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Home My WebLink About03/27/2018 - Minutes r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM Attending: Laura Clawson, Antoin Johnson, Jessica Kelly, and Elizabeth P. Stewart. Absent: Betsy Prather, Pete Kalasountas, and Colleen Lenahan. Call to Order Acting President Betsy Prather being absent, Secretary Antoin Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM. Artifact of the Month Information The Board decided to dispense with "Artifact of the Month" for a while, to continue with follow-up exercises to the March 24 retreat. At this meeting, Liz Stewart circulated two of the Weaknesses or Threats identified at the retreat SWOT exercise, and asked Board members to respond with solution. The results were as follows. Lack of bandwidth /staff/ human resources • Public Engagement Coordinator—full-time • RHS web site that doesn't require staff and has link to city web site • Museum identity for recruitment • Internships for data science (cataloguing) • Marketing Manager Depletion of Renton Community Foundation funds • Research grant opportunities • Corporate sponsorships • Crowdfunding for exhibits or specific events • Electronic donations for school program development • Specific plan to replace RCF funds • Use funds from Endowment • Financial planning including Shane Klingenstein Public Comments Information There were no public comments. Board Communications Information Liz attended a Committee of the Whole presentation about progress on the Civic Core plan for Downtown Renton and heard several developments that might be useful to the Museum, including a new fund for signage improvement with lower barriers to entry than the current Fa�ade Improvement Program. RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 1 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM Antoin Johnson is working with a friend on a podcast series of oral histories that might benefit the Museum by showcasing past and future work done in that area. They will be looking at grant funding for this, and Antoin will coordinate with Curator Sarah Samson, who is the lead on the Museum's oral history team. Correspondence Information Liz informed the Board that a retirement party for Renton Community Foundation Executive Director Lynn Bohart will be held at the Museum on Thurs., April 26; invitations will be coming. Jessica Kelly and Liz will be attending the RCF Fundholders' Brunch on April 19 and will report back. Consent A�enda (Vice President) Action Item A quorum was present. • MOTION: Laura Clawson moved to approve the agenda and Lynne King seconded. Motion passed, none opposed, none abstaining. Old Business Action Items (1) Committee reports: As Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Lynne King asked for a co-chair and Jessica Kelly volunteered. Trustees discussed some details of the fundraiser. The theme will be upcycling again. The Renton Senior Activity Center has been secured for Weds., Sept. 26, and Michele Bettinger (AKA "Aunt Dottie") and her nephew Aaron have committed to emcee again. Lynne planned to ask Patricia Carroll whether she would be willing to bartend. • ACTION ITEM: Lynne challenged every trustee to secure at least one auction item before the next Board meeting. Liz will send out introduction letters, 2017 list of donors and auction items, and 2017 event budget. Please bring your completed donor form as evidence of your acquisition; keep auction items until closer to the event. (2) Retreat debrief: Overall trustees were pleased with the March 24 retreat and its focus on preparing for the revision of the strategic plan. They appreciated Lynn Bohart as facilitator. Trustees talked about ideas for recruiting new trustees, including visiting other service organizations—Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.—to get out the word. • ACTION ITEM: Liz will send out a Doodle poll to schedule the first meeting of the Strategic Plan Committee. Discussion Action Items (1) Leadership plans:Trustees briefly discussed who might be willing to hold officers' positions, since every officer is up for re-election in June. Treasurer Laura Clawson will continue for a year while Jessica Kelly trains to take over. Antoin will continue as Secretary. Other positions will be discussed in the next Executive Committee. RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 2 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM (2) Instilling a Culture of Gratitude: Liz introduced a new initiative she has been doing with staff of the Museum. Knowing how important it is for donors, volunteers, sponsors, and others to feel appreciated, Liz has enlisted staff—and hoped the Board would join in—in an effort to ensure that supporters know how grateful we are. She has started posting#ThankYouThursday posts to showcase donors and volunteers on Facebook. Staff are redoubling their efforts to be helpful and provide exceptional service to visitors, researchers, and members. Liz asked that Board members join in by writing hand-written thank you notes to donors of$100 or more; she circulated a list of 13 and the trustees present selected people they knew or others to write notes to. We will continue the practice at monthly Board meetings. Mission Moment The above served as the Mission Moment. Adiournment Laura Clawson moved to adjourn, Lynne King seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm. Antoin Johnson, Secretary Renton Historical Society RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 3 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM A GENDA `s�+�.� �� . , ,'}��at�,' �'� ' � . • qi , ��w � , �� 4 ', Renton Library in the spring, , . �'� �3= �` , s` ,��" � � ,, 1984. (#2002.003.5786) �; �_� � �� -.. L,Sa��`. ,.� r ��:��. f5 �,�� .>�s'' �• � �.:. ��'��_" ''��< ,� ',. ,�} � 1��f�i�� ;• - . -�' . �: .,�:.r. ��'+�i .� � � w � �r �� .m� ,� oF � , J;. e. �'. ._ �� .r6.� . . a1m,}.�'v'�e._. .. ...�. Renton Historical Society Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday Renton History Museum Ma rch 27, 2018 235 Mill Ave S Trustees: 5:30—7 pm Renton, WA Betsy Prather, Interim 1. Call to Order and Introductions (Secretary Antoin Johnson) President Laura Clawson, Treasurer 2� Artifact of the Month: Laura Clawson AntoinJohnson, Secretary 3. Oral Communications/ Public Comments Pete Kalasountas Note: Five-minute limit per person;maximum of three persons Jessica Kelly permitted to speak to each side of any one topic. Lynne King 4. Board Communication Colleen Lenahan Elizabeth P.Stewart, 5. Correspondence Museum Director 6� Approval of the Consent Agenda 7. Ongoing Business Staff Contacts: ■ Committee Reports ■ Retreat Debrief Elizabeth Stewart ■ Fundraiser update (Fundraiser Chair) estewart@rentonwa.�ov $� Discussion/Action Items 425.255.2330 ' Leadership plans ■ Instilling a Culture of Gratitude (Museum Director) 9. Mission Moment 10. Adjournment RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 4 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM ,._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. ' Next Board Meeting:Tues.,April 24,5:30—7:00 pm, Renton History Museum ; ; ❑ Sat., March 31, 11 am—noon, Living Voices presents La Causa � � ❑ Thurs.,April 5,6—7 pm,Curators'Talk on elack& White ; ; ❑ Sat.,April 28, 11 am—noon, "Revealing Women's History through Fashion"talk � � _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ � Wheelchair accessible.American Sign Language(ASL)interpreter available upon request. For this or other assistance,please call 48 hours in advance:711(TDD)or 425.430.6600(voice). RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 5 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM MUSEUM REPORT For February 2018 Compiled by Elizabeth P. Stewart, Director Sarah Samson, Collection Manager Kim Owens, Public Engagement Coordinator Nezanet Tewolde, Museum Office Aide Operations Visitors in January: 216 Visitor numbers reflect members and researchers as well as paying visitors. There were no tours in February. Administration Marketing Assessment: Director Liz Stewart and Public Engagement Coordinator Kim Owens met with a consultant to the Department of Community Services this month to describe our current marketing tools and our wish list for the future. Community Services is considering how to meet the marketing needs of all its divisions—Parks; Recreation; Neighborhoods and Events, etc.—and this study may result in more resources that we can call upon. Evaluation: Having completed analysis of a year's worth of program surveys, Kim is moving on to compile and analyze visitor surveys, to get an idea of how that audience is different than that for programs, and how our temporary exhibits are received. � � � Exhibits � Black& White: Our new fashion exhibit has proven to be very �" .;:, � L�' popular, with higher attendance numbers than usual for �` �:� � winter exhibits. The exhibit remains on display until May 19, I'�� 2018. � City Hall lobby display: On January 31, Curator Sarah Samson � _ �, Y' I� � � and Liz Stewart installed an exhibit in the City Hall lobby case for Black History Month.This exhibit on the arrival of Black , miners to King County in the 1880s and 1890s also provided the topic for the March quarterly newsletter article. The �� exhibit was on display in City Hall until the end of February, RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 6 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM and we received several compliments from City staff and others. Rentonites in WWI: In February Liz focused on research and writing of interpretive panels for On the Battlefront and the Q�+ the Homefront: Rentonites in WWI. Research for this exhibit has BAITLEFRONT increased our understanding of the city's wartime '�`�'�� experience exponentially: we have a nearly complete list of Ha�EF T all Rentonites who served in the military in 1917— 1919; 4 transcriptions of the wartime diaries of Merchant Marine ' Charles Tamborini and Corporal Jack Allison; and a complete list of those from Renton who died in WWI. The exhibit will be a very personal and biographical look at Renton's wartime experience, both of those who fought and those Rentonites �r� #he Great War who contributed as nurses, knitters, farmers, and families waiting at home. The exhibit will be on display from May 28 (Memorial Day) through Nov. 11 (Veterans Day). Collections New accessions: In February Sarah received some donations relating to the WWI exhibit, including a mess kit and cigarette lighter, as well as the temporary loan of some items from Sarah Jane Hisey's father Jack Allison, a corporal in the U.S. Army who was a transportation engineer in France and Belgium. Registrars to the Rescue program: Sarah has been volunteering with the Washington Museum Association's Registrars to the Rescue program, which enlists curators and registrars to complete one-day projects for small institutions wherever the WaMA conference is held each year. Sarah has been doing advance work and coordination for the program. Pro�rams, Outreach, and Education Black& White programs: On Feb. 24, as part of our Black History Month calendar, we hosted Humanities Washington speaker Daudi Abe, who spoke about race, class, and the history of hip hop in the Northwest. Abe gave an excellent talk to an almost full house of 39 people. Oral history program: We held the first meeting of our new Oral History Team on Sat., Feb. 3. Volunteers had a chance to meet our team leader, Eleanor Boba, and talk through the logistics of the initiative.They divided into teams for our first four narrators (or interviewees). Initial letters have gone out to these four, and then the team will meet again on Sat., April 7 for interview training. Sarah and Kim are co-coordinating the effort, with Liz's input, and we are very excited to get this going again! RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 7 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES �ENTON HISTORY March27,2018 MusEUM Volunteers ,� Volunteer Valentines Luncheon: On Monday, Feb. 12 we gave our annual thank you luncheon for volunteers. Though �°'"� the event was sparsely attended, the fourteen attendees— � � --- ,� � including Board members Laura Clawson, Lynne King, and . � * -� � �� Jessica Kelly—had a chance to get to know one another and �,, � learn about upcoming plans for the volunteer program, ` k, �',� � '�� ; � including revitalization of the oral history program and new � .,. � � ` �� training and a handbook for docents. Sarah and Kim also had ` �1`� =-`r " � a chance to show off their Museum Hack-style tour of Black ��`�,� .- t� � � � -�.- " '�'�"��"� & White, which a little edgier and more humorous and uses ,_: � , ', �,� technology to enhance the exhibit. Since attendances was �--- � ��T: L low at the event, staff will be looking at other kinds of events �� '`� to help volunteers get to know one another. We will also be � looking at other opportunities to show off the new tour. RenTeens: The Museum's teen advisory council continues to meet every other Saturday, and all are moving ahead with their projects about different murders in Renton. They have mostly completed their research and each RenTeen is turning his or her research into final products of their choice, ranging from a short play to a graphic novel. Volunteer Program: In February 32 volunteers contributed 156 hours of service, on such activities as the oral history program, Board service, Saturday greeting, and collections projects. Volunteer Sabella Curtis has almost completed the next script for our next Renton History Live! performance during Renton River Days. RHSMinutes_03272018_approved Page 8 of 8