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1331 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 • 920.236.5799 • oshkoshmuseum.org
MEMO TO THE MUSEUM BOARD
April 9, 2021
To the Board,
It is a short memo this week. Everything is moving along smoothly and I only have a few items of note,
beginning with the Board. As a reminder, every May we elect new officers for the year. Jean Thierman,
Gabe Loiacono, and Becky Matzke have all served two terms as President, Vice President, and Secretary,
respectively. That means they cannot serve in those positions for third terms and thus nominations will
be open for all officers.
Our primary focus this week was preparing for the Deep Roots, Growing City kick-off with Split Rock
Studios on Thursday and Friday, April 15-16. We also met regarding Sports & Recreation and the initial
fit-out for that gallery will begin on May 16 with floor work. This part of fit-out must conclude by the
time Titanic opens, as we need access through that gallery to meet ADA. As we have done with other
galleries, the fit-out work will be performed by Maintenance Technician Matt Reinke and sub-
contractors. Because Assistant Director/Curator of Collections Anna Cannizzo was successful in
contracting for White Christmas, the opening of Sports & Recreation was rescheduled to Labor Day
weekend, 2022.
I am delighted to report that the Museum is once again signed up to be a Blue Star Museum for 2021.
We have been a Blue Star Museum since the program’s inception. The Blue Star Museum program is a
collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of
Defense. More than 2,000 museums across America offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty
military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Armed Forces Day,
through Labor Day. Those dates are May 15 – Sept 6, 2021.
In other news, while the rain was welcome because of the dryness, we experienced a roof leak in the
areas of the Steiger Wing that were not replaced when the main roof was done in 2015. The roofs on the
two stair towers and the elevator shaft were not replaced at that time and those roofs have deteriorated
and will have to be replaced in the near future. Mr. Reinke worked with a contractor to repair the leak,
but the roof membrane itself is cracked and brittle.
In the miscellaneous paragraph, on Monday and Tuesday, Marketing Coordinator Tammy Malewski
will represent the Museum at Market Place for Circle Wisconsin Bus Tours, held at the Oshkosh
Convention Center. Tammy estimates she will meet with an average of 50 bus tour people individually,
sharing information about the Museum and why they should bring a bus tour to the Oshkosh Public
Museum. At one time the Museum was a regular stop for bus tours, but our limited capacity issues
slowly ended that. Our two upcoming exhibitions have tremendous appeal and with Ticket Leap we
can control numbers, and thus somewhat mitigate facility issues. Key issues for adult bus tours are the
ADA lift and access to restrooms.
That ends the week and I hope you have a pleasant weekend,
Brad Larson
Director