OCONOMOWOC HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Board Minutes/March 12, 2007

Wilkinson Conference Center at Whitman Park

 

OHS Members Present:  Marjorie Day, John Fishleigh, Pam Thomas, Ed Johnson, Barbara Elwood-Goetsch, Betty Hancock, Don Wiemer, Duane Hoffmann, Mike Schutz, Terry Ladwig, Ann Zimmerman, Barb Hirsch; Duane Thorsen, Hilton Neal, Nancy Lins, Margie Krauski, Valerie Davis and Ruth Behling.

 

President Hilton Neal opened the meeting at 4:02pm.

 

Valerie Davis, former museum consultant, was back for spring break and reported on how her schooling was going in Nebraska.

 

Secretary’s Reports: Don Wiemer moved to accept the minutes of the February 12, 2007 Board meeting and Nancy Linns seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

  • The P & L Budget vs. Actual for November 2006 through February 2007 was distributed.
  • P & L for February, 2007 showed total income of $5,530.72 and expenses of  $3,349.07 for a net income of $2,181.65. Checking account balance as of 2/28/07 was $1,935.52, Savings account $52,205.24, Certificate of deposit is $62,274.87 and the Vanguard Total Index Fund is at $7,520.82 for total cash assets of $125,967.57. A restricted cash assets category was added to the report to cover the Elk Project, Murals and the DVD which all have designated monies donated. An anonymous donor gave us $500 to make the mural dollars $10,000, which is the amount needed to pay for the project.
  • Don Wiemer moved to accept the February 28, 2007 financial statement. Marjorie Day seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

Board Interest Survey:

  • Terry Ladwig has asked the Board to take time at next month’s meeting to fill out a profile that will identify their skills and current interests. This will also help the board to identify areas that should be represented when we seek new board members for next year.
  • Over 50 families have indicated interest in volunteering for the Historical Society and Terry would like to match available resources, money and manpower with their interests also.

 

Administrator’s Report/Museum Operations: (Refer to submitted report…highlights were):

  • Visitors: 98 people visited the museum the first week in March.
  • Museum will open the first week in May. Nancy asked if we could have an open house on May 20th as it is Wisconsin Museum Week. The board approved the museum to be opened from 1-3pm with refreshments.
  • Volunteer Breakfast: Nancy asked that in lieu of a gift for each volunteer we could use the money to purchase a DVD or books that relate to the museum for docents to read as an educational tool. Ed Johnson made a motion to explore a larger gift in place of individual gifts for the volunteers, not to exceed $600. Don Wiemer seconded the motion. Motion carried. The breakfast will be held on May 1st at the LTA Clubhouse.                                                                              
  • An organization meeting was held on March 8th with 10 volunteers in attendance as well as Hilton and Nancy. Terry assisted in telephoning members who had expressed an interest in volunteering at the museum to advise them of this meeting. One of the members that attended is a finish carpenter and offered to finish the displays if we furnished the supplies. He would like a volunteer to help him. We also need someone to shovel and salt sidewalk and steps when we have a lot of snow.
  • March 10th a clean up was scheduled and 5 members showed up and worked with Nancy for

3 ˝ hours.

 

Membership:

  • Barbara Elwood-Goetsch reported more new members have joined the Society since last month. We now have 367 members, 14 organizations—1 delinquent and 39 free memberships. Currently there are 84 delinquent members on the books. Post cards will go out this month to remind past due members.

 

Artifacts:

  • Committee continues to access items. Pat Boughton is doing the photos. We received an abstract of title from 1841 with Judge Small’s signature on it.
  • No decision from the family on the Grindrod sink. Marjorie will wait one more month before disposing of it.
  • Radke’s will pick up the old stove tomorrow.
  • Marjorie sent a letter to Joel Timmel.

 

Local History Committee:

  • Betty Hancock reported that Carol Lamm has started the scrapbook for the museum. The committee wanted to put copies of articles in plastic envelopes along with the newsprint because of deterioration but the board suggested they should be put on CD’s instead.
  • Don will talk to Truman Schultz about artifacts on Oconomowoc Lake, but much of it was lost in the fire a few years ago.
  • The committee feels it should try to acquire the old records of the Oconomowoc Golf Club as it is now in private hands. Duane said to check with Bruce Lee as he has researched this subject.
  • The Lavinia Rockwell letters do not seem to be selling. Ed Johnson made a motion to cut the price to $5. Don Wiemer seconded the motion. Motion carried.
  • The next meeting will be held on March 15th at the Oconomowoc Village Hall at which time a new chairperson will be elected as Betty Hancock has resigned as chair but will remain on the committee.

 

Education Committee:

  • Barb Hirsch reported on March 6th, 75 school children visited the museum. She commended Barbara Elwood-Goetsch on a job well done. She took the entire main floor of the museum and divided it into eight spaces manned by eight docents. The kids were excited and the teachers realized what the museum had to offer their students. Barb sent evaluations/information with the kids and this will constantly be refined and updated. Hilton gave information to the newspapers on the school visit…good PR!
  • The committee meets again tonight to see where to focus next. They will also check into Save Our History. There is a possibly to request up to $10,000 for a preservation focus. They felt this was a good tie in to the school district, could possibly make plans to apply for next year.

 

Sale of Posters:

  • Goal was $18,000 and so far we have raised $17,400. Margie wants the poster to rest for 6 months and then bring it back for sale to the public for $25. If a store participates they could get $5 of the $25 sale price. She would also like to have some framed posters at locations to show how they would look framed and possibly entice buyers that way. Don Wiemer made a motion to value the poster at the above suggestion and sell it beginning on June 1, 2007. Ed Johnson seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion was amended to $15/Historical Society and $10/participating store. If someone wants to purchase a framed poster, they will be sent to Ben Franklin, but Margie will check on frames and may order extra for people wanting the poster framed.
  • Margie needs help distributing the posters. Betty Hancock and Hilton Neal will help her with that. Betty will also check with the Festival of the Arts committee to see if we could showcase the poster there. We will also have it for sale at our Ice Cream Social.

 

Speakers:

  • April 2007—Tony Rajer
  • July 2007— Chuck Herro “The Gilded Age—Extended”.
  • Still working on October speaker—possibly the Executive Director of Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Elk Project:

  • Duane Hoffmann reported that weather is warming up and should be able to start soon. Duane also gave $200 to Ed/John that was donated by a customer he contacted previously.
  • He has tried to telephone Gary Fleming (whose father was a chauffer for Marjorie Ward Baker) but Gary has an unlisted telephone number. He will go to Fall River to see him in person.

 

Front Door Lock:

  • Don reported it will cost $588 and would like to proceed with purchase of it. He will still try to get it installed for free. Board members needing to enter the museum will be issued a four-digit number to help track who is coming and going. Ed Johnson made a motion to proceed with purchase of the lock, not to exceed $600. Betty Hancock seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  • April we will go back to the museum for our board meeting
  • Diane Johnson will chair the Ice Cream Social again this year. She should report at the next meeting.
  • Check with Chuck Herro to make sure he can get a Trek bicycle for the raffle again this year.

 

Don Wiemer moved and Margie Krauski seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:17pm.

 

Next meeting will be Monday, April 9, 2007 at 4pm at the museum.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Thomas/Secretary