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1331 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 • 920.236.5799 • oshkoshmuseum.org
MEMO TO THE MUSEUM BOARD
September 30, 2021
To the Board,
We are now in the final two weeks of the Titanic exhibition and attendance and merchandise sales remain
very strong on the weekends and more moderate during the week. The final day of the exhibition is
October 13th after which the Museum will be closed to the public for the take-down, packing, and transport
of the exhibition. The Museum will re-open to the public on October 26th and staff will be in full preparation
mode for White Christmas: The Exhibition along with decorating the Museum for the holidays.
On October 14th, the Museum has arranged for a unique Titanic “virtual fieldtrip” for Oshkosh Area School
District third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The Museum will host a virtual gathering where a
presentation and discussion will be given by William Lange who was the Photographer/Videographer of
the underwater Titanic site, Jeff Taylor who is the Director of Collections for EM Group (owner and
operator of the exhibition and artifacts), and an actor playing a part of a passenger or crew member. The
presentation has gained the interest of over 130 educators and will be recorded for additional student
access. This exciting collaboration was developed by Marketing Coordinator Tammy Malewski and
Curator of Exhibitions Debra Daubert with the Museum’s LTE Educator Tanya Schmidt. Ms. Schmidt is
an educator and the Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator for OASD. The Museum has been able to make
great strides with educational outreach by having an educator on staff and pending the approval of the
2022 Budget, we plan to continue strengthening those initiatives and programming.
This week Maintenance Technician Matt Reinke and I met with City staff to discuss re-bidding the
Landscape and Cement/Masonry CIP projects that had failed bids earlier this year. Since that time, the
Museum received approval to replace the two main Museum signs: one damaged by a traffic accident and
the temporary sign located on the highly visible corner of Congress and High Avenues. The sign
replacement project will fold into the larger Landscape project which requires an update to the budget
estimate. Additionally, the Concrete/Masonry project will need to be amended to include replacement
rather than repair of rapidly deteriorating areas of our main entrance. This project will be a priority due to
the safety and accessibility concerns for our visitors. We hope to have the re-bidding take place in the
coming weeks and if successful, we anticipate these projects to begin in early spring 2022.
Mr. Reinke completed repair and reinforcement work on the Museum’s windows in preparation for the
Sports and Recreation exhibition. Next, work will focus on installing the walls. This week Museum Board
Alternate Joe Stephenson resigned from his position due to schedule conflicts posed by his new job. The
Museum has been grateful for his dedicated service over the years and he will be missed. His last meeting
will be October 7th. City Staff was notified and will inform the Mayor who will appoint his successor.
This ends the week and I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend!
Anna Cannizzo
Interim Director
Assistant Director/Durow Curator of Collections