Board Members | ZU Arts Initiative

BOARD MEMBERS

Democratic Governance • Community Leadership

Our board combines founding leadership with member-elected seats. Together, we steward ZU Arts Initiative's mission of accessible culture and fair artist compensation through transparent, community-centered governance.

Founding Board

Three founding board members provide initial leadership as we build sustainable infrastructure for Montezuma County's cultural commons.

🎨

Dana Willard

Board President

Long-time Cortez resident, artist, former small business owner, and passionate ZU supporter who deeply understands our community and what we're building. Dana brings community connections, creative vision, and commitment to ensuring culture remains accessible to all.

💼

Katie Burnham

Treasurer

Data analyst with the skills to ensure every dollar is stewarded responsibly and transparently. Katie brings financial accountability, analytical rigor, and deep commitment to ZU's mission of accessible culture. Her expertise ensures we meet grant requirements while staying true to our values.

🎭

Jodi Jahrling

Executive Director & Board Secretary

Founder of ZU Gallery and architect of ZU Arts Initiative. Serving as volunteer ED initially to ensure funds go directly to programming while we build this organization together. Brings four years of proven programming, deep artist relationships, and vision for sustainable cultural infrastructure in rural communities.

"Culture Isn't a Luxury. It's Infrastructure. It's What Makes Us Human."

How We Govern

Rotating Board Structure

President and Treasurer: Founding/appointed positions providing organizational continuity and fiduciary responsibility.

Additional Board Seats: Member-elected, rotating every 2 years with term limits to prevent entrenched power.

Reserved seats for:

  • Working artist from any discipline
  • Professional musician
  • Youth representative (ages 18-25)
  • Small business owner
  • General community member

This balances stability with fresh perspectives, ensures diverse community voices, and prevents nonprofit "insider" dynamics.

Member Voting Power

Shareholders don't just fund ZU Arts Initiative—they govern it. Democratic decision-making is built into our structure:

  • Elect rotating board seats through transparent application + vote process
  • Vote on budget allocations over $1,000
  • Approve major organizational decisions at quarterly assemblies
  • Ratify pension recipients selected by Mutual Aid Fund Committee
  • Propose and vote on policy changes

One share = one vote. Whether you pay $120/year or volunteer 144 hours, your voice matters equally.

Artist Committee Authority

The Mutual Aid Fund Committee oversees all Musicians Mutual Aid Fund programs with real decision-making power:

  • 7-member committee: 2 board members + 4 musician members (elected, 6-month rotating terms) + 1 community rep
  • Select pension recipients from applications
  • Approve emergency mutual aid requests (under $500: 24-hour turnaround)
  • Set eligibility criteria and program policies
  • Report quarterly to full board with full transparency

Artists lead programs designed for artists. Not top-down charity—horizontal mutual aid.

Full Financial Transparency

Every dollar tracked. Every decision documented. Every report public.

  • Monthly financial reports shared with all shareholders
  • Annual budget approved by member vote
  • IRS Form 990 posted publicly
  • Quarterly program impact reports
  • Board meeting minutes available to all members
  • Conflict of interest policy strictly enforced

We're stewarding community resources. You deserve to know exactly how they're used.