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Board Discussion Topics

Below is the current list of topics being discussed by the Society Board of Directors. For questions or discussions about any of the below topics, please send an email to: societyboard@barbershop.org

TopicDetails
Harmony Hall Sale
  • In 2023, BHS has put Harmony Hall up for sale

  • A buyer has currently expressed interest

  • Information will be shared as more details develop

Moving after Harmony Hall
  • Part of Harmony Hall is “missional” and “preservationist”

  • Are there things we no longer need (or need to do?)?

  • What activities do we need to continue to support?

  • Operations (Harmony Hall) understands what their needs are and what footprint/space is required for missional and preservationist activities and assets.

BHS/HFI Review of Joint Settlement
  • The settlement agreed to by BHS and HFI in 2023 requires both parties to review the settlement in 2025 and determine if any changes are required based upon our collective experiences over the past couple of years

  • Meetings are underway in 2025

New CEO
  • In September 2023, the CEO position would be considered “Interim” for the next two years

  • The short term goal was to stabilize the operations of the society.

  • Rather than hiring a CEO who spent their first few years stabilizing and not growth oriented, the time would allow for thought about what expectations were that “permanent” CEO

  • Job description has been written

  • CEO search committee formed and operational

  • Job is posted and applications are being received

  • The goal is to hopefully have final interviews in Denver 2025 with a decision after that convention

Strategic Planning
  • In 2024 the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) restarted the strategic plan that had been halted by the pandemic

  • With 7 years of experience with EiH, the previous plan was overhauled

  • Harmony Hall now has ownership and is building plans to go out into the future

  • The SPC will actively address issues that Harmony Hall needs strategic guidance and ensure progress towards strategic growth

Finance
  • Harmony Hall has been strategic in the past year of meeting the budget and coming in nearly $500K under budget

  • In the event of the sale of Harmony Hall, the Finance Committee will look at putting the net proceeds in an endowment

CEO Evaluation
  • SBOD Officers routinely review progress towards goals as well as operational metrics as well as develop new goals for 2025

  • This is an ongoing committee

Election of Board Members
  • One of the highest complaints raised by members is how the Society Board elects its members and not having a voice in the election process

  • In 2024, an independent committee was formed to make recommendations for revisions to the process

  • SBOD reviewed at the 2025 Midwinter in San Antonio, TX

  • SBOD is working with District Presidents to understand current roles and processes

  • Communication on this is forthcoming

Process for obtaining BHS historical documents
  • Periodically, requests are made to research documents at Harmony Hall in Nashville, TN

  • Within all of these materials are sensitive documents that should not be shared

  • Procedures are now established and requests will be reviewed as received

Moving SBOD committees to Operations
  • The SBOD is accountable for the long term success of BHS

  • Its duty is oversight of the organization itself, not its individual members

  • Two of the SBOD committees historically are member oriented (Ethics and Hall of Fame)

  • The SBOD approved the movement of these committees from the SBOD to Harmony Hall; transition to happen during 2025

Brand
Governance
  • Almost 20 years ago, the SBOD adopted a Carver model, which provides clarity between governance (SBOD with policies and oversight) and operations (CEO/Harmony Hall)

  • The SBOD has identified gaps in our performance against this model and will work in 2025 to more focused on governance