OCONOMOWOC HISTORICAL SOCIETY

OCONOMOWOC AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM BOARD MINUTES

November 10= , 2008

At Aurora Sports Conference Center

Board Members Present: Sue Bickler, Mary Blaska, John Eas= ton, Barbara Elwood-Goetsch, Ralph Garcia, Shirley Hinds, Barb Hirsch, Duane Hoffman, Ed Johnson, Margie Krauski, Nancy Lins, Bill Marris, Ray Mauer, Hilton Neal, D= onna Schlender, Don Wiemer

Absent Excuse= d: Melissa Krahn

Absent: Fran Durkin, Lois Luebke, Bob Ludwig, Kevin Passon, Ann Zimmerman

Other Attende= es: Marjorie Day, Dorothy St. Thomas

Call to Order:&nbs= p; President Don Wiemer called the meeting to order at 4:02= pm. He welcomed new board members Mary Blaska, John Easton, Ralph Garcia and Donna Schlender.

Secretary’s Report: Hilton Neal moved and Ed Johnson seconded to accept the minu= tes of the October = 13, 2008 board meeting. It was noted t= hat Barb Hirsch’s name was misspelled in the minutes. Motion carried with corrections du= ly noted. It was moved by Johnso= n and seconded by Neal to approve the quarterly minutes from October 26, 2008. Two corrections were noted –= that Donna Schlender’s name was inadvertently missing as a newly elected b= oard member and that the correct starting time of the Local History Committee is= 10:45 am. Motion carried with corrections du= ly noted.

Treasurer’s Report: Neal reviewed the October financials that had been previously emailed= to board members. He noted sever= al expenditures and fund transfers that were unique to the month. He intends to reformat the restric= ted funds portion on the report in future months. In general he noted that the = year ended in a positive financial position and that the October financial numbe= rs are also the fiscal year-end numbers. October expenditures totaled $= 6,354.96; revenue was $5,331.31; and expenses exceeded revenue by $1,023.65. Nancy Li= ns moved and Duane Johnson seconded to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. The 2008-09 Budget was presented. Garcia moved and M= auer seconded to approve the budget. Motion carried.

Administrator= ’s Report/Museum Operations: Nancy Lins pre-distributed a copy of her complete report. Sue Bickler represented the Societ= y at Oconomowoc’s November Gallery Night on Friday, November 5. Due to inclement weather and low turnout, only $1.00 was raised from sales of our publications. Bickler was thanked for her efforts= . Lins distributed a tentative board roster for proofing by all. A revised and final roster will be distributed shortly. Former OAHS&M board member Pam = Thomas has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Giraffe Award. Many board members plan to attend = the ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Committee Reports:

Executive Committee: 1) The committee reviewed the budget and recommends acceptance= . 2) It was decided to give the soon-to be-released DVD on Oconomowoc’s go= lden era to donors of $125+ beginning with this year’s annual campaign. For those desiring multiple copies,= a DVD will be given for each $125 donation. 3) It was decided that the museum’s administrator serve as the primary contact and representative for service groups, other historical societies and the Chamber of Commerce. Media contacts may be handled by the administrator but only after consultation of the president. 4) It was decid= ed that a Past Presidents plaque be created and displayed in the museum; and t= hat in the future all board members who complete their maximum two 3-year terms= will receive a certificate of appreciation. Special plaques and certificates for extraordinary service will be decided on an individual basis as the needs arise. 5) The bylaws need to revised. The committee will be chaired by Krauski in conjunction with the Executive Committee. The goal= is to have them updated before next year’s annual meeting. 6) It was decided to add a Marketing = and Publicity position to the standing committees. 7) Information as to the wor= ding on the plaque at the railroad umbrella structure owned by the society has b= een secured and a new plaque will be made.&nbs= p; The shelter is in immediate need of power-washing and painting. Hoffman noted that he could secure donated paint. John Easton wi= ll pursue additional painting options and report back. The shed currently has no electric= ity but conduit is in place. Maue= r will verify that city park benches are available for placement under the shed if appropriate concrete slabs are in place to prevent bench removal. 8) Work has begun on drafting the Endowment Fund Document with a goal to have the document completed and adopted prior to next year’s annual meeting.

Electio= n of Officers: The committee recom= mends the following officers for 2008-09: President – Don Wiemer; Vice-President – Sue Bickler; Co-Treasurers – Ed Johnson and Hi= lton Neal; Secretary – Margie Krauski. Johnson moved and Lins seconded for= a unanimous ballot of approval and acceptance of the proposed officers. Motion carried.

Appoint= ment of Committee Chairpersons: President Wiemer asked and received confirmation from the following individuals that they would serve as committee chairpersons for the current fiscal year:

Collections:             =             &nb= sp;   Marjorie Day

Education:=         &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;          Barb Hirsch

Exhibits:<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'>        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;             = Shirley Hinds

Local Hist= ory:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Dorothy St. Thomas

Membership= :        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      Barb Elwood-Goetsch

Marketing = and Publicity:     &nb= sp; Ralph Garcia

Nominating= :        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;       To be determined at a later date

Property a= nd Maintenance:     Hilton Neal

Collections: Marjorie Day reported that items from earlier times have been donated representing local Olympians competing in speed-skating and track. Claire Greene has donated 59 vinta= ge dolls and clothing.

Education: Barb Hirsch reported that work is neari= ng completion on the stocking of items for the traveling “trunk showR= 21;. A map has been made showing where various ethnic groups settled in the 6 contiguous counties surrounding Waukesha County. Lins was asked to decide and repor= t back to them whether the next project the committee tackles should be museum interior signage or developing a museum overview for visitors. <= /span>

Exhibits: Shirley Hinds reported that her committee will be working over the wi= nter on completing a “sports in the lake country” display that will = be ready for the museum’s opening in spring.

Local History: = ;Dorothy St. Thomas reported that the committee continues with its timeline presenta= tion and may develop a history of the performing arts in Oconomowoc. She provided additional information about the railroad umbrella shed, stating that renovations started in 1988, a new sign went up in 1990 and a truck accident that destroyed that plaque and damaged the shed happened in 1999.

Membership: Barb Elwood-Goetsch reported the following: 139 single memberships, = 106 (212) couples’ memberships, and 1 student membership for a total of 3= 52 individual memberships. There are also 11 organization/business/municipality memberships, 40 free memberships and 123 delinquent memberships. Delinquent members will be dropped= from the mailing list shortly. Ral= ph and Paula Garcia are the newest society members.

Property and Maintenance= : = Neal reported that the driveway has been paved and the dumpster moved, thanks to= an Oconomowoc Area Foundation grant. The City of Oconomowoc’s Park and Recreation department has provided some additional dirt needed for the front lawn area. Radix Auto Body has volunteered to construct the frame for the museum’s new exterior sign near the flag pole. Exterior lighting and security cameras will beaded at a later date. The sign itself w= ill be ordered following the frame’s installation. City approval has been received fo= r the sign’s placement. Mauer= will check if the City has an 8” auger to assist in digging the holes for = the new sign’s posts.

Special Events (Quarterly Meetings): The following sche= dule for speakers was reported:

            = January 2009: Wiemer on topic of= local interest (confirmed)

            = April 2009: Mapleton – “The Busiest Little City in the World” (confirmed)

      &= nbsp;     July 2009: to be determined

      &= nbsp;     Oct. 2009: Oconomowoc Olympic Time Trials/Speed Skating (confirmed)

Old Business: Newsletter: Lins reminded everyone that newsletter submissions are needed for the issue that will be distributed in January.

New Business: Oconomowoc Oldies CD and Songbook:&= nbsp; It was decided to sell= last year’s annual campaign premium, the Oconomowoc Oldies songbook and CD= for $30. Bill Marris will add the= m to offerings he stocks in local retail establishments.

Next meeting:= The next board meeting will be Monday, December 8, 2008 at the Wilkinson Sports Conference Center at 4:00 pm.

      = ;

Adjournment:<= /b> Johnson moved and Lins seconded a m= otion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:04 pm.

Submitted by Margie Krauski, Secretary