FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
Executive Committee
Board of Trustees
May 14, 1998
Call to Order
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco was held on Thursday, May 14, 1998, in the 6th Floor Conference Room of the
Museums’ Administrative Offices at 233 Post Street, San Francisco. A quorum being present, the
meeting was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by Richard W. Goss II, Chairman. President Wilsey
presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.
Roll Call
Present:
Alvin H. Baum, Jr.
Mrs. Ray Dolby, Vice President/Annual Support
Richard P. Essey
Richard P. Finn, Vice President/Finance
Ms. Frankie Jacobs Gillette, Vice President/Civic Affairs
Richard W. Goss II, Chairman
David M. Jamison, Vice President/Audience Development
J. Alec Merriam, Vice President/Collections
Nion McEvoy
Steven MacGregor Read, Vice President/Facilities
Mrs. Alfred S. Wilsey, Chairman
Excused:
J. Burgess Jamieson
Frank Montgomery Woods
Other Trustees in Attendance:
Mrs. June Goethe Craycroft
Charles Crocker
Carlos Pedro Villa
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
Report of the Chairman - Richard W. Goss II
There was no business to report by the Chairman.
Report of the President - Mrs. Alfred S. Wilsey
A.
Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the April 9,
1998 Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees
There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the
minutes of the April 9, 1998 annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed
in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved.
B.
Consideration and Possible Action to Change the Date of the October Meeting
of the Board of Trustees
President Wilsey advised that the October 8, 1998 meeting of the National Council
conflicts with the Board of Trustees meeting previously set for that day. The following
resolution to change the date of the October Board meeting was introduced:
RESOLVED, That the date of the October 8, 1998 Board of Trustees
meeting as set by Board Resolution 1236 on June 12, 1997 be changed to
Thursday, October 15, 1998 with the time and location of the meeting remaining
the same, namely, 3:00 p.m., in Gallery 23 of the M. H. de Young Memorial
Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
There being no discussion among Trustees or members of the public, the above
resolution was unanimously adopted as Board Resolution 1256.1.
C.
Report on Recent Development Regarding the Plans to Rebuild the de Young
Museum in Golden Gate Park
President Wilsey requested Mr. Parker to report on recent developments to rebuild
the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. With less than three weeks to election day
on June 2nd, the Proposition A campaign effort is moving forward with increased
momentum. The “get out the vote” focus is a crucial element of the election aimed at
capturing the absentee vote as early as possible. Extensive outreach efforts to all
San Francisco communities are underway. Phone bank activities continue, and a major
campaign mailing will be sent within the next several weeks. The campaign effort is
highly organized, well staffed, and supported by many enthusiastic volunteers.
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
C.
Report on Recent Development Regarding the Plans to Rebuild the de Young
Museum in Golden Gate Park (continued)
Mr. Parker then reviewed the results of a recent May 11-13, 1998 poll of
San Francisco voters, as well as historical poll results dating back three years. He
recalled that the November 1996 election resulted in a 62% favorable vote in support of
Proposition B and 38% opposed. In the weeks preceding the November 1996 election,
various polls indicated the yes vote to be 8 to 10 percentage points lower. The undecided
vote is believed to have contributed to the 10% increase in yes votes on election day.
The May 11-13, 1998 poll results indicated a 62% yes vote in favor of Proposition A,
with 23% opposed and 15% undecided. If the impact of the undecided vote on June 2nd is
similar to the undecided vote in the 1996 election, Proposition A could win on election
day. The May 11-13 poll, however, shows a 10% decline in support of Proposition A
in the last month to 62%. This change may be associated with negative publicity about the
Proposition J underground concourse garage, the potential competition of Laguna Honda
bonds on a future, yet-to-be-determined San Francisco ballot, and the issue of the pass
through of the property tax costs by landlords to tenants. Another poll is planned for next
week.
Mr. Parker reported that television coverage of Proposition A is under
consideration, particularly cable television spots, which can be limited to San Francisco
subscribers. Trustee Jamison noted that cable television coverage can be extremely
effective reaching as much as 25% of the San Francisco audience three to four times in
the two weeks prior to the election. The Executive Committee authorized the Director of
Museums to develop a budget for the proposed television coverage to be implemented as
soon as possible.
Trustee Essey pointed out that the San Francisco Voters’ Handbook does not
mention that the art within the de Young Museum and the building itself belong to the
City and that these facts should be emphasized. The Executive Committee concurred and
agreed that future campaign advertisements should address these points. Mr. Parker
stressed that the June 2nd election will be a close one and may well represent the last
chance at a public bond issue to rebuild the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. He
encouraged those present to contact him with any suggestions or comments that might
promote the passage of Proposition A, the $89.9 million bond measure to rebuild the
de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on the June 2nd San Francisco ballot.
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Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
D.
Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Reaffirming the
Museums’ Commitment to Public Transportation Improvements in Golden
Gate Park
President Wilsey introduced the following resolution:
WHEREAS, The Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco has recognized the importance of convenient public access
to the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum and has established a record of
support and action to reduce traffic congestion in Golden Gate Park; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Trustees approved a policy statement in
August 1996 (Board Resolution 1205), endorsing improvements to reduce
motor vehicle traffic in Golden Gate Park, including further closings of Park
roads when adequate alternative means of access and parking are in place such
as improved public transit, a permanent shuttle system, convenient replacement
parking underground for any parking spaces removed from the surface of the
Park; and
WHEREAS, The Fine Arts Museums has implemented a number of
transit and parking initiatives such as:
*
Selling Muni Fast Passes at the Museum store;

Increasing the $1.00 adult admission discount with a valid Muni
Fast Pass or transfer to $2.00 in 1996;
*
Printing transit information on exhibition publications, in the
Museums’ magazine, and on the Museums’ web site: www.thinker.org;
*
Operating a weekend visitor shuttle to and from the University of
California at San Francisco parking garage during temporary
exhibitions with high attendance, when parking within the Park is
extremely difficult; and
*
Encouraging employee vehicle trip reduction and installing an indoor
bicycle parking area adjacent to the de Young staff lounge; now
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums
of San Francisco restates the crucial importance of public access, public
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
D.
Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Reaffirming the
Museums’ Commitment to Public Transportation Improvements in Golden
Gate Park (continued)
transit, and parking to the viability of the de Young Museum and
reaffirms its demonstrated commitment to a multi-faceted approach to
mitigate motor vehicle traffic in Golden Gate Park through various
transit and parking improvements; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees reiterates
its prior commitment as previously stated in Board Resolution 1205,
August 1996, to work with the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, all
interested community and neighborhood groups, the Recreation and Park
Department, the California Academy of Sciences, the Asian Art Museum,
and other Park institutions to develop and help implement a set of workable
transportation alternatives for Golden Gate Park; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees will actively
participate in and support the efforts of the Public Authority created by the
Golden Gate Park Revitalization Act if it is approved by San Francisco voters
on June 2, 1998 in order to accomplish a comprehensive plan for parking,
transportation improvements and traffic mitigation measures in Golden
Gate Park.
Mr. Parker noted that the proposed resolution reiterates the Board’s previous
policy statements on the importance of convenient public access to the de Young
Museum, as well as the Board’s support of efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Golden
Gate Park.
Discussion ensued. Given the confusion associated with the underground parking
facility in the November 1996 election, which may have contributed to the defeat of
Proposition B, the Executive Committee agreed to table the above motion at the request
of the Director of Museums. It was the sense of the meeting that the Board’s record on
public access, public transit, and parking in Golden Gate Park is clear and speaks for
itself.
E.
Status Report - Appointment of 1998-99 Committees of the Board of Trustees
President Wilsey announced that 1998-99 committee appointments will be
presented at the Board of Trustees meeting on June 11, 1998. She requested Trustees to
contact her if they have a special interest in serving on a particular committee.
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
Report of the Director - Harry S. Parker III
A.
Proposal by Robert and Carole McNeil to Recognize Superior Achievement
by Volunteers and Staff
Mr. Parker announced that Robert and Carole McNeil, long-time supporters of
the Fine Arts Museums, have proposed the creation of three awards in the amounts of
$25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 to honor distinguished volunteers, who will recommend
the designation of the award money to support Museum programs.
It is proposed that:

A one year trial period to implement the Volunteer Recognition Program will be
initiated upon receipt of $50,000 in funding from Mr. and Mrs. Robert McNeil.

Museum volunteers, docents, and members of supporting organizations will be
eligible for nomination.

Nominations from Trustees, staff and volunteers will be submitted to a committee
chaired by Robert and/or Carole McNeil and comprised of two Trustees, two staff
members, and two volunteers to be selected by the President of the Board of
Trustees and the Director of Museums.

Award winners will be selected by the committee.

The winners will recommend a worthy Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
project of their choice to the Board of Trustees for approval.

The award winners will be honored at a recognition event and will receive a
suitable gift, perhaps a replica of an object in the Museums’ collection.

A complementary program, which may be implemented following the Volunteer
Awards Program trial period, will recognize staff achievement and allow staff to
recommend Museum projects of their choice totaling $50,000 per year to the
Board of Trustees for approval.
Mr. Parker reported that the Mr. and Mrs. McNeil have expressed interest in
implementing an identical staff recognition program at the same time that the volunteer
recognition program is initiated. Both would provide a total of $100,000 annually in
support of Museum programs. Ensuing discussion underscored the need for ground rules
to address issues such as repeat nominees and possibly restructuring the awards (1st, 2nd
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
A.
Proposal by Robert and Carole McNeil to Recognize Superior Achievement
by Volunteers and Staff (continued)
and 3rd) into two equal amounts. The Executive Committee wished the record to reflect
its support of efforts to recognize volunteers and staff and its sincere appreciation to
Robert and Carole McNeil for their generosity towards the Museums Further, the
Executive Committee authorized the President of the Board of Trustees and Director of
Museums to continue working with Mr. and Mrs. McNeil on program details and
associated timetable.
B
Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Loan Request
Mr. Parker presented the following loan request:
From:
Reunion des Musees Nationaux, Paris, France
For:
Jean-Marc Nattier
Museé National du Chateau de Versailles, Salles Afrique et Crimée:
10/25/99 - 01/30/2000
a.
Jean-Marc Nattier, French 1685 - 1766 (1954.59 A303563)
Thalia, Muse of Comedy (Silvia Balletti?)
oil on canvas, 53 ½ x 49 inches
credit line: Mildred Anna Williams Collection
b.
Jean-Marc Nattier, French 1685 - 1766 (1954.60 A303405)
Terpsichore, Muse of Music and Dance
oil on canvas, 53 ½ x 49 ¼ inches
credit line: Mildred Anna Williams Collection
Stipulations: The paintings will require traveling frames and will be accompanied by a
FAMSF courier to Paris and return to San Francisco. All related expenses
are to be paid by requesting organization.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the above loan. There was no
discussion among Trustees or members of the public. The Executive Committee voted
unanimously to approve the loan subject to the conditions stated.
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
C.
Update on City Budget
The FAMSF City Budget is under discussion with representatives from the
Mayor’s Budget Office. Mr. Parker advised that the Mayor is scheduled to present the
fiscal year 1998-99 City Budget proposal on June 1, 1998. The Board will be kept
apprised of developments.
D
Current and Future Exhibitions
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel, an impressive exhibition
of excavated ancient glass, Ancient Glass from the Holy Land, opened at the de Young
Museum on April 25 and continues through August 23, 1998. Stanley Spencer: An English
Vision, which opens at the Legion of Honor on June 6 and runs through September 6, was
enthusiastically received in Washington, D.C., and New York City. On June 10th, the John
Steuart Curry: Inventing the Middle West exhibition opens at the de Young Museum and
continues through August 30, 1998.
Report of the Audience Development and Marketing Committee - David M. Jamison, Chair
and Vice President
A.
Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Reaffirming the
Museums’ Commitment to Audience Development
At its April 6, 1998 meeting, the Audience Development and Marketing Committee
recommended the adoption of the following resolution to reaffirm the Museums’ commitment
to audience development. This resolution was read at the April 9, 1998 annual meeting of the
Board of Trustees as part of Trustee Jamison’s report on the Legion of Honor visitor
survey from February 24 to March 1, 1998:
WHEREAS, The exhibition, Rhapsodies in Black: Art of the
Harlem Renaissance has proven effective in generating an ethnically-diverse
audience, and was a particular success in drawing young people and an
exceptional number of first-time attendees; and
WHEREAS, The exhibition has generated new members and donors as
well as increased attendance as formulated in the goals of the Fine Arts Museums
Audience Development Plan, adopted by the Board of Trustees in June 1990; and
WHEREAS, Since this approach to Audience Development has proven
successful over time, the Board encourages staff to continue such techniques as:
exhibition committees, exhibition representatives, collaboration with community
groups, use of the facility for at-cost community events, extended hours,
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
A.
Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Reaffirming the
Museums’ Commitment to Audience Development (continued)
additional open public hours and free days, and use of public programs to attract
diverse audiences; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums
of San Francisco reaffirms its commitment to Audience Development and
recognizes the value to the institution of attracting a more diverse audience
and instructs the staff to organize and/or participate in touring exhibitions
of a similar nature to Rhapsodies in Black: Art of the Harlem Renaissance;
and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the planning for a new M. H.
de Young Memorial Museum be premised on the goal of attracting and
serving new and diverse audiences.
A motion was made and seconded to adopt the above resolution. There was no
discussion among Trustees or members of the public. The Executive Committee voted
unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1257.
Public Comment
Members of the public may address the Executive Committee on items not on the agenda that are
within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, including all
matters pertaining to the subsequent closed session. Speakers may address the Executive Committee
for up to three minutes; the President or the Executive Committee may limit the total time for public
comment to thirty minutes. The following speaker gave public comment (summarized):
Pam McDonald, Director of Audience Development and Civic Affairs - Thanked the
Executive Committee for its support of audience development by adopting Board
Resolution 1257.
Meeting Schedule
A.
Executive Committee Meetings
Date
September 10, 1998
November 12, 1998
December 10, 1998
Time
noon
noon
noon
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Location
233 Post Street
233 Post Street
233 Post Street
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
B.
Board of Trustees Meetings
Date
June 11, 1998
October 15, 1998
Time
3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
Location
Board Room, Legion of Honor*
Gallery 23, de Young Museum
Future Events
Date
June 4, 1998
June 11, 1998
August 7, 1998
September 24, 1998
October 8, 1998
Event
Stanley Spencer Opening
John Stuart Curry Opening
Wealth of the Thracians Opening
A Feast for the Eye: Food in Art Opening
Picasso and the War Opening
Current and Future Exhibitions
*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF
Title
Gallery One - Exhibition for Children
Recent Costume Acquisitions*
Peter Milton*
Art of the Americas: Art and
Ethnography*
Achenbach 50th Anniversary Exhibition*
Ancient Glass from the Holy Land*
Contemporary Screenprints: Selections
from the Anderson Collection*
Stanley Spencer: An English Vision
Date
Ongoing
12/06/97-06/28/98
02/28/98-05/24/98
03/28/98-07/05/98
Museum/Gallery
de Young Gallery One
de Young 22
de Young 36-37
de Young 41
04/18/98-07/05/98
05/02/98-08/16/98
05/06/98-08/23/98
Legion 3-5
deYoung 44 B-C
Legion A
06/06/98-09/06/98
John Steuart Curry: Inventing the
Middle West*
George Fitch Collection
The Wealth of the Thracians
Charles Jones
A Feast for the Eye: Food in Art*
Picasso and the War: 1937-1945*
06/13/98-08/30/98
Legion B-F
& Rosekrans
de Young 44 A-B
06/13/98-09/06/98
08/08/98-10/11/98
09/19/98-12/06/98
09/26/98-12/13/98
10/10/98-01/03/99
de Young 36/37
Legion 1-5
de Young 36/37
de Young 44
Legion A-F
& Rosekrans
*Addendum: The location of the June 11th meeting has been changed to Gallery 23, M. H.
de Young Memorial Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
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Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Executive Committee
May 14, 1998
Current and Future Exhibitions (continued)
*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF
Title
Selections from the Anderson Collection:
Motherwell’s A la Pintura*
Arnold Genthe
Impressionists in Winter: Effets de Neige
Date
10/31/98-01/10/99
Museum/Gallery
Legion 5
12/19/98-03/28/99
01/30/99-05/02/99
Selections from the Anderson Collection:
Legendary Lithography
A Grand Design: The Art of the
Victoria and Albert Museum
Bouquets to Art
Wiedersperg Collection
02/06/99-04/25/99
de Young 36/37
Center for Arts
Yerba Buena Gardens
Legion A
02/13/99-05/09/99
03/15/99-03/19/99
03/27/99-10/31/99
Legion B-F
& Rosekrans
Legion All
de Young 28-30
Adjournment - Richard W. Goss II, Chairman
There being no further business, Chairman Goss adjourned the meeting at 1:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Gough
Executive Secretary
Museums
Note: These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Executive Committee on matters stated, but
not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.
Immediately following this meeting, the Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums held a meeting of its
Executive Committee.
mexfamsf985
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