OCONOMOWOC HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD MINUTES

March 10, 2008

Wilkinson Sports Center

 

Board Members Present: Sue Bickler, Mac Dorn, Barbara Elwood-Goetsch, Betty Hancock, Shirley Hinds, Barb Hirsch, Duane Hoffman, Ed Johnson, Melissa Krahn, Margie Krauski, Terry Ladwig, Nancy Lins, Bob Ludwig, Hilton Neal, Don Wiemer, Ann Zimmerman

Absent Excused: Fran Durkin, Bill Marris, Ray Mauer

Absent: Donald Christiansen, Chuck Herro, Diane Johnson, Kevin Passon,

Other Attendees: Ruth Behling, Dorothy St. Thomas

 

President Don Wiemer called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm.

 

Secretary’s Report: Nancy Lins moved and Ed Johnson seconded to accept the minutes of the February 11, 2008 board meeting.  Motion carried. 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Hilton Neal went through the monthly report emailed to the board (attached).  Monthly expenditures totaled $3695.67, revenue was $1,962.50 with expenses exceeding revenue by $1,733.17.  Barb Hirsch moved and Sue Bickler seconded to approve the Treasurer’s Report.  Motion carried.

 

Administrator’s Report/Museum Operations (Lins):

  • Visitors: Total 51 as follows: 4 to drop off artifacts, 37 at Lake Terrace presentation by the Education Committee, 10 from Shorehaven.
  • Research: It has been confirmed that some Oconomowoc area homes are “Sears” homes, made from home kits popular from 1900 to 1940.
  • Correspondence: A letter addressed to us from the City’s mayor and from Jack Wright requested signage for marking Summit Corners.  The board declined to participate.
  • Exhibits: The Ixonia Fire Department’s equipment and pumper have been returned.  The fire exhibit will be taken down and the “Victorian Era” exhibit constructed.
  • Miscellaneous: The Focus First Friday event went well at Beverly Designs last month. None of our merchandise sold during the event but the exhibit including an 1890s jacket and hat was enjoyed, and a check will be forthcoming as a percentage of overall store sales from the event. 

 

Committee Reports:

Executive Committee:  Wiemer reported the committee spent most of it’s meeting reviewing the Audit Committee’s work, that things are moving forward and that procedural standards are being developed.

 

Audit: Ladwig reported that she is collecting required documents for the upcoming audit to be conducted after April 20.

 

Collections:  Lins reported that the database of collections is still being developed.  She’s working backwards in documenting items, starting with current year and so far has worked back to 1999. About 4,000 items have been documented out of an estimated 20,000.  The Society is not fully insured for the value of its collections and many are priceless and irreplaceable.  A copy of the database’s information is kept off-site for safe-keeping by Lins and Wiemer. Ladwig reported that the Collections Policy will be submitted for review and adoption in April by the board.  It will be followed with a procedural document about how to process items upon accession or de-accession.

 

Education: Barb Hirsch reported that off-site presentations continue.  Donations are being received as a result of their presentations. They are working on a brief history of the museum’s building.  Their major project is developing an audio self-guided museum tour with signage. 

 

Exhibits:  Shirley Hinds reported that the Past Wars exhibit is progressing but no meeting was held last month.

 

Local History:  1) Dorothy St. Thomas shared the latest timeline document of Oconomowoc history in near-finalized form.  Duane Hoffmann offered to solicit a $500 level donor who will sponsor the printing of the brochures (estimated to be about $1 each for the color-copied 2-page folded document).  Ladwig will have the graphic designer from Oliver Construction (who is doing our “branding design” pro-bono) design the brochure’s cover and decide upon inside colors.  Krahn suggested the museum contact the Main Street Depot Restaurant to duplicate some timeline information on their “newspaper” menus.  The committee’s next meeting is Thursday, March 20 at 10:45 at the Village of Oconomowoc Lake hall.

 

Membership:  Barb Elwood-Goetsch reported the following: 147 single memberships, 112 (224) couples memberships, 1 student membership, 14 organization/business/municipality memberships, 40 free memberships and 95 delinquent memberships.  John Durkin is our newest member. Postcards requesting membership renewals were sent to delinquent members.  Because it is suspected that our dues are very low in comparison to comparable organizations. the committee was asked to research comparable membership fees.

 

Nominating Committee: Ladwig reported that 22 potential new board members have been identified for consideration for current and future positions (two immediate openings).  The committee will continue their work. Other names for consideration are always welcome.

 

Ops and Maintenance (Property):  Neal reported that a comprehensive list of items “in need” (also based upon Lins’ input) has been developed.  Immediately, siding will be added above the Munger Photo Studio exhibit.

 

Resource Development:  no report

 

Special Events: Lins reported that no speaker has yet been secured for the upcoming quarterly April membership meeting.  Neal informed us that the director of Milwaukee’s Pabst Mansion might be available for a speaker’s fee of $150 to speak about local significant architecture designed by the famed duo who also designed the Pabst Mansion. (locally City Hall and others).  It was moved by Johnson and seconded by Ladwig to approve spending $150 for the speaker’s fee that will go directly to Pabst Mansion if their director agrees to speak at an upcoming quarterly membership meeting.  It was approved. Bickler will check with contacts about a presentation on area winter sports’ competitions held from the past century with hopes it can be presented in October.  A July speaker is still needed. Hoffman reported that Mapleton area residents might like to speak about the “Busiest Little City in the World” and he will pursue it.

 

Old Business:

Signage/Logo:  Ladwig reported that Oliver Construction’s lead designer agreed to design our logomark and outdoor sign (pro-bono) with hopes for it to be finalized by April. It was moved by Zimmerman and seconded by Krahn to approve the Branding Committee’s Brand Profile Document for the society.  Motion carried.

 

Festival of the Arts: St. Thomas reported that plans for the Dorothy Smith watercolor exhibit at the museum during Festival Week continue. It is planned to have former Smith students serve as docents from 1-4 pm during weekdays of Festival Week and all day on the weekends during the festival.   Lee Hayden is coordinating volunteers and signage. Lins and Ladwig are preparing the documentation to become a Spotlight Group by the Festival of the Arts organization, and if approved, a tent with sides will be needed to shelter our display at the Festival’s entrance. It was suggested that one be rented if no one is able to donate its use.

 

Elk: The “keep off” type plaque for the Elk was shown and will be installed shortly.

 

New Business: 

Newsletter: Ruth Behling reported that the next newsletter’s deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 29.  She complemented board members for past submissions but has asked for brevity in the interest of space limitations. A local history column will be featured in the future.

 

Adjournment: Johnson moved and Krahn seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:02 pm.

 

Next meeting will be Monday, April 14 at 4:00 pm at the Wilkinson Sports Center.  Agenda items should be submitted to Wiemer.

 

Submitted by Margie Krauski, Secretary