Dark Clouds Board of Directors Meeting 1/28

Sunday, January 28, 2024 3:00pm

Black Hart of Saint Paul

Board Members

Present: Jackson Smith, Meagan Weber, Maggi Heyer, Andrew Bruski, Alicia Pedersen, Andy Wattenhofer, Andy Kahl,  Jens Selin, Nick Moore

Absent: Jack McFarland, Jim Crist

1. Call to Order 3:04pm

2. Last Meeting Minutes
   • December 2023 Dark Clouds Board Meeting Minutes
   • Approved via Slack

3. Reports of Officers and Committees
   • Treasurer’s Report
     • Board of Directors report 2023 Final
     • Ended year with a deficit – expected due to rebranding efforts
     • Wonderwall working on a better way for purchasing
   • Committee Updates
     • Merch
       • Ordered 20th anniversary shifts
         • Some available at the event and will be on pre-sale shortly after
       • Hoodie also coming for pre-sale next week
       • Patch incoming
       • Finalizing 2024 Membership scarf with designer
     • Matchday
       • Waiting on new design for new flags – especially new BFF
       • New banners
         • Dark Clouds
         • All are Welcome
         • Red Card to Racism
       • Replacing a few megaphones
       • Starting a Dark Clouds Matchday social handle to increase engagement
     • Mar/Com/Social
       • Callendar is put together for Day of Recognition dates
       • Designs for matchday posts and others in the works
       • Submit requests as early as possible this season
         • Be sure to fill out the form so multiple people can see it!
       • Switch to Fedica has been completed
     • Membership
       • Member Survey in the works
       • Scarf handout will be more limited after the start of the season
     • Partnership
       • Working on Socible still – getting close 
       • Talisman partnership also in the works
     • Tifo
       • Have a design and dates for Home Opener tifo
         • Shifts February 10-11 and February 16-18
       • Rough sketch of at least 4 designs
     • Silver Lining
       • Appreciation party on February 27 at Utepils
       • Luminary on February 13
     • Party Planning
       • Annual Meeting – February 4 at Black Hart 2:00pm

4. Old Business
   • Updates on Action Items from December
     • Charitable Merch and Donations – Meagan
       • In the works – will be happening soon
     • Expected Annual Payments
       • Double check that you added expected month for larger payments
   • Other Old Business
     • 20th Anniversary Update
       • Logo is very close to final. Will be ready for February 4 reveal.
     • Election
       • Nomination form is available and open.
       • Nominations close on February 4 before our event
       • Voting will last a week

5. New Business
   • Wonderwall Financial Update
     • Ryan has done a lot of work to separate WW money from DC money prior to WW formation
     • We have a good idea of our financial backstop – if needed
   • Matt Johnson Photographer Contract
     • Last year was $1,000
     • More DC specific shots would be nice
     • Hope to get some pre-game photos this coming year
       • Could be good to pick a game and put it out there to get as many people as possible
     • Definitely interested in re-upping the contract – Andy will reach out about it
   • Chant App
     • QR codes will be available with reveal at February 4 meeting
       • Hope to be able to allow people to put up the code at games and other events
   • ISC Updates
     • Breakouts were more discussion and being helpful – not just complaining
     • We (as part of Wonderwall) won Tifo of the Year!
     • We are doing good things in the community
     • One frustrating part was that no Open Cup discussion happened
       • Planned to have an ISC-wide Zoom call to discuss options if MLS sucks
       • Talk happened about doing a “Why is US Open Cup important” social media posts
       • Put ideas on Slack about feelings
     • Away Travel should be better this year – apart from Austin
       • ISC made a formalized agreement of standards with MLS
   • Boot Soccer Tournament – February 17
     • We will reach out for interest
       • Will figure out what to do about the tickets
       • Motion made by Andy to pay the registration fee – Second by Nick
         • Unopposed approval

6. Open to Board
   • D4C
     • Invoicing via Paypal this year
     • Common Bond will be the partner again this year
       • We helped to subsidize a building of theirs this year
       • Looking into sponsoring families from the building to come to a game this year
     • Will be run through DGS this year to help standardize and make more efficient
   • Meagan no longer on DGS board
   • Thunderwall Anniversary
     • Missed their celebration last year, don’t want to steal our Anniversary
     • Want to do something to honor 5 years of being at Allinaz
       • Birthday theme night
     • Okay with essentially everything apart from Merch for it

7. Open to Public
   • 20th Anniversary Video
     • Adam Wells willing to help out with some video production stuff

8. Set Date for Next Meeting
   • Slack poll in the next few days – between February 11 and 16th

9. Adjournment 4:59pm