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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.03.20 Attachment 1April 3, 2020 To the Board, Attached are the draft minutes from the March meeting. I am humbled to admit that I did not realize all Theresa did in an average week, and I have a better appreciation for the countless things she handled without telling me. Once I have my staff back next week, we will meet to assign specific office responsibilities, which will enable us to have a better routine for handling administrative tasks. I am very appreciative for help from the Parks Administrative Assistant and everyone at City Hall. We continue to receive Membership renewals and other donations, along with inquiries and rescheduling of programs, so that is most gratifying. As it looks now, Theresa might be able to return in June. To begin with positive news, the $3,000 grant Tammy Malewski wrote to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, “History Collaboration Kit,” was successful. The grant is focused on education and enables the Museum to create traveling history kits and associated materials that will be used in classrooms. The collection staff are strongly focused on design development of the Sporting & Recreation exhibition. We are transcribing oral histories, selecting objects and images, and a long list of other tasks. Because Deep Roots, Growing City will be a complex, multi-layered exhibition with a detailed storyline, I am encouraging staff to spend time considering what type of research will be necessary. The Menominee Nation Clan Powwow is now scheduled for Saturday, June 20. We are moving ahead with it under the assumption that things we will be better by then. The same holds true for Titanic, and the gallery refurbishment will begin in late May as planned and adhere to a rigid schedule. We have a conference call with E/M Group on Monday morning related to outstanding issues. In regard to capital improvements, action on the contract for masonry work on the Carriage House was laid over until the April 14 Council meeting. The foundation work is not yet out for bid, largely due to the delays first from the cyberattack and now the virus. This is unfortunate because we are in our seasonal battle with water inflow. Nancy Albright has managed to keep up with it, but by Monday morning there is quite a lot of water in the lower level. The elevator upgrades are out for bid. 2021+ capital improvement requests will be due about mid-May. I will show Anna Cannizzo how that is done, but it is challenging training when we have to stay 6+ feet apart. In the miscellaneous category, staff continue to help with the election and will be busy at least through April 7. This week the fire bell was mounted and the roof shingled, so that is one project off our list. Work will soon begin on replacing some of the rotten wood elements on the Carriage House. Overall, there is quite a bit of deteriorated wood, including sections of the cupula, so it will take months to complete because it will be done in-between other projects. You might recall wood repair and replacement was eliminated from the 2019 specifications for Carriage House repair in order to save money in the capital improvement allocation. That ends the week. For the most part staff are maintaining a positive attitude, although frustration is evident now that we have true spring weather. Brad Larson D R A F T Minutes of the March 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 3 Minutes of the March 5, 2020 Board Meeting The March meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, March 5, 2020, 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 Theresa Books. PRESENT AT ROLL: Board Members, Carol Fenrich, Jim Hoffman, Vice President Gabe Loiacono, Rick Rego, President Jean Thierman, Alternate Connie Drexler, Alternate Joe Stephenson, School Board President Barb Herzog, and Superintendent of Schools Vickie Cartwright. EXCUSED: Board Member Randy Domer, Secretary Becky Matzke. With Ms. Matzke not present, Ms. Thierman appointed Ms. Drexler and with Mr. Domer not present, she appointed Mr. Stevenson ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Brad Larson, Duron Curator of Collections Anna Cannizzo, Registrar Emily Rock, City Attorney Lynn Lorenson, Auxiliary President Kathy Wuest and Associated Investment Services representatives Mike Hocholzer and Daniel Evens; with Ms. Books recording the minutes. Mr. Larson introduced Daniel Evens and Mike Hocholzer of Associated Investment Services. They presented the annual reviewed of the Durow Trust for 2019. They reviewed details of investments and earnings, allowing time for questions. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the January Board Meeting B. January and February Bill List C. Receipt and Filing of 4th Quarter Reports from the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda (Fenrich; second Cartwright) CARRIED: Yes (9) Drexler, Fenrich, Hoffman, Loiacono, Ergo, Stephenson, Thierman, Herzog, Cartwright D R A F T Minutes of the March 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 3 Ms. Thierman requested Mr. Larson present the March Director’s Report. Mr. Larson began with a report on the repatriation request from the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe. The tribe requests the John Quinney powder horn [2002.63.1], a grand sachem of the Stockbridge- Munsee from 1852 to1855, stating “It is our position that due to sachem Quinney’s stature in the community, that the powderhorn possesses ongoing historical importance central to the Stockbridge-Munsee people.” The tribe cites the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and identifies the horn as an item of cultural patrimony. The Stockbridge-Munsee have the resources to care for this object at the Arvid E. Miller Memorial Library Museum. He explained that the Collections Review Committee did not see any reason to deny the request and the request will come before the Board for action at an upcoming meeting. Moving on the Titanic exhibition, Mr. Larson noted that public anticipation is already very high and the connection to Wisconsin is incredibly appealing. He explained that while building inefficiencies and restrooms cannot be changed, staff are preparing for crowds by recruiting ample numbers of volunteers, which should help minimize impediments. Mr. Larson reported he should know the status from two sponsors later this month. His final item was store refurbishment and the point of sale system. During Titanic, the store will be devoted to Titanic merchandise and be located in the Sawyer Parlor. This change should mitigate the bottleneck that occurs with visitors crowding in the entrance/store to purchase tickets, clashing with those visitors already in the store purchasing merchandise. This concluded the Director’s March report. President Thierman had nothing to report. Ms. Thierman requested the Auxiliary Report. Auxiliary President Kathy Wuest began by reporting the net revenue from the Gala was $3,129.31. She asked that Brad present the Auxiliary with a wish list for a few projects or items the Museum would like; that will be presented to the group at the March meeting. The Auxiliary Members have said they like knowing just what the gift of money is going for, rather than simply giving a donation. Ms. Wuest noted that she sent a letter to Common Council on behalf of the Auxiliary expressing their encouragement for the City to support the building project. Ms. Wuest reported that the Auxiliary helped with the Then and Now reception on February 23rd and they have already filed for the liquor license for April 4th “Bottoms Up” program with Jim Draeger. The Auxiliary will be having another Culver’s Fund Raiser on Monday, April 20th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The next D R A F T Minutes of the March 2020 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 3 meeting of the Auxiliary is March 13th with Brad as the presenter. That concluded the Auxiliary Report. With no other agenda items, Ms. Thierman asked for a motion to adjourn. (Fenrich; second Herzog) The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.