KCBS Board Meeting Quick Notes June 10, 2025


Kansas City Barbeque Society
Board of Directors’ Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:00 PM CST
 
Membership Requests to Address the Board:   
  • None
Call to Order – Paul Buob
Roll Call: 
Chiles Cridlin, David Qualls (dropped ~30 minutes), Donna Fong, Jeanne Titus, Luke Darnell, Lex Vanegas, Paul Buob, Randy Todd, Thomas Gearhart; KCBS Office: Rod Gray
Absent: Rod Gray

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
Discussion of any items removed from Consent Agenda:
Lex Vanegas – I motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Second – Jeanne Titus – Motion Passes Unanimously (Chiles Cridlin not present)

Chief Executive Officer’s Report:
  • CEO Report not available for this period.
  • The Board may take actions based on Topics and Discussions from this report as New Business.
Old Business:
  • None
New Business: 
  • Discussion of the International TOY with Debbie Gage (Paul Buob).
Debbie Gage gave a history of the International ToY. No action was taken by the Board.
  • Discussion of Rep committee review of multiple CBJ signatures for multiple contests held on the same day (Donna Fong).
Discussion of the difference between Volunteer vs Regular Judge Signatures stemming from CBJ questions about signatures for multiple One Meat contests at the KCBS WI event. Jeanne set out Signature Guide for CBJ Contest Verification Form. Jeanne and Lex to take this back to the Rep Committee to see if Reps are adhering to the guide.
  • Discussion about the next steps for the KCBS competition structure (2 meat and 4 meat) and workgroup lead (Lex Vanegas).
Chiles Cridlin – I would like to motion to create a special committee and as per the by laws that Paul Buob staffs that committee as needed.
Second – Lex Vanegas – Motion Passed Unanimously (David Qualls not present)
***Requested anyone that is interested in joining this special committee please send an email to BOD@KCBS.US ***
  • Update for the Strategic Planning session (Lex Vanegas).
Paul Buob to send out the summary to the Directors NLT 7 July 2025.
  • Discussion and update for providing a guidance letter to the American Royal and Jack Daniels about reducing the number of teams to be considered a qualifier from 25 to 20 (Lex Vanegas).
Luke Darnell spoke to Rod Gray. He was able to meet with the American Royal for an initial meeting. The meeting went well and they seemed receptive to the change.
  • Discussion and status of Hall of Fame trophies and rings (Lex Vanegas).
Luke Darnell spoke to Anella Kelso. She is still waiting for some people to turn in their ring sizes. She attempted to reach out to PitMaker and has not been able to speak with them.
  • KCBS WI debrief (Randy Todd).
No financials are ready. Learned a lot about the public side of the event.
Closed Session Agenda: 
Discussion of legal, financial, personnel, and real estate.
  • Update of CEO contract and evaluation (Lex Vanegas).
  • Utensils (Thomas Gearhart & Donna Fong).
  • Discussion of open contest format request (Paul Buob).
  • Discussion of financial report and budget (Thomas Gearhart).
Lex Vanegas – I move to enter closed session.
Second – Jeanne Titus – Motion Passed Unanimously (Davidi Qualls not present)

The Board entered the closed session at 7:01 PM CST.
The Board returned to the open session at 8:17 PM CST.
 
 
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 engage the services of a fractional CFO to enhance our financial oversight and align with industry best practices not as a response to any improper actions.
Second – Chiles Cridlin – Motion Passed Unanimously (David Qualls not present)

Chiles Cridlin – I would like to make a motion on behalf of the foundation that they will proceed with getting the surety bond and getting the approval from the state of New York so that they may do the Ole Hickory CTO Sweepstakes in the state of New York for the contest that starts on July 1st.
Second – Thomas Gearhart– Motion Passed Unanimously (David Qualls not present)

Board Comments
Adjourn or Suspend
  • Chiles Cridlin – I move to adjourn.
  • Second – Luke Darnell – Motion Passed Unanimously (David Qualls not present)
Meeting ended at: 8:19 PM CST
 
Attachments and Reports
Contest Report
Contest Date Location
Wings 4 Water IV (COMPETITOR SERIES) 9/4/2025 Lee's Summit, MO
Gladstone Smokefest (ONE MEAT RIBS) 10/3/2025 Gladstone, MO
Hub City BBQ Fest 10/3-4/2025 Jackson, TN
Hoosier BBQ Classic (ONE MEAT RIBS) 6/6/2025 Franklin, TN
Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue 10/10-11/2025 Lynchburg, TN
Pz al Carbon Festival BBQ 2025 6/27-28/2025 Costa Rica
DJ Basin 1st Annual BBQ, Blues & Brews 8/29-30/2025 Greeley, CO
Southeastern BBQ Showdown 4/24-25/2026 Columbia, SC
WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) 10/17-18/2025 Huntsville, AL
September Fest (ONE MEAT RIBS) 9/19-20/2025 Coldwater, MI
BBQ Festival Vanamoisa, Estonia 8/15-16/2025 Vanamoisa, Estonia
Vuur en Vlees 8/30-31/2025 Netherlands
Southaven Springfest 4/24-25/2026 Southaven, MS
Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off 4/10-112026 Cedar Park, TX
Smoke in the Valley 9/27-28/2025 Canada
"Spooky Q" 1792 10/31-11/1/2025 Monticello, KY
Torry Island BBQ Showdown 3/20-21/2026 Belle Glade, FL
Okefenokee Smoke 2/20-21/2026 Waycross, GA
Invisible Wounds Project Backyard Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) 9/26-27/2025 Forest Lake, MN
The Golden State Battle VIII 1/30-31/2026 Hollister, CA
 
 
 
Financial Report
To be reviewed in closed session before publication.
 
Sanctioning Committee
No report for this period.
 
Judging Committee
  • Attendees: Donna Fong, Chair, Randy Todd, Co-chair, Jeanne Titus, Advisory Rep, and committee members Myron Berry, Joe DeBella, Cliff Brockman, Ron Keefover, Bryan Stewart, and Mark Tuttle
  • Absent: Paul Buob, ex officio, President and Rod Gray, ex officio, CEO
  • The Rules Subcommittee talked about comment cards and if the font might be too small for some judges to see. No changes were recommended as there is a large stockpile of cards to be used up. Mark has been drafting a combined score card/comment card. 
  • The Training Subcommittee is waiting on some data from the Tech committee for further CBJ analysis and is working on a survey to assess stakeholder buy-in on hybrid CBJ classes.
  • The Awards subcommittee will meet before the next meeting to give their recommendations on criteria.
  • Next meeting: June 25th, 2025
Contest Representative Committee
  • Discussed past actions:
    • Update of Rep Manual and Rep Advisory
      • BoD needs to have someone ensure that the updated Organizer, CBJ, and rep manuals all promote the same procedures, rules, messages and meanings
    • Rep Town Halls: 1st to be scheduled for 16 June. All to be scheduled for the 3rd Monday of every month.
    • Update for the ‘Fork Only Pork’ rep advisory
  • Discussed the new KCBScore Overall Ranking on the team detail sheet. Dave McAllister stated that he may need one or two training sessions (w/ Reps) before implementing the capability to all Reps. Discussed that this could be the first Rep Town Hall item.
Next Committee Meeting: 24 June 2025.
Rules Committee
No report for this period.
 
Finance Committee
To be discussed in Closed Session.
 
Foundation Committee
Scholarship awards review schedule
· Scholarships have been awarded; applicants have been notified.
  • 22 recipients have notified, $14,750.00 in scholarships for 2025
  • Recipients have already started sending in their required fall schedule of classes to receive payment.
KCBS WI Pop-Up Shop for 2025
  • The 2025 Pop-Up shop was a success!
  • Over $4500 raised! Thank you to the following:
270 SMOKERS Killer Hogs Barbecue Plowboys
Atlanta BBQ Store LC BBQ Razorracks
Bad Azz Mules Local Yokels BBQ Smoke'n Magic
Bad Byron's Specialty Food Products, Inc. Man Meat BBQ Smokin Ghost BBQ
Clark Crew BBQ Muddville Sugba
Cool Smoke Optimus Swine 757 The BBQ Superstore, LLC
Health Riles BBQ Pellet Envy LLC Yes Dear
 
  • Also, thank you to the following volunteers:
  • Bill and Mary Jones, Mark and Diane Gantt
  • Timothy Walker, John Collins, Linda and Thomas Sutton, Antony and Kathryn Zenerovitz, Bill and Kim Wadell, Bill Smith, Patty Tharp, Mike and Cheryl Sutton, Alicia Davis and Keith Tiedke, and John Collins.
2025 Smoker Sweepstakes discussion
  • The RallyUp Sweepstakes for 2025 has been submitted for approval.
  • Time to start the process for NY filing and obtaining the bond.
  • 2025 proposed dates will be July 1 through October 31st, Draw on the 5th and announcing at the AR if possible. E-mail to non-winners go out on NOV 10th.
Nominating Committee
No report for this period.
Technology Working Group
  • No meeting was held due to inclement weather events.
  • Update for the Overall Ranking on the team Detail sheet is preparing for one last beta test. After the beta takes place, training will be scheduled with the KCBS reps to be rolled out to the field.
Hall of Fame Committee
No report for this period.
 
Organizer Working Group
  • Attendees: Donna Fong, Chair, Chiles Cridlin, Co-chair, Julie Poe, advisory role, and committee members Jim Palmer, Kathy Trainor and Christie Vanover
  • Absent: Paul Buob, ex officio, President, KCBS, and Rod Gray, ex officio, CEO
  • Organizer Guide Update (Julie Poe)
  • Organizer Town Hall Debrief & next topics for future Town Halls
  • 2 meat/4 meat consequences to organizers, the Jack draw and the Royal.
  • Organizers Hall of Fame criteria for nominations
  • Mentorship program (Joe Osbrink)
  • People's Choice update on WI
  • Competing BBQ Organizations
  • Next meeting: July 1st, 2025
Membership Subcommittee
No report for this period.
 
Backyard Working Group
No report for this period.
 
Sponsorship Working Group
No report for this period.
World Invitational Working Group
No report for this period.