1.04.26 Board Meeting Minutes
Meeting summary
Quick recap
The board meeting focused on addressing a contentious situation involving unpaid work claims from a vendor named Cass, ultimately deciding to pay the outstanding amount of $400 to resolve the matter and improve public perception. The board discussed the need for a public statement explaining their decision to rectify the situation, with Domino agreeing to reach out to Cass directly. The meeting also covered updates on festival planning, including potential headliners Raquel Reed and Pressure K, and the formation of a new board nomination committee with a January 18th deadline. Additionally, the board reviewed financial matters and discussed a new partnership with Stone Moth Media for marketing support.
Next steps
FemmeFest: Write public statement regarding Cass payment situation for website and social media
Kaitlin's: Reach out to Cass to arrange payment and determine preferred payment method
Board members: Contribute funds via Venmo to organization account to cover Cass payment
FemmeFest: Update website to remove references to Cass as current/active
All: Attend next meeting on Sunday, February 1st at 1pm (Valentine's brunch)
Summary
Meeting on Voting and Agenda Updates
The meeting began with discussions about tax exemption forms for Zoom and a humorous exchange about a dog incident. The group then focused on voting procedures, noting that Josh would need to text in his vote due to being absent, and discussed the agenda which primarily covered photographer arrangements and updates. The meeting was called to order despite some members being absent, including Isabelle who was busy with children's activities, and the group agreed to proceed with the agenda while waiting for additional participants to join.
FemmeFest's Committee Planning Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 1:11 PM on January 4, with FemmeFest, Domino, Bunny, Nadia, and Josh attending. Attendees were asked to review and affirm the previous meeting notes and provide their signatures by Monday or Tuesday. FemmeFest mentioned filing a claim for a rental car to address the Point Bank issue and promised to start work on the board nomination committee this week. She requested attendees to suggest potential committee members by January 18.
Committee Recruitment and Board Positions
The meeting focused on recruitment for various committees and board positions. FemmeFest discussed upcoming meetings with potential committee members, including Lyric, Maddie Lin, and Isabelle, emphasizing the importance of bringing in new, diverse members. Kaitlin mentioned her friend Andy as a potential committee member. The group also touched on the rules regarding political endorsements for board members. Finally, FemmeFest announced that Starn Moth Media would be added to the finances section, and a meeting was scheduled for January 18th to discuss committee progress.
Board Nominations and Festival Planning
The meeting focused on several key topics. The group discussed the nomination committee for the board, emphasizing the need for members with nonprofit and business management experience rather than just performing arts backgrounds. They agreed to create a flyer to recruit new committee members, particularly from the LGBTQ community in Dallas. The financial update revealed a current account balance of $211.03, with recent expenses for storage and Zoom subscription. The organization is working with Stone Moth Media, a new marketing agency in Denton, to develop a marketing strategy and calendar for the upcoming festival. Regarding the festival itself, the group is hoping to secure headliners Raquel Reed and Pressure KI, with plans to launch applications on February 1st. The conversation ended with a discussion about addressing a contentious situation with a vendor named Cass, where Kaitlin suggested reaching out to offer a settlement to repair the organization's reputation.
Board Reputation and Past Decisions
The group discussed a sensitive situation involving past board decisions and their impact on the organization's reputation. Kaitlin emphasized the need to acknowledge past mistakes while ensuring the current board acts morally and correctly. They agreed to offer compensation to address the issue, despite potential criticism. FemmeFest suggested issuing a brief statement on the website to address the situation, similar to how TFUND handled a previous controversy. The group aligned on taking action to resolve the issue and prevent further escalation, while acknowledging the potential for continued criticism.
Cass Payment Dispute Resolution
The meeting discussed a situation involving a past board decision and a payment dispute with Cass, which was brought up again in October 2025. The current board decided not to be involved in the situation, but a new voting board was formed to resolve and fix the issue. It was clarified that Cass never personally reached out about the payment, only through the HoneyBook system, and the situation escalated when Cass halted work and made statements on social media. The group decided to make a public statement outlining the events and their resolution, while acknowledging that Cass had communicated with other individuals involved.
Contractor Payment Resolution Discussion
The board discussed a payment issue with a former contractor, Cass, who had not performed any work but was seeking payment. They voted to pay Cass $400 to resolve the situation. Kaitlin suggested raising funds through embroidery sales and donations. The board acknowledged the need for members with non-profit experience to better handle such situations in the future.
Cass Payment and Community Trust
The group discussed paying Cass Siren Production, despite concerns about incomplete work, to maintain community trust and address public perception issues. Kaitlin agreed to reach out to Cass to arrange payment, which will be funded through Venmo donations to the FemmeFest account. The team also addressed website updates regarding former board members and planned a Valentine's brunch for their next meeting on February 1st at 1 PM.
