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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-15 Agenda Airlie Gardens Foundation May 15, 2025 Board Meeting Agenda Michael Creed, Chair Eric Blaesing, Vice Chair Shane Johnson, Treasurer Nikki Bascome, Secretary Tara Duckworth, Director of Parks & Gardens MISSION To preserve Airlie Gardens in perpetuity as an outstanding, historic public garden with programs developed to serve New Hanover County residents and other visitors. May 15, 2025; 8:30 am: Airlie Cottage 1. Call to Order and approval of the April minutes: Eric Blaesing 2. Chair’s Report: Eric Blaesing a. Proposed Executive Committee FY 25-26 3. Treasurer’s Report: Shane Johnson a. Financial Update for period ending April 30, 2025 4. Director’s/Operations Report: Tara Duckworth & staff 5. Other Business: All Board Members Next Meeting: June 19, 2025 AIRLIE GARDENS FOUNDATION BOARD PAGE 2 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 17, 2025 ASSEMBLY The Airlie Gardens Foundation Board met in regular session at the Airlie Cottage on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Present: Eric Blaesing, Shane Johnson, Michael Creed, Beverly Erwin, Teddy Davis (via phone) Excused: Ted Davis, Jr., Rob Zapple, Charlie Rivenbark, Sandra Ray, John Russ Absent: Tia Saffo Staff: Andy Johnson, Jodi Rich, Tara Duckworth, Scott Childs WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Michael Creed called the meeting to order. He asked everyone if they had a chance to review the minutes and if there were any changes. Hearing none, the following motion was presented: MOTION: Eric Blaesing MOVED; SECONDED Shane Johnson, that the minutes of the March meeting be approved. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Chair’s Report Michael Creed discussed the directors and officers insurance (D&O insurance). Tara reported that she is applying now for the insurance but will need some assistance filling out the applications. Treasurer’s Report. Shane Johnson reviewed the March year-to-date (FY2025) financials for Airlie Gardens Foundation. Current Highlights  Blooms & Brews event is wrapped up and Tara will drill down on the financial detail for revenues and expenses. nd  Gate revenue for the month of March was the 2 highest gate revenue for any month. Jodi will share stats. rd  Membership revenue for the month of March was the 3 highest membership revenue for any month. Jodi will share stats.  Wedding season is in full swing with several weddings, receptions, elopements and portrait sessions booked.  Capital Projects for the month of March included the purchase of new Enchanted Airlie decorations as well as Camellia garden plants  The Endowment is fluctuating with the current market conditions. Director’s Report. Gate revenue for March reached a record high of $76,303, compared to $70,000 in March of the previous year. Membership revenue also hit an all-time high for the month at $72,581. Tara noted that this increase may be attributed to the extended tulip season and eagle viewing opportunities. Tara consulted with Copley Investments in anticipation of the usual June account sweep. She inquired about the recent growth in the South State account, which had increased by approximately $50,000 in under a month, bringing the balance to $819,000 as of the previous morning. She raised the possibility of AIRLIE GARDENS FOUNDATION BOARD PAGE 3 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 17, 2025 a strategic investment approach, suggesting a "buy low, sell high" tactic. Ron Copley advised this could be a viable option should the board have surplus funds. Currently, South State offers a 3% interest rate. Tara proposed the potential movement of $450,000 into investments or waiting until June to reassess. Mike recommended observing the market for at least another month. Eric added that Live Oak Bank is currently offering a 4.2% interest rate. Tara expressed interest in placing funds in the endowment, suggesting the market may be at a low point and could yield returns higher than 4.2%. At present, staff does not anticipate any capital projects that cannot be funded from the operating budget. Andy and Scott are reviewing capital project priorities, and staff plans to present the budget to the board in May/June to ensure a manageable flow of information. Upcoming capital needs include structural repairs to the pergola and causeway. Eric asked whether accessibility improvements for unpaved trails and other garden areas are being considered. Tara confirmed that both short-term and long-term plans exist. However, near-term projects are cost-intensive. For example, stabilizing the slopes of the large causeway to address erosion is estimated at $1 million. The pergola columns are also sinking and will require structural assessment and repair. An engineering assessment will be funded up front, with repair budgets to follow based on scope. Eric also noted that root exposure has created tripping hazards. Shane suggested installing signage to alert visitors of uneven surfaces. Tara agreed that staff would evaluate this option. This year’s Blooms and Brews event saw increased attendance, with 421 guests. Tara emphasized the importance of securing additional table sponsors in the future and thanked board members for purchasing tables and inviting guests. Janine plans to ramp up sponsorship outreach next year. The primary sponsor for next year will no longer be REV. New major sponsors include Wilmington Plastic Surgery, Nabell Winslow Investments and Wealth Management, South State, and Element Outdoor Living. All sponsors, except for South State (contributing $15,000), are providing $5,000 each. Tara expressed concern that the current ticket pricing may be too high and recommended setting a fixed price of $100 per ticket to avoid last-minute discounts. Staff will also consider renting propane heaters for the event in case of cold weather. Other Business. Shane proposed offering historic photographs of Airlie for sale in the gift shop. Eric suggested including high-quality prints of Minnie Evans’ artwork as well. Janine clarified that Christian Daniels holds the rights to Minnie Evans' work. He has generously donated a book featuring her artwork to the gift shop, and Airlie retains 100% of the proceeds from its sales. Jodi shared feedback from this year’s Blooms and Brews event. Attendees responded positively to the food, desserts, overall atmosphere, and entertainment. Areas for improvement included concerns about cold weather, a desire for expanded beverage options, and more affordable ticket pricing. Mike suggested several enhancements for future events, including offering higher-quality wine selections, looking for different entertainment options, and increasing sponsor visibility. He also recommended revisiting the event at the next board meeting to gather feedback from members who were unable to attend. AIRLIE GARDENS FOUNDATION BOARD PAGE 4 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 17, 2025 Jodi reported that Airlie’s recent free admission day drew over 1,900 visitors, surpassing the previous single-day attendance record of 1,600. Next Meeting. The next board meeting will take place at the Airlie Cottage on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the following motion was presented: Eric Blaesing MOVED; Shane Johnson SECONDED; that the meeting be adjourned. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 9:36 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Latashia Smith Administrative Coordinator -Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Airlie Gardens Foundation Board meeting.