Oconomowoc Historical Society

Board Minutes/April 10, 2006

OHS Members Present: Ruth Behling, Valerie Dasvis, Marjorie Day, John Fishleigh, Barb Elwood-Goetsch, Betty Hancock, Mary Hart, Marilyn Henes, Diane Johnson, Ray Maurer, Hilton Neal, Dorothy St. Thomas, Mike Schutz, Tony Thorsen, Don Weimer.

In the absence of President Ed Johnson, Vice President Don Weimer opened the meeting at 4:06 p.m.

Secretary’s Report:: Motion was made, seconded and passed to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2006 board meeting, with the correction from the membership chair that we have eight, not nine, voting organizational memberships.

Treasurer’s Report:

• John Fishleigh distributed the P & L Budget vs. Budget Actual through March 2006.
• P & L for March 2006 showed total income of $1, 825.45 and expenses of $3,840.59 for a net income of -$2015.14. Checking account YTD is at $2181.41 and savings YTD $85690.45. Vanguard Index Fund is at 6,828.13.
• John Fishleigh reported a Snyder donation of $1000.00.
• Valerie Davis asked where the savings account was kept and the question of investing the account more advantageously was explored. Hilton Neal offered to investigate options.
• Motion to approve the treasurer’s report was made, seconded and passed.

Development:

• No committees have held meetings as yet to discuss the findings of the consultant.
• Hilton Neal announced that the consultant would meet with committees on April 25^th at the museum at 4 p.m. Members of the committees should review the January minutes where committees were listed, and either meet together, or note their individual ideas for implementing these recommendations. Hilton emphasized item . #1, and said that Ed Johnson would address the other three items after Easter.
• Valerie Davis recommended that we have a concentrated membership drive in the fall of the year.
• It was noted that it is of prime importance that we involve more people in order to increase volunteering in the museum and the society, and to bring in additional contributions.
• Ruth Behling noted that the consultant recommended that we distribute the newsletter more widely. She reports that she always orders extra newsletters, and the printer generously includes more than we pay for, but that her physical limitations prevent her from doing anything about distributing them more widely. Several members took some of the extra copies with them.

Museum Operation:

Valerie Davis reported that 29 members of an Antique Model T Club held a meeting at the museum, and enjoyed the exhibits. They were more than willing to give a donation of $2.00 each for the privilege of meeting there and having a tour.

• The energy consultant recommended that ceiling fans in the main gallery would greatly reduce the amount of energy used to heat that area. This will probably be implemented this summer.
• The Oconomowoc Historical Society will co-host Business After Five with Schmidt/Bartelt/Notbohm/Kreutzmann Funeral Home on May 18^th. The event will be held at the museum, and will include appetizers and wine, and a drawing for Brewer tickets and a history book.
• Valerie showed the 2006 museum brochure, and remarked on the large number of brochures distributed last year.
• Valerie also announced that in January of 2007 she will be in Nebraska attending a semester of furthering her education in the area of textiles. She made the board aware of this now so that plans can be made for the operation of the museum for that time. She suggested the options of asking for her resignation, giving her a leave of absence, or whatever plan the board might implement. She says it is her wish to live in Oconomowoc, and has no desire to locate elsewhere.
• She reported that 42 volunteers attended the April 4^th breakfast at Lake Terrace Club House and enjoyed both the meal and the presentation of Terese Allen on the history of Wisconsin’s ethnic foods. She showed a book authored by Allen featuring some of the places where Wisconsin ethnic foods originated which she purchased for the museum library.
• The museum will open for the season on May 5, and a docents’ orientation meeting has been announced for May 13, by Milt Babinec , who will continue as docent chair.

Artifacts:

• Marjorie Day reported the gift of two beer bottles and a table which came from the old Binzel Brewery. These were from Dayle Theobold, whose husband was Peter Binzel’s grandson.
• She has been asked to look at a painting which may have been from the Valentine estate.
• She hopes to get the book she mentioned last month to Madison next week for rebinding.

Membership:

• Barbara Elwood Goetsch reported a membership of 338 individuals and eight organizations.
• She sent out postcards to 90 delinquent members and hopes for a good response.

Newsletter:

• Ruth Behling told those present to pick up their newsletters arranged on the table. She said she would have the newsletter ready for mailing by the time Ed Johnson returned on April 12.

Quarterly Meeting:

• The switch of speakers from St. Thomas to Thorsen was explained. Various ways of publicizing the April meeting, especially to former employees of the Canning Company were suggested.
• Ray Maurer, new representative to the board from the City of Oconomowoc, said he was willing to try continuing the procedure Bob Duffy used in the past the publicize the meetings and events. He will also send notice of the meeting to the Hartford and Watertown radio stations.

Local History Committee:

• No March meeting – another blizzard.

• Don Weimer has recopied the Lavinia Rockwell letters, and final proof reading is taking place. No copyright is needed, the letters are in the public domain.
• Betty read the introductory paragraph to be included in the book.
• Margie Krauske constructed a genealogy of the Rockwell and Hard families to be included in the book.
• 330 copies of the Jean Johnson book have been sold, as has a good number of DVDs. Tobins seems to be the best market.

Special Events:

• Diane Johnson has replaced Marilyn Henes as chair of the Ice cream Social. Marilyn had to relinquish the position because of health problems.
• The permit for the social will be obtained soon and tickets printed. There is a question as to whether or not tickets may be mailed to the membership. This will be investigated.
• The bike should be displayed earlier this year, either downtown or at the museum.
• The question was raised of doing something for Gallery Night May 12^th, but no viable ideas were offered.

Campaign Fund:

• The amount raised was $18,361.00. There were 97 donors, 89 of which gave $100.00 or more.

Next Meeting:

• Betty Hancock invited the board to meet at her home at 430 North Lake Road for the May 8^th meeting. Use the entrance with the stained glass window. Come at 3:30 if you wish to tour the home. If you can’t come that early and want a tour, Betty might be persuaded to give a second one after the 4:00 p.m. meeting adjourns.
• Diane Johnson said that she had received an invitation for the board to meet at the Oconomowoc Development Center.

The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m..

Respectfully submitter,

Ruth Behling/Secretary Pro Tem