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Home My WebLink About06/05/2019 - Minutes RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Annual Meeting June 5,2079 Attending: Doug Brownlow, Denise Dhakal, Antoin Johnson, Jessica Kelly, Lynne King, Betsy Prather, Elizabeth P. Stewart, and Colleen Lenahan. Absent: Antoin Johnson Guests: Members of the Renton Historical Society Call to Order President Laura Clawson called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. Welcome Information Museum Director Liz Stewart welcomed members and dignitaries. She introduced Museum staff members—Curator Sarah Samson, Public Engagement Coordinator Kate Dugdale, and Museum Office Aide Nezanet Tewolde—and reviewed the Museum's accomplishments in 2018. Business meeting Action Item Board President Laura Clawson introduced new trustees Doug Brownlow, Denise Dhakal, Rhea Kimble, and Mike Lennox (Board members having unanimously approved Mike Lennox in a pre- meeting vote). She also recommended office changes to the full membership, as follows: • Laura Clawson will step into the Vice President's office and Colleen Lenahan will take over as President. • Secretary Antoin Johnson has resigned from the Board because of work conflicts; Acting Secretary Doug Brownlow will become permanent Secretary. • Jessica Kelly will continue as Treasurer. MOTION: Laura Clawson moved to approve the slate of new trustees and officers; by voice vote, members voted aye, none were opposed. Volunteer Awards Information Kate Dugdale gave our awards for volunteers with the most hours, those who had worked in every month, and other special awards. Custer Award for Heritage Stewardship Information On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Jessica Kelly gave the George and Annie Lewis Custer Award for Heritage Stewardship to the Boone Kirkman mural team—Renton arts advocate Fay Moss, artist Will Schlough, and City of Renton staff Jessie Kotarski and John Collum. This team researched and organized the painting of a mural on the back of the La Hacienda building, 316 S. Third St., depicting Renton boxer Daniel "Boone" Kirkman and his fighting record. Unveiled in November 2018, this project puts this historical figure at the center of Renton's downtown cultural life. Ms. Moss, Mr. Schlough, and Ms. Kotarski were on hand to accept the award. The Renton Historical Society gives this award annually for outstanding contributions to the documentation, preservation, interpretation, and/or education about Renton's history. 4 Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 6:40 pm. Doug Brownlow, Acting Secretary Renton Historical Society 5 MUSEUM REPORT For May 2019 Compiled by Elizabeth P. Stewart, Director Sarah Samson, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions Kate Dugdale, Public Engagement Coordinator Nezanet Tewolde, Museum Office Aide Operations Visitors in May: 410 Visitor numbers reflect members and researchers as well as paying visitors. There was one tour of students from Honey Dew Elementary who had completed the Coast Salish curriculum in the classroom. Administration Annual Report and June Quarterly Newsletter: Staff completed work on the 2018 Annual Report and the June quarterly newsletter, and both were mailed out before the June 5 Annual Meeting. Exhibits Hero's Feast:Finding Community in Dungeons and Dragons exhibit: Hero's Feast opened on May 7 with 88 attendees, which resulted in some good media attention and a resulting increase in attendance �® throughout the month. Coverage of the exhibit was 'a � I . .� 'i included in Crosscut, Seattle's online newspaper; '10 Crosscut News on KCTS9; the City of Renton's online newsletter and the Mayor's online newsletter; and a i six-minute segment on KING5's New Day Northwest with Curator Sarah Samson and Guest Curator Allison 1 Moore. We're looking forward to more attention on August 17 when gamers d20 Dames host their weekly podcast from the Museum. Upcoming exhibits: Sarah worked closely with a team of UW students in May as they finalized the exhibit script for Sparkle to submit for their MUS 588 Exhibit Design class in June. Students will return in October to assist with the installation of the exhibit. 6 Programs and Outreach May programs: On May 16 we hosted a talk by Kurt Armbruster, author of Pacific Coast, Seattle's Own Railroad. Kurt discussed his research and signed books, which were �� provided free to the Museum by a 4Culture grant. In a program associated with Hero's Feast, two representatives from Game to Grow Finding cornmo gave a presentation on May 29 about their & Dragons work using Dungeons and Dragons to help neurodiverse kids became more socially and intellectually adept. It was a fascinating presentation attended by 28 adults and kids. The Museum also hosted special open hours before and after the Memorial Day service on Mon., May 27. Thirty-nine people visited the Museum, many of whom had never visited before. Training: In May Public Engagement Coordinator Kate Dugdale attended a training about the City's new Language Line, which gives us access to translators over the phone for most languages spoken by Renton residents. Liz attended a City of Renton training about Public Records Requests and one about the new "See, Click, Fix" app that Renton will roll out this summer. Liz and Sarah participated in a Community Services All-Staff Meeting on May 21, and Kate attended a meeting of the Museum Educators of Puget Sound about how museum professionals can use self-care to be better at their jobs. Sarah and Liz spoke to staff members from other museums about the Museum Assessment Program of the American Alliance of Museums. Collections and Research Oral History Team: Volunteers Eleanor Boba and Nancy Nishimura continue their push to recruit Japanese-American narrators to give oral histories. Nancy has identified seventeen Japanese families who lived and/or worked in the Renton area. Her meeting with members of the Hori family have not yet resulted in any interviews, but Mike Hori did donate four calendars from his parents' convenience store and he made a $100 donation this month. Research: For the September quarterly newsletter, Liz has been working on researching the two WWII-eras s housing projects—Cedar Park and the Highlands— constructed to house workers at Boeing and PACCAR. � She has also had numerous conversations with Mark �` $ 4 Santos-Johnson, Community Development Project .re y , �1 a• �• .a Manager who has been working on the Sunset Redevelopment Project, as well as Mark Gropper, — Executive Director of the Renton Housing Project. This article will undoubtedly result in some oral histories this summer and fall. 7 Volunteers Volunteer Program: In May 24 volunteers contributed 175 hours of service, working on collections projects, oral histories, Saturday greeting, and Board service. Mike Lennox joined the Board in early June, and we will planning on an orientation for him and Rhea Kimble sometime this summer. Volunteer Awards: Kate spent considerable time formulating the annual Volunteer Awards this year, with help from the Volunteer Committee. The committee is also working on a purpose statement to guide their work. 8