KCBS Board Meeting Quick Notes March 11, 2025
Kansas City Barbeque Society
Board of Directors’ Meeting Quick Notes
Tuesday March 11, 2025, 6:00PM CST
Membership Requests to Address the Board:
- None
Roll Call:
Chiles Cridlin, Randy Todd, Jeanne Titus, Thomas Gearheart, Paul Buob, David Qualls, Luke Darnell, Donna Fong, Lex Vanegas 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.
Declaration of Quorum
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
- Technology Committee
- Foundation Committee
- Nominating Committee
- Hall of Fame Committee
- Working Groups:
- Organizers Working Group
- Membership Subcommittee
- Backyard Working Group
- Sponsorship Working Group
- World Invitational Working Group
- Organizers Working Group
Chiles Cridlin – I motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Second – Jeanne Titus – Motion Passes 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.
Discussion and consideration of a motion to reconsider or rescind the previous action concerning the change of the qualifying periods of the Team of the Year passed at the February 2025 Board Meeting.
- David Qualls – I move to rescind the change to the team of the year.
- Second – Luke – Motion Passes Unanimously
- David Qualls – I move add a new agenda item (discussion and consideration for the team of the year) to the agenda.
- Second – Chiles Cridlin – Motion Passes Unanimously
Discussion and consideration for team of the year
- Chiles Cridlin - I motion to move the 2025 Team of the Year to end on 9 Nov 2025.
- Second – David Qualls – Motion Passes 7-2 with Lex Vanegas and Donna Fong Dissenting.
- Lex Vanegas – Motion to the 2026 TOY 10 Nov 2025 to Dec 31 202,6 to stay in motion of the next 5 calendar years 2031.
- Second – David Qualls – Motion Passes Unanimously
- Additional discussion moved to Closed Session.
- No rules in the bylaws and it should be under the discretion of the Committee and Working Group Chairs.
- Jeanne Titus – I motion to approve the recommendation of the Finance committee from July of 2023, whereas the fee for a backyard contest held in conjunction with a Master series on the same day will now be $100, or if held in conjunction with a Master Series on a different day to be increased from $100 to $150. These fees do not benefit KCBS, are passed on to the Reps, and will be consistent with the KCBS Rep Invoicing practices that have been in place since February of 2024.
- Second – Randy Todd– Motion Passes Unanimously
- Additional discussion about correcting the invoice and getting it out to all of the contest reps.
- The Tech Committee to take this for solutioning and will report back.
- David Qualls – I motion to move the accept the dates for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Banquet in KC at the KC Marriott Country Club Plaza.
- Second – Luke Darnell – Motion Passes Unanimously
- Rod Gray to take this for other options for the Board Retreat/Board Meeting.
- Randy Todd – I motion for KCBS to endorse that the MMA Creative concept that the KCBS World Invitational Grand Champion qualifies for the World Food Championship (WFC) Ring of Fire effective this year.
- Second – Donna Fong – Motion Passes w/ David Qualls abstaining
- Randy Todd - I move to approve the payouts that have been provided.
- Second – Jeanne Titus – Motion Passes Unanimously
- Additional discussion moved to the Closed Session.
- The Rep Committee will take this for feasibility and will report back.
- Annella Kelso is working with George Shore (Pitmaker BBQ Pits) for the trophies and will be requesting ring sizes from the Hall of Fame members. No timeframe given.
Closed Session Agenda:
Discussion of Legal, Financial, Personnel and Real Estate
- Discussion of Financial Report and Budget.
- David Qualls – I move to enter closed session.
- Second – Chiles Cridlin – Motion Passed Unanimously
The Board returned to the open session at 09:09 PM CST.
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 amend my motion to approve and move to send this resolution to the Finance Committee to work out the funding for the Foundation.
- Second – Jeanne Titus – Motion Passes Unanimously
- David Qualls – I motion to give the KCBS CEO the ability to enter into a contract with the ‘Anything Butt’ category sponsor for the KCBS World Invitational.
- Second – Chiles Cridlin – Motion Passed Unanimously
- Lex Vanegas – I motion to give CEO permission to negotiate for CBJ Australia.
- Second – Jeanne Titus – Motion Passes Unanimously
Strategic Planning Session to be Conducted by the Board of Directors (Date TBD)
Board Comments
None
Adjourn or Suspend
-
Chiles Cridlin – I move to Adjourn.
-
Second – Lex Vanegas – Motion Passed Unanimously
Meeting ended at: 09:12 PM CST
Attachments and Reports
Contest Report
|
Contest |
Date |
Location |
|
K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) |
7/12/2025 |
Kennett Square, PA |
|
Masters BBQ Challenge CR |
3/14-15/2025 |
Costa Rica |
|
Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival |
9/26-27/2025 |
Jonesboro, AR |
|
Gold Country Casino Resort BrewFest & State BBQ Championship |
5/16-17/2025 |
Oroville, CA |
|
Carnivore Carnival (COMPETITOR SERIES) |
10/3-4/2025 |
Platte City, MO |
|
The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition |
7/19-20/2025 |
Canada |
|
Scottsboro BBQ Festival |
10/10-11/2025 |
Scottsboro, AL |
|
Spencerville Smoke Ring |
9/27-28/2025 |
Canada |
|
World Championship Hot Wings Contest & Festival (COMPETITORS SERIES) |
4/25-26/2025 |
Memphis, TN |
|
11th Annual Slab-O-Rama BBQ Challenge |
1/16/17/2026 |
Bullhead City, AZ |
|
The Beltway BBQ Showdown |
5/31-6/1/2025 |
Upper Marlboro, MD |
|
Rock N Hogs BBQ Battle |
8/23-24/2025 |
Canada |
|
MN Masters BBQ |
8/22-23/2025 |
Pierz, MN |
|
Balloons and Barbeque |
10/17-18/2025 |
Poteau, OK |
|
Shawnee Great Grillers |
9/26-27/2025 |
Shawnee, KS |
|
Patriot Day of Remembrance BBQ Contest |
9/13/2025 |
Webb City, MO |
|
Pigs & Peaches |
8/15-16/2025 |
Kennesaw, GA |
|
Plant City Pig Jam |
11/22-23/2025 |
Plant City, FL |
|
Pitmaster's NorUt KCBS BBQ Championship |
5/2-3/2025 |
Ogden, UT |
|
Red White & Q |
10/3-4/2025 |
Henryetta, OK |
|
The Loudoun Rotary BBQ Classic (BACKYARD ONLY) |
5/30-31/2025 |
Leesbug, VA |
Financial Report
To be reviewed in closed session before publication.
Sanctioning Committee
No report for this period.
Judging Committee
The CBJ committee is proud to welcome its 2025 members:
-
Donna Fong, Chair (Alameda, California)
-
Randy Todd, Co-chair (Cookeville, Tennessee)
-
Jeanne Titus, Advisory Rep (Melbourne, Florida)
-
Rod Gray, Ex-Officio (Overland Park, Missouri)
-
Paul Buob, Ex-Officio (Chillicothe, Illinois)
-
Myron Berry (Florence, Alabama)
-
Cliff Brockman (Akron, Ohio)
-
Joe DeBella (Henrico, Virginia)
-
Ron Keefover (Topeka, Kansas)
-
Bryan Stewart (Charlotte, North Carolina)
-
Mark Tuttle (Boise, Idaho)
The CBJ committee will meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm Central. Committee assignments are for a duration of 1 year, ending in December. The committee will resume its work on updating the CBJ Instructional PowerPoint for release later this year.
Contest Representative Committee
Finalized committee members, scheduled March meeting for 10 March.
Rules Committee
No report for this period.
Finance Committee
To be discussed in Closed Session.
Foundation Committee
The Foundation Committee is submitting a proposal to rectify funding for scholarships that will create a lasting permanently developed plan in order to proceed perpetually with our scholarships and a base of funding that can be reliable and budgeted.
In past pre-COVID years, KCBS provided funding for the scholarships in which a spreadsheet is attached to show those amounts. During COVID there were not enough funds out of operating to give any meaningful scholarships and the scholarship committee was then tasked with the duties of raising their own revenues.
This has put KCBS in a precarious position of having to depend on volunteers to further their mission statement and qualify not only for their nonprofit status as KCBS but also especially the 501 (C) (3) status of the KCBS Foundation.
The new members may not realize that the Kansas City BBQ society foundation is a sole member LLC established under 501 (C) (3) status that is controlled by the KCBS Board of Directors.
What we offer is a resolution that provides for a funding mechanism without minimums but establishes a percentage of the members’ dues to be allocated in earmarked directly for scholarships and not be used for any operations.
This method of funding creates revenue earmarked but does not establish a minimum nor a maximum dollar amount, the percentage offered whose revenues would ebb and flow as membership numbers increase or decrease as an earmarked directed allocation that precedes any operation expenses or other programs or promotions to be budgeted by KCBS.
We believe that this is the most prudent method of funding our scholarship program in furthering our mission statements from the past methods of depending on volunteers and supplemental income to help further the educations of our younger generation.
We request that you approve this resolution to create this funding mechanism and securing the future of the KCBS foundation and scholarship funds for future generations to come.
Nominating Committee
Conducted Special Elections and announced results.
Hall of Fame Committee
No report for this period.
Organizer Working Group
The Organizer Workgroup is proud to welcome its 2025 members:
-
Donna Fong, Chair (Alameda, California)
-
Chiles Cridlin, Co-chair (Henrico, Virginia)
-
Julie Poe, Advisory Rep (Sacramento, California)
-
Nick Owensby (Wadsworth, Ohio)
-
Jim Palmer (Riverside, California)
-
Kathy Trainor (Taunton, Massachusetts)
-
Laurie Tweten (Onalaska, Wisconsin)
-
Christie Vanover (Henderson, Nevada)
The Organizer Workgroup will meet on the 1th Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm Central. Workgroup assignments are for a duration of 1 year, ending in December.
The workgroup expects to resume its work on releasing the Organizer Guide for 4 meat and 1 meat contests and a People’s Choice Guide for Organizers for release later this year.
The workgroup will initiate a program inviting KCBS organizers to a new series of Townhall Zoom meetings, aimed at supporting organizers.
Membership Subcommittee
No report for this period.
Backyard Working Group
No report for this period.
Sponsorship Working Group
No report for this period.
Technology Working Group
The chair met with individual members to get background information and previous actions and is setting a meeting for March 18, 2025, to happen every 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM CST.
World Invitational Working Group
No report for this period.
CEO Report
Key Highlights:
With only two weeks having passed since the last board meeting, this report is abbreviated.
We are moving full steam ahead on the World Invitational. I am in talks with two ancillary category sponsors who should bring interest and excitement to the Friday, May 23rd turn-ins. A Kid’s Que protein sponsor has committed to providing proteins for this event, along with the grill and charcoal sponsors.
Agenda items from the office include determining the 2026 dates for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Annual Awards banquet and including the Annual Board Retreat during that weekend of activities. This could reduce travel and expenses for our members of the board.
The American Royal has announced their dates for 2025. The dates are November 6 - 9. Here is to hoping the Kansas City weather will cooperate. Rep meetings for this event will start in the next couple of months.
The first American Royal Certified Barbeque Judge class is in the books. Q39 graciously supplied the pitmaster, proteins, and staff to create the boxes for this large class. All told, 17 unique states were represented, which was a successful class.
Membership:
The March 7th, 2025, membership count snapshot reflects 15,424, up 14 from the 15,410 members reported on February 14th, 2025. Our postcard reminder program to expired members continues. Our March 1st CBJ class was a success, with 59 members attending from 17 states, split between 50 CBJ class participants and 27 CTC class participants. We gained 33 new KCBS members through this class registration.
Contests:
17 Contests Completed in 2025
318 Contests Scheduled for 2025
52 New Contests Scheduled for 2025
7 Contests Canceled for 2025
The breakdown for the new contests is as follows:
21 Masters
7 Backyard Only
3 Competitor Series
2 One Meats
12 International Masters
7 International One Meats
And one contest back that had not been held since 2019: Smoking on the Rez (4/4-5/2025) Ridgeland, MS
International Contests sanctioned in 2025 so far:
38 Master Series contests
2 Backyard Series contests
11 One Meat contests
7 International CBJ classes
CBJ & Table Captain Classes:
16 CBJ Classes Scheduled for 2025
12 TC Classes Scheduled for 2025
Marketing & Communications:
-
Bullsheet: The email open rate for the February issue of The Bullsheet has a current open rate of 28.34%.
-
Board:
-
Monthly Experience Survey
-
distributed 2/06
-
-
-
Other Marketing/Social Media Updates:
-
We’ve continued to promote the World Invitational registration and links to apply for judging.
-
Scholarship Foundation posts have been posted for the upcoming deadline of March 31st.
-
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.
Social Media Growth:
|
|
4 new followers |
59.1K Reach |
|
|
85 new followers |
18K Reach |
|
|
25 new followers |
- |
-
Our most reached for January: Kick-off post before Annual Awards Banquet – January 11th
-
9.6k reach, 147 likes, 1 comment, 5 shares and 15.9k views
-
One Meat Championships on Friday at the 2025 KCBS World Invitational:
Suggested payouts for the Friday categories at the 2025 KCBS World Invitational
Chicken and Ribs One Meat (potential to increase based on entries)
1st - $500
2nd - $400
3rd - $300
4th - $200
5th - $100
6th - $100
7th - $100
8th - $100
9th - $100
10th - $100
$2,000 total
Anything But - determined by the sponsor
Dessert
1st - $500
2nd - $250
3rd - $150
4th - $100
5th - $50
$1,050 total