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1331 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 • 920.236.5799 • oshkoshmuseum.org
MEMO TO THE MUSEUM BOARD
September 24, 2021
To the Board,
I had a very full week of meetings over the last week and a half. I was delighted to have my first
conversation with incoming Director Sarah Phillips on Tuesday September 21st. She and I reviewed
the current budget process and associated projects along with future plans. Ms. Phillips requested
that she and I meet virtually about every two weeks to keep her well-informed until she arrives to
staff in December. I also met with City Manager Rohloff and Finance Director Van Gompel last
Thursday to discuss the operating budget before I meet with the Common Council on October 18th
or 19th for the annual budget workshop. I also had a productive meeting with City Manager Rohloff
yesterday to discuss the Schematic Design 3 of Deep Roots, Growing City before I present it to the
Board at the October 7th meeting for review and vote.
As we approach our final weeks of Titanic: The Wisconsin Connection we continue to see good
attendance during the week and strong attendance on the weekends. We have seen fewer visitors
arrive without purchasing their admission in advance and an increase in visitors utilizing
TicketLeap to reserve and purchase their admission. The previous weekend was very busy with
many time-slots sold out. Work continues on the long-term exhibition Sports and Recreation with
delivery of a rented lift to focus on repairing and reinforcing the exterior windows of the exhibition
space. Maintenance Technician Matt Reinke has been tasked with this time-consuming and
necessary work. As is often the case with this type of work, it uncovers additional issues that will
need future attention. While working on the window exteriors, Mr. Reinke discovered a significant
amount of deterioration to the Sawyer home storm window frames and window moldings which
will need to be addressed in the coming years. Additionally, the ultra-violet light filtering films
currently on many windows of the Sawyer home have also deteriorated and will need to be
removed and replaced. These films do not last indefinitely and their ability to filter out the
damaging ultraviolet light is exhausted over time. It is important that we take advantage of
opportunities provided during projects such as this to assess the historic property and identify any
concerns in order to ensure the long-term preservation of the Museum structure and the cultural
heritage it contains.
As fall quickly arrived, I was reminded to turn my attention towards re-bidding the Capital
Improvement Projects that had failed bids earlier this year. We have a better chance of success if
these projects are bid before winter when many contractors have already lined up their project
schedules for the following year. If successful, we anticipate the landscape restoration project and
the cement replacement project for the Museum entry will commence in spring 2022.
This ends the week and I hope you all enjoy the first weekend of fall!
Anna Cannizzo
Interim Director
Assistant Director/Durow Curator of Collections