I.

Calling of the Meeting to Order, Diane B. Wilsey, President

A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, April 10, 2008, in the Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  A quorum was present that being one-third of the number of Trustees in office.  President Wilsey called the meeting to order at 3:17 p.m.

President Wilsey presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.

II.

Calling of the Roll

The following Trustees were present:

Adolphus Andrews, Jr.
Cheryl L. Bancroft
Kermit H. Boston
Carol W. Casey
Iris S. Chan
David H. S. Chung
Barnaby Conrad III
Marion Moore Cope, Vice President for Annual Support
Penny Coulter
Denise B. Fitch
Lauren Hall
Monica Maduro, Vice President for Marketing and Audience Development
Robert P. Morrow III
Marianne H. Peterson
Michael H. Podell
Louise H. Renne
Shelagh Rohlen
Lisa M. Sardegna
George B. Saxe
Arlene Schnitzer
Diane B. Wilsey, President

On motion, duly seconded and carried unanimously, the following Trustees were excused:

Edward D. Baker III
Roger Barnett
Shelby W. Bonnie
T. Robert Burke
Molly Murphy Crowley
Harrison S. Fraker, Jr.
Karen B. Francois
John A. Friede
Elise Friedman
Gretchen Kimball
Kathryn Lasater
Carl Pascarella
Jeanne Robertson
Randolph R. Scott
Susan S. Swartz
Jim Tananbaum
Trevor D. Traina
Lonna Wais
Robert T. Wall
David Winton
Lisa Zanze

The following ex-officio Trustees were unable to be present:

Mayor Gavin Newsom
Lawrence Martin, President, Recreation and Park Commission

Other Trustees in attendance were:

George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections
Gail Merriam
J. Alec Merriam
Paul A. Violich, Vice President for Finance
Florence Sue Wong

III.

Report of the President, Diane B. Wilsey

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the March 6, 2008 Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees

There being no discussion among the Trustees or public testimony, the minutes of the March 6, 2008 meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved. 

B. Presentation of a Recent Acquisition Accepted at the March 6, 2008 Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections and Chair of the Acquisitions Committee

At the request of Chair Hecksher, Dr. ReneeDreyfus, Curator of Ancient Art, presented the following work of art, which was approved for purchase by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at its March 6, 2008 meeting:

Ancient Art

Achaemenid Persian Relief, ca. 490-470 BC.  This rare and significant wall relief made of Bituminous limestone, h. 21 cm (8 1/8 in.), is from the South Stairs of the Palace of Darius or the East or West Stairs of the Palace of Xerxes in the Persian, Persepolis, Achaemenid Empire.  This exquisitely carved Persian sculpture is from the fabled ancient site of Persepolis located in modern southwestern Iran.  A poster-sized image of the object, which is currently on display at the Legion of Honor, was on view at the meeting.  Dr. Dreyfus and Mr. Buchanan expressed appreciation to two Trustees and other donors who have made this purchase possible.

C. Other Informational Items 

Report on the March 6, 2008 Executive Committee Vote to Change the Date of the Thursday, June 12, 2008 Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco to Tuesday, June 24, 2008 with the Time and Location of the Meeting Remaining the Same, Namely 3 p.m., in the Board Room at the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park

President Wilsey advised that, at her request, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at its March 6, 2008 meeting approved a change in date for the June 2008 Board of Trustees meeting from Thursday, June 12, 2008, to Tuesday, June 24, 2008.  The time and location of the June 24^th meeting will remain unchanged, namely 3 p.m., in the Board Room at the Legion of Honor.

IV.

Report of the Director, John E. Buchanan, Jr.

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve a Loan Request

Mr. Buchanan presented the following loan request:

From:  Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France

For:  Regards et vision:  Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Camille Pissarro, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France:  10/7/08-2/1/09

Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926)
Sailboats on the Seine, 1874
Oil on canvas, 21 1/4 x 25 3/4 (54 x 65.4 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Bruno and Sadie Adriani
1962.23

Stipulations:  The paintings must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier from San Francisco to Paris and from Paris to San Francisco.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization. 

A motion was made and seconded to approve the loan request noted above.  There was no discussion among Trustees or public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the loan subject to the conditions stated.

B. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging Funding Expended by the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums During the Period October 1 through December 30, 2007

The city’s Sunshine Ordinance requires the Fine Arts Museums to disclose the amount and source of all gifts received.  Mr. Buchanan presented the following resolution, which acknowledges funding expended by the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums for the period October 1 through December 30, 2007:

WHEREAS, The Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that exists to support the activities of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby acknowledge with gratitude funding in the amount of $6,398,399 expended by the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums for operations during the period October 1 through December 30, 2007.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1641.

C. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging that No Bequests of Funds Were Received During the Period October 1 through December 30, 2007

In accordance with the city’s Sunshine Ordinance, bequests received by the Fine Arts Museums must also be disclosed.  Mr. Buchanan introduced the following resolution acknowledging that no bequests of funds were received by the Museums during the period October 1 through December 30, 2007:

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby acknowledge that no bequests of funds were received during the period October 1 through December 30, 2007.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1642.

V.

Public Comment

Members of the public may address the Board of Trustees on items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  Speakers may address the Board for up to three minutes; the President or the Board of Trustees may limit total comments to thirty minutes.  One individual provided public comment:

Ms. Dawn Wagner addressed the Board of Trustees and expressed her opinion that the Gilbert and George exhibition is not suitable for children’s viewing.  Ms. Wagner stated that there was nothing in the catalogue that advises patrons not to bring children.  As a concerned parent, Ms. Wagner stated her need to know when she “comes to an exhibit in the museum like [Gilbert and George]†that she shouldn’t bring her children.  According to Ms. Wagner, the current sign saying “strong language and nudity†is not enough.  Ms. Wagner said the sign needs to say something like “parental discretion advised†or “unsuitable for the viewing of children.† Ms. Wagner noted that her son did not see the exhibition.  Ms. Wagner requested to speak in the future with a petition and more people who would like to express their opinions about the exhibition.

VI.

Meeting Schedule, Future Events and Current and Future Exhibits

A. 2008 Board of Trustees Meetings

B. 2008 Executive Committee Meetings

C. Future Events

D. Current and Future Exhibitions (*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF)[3]

Legion of Honor - Major Special Exhibitions

de Young Museum -  Major Special Exhibitions

VII.

Adjournment in Memory of Honorary Trustee Elizabeth Land, Diane B. Wilsey, President

There being no further business, President Wilsey adjourned the meeting at 3:33 p.m. in memory of Honorary Trustee Elizabeth Landwho passed away on April 6, 2008.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Gough
Executive Secretary

Note:  These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Board of Trustees on matters stated, but not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.