KCBS Board Meeting Quick Notes November 11, 2024
Kansas City Barbeque Society
Board of Directors QUICK NOTES
Monday November 11, 2024. 6:00pm CT
Membership Requests to Address the Board:
Call to Order – Joel Fleetwood
Meeting was called to order at 6:02
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:
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:
Jeanne Titus - I Move to Approve the Consent Agenda
Second- Cridlin- 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:
New Business:
- Discussion and Consideration of Approving Updated Comment Cards for the 2025 Season
Cliff Davis - I Move to Approve the Updated Comment Cards for the 2025 Season for Distribution ASAP and process in a different color
Second- Todd- Motion Passed Unanimously
- Discussion and Consideration of Grand American Barbecue World Championship (Invitational)
(COMPETITOR SERIES)
Discussion Only
- Discussion and Consideration of 2025 Board Retreat.
Discussion Only
Closed Session Agenda:
Discussion of Legal, Financial, Personnel and Real Estate
- Discussion of Financial Report and Budget
- Discussion of Marketing and Events
- Discussion of Board and Bylaw Election Process
Chiles Cridlin- I Move to Enter Closed Session
Second- Titus- Motion Passed Unanimously
Entered Closed Session At 6:48pm
Board Returned to Open Session at 7:54 pm
After Closed Session:
The Board may take any necessary actions including Motions on any or all matters discussed in closed session
Thomas Gearhart - I Move to increase the approval amount of an additional $1,000 for Database Programming
Second- Cridlin- Motion Passed with Davis Abstaning
Board Comments
Adjourn or Suspend
Chiles Cridlin- I Move to Adjourn.
Second- Buob- Motion Passed Unanimously
Meeting Ended At: 7:55pm
Attachments and Reports
Contest Report
| Sip & Swine BBQ Festival |
3/7-8/2025 |
Lawrenceville, GA |
| Rolling Smoke at Rustic Timbers BBQ Bash |
9/26-27/2025 |
Egg Harbor, WI |
| Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship (Open) |
8/2-3/2025 |
Port Jervis, NY |
Grand American Barbecue World Championship (Invitational)
(COMPETITOR SERIES) |
8/1-2/2025 |
Port Jervis, NY |
| Marietta River City BBQ |
4/25-26/2025 |
Marietta, OH |
| Marietta River City BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS) |
4/25/2025 |
Marietta, OH |
| BBQ, Boogie & Blues |
4/25-26/2025 |
Caolhoun, GA |
| King of the Corn |
5/16-17/2025 |
Ottumwa, IA |
| Twin Valley Fire and Smoke Day 1 |
5/16-17/2025 |
Morgantown, PA |
| Twin Valley Fire and Smoke Day 2 |
5/17-18/2025 |
Morgantown, PA |
| Original SD BBQ Championships |
6/6-7/2025 |
Huron, SD |
| Original SD BBQ Championships (ONE MEAT RIBS) |
6/6/2025 |
Huron, SD |
| Smoke-N-Wings |
6/27-28/2025 |
Blackfoot, ID |
| Fire on Ice BBQ Championship |
2/21-22/2025 |
Onamia, MN |
| Jack9 Memorial BBQ Competition |
5/24-25/2025 |
Canada |
| Smoke on the Falls |
4/11-12/2025 |
Gadsden, AL |
| Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) |
6/20-21/2025 |
Morris, IL |
| Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest |
4/25-26/2025 |
Sugar Creek, MO |
| W.E.S.T. - Winter Extreme South Tyrol |
2/1-2/2025 |
Italy |
| BBQ Expo Master's Challenge |
3/29-30/2025 |
Italy |
| Rotary Day at Galway BBQ Competitoin |
5/16-17/2025 |
Temecula, CA |
| BBQ & Fly-In on the River |
8/15-16/2025 |
Excelsior Springs, MO |
| Bernard Blues & BBQ |
9/5-6/2025 |
Cullman, AL |
| Bernard Blues & BBQ (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) |
9/5/2025 |
Cullman, AL |
| Gem State Lions BBQ Festival |
8/29-31/2025 |
Meridian, ID |
| Puckaway Pigfest |
9/5-6/2025 |
Montello, WI |
| UK Barbecue Championships at Hayles Fruit Farm |
6/7-8/2025 |
United Kingdom |
| Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) |
7/11-12/2025 |
Miles, IA |
| Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) |
7/12-13/2025 |
Miles, IA |
Financial Report
To be reviewed in closed session before publication.
Sanctioning Committee
No Report.
Judging Committee
November 6, 2024
In attendance were Cliff Davis, Chair; Randy Todd, Vice Chair, and members Jeanne Titus, Ron Keefover, Forest Bruce, and Myron Berry. Kelly Wilde had a conflict, but submitted information in advance of the meeting.
Discussion regarding a social media postings by cook(s) voicing concern about a particular CBJ’s comment cards at a recent contest. A subcommittee of Jeanne, Randy, and Cliff will discuss various CBJ training topics and report back to the committee.
CBJ Training PowerPoint - The updated CBJ training PowerPoint deck was beta-tested on October 12. Two CBJ Committee members were in attendance at the training and verified that the presentation using the update went well. A few more refinements are needed. A Board Member has suggested that the PowerPoint be further reviewed by all CBJ trainers.
Judging Comment Cards- The Committee looks forward to BOD approval of the updated Comment Cards.
Outstanding CBJs - The committee selected and put forward four 2024 Outstanding CBJs; three U.S. and one international. The recipients will be contacted soon by KCBS and announced at the KCBS Annual Banquet.
Contest Representative Committee
No Report for this period
Rules Committee
No meeting for Rules committee. 2025 Master and Backyard rules submitted to office for posting and printing.
Foundation Committee
KCBS Foundation Committee Meeting Notes
October 28th, 2024
Monthly Meeting times / dates
- Continue with 4th Monday of each month, 7PM Central Time.
- Teams Meeting worked great! Will continue with TEAMS going forward.
Scholarship awards review schedule
KCBS WI Pop-Up Shop for 2025
- Receipts and additional thank you notes to those that donated in 2024 to go out November.
- Start planning and sending notices for 2025. Schedule development in progress, we need a solid 5 months of planning.
- This year’s event will be public, need to plug into the WI committee to learn mor about the location and anticipated traffic.
2024 Smoker Sweepstakes discussion.
- Over $14K raised.
- Four email campaigns have been completed.
- Total Donors 282, Total Views 4484, Total entries sold 7461.
- The winner, Keith Tremmel (Fat Maxine’s BBQ, MD) was announced and has completed the paperwork to take delivery.
- Working with Ole Hickory to plan out a year round marketing partnership where we highlight other KCBS members that use Ole Hickory products.
Codicil inclusion on KCBS Website under Foundation tab.
- Bill Jones has provided a WORD version of what another foundation is doing.
- Explanation of what a Codicil is and how to create one with sample language.
- Create PDF to put on website, perhaps another separate page.
- Plan for legal review, announcement and social media plans for November.
- Nancy has reviewed and has a few items to discuss at the next meeting.
Nominating Committee
No Report for this period
Organizer Work Group
No Report for this period
Marketing Work Group
No Report for this period
Backyard Work Group
No Report for this period.
Bylaws Work Group
Bylaws revisions approved for submission to Membership for a Ratification Vote.
Notice of Election was sent via Website and proposed Amendments and review Documents published in website.
Technology Work Group
No Report for this period
CEO Report
Key Highlights:
The 42nd American Royal is in the books and the dust has settled on the 2024 KCBS Team of the Year races. Our Masters Series Team of the Year, Chunky BBQ, edged out the 2023 winner, Janky Leg BBQ, by a single point. This year’s race was decided at the American Royal. It was definiately another exciting year for TOY. Congratulations to Weez’s Groovin’ BBQ on capturing the KCBS Backyard Series Team of the Year crown.
The office staff continues to prepare to relocate the KCBS office at the end of the month. The KCBS office will be closed November 25 - 29, 2024. During that time, we will physically move to the new location and observe Thanksgiving. Staff will be fully remote from November 19 - 22, 2024. During that time Park Road Technologies will tear down, move and install internet related devices in preparation for the KCBS being fully operational on Monday, December 2.
Work continues on the KCBS Hall of Fame and Annual Awards Banquet. A location in the Power & Light District has been confirmed for the Friday KCBS Hall of Fame mixer. It is a short distance from the host hotel, the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza. Registration is now live for the Hall of Fame Mixer and the Awards Banquet. Staff is finalizing details for the breakout sessions and the banquet meal, and well as many other details. This year’s location looks to be ideal for our membership with reasonable accommodations and a central gathering area in the hotel. We hope to build on the success of 2024 and create many new memories for our members. Social media promotion of the 2025 class of inductees continues.
Board of Directors nominations is closed and candidates have completed the required questionnaire. The December issue of the Bullsheet will feature the candidates and details about pending bylaws changes to be voted on. The nominations for the Gary Wells, Carolyn Wells, and Outstanding CBJ awards has drawn to a close. Winners will be notified soon, and we hope to have those winners in attendance at the Annual Awards Banquet.
Despite challenging weather, the American Royal contests were held without incident. The Invitational and Open contests both received a 100% audit. All tabulation and audits were completed on KCBS owned machines, and the process was smooth and without any difficulties. The new Sausage category rules caused some concern for contestants. In the end, the revisions were well received and the category was submitted and judged just as it should be. KCBS renewed or added 14 new members, included a new Lifetime member. Past CEO, Emily Detwiler was the emcee for the Open contest awards on Sunday.
Work on the consumer side of the World Invitational continues. There is significant partnership interest in our efforts for a public facing component to the 2025 World Invitational. The group is beginning to pare down the topics and features to create a manageable and successful event. Team and judge registration will open in January 2025.
Rhiannon Dickerson’s last day was Thursday, November 7th. I want to acknowledge Rhiannon’s hard work. She worked fast and efficiently, took initiative, and was always willing to help other staff members. Her contributions will be missed.
Membership:
The November 7th, 2024, membership count snapshot reflects 15,488 members, down 131 from the 15,619 reported on October 9th, 2024. We are continuing to send postcards to expired members. The American Royal World Series of Barbecue team check-in was also used as a means to reinstate dropped members as well as gain new members.
Contests:
341 Contests Completed in 2024
347 Contests Scheduled for 2024 (
calendar year)
54 Contests Canceled for 2024
CBJ & Table Captain Classes:
40 CBJ Classes Scheduled for 2024
22 TC Classes Scheduled for 2024
Partnerships Discussions:
Sponsor Updates:
- National Hardware Show: NHS is awaiting KCBS to return their contract for demo in 2025, KCBS booth space
- Weber: Continuing discussions with Weber on the NHS demo above and building foundation for future partnerships
- Holladay: Still in discussions to add additional options into the contract renewal for 2025
- Q39: Working on three additional dates for the CBJ classes sponsored by Q39 and hosted at the AR
- Westlake Ace Hardware and KCBS - three fall demos are scheduled in November in different parts of the country
- Westlake Ace Hardware: expansion of current scope of work to align with Westlake’s needs
- 2025 sponsorship contract is in the hands of Westlake’s legal team for review
- Regional CBJ class sponsored by Westlake Ace Hardware hosted at the Chamber of Commerce, Moore, OK 11/16–Registration at 20
- Johnson County Community College and Continuing Ed: discussions continue for the development of KCBS Pitmaster program
- There are other ongoing partnership discussions that may be discussed in closed session
Marketing & Communications:
- Bullsheet: The email open rate for the November issue of The Bullsheet is up 4% compared to October, with a current open rate of 31%
- November’s issue publication was delayed until November 4th to include the American Royal.
- Board:
- Board of Director Nominations, Wells Awards, Outstanding CBJ Award
- all nominations have concluded
- Monthly Experience Survey
- KCBS CTO foundation winner drawn and notified
- American Royal: The experimental merchandise booth had prolific lapel pin sales. We sold $1.470 in pins that were inventory from previous years pins. The Printful apparel broken even in expenses to sales.
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. Marketing priorities include reviewing social media performance and identifying creative strategies to increase engagement. Efforts underway to capture footage at high-profile events (like the American Royal) for future use on social and digital assets.
Social Media Growth:
| Facebook |
42 new followers |
95.6K Reach |
| Instagram |
142 new followers |
30.3k Reach |
| Twitter |
7 new followers |
- |
- Our most reached for October: 700/180 Club post for the weekend of Oct. 12th
- 6.5k reach, 55 likes, 5 comments and 25 shares