Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.02.2023 Museum Board MinutesMinutes of the March 2, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 5 Minutes of the March 2, 2023 Board Meeting (Approved at the April 6, 2023 Board Meeting.) The March meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Board was held Thursday, March 2, 2023, in the Lecture Room of the Museum. President Gabe Loiacono called the meeting to order at 4:03 pm. The roll was taken by Vice President Rebecca Matzke. PRESENT AT ROLL: President Gabe Loiacono, Vice President Becky Matzke, Secretary Connie Drexler, Board Members Carol Fenrich, Dana Stolley and Jean Thierman, Tiara Cavett and Vicky Redlin, Oshkosh Area School District Board President Barb Herzog ABSENT: Superintendent of Schools Bryan Davis ALSO PRESENT: Director Sarah Phillips, Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo, Marketing Coordinator Kate Stel, Administrative Assistant Theresa Books, and Daniel Evensen and Patrick Fry of Associated Trust Company There were no citizen statements to the Board and none were received. Associated Trust Company Senior Vice President Daniel Evensen and Senior Vice President and Director of Fixed Income Patrick Fry presented the review of the Durow Trust Fund. Mr. Fry emphasized that he does not use a cookie cutter approach to investing the Durow Funds. Rather, he takes into consideration State Statutes, Museum goals for the Fund and annual Museum budgeted needs. He takes into consideration 1. Safety of the Fund, including Wisconsin State Statue 66.0603, Municipality Investment Policy, and Investment Grade Securities. 2. Liquidity of the Fund, including US Treasury and agency securities, regular maturity dates, periodic interest payments. 3. Yield of the Fund, extending a maturity along a yield curve, security selection, institutional money market. Mr. Fry provided many details and allowed time for questions. When the presentation was complete, Mr. Evensen and Mr. Fry excused themselves from the meeting. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of February 2, 2023, Board Meeting B. March Bill List MOTION: Approve Consent Resolution Agenda. (Herzog; second Thierman) CARRIED: Yes (8) Drexler, Fenrich, Herzog, Loiacono, Matzke, Redlin, Stolley, Thierman Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on use of the Durow Funds for Durow Registrar Emma Eisner to attend a four day workshop to learn textile care. Ms. Cannizzo reported that it has been about four years since the Durow Fund was used for employee development. Sarah and Anna are Minutes of the March 2, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 5 both interested in staff development and considered the various options available. It was determined that to have current staff increase their knowledge and skillset of textile care would be beneficial to the Museum. Ms. Eisner is submitting an application for a $650 scholarship, and there is good possibility she will get it. It is estimated that the total cost without the scholarship, including travel expenses, would be $1,580. Total with the scholarship is approximately $930. Board Member Stolley said she is always in favor of staff development. Board Member Herzog asked if there are any limitations on the Durow Fund. After further discussion a motion was made. MOTION: The Board approve up to $1,580 from the Durow Fund for this education opportunity. (Redlin; second Herzog) CARRIED: Yes (8) Drexler, Fenrich, Herzog, Loiacono, Matzke, Redlin, Stolley, Thierman [The week following this Board Meeting, Board Member Cavett donated $1,000 to offset the cost of this workshop. And it was learned that Ms. Eisner did receive the scholarship.] Next President Loiacono introduced the Development Committee discussion. All Board members had been at the workshop prior to this meeting for at least part of the meeting. President Loiacono reviewed that from that extensive discussion it was concluded that a Development Committee is not needed at this time. But it was recommended that two documents would be helpful to the Board: 1. A document reviewing opportunities Board Members have to serve the Museum. 2. A document to include information about each Board member. It would note the experiences and qualifications of Board Members, as well as note groups and organizations that person has been a part of. This document would help staff know what areas Board Members can help with based on their interests and expertise. President Loiacono noted that this doesn’t mean that a Development Committee can’t be formed in the future. Discussion continued with Board members noting that they are very interested in helping in more ways than only at Board meetings. They will be happy to receive calls and emails from Ms. Stel and other staff members to let them know what help is needed. Ms. Stel noted that she and Director Phillips are in a class to learn more about fundraising and the book that is used is called, No Duct Tape Fundraising. She highly recommends it for anyone interested. The discussion ended with the decision to have Director Phillips send out a survey to the Board to help gather the information for the document/s noted above. Gallery and Lecture Room naming and vote was next on the agenda. Director Phillips reported the two top names from the survey for the Multi-purpose Gallery were Waldwic Gallery and Jewell Gallery. Waldwic was the name of the Sawyer family property in Butte de Morts. From Archivist Amy Fels’ research “waldwic” or “waldwick” has linguistic roots in Old English or an old Saxon language. “Wald” meaning forest (the German word for forest even today) and “wick” meaning settlement or place. So it has been translated over time as “beautiful grove” like the Daily Minutes of the March 2, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 5 Northwestern says, or “village in a grove.” Jewell is the birth surname of Mary Sawyer, a supporter of philanthropic groups and women’s organizations, such as the Leisure Hour Art Club, formed in 1886 for the purpose of studying art, and was influential in organizing the Twentieth Century Club, which still exists today, and she served as its first president. Later she was elected president of the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs. Director Phillips reported that the top two recommendations for the name of the Lecture Room were Oak Room and Galena Room. She reported that “Oak” is a reference to the Council Oak as a symbol of ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the natural resource for the timber industry that made Oshkosh a thriving industrial community. “Galena” is the Wisconsin state mineral, and it was mined in Winnebago County. From a UW-Madison source: Galena has been produced from the Upper Mississippi Valley in Wisconsin since the seventeenth century. Some mines started by Native Americans may predate this…Hundreds of mines of all sizes are known from the district. Many were small shallow diggings. The Wisconsin state mascot, the badger, is a reference to the miners and their numerous “badger holes.” In commemoration of this phase of Wisconsin’s history, galena has been chosen as Wisconsin’s state mineral. When discussion was complete, the Board voted. For the name of the Multi-purpose Gallery, six (6) voted for Waldwic Gallery. Two (2) voted for Jewell Gallery. Therefore, the name of the Multi-purpose Gallery is now the Waldwic Gallery. For the name of the Lecture Room, three (3) voted for Oak Room. Five (5) voted for Galena Room. Therefore, the name of the Lecture Room is now the Galena Room. President Loiacono then requested Director Phillips present the Director’s report. Director Phillips began with an update on education. She reported that the Museum field trip program has continued to be a great success as the school year goes on. Over the last month, staff have facilitated 178 students and chaperones into the galleries for in-person visits. Family Discovery Days (FDD) is gaining momentum with Museum visitors. At the last FDD on February 11, 2023, over thirty families came to participate. The theme of “Winter Fun” give children and adults opportunity to create snowflakes and learn about the science of snow, including shapes, formations, and 3D models of snowflakes. There were three levels of craft difficulty that the children could choose from. The next FDD, “Blown Away” is scheduled for March 11, 2023 and will focus on activities related to wind. Thirty-nine applications have been received for the Curator of Education position. Interviews are scheduled to begin on March 3, 2023. Minutes of the March 2, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 5 Regarding exhibitions, Director Phillips reported that This is Winnebagoland is progressing on schedule with the opening date of April 1, 2023. Since last month, final label edits were completed, graphics have been delivered and installed, artifact mounts completed, and handrails sent for powder-coating are near completion. Artifact installation will begin within the next few business days. The member open house for This is Winnebagoland will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 5:00- 7:00 pm. This is an OPM member-exclusive event and staff are excited to offer this special event to Museum members. Board Members please mark your calendars to attend. The last day for visitors to see Memories and Dreams is April 2, 2023. De-installation of larger exhibitions such as this requires planning and preparation. Assistant Director/Chief Curator Anna Cannizzo is working with collections and exhibitions staff to develop a de-installation work plan. Collections pieces will be carefully removed from the mounts/cases, documented, and carefully placed into storage. The nature of the work will make this a labor-intensive project for staff. Next Director Phillips reported that the 2024 Budget Prep Calendar has been distributed to Department Heads. That document has been provided to Board Members for reference. Key dates are May 12, 2023, the deadline for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) submissions to Finance. August 11, 2023, the deadline for Operations Budget submission to Finance. November 7, 2023 the Public Hearing, and November 14, 2023 the date Council is to adopt the 2024 Operations Budget. Director Phillips then reported on the formalization of an annual Indigenous Artist Program for People of the Waters. As background, she noted that the art of Native artists has been featured in the exhibition People of the Waters since the exhibit opened in 2017. Pieces loaned to OPM by the artists are located in the “Living Cultures” area of the exhibition. The Featured Artist (FA) often loans several pieces of their art and often contributes additional resources, such as recorded interviews, hosting workshops, or facilitating public programming. Many of the previous FAs have voluntarily traveled numerous times from their homes to OPM at their own expense. OPM recognizes the need for a respectful and equitable approach to our Native Artist program. Staff have worked collaboratively with our colleagues to create a “Featured Artist” program, which establishes a more transparent approach to curating this area of the exhibit, the expectations of OPM and the FA, and will provide compensation for time and travel for the FA while acknowledging the Native tradition of reciprocal gifting. Each FA will receive a single $500 honorarium to off-set the cost of time, travel, and related expenses paid through the Kitz Director’s Fund. Additionally, the FA will receive a one-year museum membership, and any custom mount created by OPM to exhibit their artwork. In return, the FA will Minutes of the March 2, 2022 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 5 of 5 agree to loan their artwork, provide at least one hour-long virtual or in-person public program, demonstration, or workshop, and participate in a recorded interview with OPM staff to provide context for their artwork. This interview will become part of the OPM collection. That concluded the Director’s Report. President Loiacono requested the Auxiliary report. Auxiliary President Holly Eichman reported that a committee has been formed to plan this year’s Pie on the Lawn event. The event will be held Sunday, July 9, 2023. Sign-up sheets for helpers and donations will be at the March Auxiliary meeting. Ms. Eichman further noted that after checking options for the Auxiliary’s annual May banquet, it was decided by the Auxiliary Board to again have the banquet at The Roxy. It will be held May 12th, beginning at noon. Entertainment has not been decided and she asked for any suggestions. Several suggestions were given. That concluded the Auxiliary Report. With no other Agenda items, President Loiacono asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Matzke; second Thierman) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.