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Minutes of the June 6, 2019 Board Meeting
(Approved at the July 11,2019 Board Meeting.)
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The June meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, June 6, 2019, in the
Lecture Room of the Oshkosh Public Museum. President Thierman called the meeting to order at
4:00 pm.
The roll was taken by Ms. Books.
PRESENT AT ROLL: Board Members Connie Drexler, Carol Fenrich, Jim Hoffman, Gabe
Loiacono, Becky Matzke, Rick Rego,Joe Stephenson,Jean Thierman,School Board President Barb
Herzog,and Superintendent of Schools Vickie Cartwright.
EXCUSED: Board Member Randy Domer and Auxiliary President Kathy Wuest.
With Mr.Domer absent, Ms. Thierman appointed Ms. Drexler.
ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Brad Larson, Auxiliary Member Diane Vogel, and
Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes.
There were no citizen statements to the Board.
Consent Agenda items included:
A. Minutes of the May Board Meeting
B. June Bill List
MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda(Rego;second Fenrich)
CARRIED: Yes(9)Cartwright,Drexler, Fenrich,Herzog, Hoffman,Loiacono,Matzke, Rego,
Thierman.
Mr. Larson introduced Architects Alexandra Ramsey and Jeff Hanewell who then presented the
building design and budget. They went over details for each floor and noted any changes made
since the previous design. Questions were addressed and Mr. Larson encouraged the Board to
express any concerns or questions at this time with the understanding that if there are no concerns,
this is the design that will be accepted and planning for all details of interior fit out is the next step
of this process. No concerns were expressed and the Board endorsed the design.
Next on the agenda was discussion and thoughts about Board alternates.Is the Board satisfied with
the alternate format? Mr. Larson briefly explained that City Council is considering requiring City
Boards to have alternates and they requested input from departments with Boards or
Commissions. Mr. Rego noted that because alternates attend all board meetings and contribute to
Minutes of the June 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard•Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 1 of 3
discussions, they are well aware of all concerns and have the knowledge to step into decisions as
needed. It was noted that most of the current Board members were at one time alternates. The
members of the Museum Board concurred that it is good to have alternates on a Board.
Ms.Thierman requested Mr. Larson present the Director's report.
Mr. Larson began by noting he will present the annual review of the Strategic Plan in autumn. He
will wait on the review until he can discuss the probable schedule for key projects that are part of
the plan.Because these projects are linked to the City's annual capital improvement program(CIP),
he wants to be able to speak with accuracy on what the Museum might expect to accomplish in
2020.
Regarding the Marketing position, Mr. Larson reported the City/Museum is currently recruiting
and the application period ends June 9. There has been a good response and we might reasonably
anticipate the new person on staff in early August.
It was Mr. Larson's pleasure to introduce Education Intern Sid Lehman. He started work on May
20, and had prepared well for his responsibilities by looking at how other museums carry out
education.Sid has made tremendous progress and was invited to join a group of Oshkosh teachers
in July to develop school district plans for implementing aspects of the newly adopted social
studies curriculum.Mr.Lehman then described to the Board that he has been working on materials
for pre-field trip, field trip, and post trip lessons and objectives. He is focusing on knowledge and
critical thinking questions.Mr.Lehman is consulting with teachers and with his peers. He is using
multiple intelligences,for all learning levels,with fun and quiz assessments.The goal is success for
teachers and the students.
Next, Mr. Larson reported that Cemetery Tales: The Exhibition opens July 21 and runs through
October 31.There will be special evening hours and events in October, in addition to the weekend
programs. He invited Board members to help distribute brochures and posters for this exhibition.
To describe the exhibition, he noted there are three broad areas of Cemetery Tales. One theme is
devoted to 19th century customs related to death and mourning, which were quite different than
today. The central gallery is focused around the stories of selected individuals. Curator of
Exhibitions Debra Daubert has researched diverse people from the past. Some stories are
humorous,some tragic,and a few people became famous.Every account is revealing in some way
and illustrates a wide range of people from the community. Touch screen technology is
incorporated to provide a rich variety of images.The final area focuses on the subject of the afterlife,
presented in a way that focuses on the historic background of the Spiritualist Movement, which
was particularly strong in this region.The belief in the afterlife is brought up to the present by the
current efforts of today's"ghost hunters."That concluded the Director's report.
Minutes of the June 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 2of3
President Thierman did not have anything to report.
Ms.Thierman then requested the Auxiliary Report.
Auxiliary member Diane Vogel gave the report in Ms.Wuest's absence. The first Gala meeting will
be June 19th at 10 am. The tentative Gala date is Thursday, November 21. Pie on the Lawn is set
for July 14,2019.That concluded the Auxiliary Report.
With no other agenda items,Ms.Thierman asked for a motion to adjourn.(Herzog;second Matzke)
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Minutes of the June 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 3 of 3
Minutes of the July 11,2019 Board Meeting
��1j (Approved at the August 1,2019 Board Meeting.)
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The July meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, July 11, 2019, in the
Lecture Room of the Oshkosh Public Museum. President Thierman called the meeting to order at
4:00 pm.
The roll was taken by Ms. Books.
PRESENT AT ROLL: Board Members Randy Domer, Connie Drexler (alternate), Secretary Becky
Matzke, Rick Rego,Joe Stephenson(alternate), and President Jean Thierman
ALSO PRESENT: Arriving at 4:05 Carol Fenrich and School Board President Barb Herzog
EXCUSED: Board Members Jim Hoffman and Gabe Loiacono
ABSENT: Superintendent of Schools Vickie Cartwright
With Mr. Hoffman not present, Ms. Thierman appointed Ms. Drexler.
With Mr. Loiacono not present, Ms. Thierman appointed Mr. Stephenson.
ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Brad Larson, Auxiliary President Kathy Wuest, and
Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes.
There were no citizen statements to the Board.
Consent Agenda items included:
A. Minutes of the June Board Meeting
B. July Bill List
MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda(Domer; second Matzke)
CARRIED: Yes (6) Domer, Drexler, Matzke, Rego, Stephenson, Thierman
Ms. Thierman requested Mr. Larson present the Director's report.
Mr. Larson began by reporting that next year's capital requests were reviewed and discussed in a
June 25 meeting with City Manager Mark Rohloff and Director of Finance Trena Larson. The
repair of the foundation is the highest priority and Mr. Rohloff is 100% committed to that project.
Mr. Larson briefly reviewed progress on each of the following:
Minutes of the July 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 1 of 3
Summary of 2019 Projects
• Carriage House roof: bid award July 23, work commences late August or early September
with completion no later than December 1.
• Masonry repairs:bids due August 13, anticipated contract award date of August 27.
• Exploratory excavation of the foundation: today, Friday, and into next week. See updates
of today's excavation below.
• Engberg Anderson design development: on schedule and budget, with presentation to the
Board on October 3.
• Sporting& Recreation/Split Rock Studios: first staff look at the SRS concept design on July
23. The Board will have its first review on August 1.
The Museum is pleased that the Streets Department is doing the excavating. They started with
the area by the Archives, the highest priority. The foundation is solid but a leak in the drain
system was found. The ramp in the Archives will be removed to access and repair the drain pipe
in order to fix the problem.
2020 Requests
Mr. Larson reported that the building project with Engberg Anderson was included as a two-year
project in last year's capital improvement budget and funding for the second phase ($225,000) is
included in the 2020 preliminary capital budget. The second year is turning the design into
blueprints and bidding specifications. Once that task is done, the project is ready for bid
whenever a source of funding is available.
Because no funds were allocated in the preliminary budget discussed on June 25 for the Sporting
&Recreation exhibition, or for design development of Deep Roots, Growing City, during the review
Mr. Larson modified some requested amounts in two future projects so that funding could be
included for exhibitions.
Mr. Larson stated that he is satisfied with the capital improvement groundwork laid for future
projects. However, he emphasized that any capital improvement request can be eliminated or
changed by the Common Council during budget review, even if or when a project is included in
the two year budget. This reality makes it challenging to plan multi-year projects, allocate
Museum trust and fund resources, and designate staff time in the most advantageous manner.
Mr. Larson next reported that five candidates with marketing backgrounds and experience were
selected for interviews. From that group Tammy Malewski was selected. For the last five years
she has been the Marketing & Fund Development Director at Valley VNA Senior Care. In
addition to marketing skills, she has experience in grant writing, fundraising, volunteer
Minutes of the July 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 2 of 3
management, and program development. Tammy's first day is Monday, July 29. Mr Larson will
introduce Tammy at the August 1 Board meeting.
In conclusion, Mr. Larson explained that while we are still in the midst of(or have yet to start) all
our 2019 projects, he and Ms. Books will shortly put those aside to concentrate on next year's
budget. The Museum's annual challenge is accurately estimating future revenue, which is largely
based on the appeal of temporary exhibitions. Staff is working on exhibition possibilities for 2020
and is close to making a decision. Mr. Larson anticipates presenting the 2020 budget
recommendations for Museum trusts and funds at the September 5 Board meeting for discussion
and vote. His proposal for next year's expenditures for funds and trusts will be sent to Board
members for review in late August. That concluded the Director's report.
President Thierman reported she attended a meeting with Mayor Palmeri to discuss alternates on
Boards. She shared the Board's discussion with Mayor Palmeri, noting that it is very
advantageous to have alternates, not only are they well informed to step into discussions and
votes,but as an opening occurs on the Board, they are the next in line and are right up to date on
projects and concerns. She also informed the Mayor that the Museum is always on time with
preparation of the Minutes of each meeting.
Ms. Thierman then requested the Auxiliary Report.
Auxiliary President Kathy Wuest began her report with the good news that the Auxiliary raised
$318 during their Culver's fundraiser. Pie on the Lawn is set for this Sunday, July 14, 2019, 10
a.m. - 2 p.m. The Gala Committee met June 191h and set the date for the 2019 Gala; it will be
Thursday, November 21. In conclusion, Ms. Wuest noted the Auxiliary is working on programs
for next year and making corrections and additions to the directory booklet. She anticipates being
able to distribute those directories to the Board at the September meeting. That concluded the
Auxiliary Report.
With no other agenda items, Ms. Thierman asked for a motion to adjourn. (Domer; second
Herzog)
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:24 p.m.
Minutes of the July 2019 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 3 of 3