HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-2012Approved 11/14/12
White River Valley Historical Society
Board Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2012, 1:30 -3 p.m.
Board Members Present: Richard Artura, Jamie Bothell, Pat Cavanaugh, Megan Evans, Gerry Honeysett, Doug
Lein, Joan Mason, Kim Perry, Mark Thomason, Mike Weibel
Board Members Excused: Julie Herren, Rhonda Larson, Mike Miller
Board Members Absent: Ken Nelson
Staff Present: Kristen Bruhahn, Rachael Burrum, Patricia Cosgrove, Erin Hash, Hilary Pittenger
Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
A. President Evans called the meeting to order and asked for the approval of the minutes. Jamie Bothell
made a motion, seconded by Pat Cavanaugh to accept the minutes as written. MOTION CARRIED
B. New board member Doug Lein, Economic Development Manager for the City of Auburn was introduced
to the board. He has developed many business connections throughout the city, and is excited to help the
museum grow and develop.
C. To start out the meeting, Board members were encouraged to recount a short memory from their
wedding, or another's wedding. This was in support of the upcoming exhibit, I DO which was previewed by its
Guest Curator, Rachael Burrum. I DO will present information and artifacts
11. Chair Report
A. A draft of the Long Range Plan for 2012 to 2017 was shared with the board. This plan was drafted by
staff, then reviewed by the Executive Committee, and added to and revised several times. It will be voted on in
the November meeting. Part of the plan is to promote visibility of the Museum. Treasurer Bothell, noting that
admission (thus the gift shop) revenues were down, asked for a Public Relations committee to be formed. He
volunteered to serve on it along with Doug Lein, Megan Evans and Joan Mason. Staff will put together a
presentation of what current PR efforts are in place, so this group can build on those efforts.
B. Cosgrove noted that ten years ago as a goal of that Long Term Plan was to develop a relationship with
Green River Community College. Many wonderful relationships and outcomes have come from that, such as
Megan Evans, GRCC Foundation employee as board president, Mark Thomason GRCC history professor, is a
museum board member and recently served as guest curator for Stills in the Hills. A new relationship is growing
with the Forestry Department. A large collection of photographs of logging practices in the 1970s and 80s were
taken by Professor Pat Cummins. The museum is interested in working with the college to preserve and exhibit
that work.
III. Treasury and Committee Report
A. Treasurer Bothell reviewed the Financial Statement for October noting that some areas are
disappointingly low, such as admission and gift shop, but they are made up by other areas such as Group Tours
and Special Events. Bothell also shared information regarding the beginning efforts to build an Endowment Fund.
By the next meeting there should be information available on how to set up the endowment, how to manage it,
and what a campaign might look like.
B. Curator of Collections Hilary Pittenger reported for the Collections Committee. They reviewed a
number if items for addition to the collection including a ships lantern, Howard Hanson Dam Ephemera and a
Washington Territory medicine bottle.
C. Kim Perry reviewed progress on plans for Halloween Costume Ball 2012. So far about 150 guests are
signed up, decorations will be mounted by staff and committee members the day of the event, program ads are
down, silent auction items are coming in. Perry and her group are working to make this a fun and successful
event.
V. Staff Report
Approved 11/14/12
A. Hilary Pittenger previewed entries into the next exhibit Small Works. Sixty seven pieces of art were
juried into the show from the roughly 160 entries. For the first time we have several ceramic artists presenting
their work along with the two dimensional art that we have come to expect in this pre - holiday tradition.
VII. Adjournment
Joan Mason made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mike Weibel. MOTION PASSED
Respectfully submitted by: Patricia Cosgrove, filling in for Secretary Julie Herren
Date: 10/18/2012