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Home My WebLink About04/24/2018 - Minutes r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM Attending: Betsy Prather, Antoin Johnson,Jessica Kelly, Colleen Lenahan, and Elizabeth P. Stewart. Absent: Laura Clawson and Pete Kalasountas. Call to Order President Betsy Prather called the meeting to order at 5:30 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. 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. Weakness: Social media/web presence Solutions • Historical Society site w/ by-laws, etc. • Simple website, low maintenance, easily transferrable • Board recruitment flyers • Podcast with plug for the museum Threat: Space limitations Solutions • Develop "outside" organized activities • Investigate expansion north or south • Partner with other organizations to hold programs/exhibits in satellite spaces (as resources allow) Public Comments Information There were no public comments. Board Communications Information Jessica and Liz attended the Renton Community Foundation's Fundholders' Brunch on April 19, and met the new Executive Director, Leeanne Moss. Leeanne will attend our May Board meeting. Correspondence Information There was no correspondence. RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 1 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM Consent A�enda (Vice President) Action Item A quorum was present. • MOTION: Lynne King moved to approve the consent agenda and Jessica Kelly seconded. Motion passed, none opposed, none abstaining. Old Business Action Items (1) Committee reports: Strategic Plan Committee: The committee met for the first time on April 17. In Chair Laura Clawson's absence, Liz summarized the meeting; minutes had been distributed with the Board packet. Committee began by reviewing priorities developed at the Board retreat. (2) Fundraiser Committee: Board members had been asked to come with one auction item, and each trustee present told what they had collected. Trustees discussed corporate sponsorship levels and incentives for sponsors at various levels. Colleen Lenahan shared a sponsorship structure used by another non-profit. Upcycling is still the theme; the venue and emcees have been determined, and interviewing caterers will be the next step, bearing in mind that trustees would like Nola to have a second chance. • ACTION ITEM: Please turn in your completed Donor Forms as you collection auction items, and add your donors to the spreadsheet that Colleen set up. (3) Retreat Debrief: Trustees believed the retreat was productive and some thought it should have been a little longer because there was more content that could have been covered. Facilitator Lynn Bohart did a good job with the agenda and meeting flow. It was helpful to get ideas on the table before the Strategic Plan process started. Trustees talked about strategies to build the Board; current trustees could volunteer to speak to other organizations (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.) to see who might be interested in joining. Discussion Action Items (1) Instilling a Culture of Gratitude: Liz re-introduced a new initiative she has been doing with staff of the Museum, one that Board members enthusiastically embraced at the last meeting. 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. At each Board meeting, Liz will provide a list of donors of$100 or more, and asks that Board members join in by writing hand-written thank you notes.Trustees wanted to continue the practice monthly. (2) Annual Meeting and Custer Award: Reminder that each Board member should put together a basket worth about $25 for a raffle; the funds raised during the raffle cover the cost of the event. Liz will work on an agenda and script for the business meeting, which will include: RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 2 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM Introduction of New Trustees and Officers; Volunteer Awards; and George and Annie Lewis Custer Award for Heritage Stewardship. Liz asked for ideas for Custer Award nominees, and Lynne King suggested Bil Huls and the Renton Civic Theatre, for their remodeling and stewardship of their historic building. Mission Moment There was no Mission Moment. Adiournment Lynne King moved to adjourn, Antoin Johnson seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:49 pm. Antoin Johnson, Secretary Renton Historical Society RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 3 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM A GENDA � Camp Lewis was the first stop for young ,*,� men from Renton drafted into WWI, like � ��I�► Ed Koskinen (left),who worked his way up ,—��'`�y''"� -.,`�'' from Private to Sergeant while serving in ' � •.�' � the Army's 3615t Infantry in France. �" _�,. � �� `� (Photo from Jack Allison scrapbook, '"�_r .�._-�= �:_.�,.. _ "�.,�' courtesy Sarah Jane Hisey). . •-�..� .��.�sa�+�:� '`"'r.�.�� Renton Historical Society Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday Renton History Museum April 24, 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� Retreat Follow-up 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 ■ Instilling a Culture of Gratitude (Museum Director) 425.255.2330 ■ Annual Meeting and Custer Award for Heritage Stewardship (Museum Director) 9. Mission Moment 10. Adjournment RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 4 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM ' Next Board Meeting:Tues., May 29,5:30—7:00 pm,Renton History Museum ; ; ❑ Sat.,April 28, 11 am—noon, "Revealing Women's History through Fashion"talk � � ❑ Tues., May 15,6:30—7:30 pm, "Historic Preservation Comes to Renton"talk ; ; ❑ Sat., May 26,2—3 pm, "The Prehistory of Renton"talk � � ❑ Mon., May 28, Memorial Day special hours, noon—3 pm � ' ❑ Thurs., May 31,5:30—7 pm On the Battlefront and the Homefront opening ; '-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- 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_04242018_final Page 5 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM MUSEUM REPORT For March 2018 Compiled by Elizabeth P. Stewart, Director Sarah Samson, Collection Manager Kim Owens, Public Engagement Coordinator Nezanet Tewolde, Museum Office Aide Operations Visitors in March: 225 Visitor numbers reflect members and researchers as well as paying visitors. The City of Renton's Communication Team toured the Black& White exhibit, and held their bi-weekly staff meeting here on March 14. Administration Board Retreat support: Museum Director Liz ��.„-_ _ _ � ,^� � - _ � Stewart worked with the Ad Hoc Board Retreat � "� , . , . ' Committee to support the March 24 event. She .�q�� '!1.'�NI- " - . �` ` " "'�'¢` contracted with facilitator Lynn Bohart, reserved a " " "' ,�, , � room, and assisted in the preparation of the retreat ,:,, " . __ ,� � � '� ' � agenda, also working as recorder during the '' ' "` �� meeting. The Board met for four hours at the Renton � . .k � ;� {k� � A"'�^" "°` � ��'� �- g' "E t - Community Center on Sat., March 24, during which "` ' '' Lynn led us in SWOT analysis and other activities to ,. begin thinking about the strategic plan revision. The Board also discussed ways to increase the size of the Board itself and began identifying work priorities for 2018. Exhibits Black& White:The Black& White fashion exhibit gave us our most well attended March since 2009 and the Smithsonian's Key Ingredients exhibit, with 225 visitors. Our two volunteer dress designers, Cathy Lim and Bridget Shew, have given the exhibit excellent word of mouth. The exhibit remains on display until May 19, 2018. RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 6 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM Rentonites in WWI: In March Liz and Sarah focused on the last research and writing details for interpretive panels for On the Battlefront and the Homefront: Rentonites in WWI. The exhibit will be on display from May 28 (Memorial Day) through Nov. 11 (Veterans Day). Humaira Abid: Liz and Sarah met with Renton artist Humaira Abid in March at her Bellevue Arts Museum installation, Searching for Home, to introduce ourselves and discuss the possibility of hosting an exhibit by her. Abid was born in Pakistan, lived in a refugee camp for some years, and ultimately relocated to the Puget Sound area. She works in carved wood and painted miniatures, and her work explores the experiences of women and girls, particularly refugees. She followed up the meeting with a visit to the Renton History Museum and a conversation about a possible exhibit in 2020. Pro�rams, Outreach, and Education March programs: In March we hosted two Living Voices programs, one on Sat., March 3 titled Hear My Voice, about the women's suffrage movement, and another on March 31, Cesar Chavez Day, about the founding of the Farmworkers' Movement and its lasting impact. Living Voices combines live actors with video for a dynamic historic performance. About 30 people attended the first program, and 20 people attended the second. Tours: The City of Renton's Communications Team toured the Black & White exhibit on March 14 and then held their bi-weekly staff ineeting here. Kim ` _��, and Sarah were able to practice their special �. � �; - _- Museum Hack-style tour that uses humor and iPad �,,, �� — photos and video to enhance the usual tour. I ` �: a�� ;s.��'''�j;� � �1, ti� � � � Renton History Live!: Public Engagement �� ,� � '� Coordinator Kim Owens has been working with ' i , '� -- vo lun teer scrip twri ter Sa be l la Cur tis to cra f t a new � ' ` � script for a new Renton River Days per formance about three Renton women who lobbied City Council in 1918 for better enforcement of Prohibition laws. The real-life incident is an example of women's early political activism and it dovetails nicely with the WWI exhibit which will be on display in July. Liz has been providing Sabella with research, Kim has been working with her on tone and dialogue, and in May we will begin auditioning actors. RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 7 of 8 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY ,4pri/24,2018 MusEUM Volunteers Volunteer Committee: Kim met with the Volunteer Committee on March 8 for their regular monthly meeting. Among the Volunteer Committee's projects are: reviewing Coast Salish curriculum materials and plans; reviewing new docent handbook; and planning for a September or October enrichment field trip to the King County Election Board. Volunteer Program: In March 26 volunteers contributed 177 hours of service, on such activities as the oral history program, Board service, Saturday greeting, and collections projects. RHSMinutes_04242018_final Page 8 of 8