HomeMy WebLinkAbout04. Museum Board Minutes Minutes of the November 5,2015 Board Meetin g
'� se U rn (Approved at the December 3,2015 Board Meeting.)
The November meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held on Thursday, November
5, 2015, in the Lecture Room of the Oshkosh Public Museum. President Rego called the meeting
to order at 4:00 pm.
The roll was taken by Ms. Books.
Present: Present: Absent:
Mr. Domer, alternate Mr. Loiacono, alternate Mr. Dedow, School Board President
Ms. Drew, Secretary Mr. Mack, Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Matzke
Mr. Haffeman Mr. Rego,President
Mr. Hoffman, Vice President Ms. Thierman
Also in attendance: Director Brad Larson, Auxiliary President Barbara Shirtz, one citizen, and
Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes.
Mr. Larson introduced new Board member, Gabriel Loiacono, Associate Professor of History at
the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Mr. Larson also introduced Matt Reinke, new Building Maintenance Custodian. Matt has been
with the Museum about one month now and has fit in very well. There is a lot to learn and he has
jumped right in to all the projects.
Consent Agenda items included the following:
A. Minutes of the October Board meeting
B. November Bill List
C. 2016 Board Meeting Dates
Ms. Fenrich moved that the Consent Agenda be approved.
Second by Mr. Haffeman.
The vote went as follows:
In Favor: In Favor: Against:
Ms. Drew Mr. Mack None
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Matzke
Mr. Haffeman Mr. Rego
Mr. Hoffman Ms. Thierman
The vote was unanimous in favor and the Consent Agenda items were passed.
Next the Board discussed allocating 10% of the Sarres Bequest to the Oshkosh Public Museum
Endowment held at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. As an undesignated bequest,
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
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Museum policy states that 10% of the Sarres Bequest must be put into the Museum Endowment
Fund.
Ms. Thierman moved that 10% of the Sarres Bequest be allocated to the Oshkosh Public Museum
Endowment held at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.
Second by Mr. Mack.
The vote went as follows:
In Favor: In Favor: Against:
Ms. Drew Mr. Mack None
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Matzke
Mr. Haffeman Mr. Rego
Mr. Hoffman Ms. Thierman
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion that 10% of the Sarres Bequest be allocated to
the Oshkosh Public Museum Endowment held at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation was
passed.
Mr. Rego then requested that Mr. Larson present his Director's Report.
Mr. Larson began with a report on the progress of Deck the Halls. He noted that the window of
time between the end of Night Whispers and the Gala is very small for the amount of work
required. In eleven days the exhibit and the equally important decorating of the Sawyer home for
the holidays must be done. Staff will get the home ready on November 9 for the Member
Decorating Day on November 16. Both the exhibit and the home must be finished by Thursday,
November 19, as the annual Auxiliary Gala is that evening.
Next Mr. Larson reported that the spaces dedicated to the Museum at the Sawyer Street armory
are almost ready. The week of November 16 has been identified for Museum staff to do some
preliminary work. The rooms must first be cleaned, then staff has to transfer shelving and other
materials to clear the way for moving our few remaining firefighting vehicles. The armory
provides ample work space for staff, volunteers, and interns to finally deal with the collections
from the Fire Barn. The artifacts stored in the Fire Barn are difficult to consider for exhibitions
because there is almost no information regarding the items. Mr. Larson noted that Museum staff
plan to do much of the Fire Barn work during the winter months when the mold count is low,
and they are preparing for basic mold/mildew abatement on objects before transferring the
artifacts to the armory. Having the storage available now is good timing as preservation
conditions in the Fire Barn would be an impediment to achieving reaccreditation in 2017. One
downside of the new storage space is that the armory is not connected to the City's computer
network and thus the Past Perfect data base. However, staff will find ways to work around that.
Mr. Larson noted that the acquisition of dedicated storage space at the armory represents a major
upgrade for the Museum. These rooms are heated, cooled and mold free — a far cry from the Fire
Barn. Of equal importance, the armory enables staff to complete a goal that was first identified as
part of the Museum's inaugural strategic plan 24 years ago. The removal of this building is an
essential part of the vision created for the Museum site in 1991. Mr. Larson noted it gives him
tremendous satisfaction to see that the end is at long last in sight. The Fire Barn has been a major
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
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obstacle to implementing the 2012 site master plan. Demolition will be done by Public Works,but
the Museum will have to pay associated landfill fees (2017 budget).
In conclusion, Mr. Larson discussed progress on People of the Waters and shared the preliminary
revision to the gallery created by Split Rock Studios. This encouraged a great deal of discussion,
ranging from questions on the dug-out canoe to how contemporary Native American history will
be presented. Because Mr. Loiacono was not familiar with Split Rock Studios or the process thus
far, Mr. Larson briefly explained how the Museum arrived at this point, the scope of the budget,
and in response to Mr. Loiacono's question about content advisors, credited Dr. Jeff Behm at the
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Dr. Ray Reser at the University of Wisconsin Stevens
Point. That concluded the Director's Report.
President Rego then reported on the Mayor's Board and Commission meeting. He noted that all
Boards are encouraged to review the days and times of their meetings to consider if different
days or times would help make being a Board member more feasible for citizens. Mr. Larson
noted that various days and times have been tried through the years with the current 4:00 p.m.
time working the best for people. Mr. Rego continued his report noting that all Boards and
Commissions are encouraged to have a member of their Board work with Channel 10 staff to
develop a public service announcement to get word out to the public regarding what each of the
Boards work toward. Ms. Matzke said she would be pleased to help. Ms. Fenrich expressed that
she, too, would be pleased to promote the Museum Board and their efforts. That concluded the
President's Report.
Mr. Rego then requested that Ms. Shirtz present the Auxiliary Report.
Ms. Barb Shirtz began with thanks to Museum staff that came on the Tuesday evening for the
Auxiliary members to experience Night Whispers. The Auxiliary members were please to see, and
experience, that the money the Auxiliary gave the Museum for this event was well spent. In
conclusion Ms. Shirtz reported that Gala plans are all set and it will be a wonderful evening. That
concluded the Auxiliary Report.
With no other agenda items Mr. Rego asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Fenrich so moved and
Mr. Hoffman seconded the motion.
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
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