Rocky Mountain Brassworks

Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
6:00pm

Call to Order

The monthly board meeting was called to order at approximately 6:00 p.m.

In attendance: Dave McLoughlin, John Ries, Ron Argotinger, John House, Mike Lusby, and Doug Harris
Absent: Dan Pinkston

Approval of Previous Minutes

The previous meeting minutes were approved without changes.

The board noted that approved minutes are now being posted on the member website, with members notified by email when new minutes are available.

SCFD Funding and Home County

The board discussed the organization's significantly reduced SCFD funding for the coming year.

  • RMB requested approximately $9,000 in SCFD funding but received only $936.

  • Broomfield County provided no general operating support, compared with approximately $3,000 in prior years.

  • SCFD indicated that RMB received a low score under its evaluation criteria, including the EDIA (Education, Diversity, Inclusion and Access/Accessibility) component.

  • The board noted that RMB has historically been open to everyone but has not recently had specific programs or partnerships focused on underserved or minority communities.

  • School programs have traditionally been an important part of RMB's SCFD application, but obtaining school performance opportunities has become increasingly difficult.

  • RMB has received $532 for an Arapahoe County workshop in 2027.

Change of Home County

The board discussed changing RMB's official home county from Broomfield County to Jefferson County.

Potential advantages include:

  • Eligibility for Jefferson County general operating support.

  • Greater flexibility to count performances and activities conducted in Jefferson County.

  • Continued ability to seek project funding from Broomfield County for qualifying projects.

  • Potentially increasing the number and variety of activities that can be included in the organization's operating support request.

The change would affect applications beginning with the 2028 funding cycle. The first step will be changing RMB's physical address with the Colorado Secretary of State.

The board also discussed opportunities to improve RMB's EDIA-related activities, including:

  • Developing partnerships with cultural or community organizations.

  • Exploring partnerships with organizations already participating in SCFD.

  • Pursuing opportunities involving underserved communities.

  • Exploring potential collaborations with other cultural organizations and groups.

Motion

A motion was made and seconded to change Rocky Mountain Brassworks' home county to Jefferson County.

Motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer presented the current financial highlights:

Item Year-to-Date
Revenue $10,158
Expenses $17,596
Current deficit. $7,438
Cash on hand. $31,098.49
Prepaid hall rental. $2,164
Liabilities. $744

The current deficit of $7,438 is comparable to the $7,906 deficit at the same point last year, although last year's SCFD funding helped offset the deficit.

The board discussed the importance of identifying additional sources of funding given the reduction in SCFD support.

Potential funding sources mentioned included the Colorado Creative Industries grant program and other local or arts-related grants.

The next SCFD application is expected to be due in approximately March 2027, with an annual SCFD report due earlier in the year.

Conductor’s Report

The primary focus was preparation and marketing for the December holiday concert.

Holiday Concert

  • Planning is progressing well.

  • Santa and Mrs. Claus have been arranged for the Mapleton event at a cost of approximately $250.

  • The board discussed significantly increasing advertising and promotional efforts because of the larger venue and the importance of the December concert.

Potential advertising outlets include:

  • Broomfield Magazine

  • Broomfield Enterprise

  • Prairie Mountain Media

  • Northglenn/Thornton Sentinel

  • Todd Creek Living Magazine

  • Westminster Window

  • Other local publications and community calendars

The board discussed a potential advertising budget of approximately $1,000, pending pricing information.

Action: Dave will contact the various publications and obtain advertising costs and options for consideration by the board.

Additional promotional opportunities include:

  • KGNU interviews and event-calendar listings.

  • Colorado Public Radio/community calendars.

  • Other local radio stations and community calendars.

Jerry will again be asked to assist with identifying and submitting RMB events to community calendars.

Social Media

Jessica (Jess) Payne has agreed to assist RMB with social media.

She is working to:

  • Resolve ownership/access issues with the existing Instagram and Facebook accounts.

  • Establish appropriate administrative ownership of RMB's social-media assets.

  • Develop a more consistent posting schedule.

  • Create member profiles and other recurring content.

  • Establish a process for maintaining social-media access from one administration to the next.

Jess plans to attend future board meetings to assist with the effort.

The board also discussed establishing a formal record of RMB's digital assets and account ownership.

Celtic Concert

The search for a pipe band for the Celtic concert is continuing. RMB is exploring the possibility of working with the Centennial Pipe Band and other pipe-band organizations.

Tubas

The organization continues to seek additional tuba players.

Vice President's Report

Mapleton Venue

A walkthrough of the Mapleton venue is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, at 10:00 a.m.

Ron and the VP will attend, with other board members welcome to participate.

Veterans Day

RMB has been invited to perform at the Broomfield Veterans Museum ceremony on November 11 at 11:00 a.m.

The board indicated that RMB intends to participate this year and will subsequently discuss whether to continue the event in future years.

Handbook

The updated member handbook was reviewed by the board.

No additional comments or objections were received. The board approved the revised handbook for publication.

Other Business

The board briefly discussed the continued viability of the organization's rehearsal/performance facility. Current information indicates that the facility is expected to remain available and that management is actively working to maintain and expand its use by music organizations.

The board also discussed possible future cultural partnerships, including opportunities involving Denver sister-city relationships and other cultural organizations.

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:53 p.m.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026
6:00pm 

Present: Dave McLoughlin, Ron Argotsinger, John House, John Ries, Doug Harris, Mike Lusby, Dan Pinkston

Conductor’s Report - Ron Argotsinger 

  • Ron is feeling good for this first concert! 

  • Big news from the rest of the season - Brett Keating contacted that they are bringing in Richard Marshall from Black Dyke Brass Band. 

  • $500 fee for the rehearsal 

  • One rehearsal back, we start on January 12, Mr. Marshall will be with us on January 19

  • Brass fest - Pikes Peak had asked about bringing ensembles - change the solo competition to a solo & ensemble competition? 

    • Friday, April 23 for Solo (or Solo & Ensemble), Saturday, April 24 for the concert

      • Doug Harris working on an accompanist 

Vice President’s Report - John Ries

  • Proposed to approve 26-27 Band Handbook 

    • Seconded by Mike Lusby & Ron Argotsinger 

    • Conversation: 

      • We should add something about the Librarian position in Staff

      • Dan Pinkston needs a RMB email as a board member 

      • There needs to be a policy about losing music - how much is appropriate? 

        • $25 per folder or $5 per piece of music - Helps to hold folks more accountable 

      • Add responsibilities of the Librarian to the handbook as a paid position

        • “Duties of Agents” is in section 6.3 of the RMB Bylaws and includes a section on the duties of the librarian 

      • Member responsibilities - should there be a section in the handbook

        • One responsibility would be taking care of music and turning it in 

    • Season schedule

      • Confirmed Venues for all of the main events - still need to confirm April 24 though. 

      • Tuesday, 12/8 - Aspen Creek PK-8 concert, 6pm

      • Dan has reached out to Sarah Wagner at Broomfield High School - if she isn’t interested, he will follow up with Michael Windham at Westlake Middle School. 

    • Member roster updating 

      • Still need people to fill in and help with responsibilities. 

Treasurer’s Report - John House 

  • “So far, on the surface, things look dismal” 

    • We just got out of summer, where we continue to have expenses but no ticket revenue 

    • SCFD money comes in during October 

    • Other grant opportunities are available that we have not pursued if funding 

    • Financial Report 

      • Intake: $6,608 

      • Expenses: $14,308

      • Deficit $7,700 (compared to $5,684)

        • We still have the holiday concert which is a big revenue generator, so it won’t be as dismal by the end of the year

        • SCFD money 

        • We will most likely break even by the end of the year. 

      • We had additional expense for bank charges 

        • Checks, stamp, deposit slips needed changed when FirstBank changed to PNC and supplies needed replaced 

      • Concert dates sent to Mike Quaim, he is available and booked for all concerts 

President’s Report - Dave 

  • All events put in website for 26-27 season

    • Mailer sent out, Meta ad placed ($52), email sent to contact list for September concert 

    • Mailing went out on Monday with whole season schedule 

      • 48th Season!

    • Created a poster for the first concert

    • Dave will be creating the graphics and the Zeffy link for the rest of the concerts for the season

      • Brass fest - how much per ticket? Board thinks it was $10, Dave will investigate what was on from last year 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:47pm 

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