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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02. Museum Board Minutes January 7, 2016 Minutes of the January 7,2016 Board Meeting "'�- U UrT1 (Approved at the February 4,2016 Board Meeting.) The January meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held on Thursday, January 7, 2016, 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: Excused: Mr. Domer, alternate Mr. Mack, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Haffeman Ms. Drew, Secretary Ms. Matzke Mr. Loiacono, alternate Ms. Fenrich Mr. Rego,President Mr. Hoffman, Vice President Ms. Thierman Absent: Mr. Dedow, School Board President With Mr. Haffeman absent, Mr. Rego appointed Mr. Domer. Also in attendance: Director Brad Larson, Auxiliary President Barbara Shirtz, and Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. Consent Agenda items included the following: A. Minutes of the December Board meeting B. January Bill List Mr. Domer moved that the Consent Agenda be approved. Second by Ms. Drew. The vote went as follows: In Favor: In Favor: Against: Mr. Domer Mr. Mack None Ms. Drew Ms. Matzke Ms. Fenrich Mr. Rego Mr. Hoffman Ms. Thierman The vote was unanimous in favor and the Consent Agenda items were passed. Citizen Marion Stevenson addressed the Board regarding membership costs and categories. She began by noting that she has looked at various organizations' admission and membership policies. Marion stated that it seems organizations discriminate against singles. Her request is that if the single rate is, for example, $10.00, that two people would be $20.00, that a family of four would be$40.00, and so on. Next on the agenda was review of the 2016 project and agenda items. Mr. Larson briefly reviewed each item. He requested the Board members let him know if there are any they recommend postponing or if they have questions. Mr. Mack requested that Mr. Larson assign Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 1 of 4 months to the items and give that updated list to the Board, so there will be a sense of when each item will be addressed. Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on the use of the Collections Funds to restock a George Conrad Schloerb schuetzen rifle at an estimated cost of $1,000.00. Mr. Larson noted that he has been looking for a while for a gun similar to this one, without success. This gun is dated from 1850 - 1855. He located a gun smith who has done similar work who would restore it for between$800- $1,000. Mr. Rego asked if any local gun clubs would be interested in helping fund this project. Mr. Larson will check into that option. Mr. Domer asked if there is a local chapter of the NRA, might they be interested in helping with this restoration. Mr. Rego asked if there are plans to restore any of the other guns and Mr. Larson said there were two other schuetzen rifles. Ms. Matzke made a motion to use $1,000 of the Collections Fund to restock the George Conrad Schloerb schuetzen rifle. Second by Mr. Hoffman. The vote went as follows: In Favor: In Favor: Against: Mr. Domer Mr. Mack None Ms. Drew Ms. Matzke Ms. Fenrich Mr. Rego Mr. Hoffman Ms. Thierman The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion to use $800 - $1,000 of the Collections Fund to restock the George Conrad Schloerb schuetzen rifle was passed. Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on use of the Membership Fund to commission a birch bark canoe for People of the Waters. Mr. Larson reported he did not have the proposal yet so will wait for discussion and vote on this item. Ms. Fenrich inquired regarding the current birch bark canoe in the Wetlands and Waterways exhibition; asking if it is restored whether it would be put into storage or used in People? Mr. Larson replied that because the canoe in People will be laden with trade goods, and that would be too much stress on the original canoe, the canoe will be put in storage. Mr. Rego then requested that Mr. Larson present the Director's Report. Mr. Larson began his report noting that the Museum has had interns through the years. While the Museum has occasionally offered paid internships, most of the students were unpaid. The Museum has a growing reputation among the state's museum community and each year there is a growing number of eager college students seeking a paid internship. One of the goals of the Museum strategic plan is to build on existing partnerships, as well as create new collaborative activities and opportunities. Mr. Larson noted that formalizing an internship program is an excellent way to work on projects that are part of our plan. The Museum has a significant number of concise projects ideally suited for interns in the areas of education, collections,exhibitions, and marketing. Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 2 of 4 Mr. Larson expressed that the time has come to formalize the Museum internship program, working within the City of Oshkosh Volunteer & Internship Policy. Anna Cannizzo developed and administered an internship program at the Denison Museum in Granville, Ohio, and worked closely with the staff organizing and running the internship program at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and its long standing tie with the Milwaukee Public Museum. Anna would oversee the Museum's internship program. The vision is that the Museum would offer both paid and unpaid internships. For paid internships, the Board would have to annually obligate funding in the $4,000 to $6,000 range, most likely from the Membership Fund. While our funds remain carefully committed, the amount of work the Museum would receive in return would be significant. Mr. Larson requested that Board members take time to read the summary of the internship program. Internships will be a future agenda item. Mr. Hoffman asked if the Museum would provide a certificate for the interns. Mr. Larson noted they would not receive a certificate from OPM, rather they would receive credit and recognition from the college they are attending. Ms. Drew expressed that as one of three volunteers currently cataloging collections items, she knows the Museum would greatly benefit from the added help. Ms. Thierman inquired as to how many interns the Museum would have in a year. Mr. Larson envisions having four interns each year. Ms. Matzke noted that after her students had the behind- the-scenes tour of the Museum many students asked about internship possibilities. She is pleased to hear of both unpaid and paid internships, noting that many Ripon students are not from the area and a paid internship can be the difference for them to choose to stay in the area for a summer. Landscaping was the next item Mr. Larson reported on. The revised specifications for Phase I of the landscape project will be out for bid this month. This is the area called Entry Walk and primarily encompasses the east lawn of the Sawyer home. After discussions with landscapers last fall, Jim Schaefer and Mr. Larson decided that it was in the Museum's best interest to eliminate some elements, such as the in-ground watering system. The budget is $100,000 and is in the 2015 Capital Improvement Program. Next Mr. Larson informed the Board on the upcoming exhibition, Be the Dinosaur, which is scheduled for delivery on January 25, and opens February 1. Staff is preparing for the arrival, and Deck the Halls should be dismantled and stored by the end of next week. Be the Dinosaur has a strong connection to science curriculum and Karla Szekeres has received a positive response from several school districts, including Montello and Rosendale-Brandon, both frequent users of the Museum. Mr. Larson noted this is Matt Reinke's first major traveling exhibition. Now that the armory is available, crates will be stored at that location. Mr. Larson then updated the Board on People of the Waters. Design continues and the development phase is now at the halfway mark. Mr. Larson plans to show the Board the design at the February 4 meeting. Split Rock's next formal presentation for staff is Wednesday, February 10, at which time we will have an updated cost proposal. Mr. Larson reported that construction of the prehistoric dugout canoe, to be done by University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh students under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Behm, will begin on the grounds in spring; a white pine log has been Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 3 of 4 located and will be delivered this winter. Mr. Larson noted the Museum has another fauna remain with stone tool cut marks at a lab for radio carbon dating. In conclusion Mr. Larson reported that removal of components of Wetlands & Waterways will start in February. Part of the removal process requires that everything currently on view be placed in storage in the carriage house and locations recorded in Past Perfect. Anna and Joan will be assisted by volunteers and interns. The next phase of People of the Waters is production, then installation. Mr. Larson intends to start working on the contract for this in the coming weeks. The Museum has over $400,000 for this stage. Once the updated cost proposal is available, Karla and Mr. Larson will begin writing grants and proposals for the balance, which is likely to be about $150,000. That concluded the Director's Report. Mr. Rego then requested that Ms. Shirtz present the Auxiliary Report. Ms. Shirtz noted the net profit for the 2015 Gala is $1,176.76. The Gala Committee already met to discuss what went well and what they can do to further improve the event for 2016. Ms. Shirtz was pleased to report that tomorrow's Auxiliary meeting was well covered in the Northwestern. That concluded the Auxiliary Report. With no other agenda items Mr. Rego asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Thierman so moved and Mr. Mack seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. Oshkosh Public Museum■1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901 Page 4 of 4