General Meeting Minutes July 2025
Art League of Fort Bend
General Meeting
Monday, July 28, 2025
Call Meeting to order at 10:00 am by President, Linda Pietz
Welcome New Members Cathy Kemper, Bob Dunn, and Roger Koslin
Approval of Minutes - Motion made by Don Golden, seconded by Peggy Nicholson to approve the June 2025 minutes. Motion carried.
Update from the Board
Board retreat recap - Linda - Excellent retreat led by Travis Lairson. Looked at 10 year, 5 year, 1 year vision and identified several areas to work on this year. Sales, Organization, Eduction, and Script for presenting our organization. We are all ambassadors. Suggestion made to add information to back of Got Art t-shirts - “Ask me about and web site”
Training on iPads, intercoms, and Alexa - Travis - There are no more paper forms, they will be online and accessible on the I Pad at each front desk. This will also have the directory available to members.
The intercoms have laminated instructions. Do not push the VOX button, it locks everyone out and everyone can hear you.
The new Safety Guidelines will be available at each front desk.
Action Item: Kathy will print and place at both desks.
Garden Committee - Bobbie - watch the newsletter for meeting dates. They are looking at hardscape possibilities and will hold off on working until cooler weather, end of September or October.
New events chair - LaDonna and daughter Allison -committee talked about exciting possibilities, next planned event will be opening for the Shoe Show in September.
Correction on family membership - $50/year.
Soleful Art Shoe Show - Linda September 17 to 28th with a one day flash sale for 10% off on The 27th. Open to all members and all mediums, art intake September 1 - 6 for both buildings.
Route 66 Quilts - Linda - showed examples of the fabulous quilts.
LaDonna suggested we combine it with a Road Trip themed display of our artists.
Collaboration with Missouri City Quilt Guild - Linda - they are choosing their art inspirations for their quilts to be displayed at the Stafford Center July of 2026.
Coming soon - North and South Renaissance, an evening of art history and hands on presented by Linda Pietz and Fereshteh Solati.
Suggestion Box:
Open earlier and also on Tuesday. Most businesses in downtown are closed on Monday/Tuesday. Discussion on increasing hours, if we reach a benchmark, such as 100 visitors a day or $10,000 sales/ month.
Limit number of workers to 2 per shift. We need 2 that are S - for sales savvy. We do try, need Gallery workers to comply.
Promote one artist each month - We are looking at having a feature artist and are working on requirements and criteria. Could be in the newsletter instead of actual.
Water smell issue at Third Street has been fixed.
Consider billboards for advertising - while fixed ones are very costly, the board is looking into digital billboards.
Suggested getting contact information on larger sales so artist can send thank you. Also snap a picture and send to Nina or Eugenia for posting.
Financial Report
Bank balances as of 6/31/25:
Checking $30,264
Savings $6,949
Paypal 0
Stripe 519
Total $58,646
Motion was made by Bobbie, seconded by Gladys to approve the financial report. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business
Time to activate the nominating committee for elections at the end of the year. Positions will be open for VP, Secretary, Fund Raising Director, and Marketing Director. Since Travis has volunteered to run for Marketing, we will be looking for a Membership Director to fill his current slot if he is elected. Diane Whitmarsh will be heading the committee with Judy Beard and Debbie Rose, so please contact her if you are interested in a position or have any questions at: profdw@gmail.com.
New Business - no new business
Committee Reports
Art Shows and Workshops - Debbie Rodriguez/Gladys Fall show will be October 11th.
Education Committee - Bobbie - Thank you to Eugenia for leading the Summer Camp which was a great success! Thank you also to the teachers, helpers, and to Bobbie. There were 10 different teachers so there was a different subject for all 10 days of the 2 camp sessions. Looking for Camp chair for next year.
Demo today is Swap and Trade and examples of classes offered.
August demo will be Lynette McQueen - Intro to Zentangle - details on web site, can bring supplies or purchase from her for $5.00.
September demo will be painting with Sue Zelko.
October demo - 5 easy ways to create Tesselations with Linda Pietz.
Small workshops: Irina Nair - precious metal clay 9/5/25, 10a - 4p.
Linda Pietz -Tesselations workshop in November.
Large workshops - Joan Fullerton - abstract art in October, sign up soon while there are seats available.
Looking for oil painting workshop if anyone has suggestions.
New opportunities with development of recorded online classes coming in August.
There are places on the website and newsletter where you can submit classes you would like to teach or take.
Community Display - Brenda Bowman
Aug 19th - Fort Bend Museum in Richmond - art intake from 10 - 11am. Main hall and two rooms in one of the cottages so we need lots of art large or small. Open to all members and includes 2D and 3D. Will hang until November.
SL Airport will hang until the end of August.
Rosenberg Civic Center and Attack Poverty are coming up also.
Fundraising - Brenda - HOT funds application will be due in September
Gallery - Fereshteh - studio artists are allowed to have one piece on the member wall.
Signing up on Team Up was reviewed.
Please have all checks made to Art League of Fort Bend, not ALFB or Fort Bend Art Center.
We are ready to pull up carpets, let Fereshteh know if you have suggestions for companies that handle this.
AC repair in gallery - they are waiting on parts to complete.
Emergency contact numbers are needed for gallery workers, email to Jen Gawrys.
LSAG - Brenda Bowman - still looking for volunteers to join a committee that will be exploring a return to in person shows. So far we have Bobbie Davis and Cynthia Wallace.
Gift Shop -Debbie Rose - all good.
Marketing - Nina - Natalie Weber from PBS came and interviewed some of our artists! She is planning to return. Nina will contact Marquita Griffin with The Herald to let her know what we have coming up.
Membership - Travis - Will be passing out index cards for everyone to list one class/small workshop/large workshop that you would like to see offered.
Rosenberg - Kathy
September 6 is the Ride to Rosenberg Car Show from 10a - 3p
A great opportunity to create and show some car themed art work. We can also set up an information table.
Web Site - Travis
Miscellaneous
The Gift Shop artists have requested that we paint the front door.
Action Item: Linda will check with Lori for permission.
Next Meeting
Next Board of Directors Meeting - August 11, 2025
Next General Member Meeting - August 25, 2025
Adjourned - 11:28 am.
