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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.07.2022 Museum Board Meeting MinutesMinutes of the July 7, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the July 7, 2022 Board Meeting (Approved at the August 4, 2022 Board Meeting.) The July meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held Thursday, July 7, 2022, in the Lecture Room of the Museum. Vice President Matzke called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The roll was taken by Administrative Assistant Theresa Books. PRESENT AT ROLL: Vice President Becky Matzke, Secretary Connie Drexler, Board Members Jim Hoffman, Dana Stolley, Jean Thierman, Alternate Tiara Cavett, Superintendent of Schools Bryan Davis, Board Member Carol Fenrich arrived at 4:05. EXCUSED: President Gabe Loiacono, Oshkosh School Board President Bob Poeschl, Auxiliary President Holly Eichman ALSO PRESENT: Museum Director Sarah Phillips, Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo, City Attorney Lynn Lorenson, Marketing Coordinator Kate Stel, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books taking the minutes With Board member Fenrich absent (at roll call), Ms. Matzke appointed Ms. Cavett. There were no citizen statements to the Board and none were received. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the June Board Meeting B. July Bill List MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda with one note added to the Minutes regarding the date of the Auxiliary Gala (Thierman; second Drexler) CARRIED: Yes (7) Cavett, Davis, Drexler, Hoffman, Matzke, Stolley, Thierman Curator of Exhibits Emily Rock then updated the Board on progress being made on various exhibitions. Regarding Sports and Recreation, fit-out is almost done, content is being updated, objects are out from their storage locations, and mounts for those objects are being made. Ms. Rock reported that as the staff have worked on the design, story, and imagery of this exhibition they felt a better name could be determined. The new exhibition title is This is Winnebagoland. This title was inspired by early tourism marketing materials in the Archives. Minutes of the July 7, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 4 Ms. Rock noted a new logo will be designed using the look of these retro materials and postcards. The exhibition will open in November 2022. Regarding the upcoming temporary exhibition, Manufacturing Victory, Ms. Rock reported it will be open to the public from October 1 through December 31, 2022. Adding local content, WWII posters from the Museum’s collection will be displayed in the gold parlor. There will be programming associated with the exhibit, including plans for an American Girl family event. Additionally, Tim Wright, “Mr. Oshkosh,” will give a talk about WWII production in Oshkosh. Of note, this will be the last temporary exhibit in the Red Gallery. Ms. Rock reported that in January 2023 the 2nd floor area that includes Memories and Dreams, Grandmas’ Attic, the log cabin and the Civil War exhibit will be closed for the year to have that area rebuilt into the Multi-purpose gallery, ready for the 2024 Centennial of the Oshkosh Public Museum. Staff plan to present an exhibition highlighting the Sawyer family, in honor of the 100th year of the donation of the Sawyer home to the City of Oshkosh. While the take-down, fit-out and building of the Multi-purpose gallery is being done, staff will have safe walk ways to the This is Winnebagoland and Clans Figures exhibits. Further, Ms. Rock noted that a new timeline is developed for the permanent exhibition Deep Roots, Growing City. Staff will continue working on this with Split Rock Studios as they work on all these other projects, but the opening date is pushed to 2026, the US 250th semiquincentennial. That ended Ms. Rock’s report. She opened for questions. Ms. Thierman asked what Christmas will look like at the Museum. Ms. Rock said there are plans to decorate for the holidays and continue to offer the popular Elf Hunt. Final review and vote on the updated Bylaws was next. The Board had received a copy of final edits to review. There was some discussion and Board members thought the edits were good. MOTION: Board accept changes to the Bylaws as written and discussed (Drexler; second Stolley) CARRIED: Yes (7) Cavett, Davis, Drexler, Hoffman, Matzke, Stolley, Thierman Vice President Matzke then requested Ms. Phillips present the Director’s report. Ms. Phillips began by reporting that she and Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo participated in a planning meeting with managers, directors, and the consultant to update the City of Oshkosh Strategic Plan. Next week is the next planning session. Ms. Phillips is working to develop a Strategic Plan for the Museum that will align with the City’s Strategic Plan, and that will incorporate goals specific to furthering the Museum’s mission and impact in the community. She will bring a draft before the Board for discussion in the coming months. Minutes of the July 7, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 4 Museum Capital Improvement Project (CIP) requests for 2023-2032, have been distributed to City Council. The first Council Workshop for citywide CIP planning was on July 6th. This meeting was primarily to review fund sources, not individual projects. In the coming weeks, the Plan Commission will review the recommended projects, with final City Council approval scheduled for August 23rd. Ms. Phillips provided a document to the Board showing an overview of the Museum’s proposed CIP projects, as well as the detailed project pages. She noted that these projects, budgets, and timing are still subject to change or adjustment based on further discussions and analysis from the above mentioned reviews. Ms. Phillips was pleased to report that the Museum recently received a Community Arts Grant from the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation and the Wisconsin Arts Board. This $4,000 grant will help fund events related to Latino culture in the Lake Winnebago region through a Dia de los Muertos celebration (Day of the Dead). The main event will be held Saturday, October 29, 2022. Currently events include a community altar which is to mourn loss and celebrate life, traditional Mexican folk dancers and mariachi, family craft opportunities, and confirmed showings of Disney/Pixar’s movie Coco at the Time Community Theater. This will be free to the community and shown once in Spanish and once in English. Additional program offerings are still being discussed and planned. Ms. Phillips has reached out to Hispanic community centers in the area. Oshkosh North is excited to have some of their staff and students help with the programs. This celebration will help shine a light on Latinx culture and open doors to greater awareness of a rapidly growing population in the region. The Northeast Wisconsin Hispanic/Latino community has grown by 45% in ten years; and by one-third in the City of Oshkosh. In conclusion, Ms. Phillips noted staff welcomed Renee Wirtz as the Museum’s new Maintenance Worker. She began work the last week of June, and is learning about the building, exhibits, historic house cleaning and general care while working to keep the building in visitor-ready shape. Welcome Renee! Additionally, the entire staff wishes Katrina Achilli all the best in her new position with the City. She will be a Facilities Maintenance Technician for the General Services Division at the Senior Center. Her last day at the Museum is Friday, July 8th. Please take a moment to congratulate her! Registrar Emma Eisner is stepping up to fill in the various weekends, dates to cover the store for lunches and breaks, as well as open and close days that Katrina would have covered. That concluded the Director’s Report. Vice President Matzke requested the Auxiliary report. Auxiliary President Holly Eichman was not able to be at the meeting, so she sent a report for the Board Secretary to deliver. Ms. Drexler reported that the Oshkosh Public Museum Auxiliary Gala committee co-chairs Barb Shirtz and Nancy Samida, along with Holly Eichman met with Sarah Phillips, Anna Cannizzo and Kate Stel on June 3rd to discuss the Gala planned for November 17, 2022. They discussed the new event policy and what can be planned for the Gala. The Gala committee met with Ms. Stel on June 15th to discuss changes and start planning the event. The committee broke into groups to plan food, basket raffles, and silent auction along with other things that will need to be done for the event. They asked Ms. Stel about Museum support, Minutes of the July 7, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 4 volunteers, and other event policy requirements such as special event permits and liability insurance. This is the 10th anniversary of the Gala and it was decided by the Auxiliary that it will be the last Gala. The next committee meeting will be July 13th. Pie on the lawn is still planned for Sunday, July 10, 2022. That concluded the Auxiliary report. With no other agenda items, Ms. Matzke asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: ADJOURN (Thierman; second Hoffman) CARRIED: VOICE VOTE The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.