HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-2000White River Valley Historical Society
Board Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2000, 1:30 to 2:30
Board Members Present: Marissa Armstrong, Earl Averill, Al B'Hymer, Libby Dykstra,
Earl Hagen, Mike Hamilton, Bud Kuhlman, Debbie Maguire, John Meneghini, Maxine Moergeli,
Charles Natsuhara, Walter Pacheco (substituted by Jackie Swanson), Bill Peloza, Ken Refvem,
Mike Stevens, Daryl Thompson, Hans Torklep, Mae Yamada
Board Members Excused: Doris Ramstead
Staff Present: Patricia Cosgrove
Guests Present: Bill Andrews, Mel Sinex
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
President Kuhlman called the meeting to order and asked that the minutes be approved as
sent. APPROVED
It Chair Report
A. President Kuhlman introduced new board members Hans Torklep and Debbie
Maguire. He announced that Ken Refvem was resigning due to a transfer in employment to the
Bellevue area.
III. Treasury and Committee Reports
A. The treasurer Refvem noted that the 1999 financial report was included in the Board
packet and that the museum ended the year with a surplus allowing for allocations to a building
maintenance fund an allocation for special projects. The January financial report was unavailable,
and will be included in the next month's board packet.
B. Mike Hamilton reported of a delay in construction due to a requirement in the
permitting process. A SEPA report was required by City of Auburn officials, which includes a
three month comment period. It is expected that these months will be used to raise the funds
(amounting to approximately $90,000) which are still needed for this full project.
C. Sculpture Committee was reported on by Mae Yamada. She and director Cosgrove
visited an artist in Albuquerque, and the committee en masse will tour studios of two local artists.
A selection should be made from these three by the next board meeting. To date $15,000 of the
required $17,000 has been raised.
D. Curator of Collections Tina Brewster-Wray reported for the Collections Committee
and showed some of the more interesting accessions for the past two months. A full list of
recommended accessions is archived in the office files for future reference.
IV. Staff Report
A. Patricia Cosgrove reported that four classes are being offered during the mid-winter
break 2/24 and 2/25, including Origami Art and Pioneer Games.
B. The museum director reviewed a new educational program developed by Curator of
Education Barb Williams: History Mystery. To market the museum and expand our educational
mission, we are offering free of charge a 50 minute in class lesson where the second and fifth
grade students investigate a series of historic photos of the Cugini store and act as detectives.
They learn investigation and observation skills as well as local history, and learn about the work a
curator routinely performs in a museum. All board members are invited to sit in on a class, which
are fully booked. Marissa Armstrong recommended that this program be extended to private
schools in the area.
C. The Olson Farm Site Plan has been drafted and reviewed by the Auburn City Council.
It is under revision as the Landmark and Heritage office of the County is currently providing
feedback. This document, once refined, will provide a road map for site development.
D. Cosgrove noted that over the past two years some remarkable (for resale) donations
had been made to the museum: antique gun sold for $25,000; interest in a condo, sold for
$18,000; two antique Persian rugs sold for $700; gift of appreciated stock sold for $2,000. These
gifts often benefited the donor almost as much as us, as they sold an unused or undervalued item,
received a tax benefit, and participated in a community fund raising effort.
V. New Business
A. Bud Kuhlman announced that the next board meeting will be in the museum, due to
the upcoming move of the Library.
B. Bud thanked volunteer Bill Andrews for working to schedule docents. The crew of 40
individuals requires constant care-taking, training and schedule adjustment, and Bill does an
excellent job.
Next Board Meeting: March 8, 2000, 1:30 to 2:30, at the Museum