofoam as required by some state and local ordinances.
 
Foundation Committee
 
No Report.
 
Nominating Committee
 
No Report.
 
 
Organizer Work Group
KCBS Organizers Workgroup committee met July 23,  2024. Present were Chair Randy Todd, Co Chair Chiles Cridlin, Jim Palmer, Nancy Goldsmith, Julie Poe, Noel Kay, Cindy Wells. 
 
The first draft of the Organizers Advisory Panel document was discussed. Nancy Goldsmith is proofreading it for us.
Chiles is creating an Organizers article for the Bullsheet about holding a People's Choice as a way to engage the public and raise money for an event. 
The updated Organizers Guide has been sent to Charlie Brinza for review. Our goal is for an October release to all Organizers. 
A spirited committee discussion was held about Organizers inflating CBJ judging scores at a bbq contest by extolling the quality of competition cooks at their event during the judges meeting. No action was taken. 
Meeting was adjourned. 
 
Marketing Work Group
KCBS Marketing Workgroup committee met July 18, 2024. Present were Chair Randy Todd, Rod Gray, Rhiannon Dickerson, Blake Moore, Paul Buob, Paul Burke, Thomas Gearhart, Jason Cole, Susan Matthews, guest speaker Nick Nicholas.
The KCBS Marketing Workgroup's goal is to generate revenue for KCBS and KCBS sanctioned events. 
Blake Moore gave a succinct presentation explaining our workgroup. 
Nick Nicholas, the Organizer of the Lakeland FL Pigfest, gave an insightful presentation about his 28 years experience of attracting and entertaining the general public at a large bbq contest. 
A committee discussion about  the KCBS World Invitational 2025 followed Nick's presentation. Susan Matthews had a great point about attracting women and families. 
Meeting was adjourned. 
KCBS Marketing Workgroup core committee met July 29, 2024. Present were Chair Randy Todd, Rod Gray, Rhiannon Dickerson, Blake Moore.
The theme for this meeting was WI25 goes public. 
The Workgroup committee discussed the notes from the Nick Nicholas presentation and how we could apply his experiences and advice to the World Invitational 2025 contest in Lebanon TN. 
Expanding the competition categories was discussed.  Adding a Friday night World Invitational Ancillary category and a World Invitational Dessert category. Expanding the Backyard Invitational to include the BY TOY top 15 qualifiers. 
Meeting was adjourned.
 
The next meeting of the KCBS Marketing Workgroup is August 15, 2024, 2pm CDT. Guest speaker is Jim Lloyd,  Organizer of the Sip n Swine bbq contest,  Lawrenceville GA. 
 
 
Backyard Work Group
No Report for this period.
 
Bylaws Work Group
Bylaws Work group has finalized proposed revisions to discuss with the Board prior to authorizing member survey group distribution.
 
Technology Work Group
No Report for this period
 
CEO Report
Key Highlights:
  • KCBS received initial confirmation that the United Soybean Board Combine Awards would return in 2025. Westlake Hardware is a returning partnership that includes partnering on a CBJ class in central Oklahoma this fall
  • . We continue to work with potential sponsors in three categories, general partnership, Awards Banquet, and World Invitational. The Marketing Workgroup is spearheading efforts to include public-facing events and opportunities at the World Invitational. Beyond sponsorship, we are in talks regarding participation in the National Hardware Show, a KCBS based curriculum imbedded in a college culinary program, and a unique Certified Barbeque Judge class in conjunction with an event for the American Culinary Federation.
  • The Backyard Overall Team of the Year standings are now displayed on the homepage of the KCBS website. Work continues on refining and retooling documentation for 2025.
  • American Royal Contest Representative and KCBS Hall of Fame meetings are underway to plan for these upcoming events. The 2024 KCBS Foundation Scholarship recipients have been announced and scholarship checks have been cut to many of the recipients.
 
Membership:
  • The August 8th, 2024, membership count snapshot reflects 15,767 members, down 6 from the 15,773 reported on July 3rd, 2024.
  • In an effort to stabilize membership numbers, in the coming months we’ll transition our targeted postcard campaign from dropped members to expired members.
 
Contests:
  • 215 Contests Completed in 2024
  • 352 Contests Scheduled for 2024 (calendar year) 45 Contests Canceled for 2024
CBJ & Table Captain Classes:
  • 43 CBJ Classes Scheduled for 2024
  • 24 TC Classes Scheduled for 2024
 
Partnerships Discussions:
Sponsor Updates:
  • Q39/Westlake Ace Hardware: Quarterly CBJ classes co-sponsored by Q39 & Westlake Ace Hardware hosted at the American Royal. Registration for August:
  • Master Class in BBQ: (postponed until Spring 2025)
  • National Hardware Show
  • Pitmaster Certification
  • Tumbler & Rocks
 
Marketing & Communications:
  • Bullsheet: The email open rate for the August issue of The Bullsheet was 28.75%
    • System changes by Veith result in changed OR and CTR on broadcast communications. Further inquiry underway.
 
Social Media:
  • We continue to leverage social media to drive member conversion, promote the KCBS brand, showcase our sponsors and events, and provide value to our members through fun and educational content.
 
Social Media Growth:
 
  • Total Audience, as of 8/4/2024: 125,533 total followers
 
Facebook 56 new followers 154.2K Reach (28%
increase from the previous month)
Instagram 135 new followers 24.3K Reach (3.3%
increase from the previous month)
Twitter 116 new followers -
 
  • Our most reached for July: 700/180 Best of the Best from July 15th.
    • 10.9k reached, 121 interactions