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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.06.2023 Museum Board MinutesMinutes of the April 6, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 5 Minutes of the April 6, 2023 Board Meeting (Approved at the May 4, 2023 Board Meeting) The April meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) Board was held Thursday, April 6, 2023, in the Galena Room of the Museum. President Gabe Loiacono called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm. The roll was taken by Administrative Assistant Theresa Books. PRESENT AT ROLL: President Gabe Loiacono, Vice President Becky Matzke, Secretary Connie Drexler, Board Members Tiara Cavett, Carol Fenrich, Dana Stolley and Jean Thierman, and Oshkosh Area School District Board President Barb Herzog EXCUSED: Superintendent of Schools Bryan Davis ALSO PRESENT: Director Sarah Phillips, Marketing Coordinator Kate Stel, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books taking the Minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board and none were received. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of March 2, 2023, Board Meeting B. April Bill List MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda. (Matzke; second Drexler) CARRIED: Yes (8) Cavett, Drexler, Fenrich, Herzog, Loiacono, Matzke, Stolley, Thierman President Loiacono changed the agenda order with no objection from the Board. He requested Director Phillips present the Director’s Report. Director Phillips began with a staffing update. She noted that OPM staff are excited to welcome Curator of Education, Neal Matherne, PhD. Neal has a strong background in cultural engagement and education, with experience building education programs. He brings a great deal of experience to the OPM from his various roles in museums and educational institutions, such as the Field Museum, University of California - Riverside, Skidmore College, and his most recent position as Director of Education at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Oklahoma. Neal will be joining our staff in early May. As we welcome a new staff member, we say goodbye to another. Amanda Jencik, LTE Education Coordinator, will depart from staff on April 6th. She and her husband are relocating to Seattle, Washington. She did a phenomenal job while here, adjusting the fieldtrip presentations in various Minutes of the April 6, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 5 ways and planning interesting Family Discovery Day programs. We wish her all the best in her new adventures! Regarding exhibition updates, Director Phillips began with This is Winnebagoland. The exhibit opened to the public April 1st, and staff are pleased with the feedback received so far. Approximately 95 people came to the Member Exhibit Opening on the evening of March 31st. Thank you to all the Board members who attended the opening event. Director Phillips expressed kudos to the entire OPM staff - the completion of this exhibit brings the Museum another step forward in the transformation of the second-floor renovation project. Additionally, the exhibit content enables staff to reach new audiences and adds to the portfolio of topics covered in the grade-level curriculum for the Oshkosh Area School District and Wisconsin schools. The next big exhibit project is the Waldwic Gallery – a multipurpose space. Memories and Dreams closed to the public on April 3rd. Staff began publicly messaging about this closure earlier this year, which has enabled the OPM staff to answer many of the common questions and ease concerns voiced by our visitors. Staff have already begun the work to deinstall this exhibit, and will be working systematically to ensure all of the collection’s materials are safely removed from their cases and returned to preservation-safe storage. As artifacts are removed, key areas of the gallery will be dismantled to clear the room for additional work to occur, such as any necessary HVAC, electrical, or safety-related alterations that may be identified. Two walls have been put up to block off the construction area from the Public. This allows us to keep the second floor, with This is Winnebagoland and the Clan Figures exhibit, open to the public. Director Phillips next updated the Board regarding Museum branding and identity, which is in the research phase. This was identified as an OPM goal in the 2023-2024 City of Oshkosh Strategic Plan. The initial work to achieve the goal to “Create awareness and participation for the museum through brand identity, marketing, and expanded programming” has started. The first phase of this work is based on gathering data from strategic internal and external stakeholders. Initial work was kicked off by a staff workshop, which explored staff perceptions of OPM challenges, opportunities, strengths, and qualities that distinguish our institution. Staff also discussed ways we could serve the needs of the community in ways that could expand our programming opportunities and bring in new supporters. Gathering feedback from other city colleagues and external stakeholders has added to this data. Questions explore the perception of the OPM “personality,” visual identity, and positioning in the cultural landscape of Oshkosh. The results of this initial phase will be discussed at a future board meeting. Minutes of the April 6, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 5 Director Phillips opened for questions. President Loiacono asked if the Board will be in on the rebranding discussion? Director Phillips said they will. During this first phase, Board Members interested in participating in these early branding surveys were encouraged to email Sarah to set a time to meet. Ms. Herzog asked, with the challenges of small exhibit spaces, can the Museum reach outside the walls, out to schools and the community. Director Phillips noted that 25% of the new Curator of Education’s time will be focused on outreach. When discussions were complete, that concluded the Director’s Report. Presentation and review of development and fundraising activities for 2023 was next. Marketing Coordinator Kate Stel began by noting that Fund development is a significant opportunity area for the OPM as we move into the Museum’s centennial celebration and the next 100 years. Cultivating donor relationships is a priority. Development plans include the membership program, a major giving program, the annual appeal, corporate sponsorship opportunities, and fundraising events. Each of these areas requires a unique strategy, unique collateral, and a unique fundraising proposal or “ask.” Ms. Stel noted that at this time, a high-priority staff are working on is the creation of a major giving program. Currently the Museum does not have any major giving program in place. It is almost a sure thing that there are existing donors who would increase their philanthropy, if asked. To do that, staff will be launching the Wisteria Circle. The mission of the Wisteria Circle is for the preservation, interpretation, and enhancement of the Museum Collections, especially the historic Sawyer Home, one of the last remaining historic homes originally commissioned by Tiffany Studios. The name is inspired by the wisteria window in the Museum. The window was moved from the Sawyer Home when the Conservatory was demolished in the 1980s for the construction of the Steiger Wing. Details of the program include: • Wisteria Circle patrons commit to five years of support for Museum Collections, especially for the preservation, interpretation, and enhancement of the historic Sawyer Home. • Patrons pledge $1,000 gift for five consecutive years for a $5,000 total gift. • Wisteria Circle patrons enjoy all benefits at their level of giving and below. They will also receive a special gift when they establish their commitment. Minutes of the April 6, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 5 The initial event to introduce Wisteria Circle will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Museum. It will be called “Tea with Tiffany.” The goals are to raise $10,000 through 10 inaugural Wisteria Circle Patrons, as well as to steward existing donors and cultivate new relationships. It will be a small capacity event with only 36 tickets available at $50 each. Ms. Stel shared how the Board can help. She would like 2-3 volunteers to support the planning of the event. They will help get quotes and secure table/chair rentals, consult with Kate on invitation development, help secure entertainment, and help secure event in-kind support. The time commitment will be biweekly meetings now through June. Additional ways Board Members can help include the following. If you feel compelled by the mission of the Wisteria Circle, purchase a ticket to the event. Also, if you’re connected with other OPM supporters who might be compelled by this program, invite them, bring them! Ms. Stel took questions and then ended her presentation. President Loiacono began his report by presenting a plaque to Carol Fenrich in appreciation of her 20 years of service on the Museum Board. Mr. Loiacono then reported that he’d been invited to meet with City Council Member Lynnsey Erickson and City Manager Mark Rohloff regarding the borders used for accepting applicants for the Museum Board. At this time the applicant must be a resident of the City of Oshkosh. President Loiacono asked if the Board is interested in expanding the borders. Board Members expressed they are interested in expanding the borders. Ms. Matzke suggested the applicant be within the Oshkosh Area School District. Ms. Drexler suggested an even broader reach, for an applicant to live within Winnebago County. This would be within the mission of the Museum, preserving history from the region. Discussion continued then President Loiacono said he will have further discussion about it at one more Board Meeting, so people can consider it further. That concluded the President’s Report. President Loiacono requested the Auxiliary report. Auxiliary President Holly Eichman reported that Mary Ellen Sedlachek, Scholarship Chairperson for the Oshkosh Garden Club, will be presenting a program on the club’s purpose, goals, and meetings held in Oshkosh. The Garden Club maintains a few gardens at the Museum. In addition, they hold a yearly plant sale on the Museum grounds in May to raise funds for their scholarship program. Ms. Eichman reported that she spoke with plant sale chairman Lee Ann Lilly. The plant sale is May 20th this year. Ms. Eichman asked if the Auxiliary could set up a table at the plant sale with information about the Auxiliary. Ms. Lilly said that would be fine. The Auxiliary is hoping to get some new people interested in joining the group. That concluded the Auxiliary Report. Minutes of the April 6, 2023 Museum Board Meeting Oshkosh Public Museum ■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard ■ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Page 5 of 5 Director Phillips extended appreciation to the Auxiliary ladies who helped serve refreshments at the Member Exhibit Opening on March 31st. With no other Agenda items, President Loiacono asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Thierman; second Matzke) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.