OCONOMOWOC HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Board Minutes/January 8, 2007

Wilkinson Conference Center at Whitman Park

OHS Members Present: Marjorie Day, Chuck Herro, John Fishleigh, Pam Thomas, Ed Johnson, Barbara Elwood-Goetsch, Betty Hancock, Tony Thorsen, Don Wiemer, Ruth Behling, Margie Krauski, Diane Johnson, Duane Hoffmann, Hilton Neal, Dorothy St. Thomas, Ray Maurer, Mike Schutz, Terry Ladwig, Ann Zimmerman and Nancy Lins.

President Hilton Neal opened the meeting at 4:04pm.

Secretary’s Reports: Date on the December report will be changed to December 11 from December 12. Don Wiemer moved to accept the minutes of the December 11, 2006 meeting with the above correction. John Fishleigh seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report:

• The P & L Budget vs. Actual for December 2006 through October 2007, was distributed.

• P & L for December 2006 showed total income of $16,827.42 and expenses of $2,903.16 for a net income of $13,924.26. Checking account balance as of 12/31/06 was $15,992.38, Savings account $29,065.73, Certificate of deposit is $61,504 and the Vanguard Index Fund is at $7,444.10 for total cash assets of $114,006.21. John reported that this is the best shape we have been in for a long time. John mentioned that the non-cap equipment expense should be $39 instead of $9 and Valerie’s gift should have been deducted this time. Both items will be rectified next month. Nancy Lins moved to accept the December 31, 2006 financial statement. Margie Krauski seconded the motion. Motion carried.
• The budget for 2007F can be adjusted as the year goes by for other items if need be. Don Wiemer moved to approve the 2007F budget. John Fishleigh seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Election of new board member: All board members were sent minutes from the Executive Committee meeting on December 12, 2006 regarding Terry Ladwig. She has very valuable qualifications that will be needed for the board in the upcoming months/years. Marjorie Day moved to accept Terry Ladwig to the Board of Directors for a three-year term. Don Wiemer seconded the motion. Motion Carried.

Development Committee:

• Doorways of Oconomowoc Poster: Margie reported that it continues to go well. Donations are still coming in and she is delivering posters to those members she can. Hilton reported that so far $15,389 has been raised and he feels that we will top out at $17,000.

Administrator’s Report/Museum Operations:

• Visitors: 24 visitors toured the week of the Quilt Show. Scouts will visit on January 30.
• Exhibits: The Munger Studio is at a standstill. Hilton will talk to Milt Babinec regarding finishing the outside of this exhibit. The library and museum is being created and underwritten by the Heritage Trails Questers. Nancy will follow up with the group regarding this exhibit.

• Bob Duffy sent over information on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s upcoming event at Olympia Resort in September. The Board asked if the Wisconsin Society could hold one of their meetings at our museum? We will provide information about our museum for them to distribute to their members.
• Greg Hoffman from the Oconomowoc Water and Electric Department toured the museum and was pleased with the new lighting. He will get a reimbursement check off to us soon.
• Nancy asked if the Grindrod sink should be disposed of? The Board wants the family contacted first. It can be stored on the west side of the museum until the family notifies us what they want done with it. Don Wiemer made a motion to dispose of the sink if the family doesn’t want it. Ed Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried. Don also mentioned that we need a tracking policy in place so we know where things are stored or disposed of in the future.
• We no longer have an Exhibits Chair. There is a need for other committee chairs too. Don will work with Nancy to form the needed committees from the member’s interest sheets.

Artifacts:

• Acquisitions:

Marjorie Day reported the committee has been on hiatus the last three weeks, but will be meeting tomorrow.

• Elk Project:

Duane Hoffmann reported that a shelter has been built over the entire project to keep it warm enough to work on. Robb should be able to complete the project in a month once he starts to assemble it. He continues to send Duane pictures of the ongoing work. Once it is more complete, we can visit to see the progress. An appropriate ceremony will be held in the spring when the elk is put on its pedestal.

• Mural Conservation:

Tony Thorsen reported that Tom Mount has sent a check for $5,000 for phase one of the mural conservation. Fran Durkin sent a letter to Dr. Steve Delahunt regarding the murals and he sent a check for $4,500. Thanks to Fran and Tony for heading up this worthy cause. We will still be $500 short of the amount Tony Rajer quoted for this project, but this shouldn’t be a problem. A newsletter will be sent to both of the donors. We should be able to get good press from this also.

Local History Committee:

• Betty Hancock reported that the committee did not meet in December. Their next meeting will be January 18, 2007 at 10:30am at the Village Hall. Hilton asked that the committee continue to keep articles and pictures going to the newspapers.

Education Committee:

• Hilton felt the need to form this committee because of Valerie’s absence. Barbara Hirsch, Marilyn Clark, Terry Kaldusdahl and Barbara Elwood-Goetsch are the current members. Barbara Elwood-Goetsch reported that at the first meeting they discussed tours with youth groups are not a favorite of the current docents. The Education Committee would do it but they need to have something written down to share with the students. Pat Neudecker’s idea of youth docents may be the answer to who should tour students.
• The Committee also felt that artifacts the students could touch would be a great idea to have.
• A trunk with artifacts and questionnaires should be made up to send to school classes that are unable to tour. (Pam Thomas’ Leadership Class made a booklet for kids as one of their class projects. Pam will contact Samantha Goetz regarding the booklet).
• The Committee also felt special events in the spring and summer for kids would be a great idea i.e. dipping candles; German stars, etc.
• The next Education Committee meeting is January 15^th at 7pm. Barbara invited Hilton to the meeting to make sure they are on the same page.

Membership:

• Barbara Elwood-Goetsch reported new members have joined the Society. We now have 349 singles/couples, 14 organizations, and 39 free memberships. Currently there are 145 delinquent members on the books.

Newsletter:

• Ready to be mailed. Don said the website address in the newsletter is wrong as Oconomowoc is spelled wrong.

Docents:

• No report. Nancy Lins will follow up with a telephone call to Milt Babinec to see if he is planning a volunteer recognition breakfast this year.

Speakers:

• January 2007—Don Wiemer’s postcards at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital. Hilton will make sure the goodies will be delivered on time. Ed Johnson will take minutes.
• April 2007—Tony Rajer
• July 2007— Chuck Herro “The Gilded Age—Extended”.
• Still working on October speaker.

Old Business:

• Hilton reminded the board that he has a lot of clippings, etc. for those doing the scrapbooks.

New Business:

• Don Wiemer reported that Valerie received a ticket for parking in the driveway. He has ordered a new sign that says Parking by Permit Only for $28 from Lang. The museum will pay for Valerie’s ticket ($20).
• The alarm also went off last Sunday at the museum. Don has researched keyless entries and presented information on one from Trilogy Access Control for $995, if we don’t purchase the software. It is something the board should be aware of but we don’t have to move on it right away.
• Jeff and Nancy Lins donated a used refrigerator to the museum but the museum will be charged $75 for picking up the old one, as we do not use the disposal company that picks up used refrigerators.
• Don Wiemer will chair the February meeting, as Hilton will be on vacation.

Don Wiemer moved and Margie Krauski seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:13pm.

Next meeting will be Monday, February 12, 2007 at 4pm at Wilkinson Conference Center at Whitman Park.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Thomas/Secretary