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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/30/2020 - Minutes RHS Minutes_063020_approved Page 1 of 3 RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 30, 2020 , 2005 , 2005 , 2002 Attending: Colleen Lenahan, Doug Brownlow, Laura Clawson, Jessica Kelly, Rhea Kimble, Lynne King, Mike Lennox, and Elizabeth P. Stewart. Absent: Betsy Prather Guests: LeAnne Moss, Executive Director, Renton Regional Community Foundation Stacie VanderPol, prospective Board member Call to Order, Intro, Guest Speaker President Colleen Lenahan called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. The meeting was held remotely due to the Coronavirus pandemic. News, Updates, and Public Comments Information (1) Guest Speaker: LeAnne Moss, ED with the Renton Regional Community Foundation, discussed the history of the Foundation, the current work being performed by the Foundation, and the benefits of nonprofits having funds with the Foundation.  Jessica Kelly brought up the question of what the minimum balance to be held in a fund. LeAnne explained that the minimum balance should be $10,000. She did mention that the Foundation has several organizations with fund balances that range between $10,000 and $40,000.  After LeAnne’s presentation, the group discussed our relationship with the Foundation. From this discussion it seemed the primary benefit of maintaining funds with t he Foundation is USBank Charitable Service’s professional management of the investments and community exposure. Given our ongoing relationship with Edward Jones, the trustees did not believe the benefits of RRCF’s management outweigh the fees; the fees associated with maintaining funds with RRCF are higher than those with Edward Jones. Historically, the Historical Society has not realized many benefits from community exposure through RRCF. The Finance Committee will explore removing the remaining funds from the George and Annie Lewis Custer Fund for the Renton Historical Society (about $140,000 at the time of the meeting) and make a recommendation to the full Board. (2) Opening Question: Laura Clawson asked, “What are you currently reading?” The group discussed. (3) Update on Planning for Reopening: Elizabeth Stewart provided a Museum update, specifically regarding the plan for eventual reopening after the ongoing Coronavirus closure. She circulated a draft plan for the Board’s consideration with the Board packet.  Reopening plan will combine city and state guidelines, with industry guidelines that have been issued nationwide for museums.  Museums can reopen in Phase 3 of the Governor’s reopening plan; we are hoping this will be in August. RHS Minutes_063020_approved Page 2 of 3 RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 30, 2020 , 2005 , 2005 , 2002  The Museum will be opening a survey to employees and volunteers to gauge comfort levels about returning to work and volunteering. Results will help shape the final reopening plan. Review and Approval of Minutes Action Item Board meeting minutes for the May 2020 meeting were reviewed. A couple typos were cited, and Liz Stewart will correct those.  MOTION: Lynne King moved to approve May minutes as amended; Laura Clawson seconded. Motion passed, none opposed, none abstaining. Work session Action Item (1) Replacing lost income during closure: Jessica Kelly and Liz Stewart provided an update regarding making up revenue lost during the shutdown.  Liz Stewart outlined the new unplanned contributions / grants that have been awarded since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a $5000 grant from the Harper Engineering Children’s Fund directed by Pat Auten, and an extra $1750 from the 4Culture COVID Relief Fund (for a total of $5250 from that program).  Jessica Kelly updated the Board on PPP loan forgiveness guidance. Deadline to apply for forgiveness has been pushed back into September, and by that point the Museum will have spent funds in the appropriate areas to qualify for forgiveness. (2) Virtual fundraiser: Jessica Kelly and Lynne King discussed a potential virtual fundraiser plan.  Lynne had attended a training given by the Renton Chamber of Commerce, and she suggested that any potential online fundraiser should be moved from August to September, because so many other Renton organizations are aiming for August.  Jessica asked trustees to commit to what they would be willing to do to make an online event successful.  Jessica will send out an email to trustees summarizing potential ideas to initiate an email conversation regarding potential fundraiser plans. Liz suggested a simpler online template like classy.com might also be an option; she had circulated a link to the Shadow Lake Nature Preserve fundraiser using classy.com ahead of time for trustees’ consideration. (3) Black Lives Matter statement: Liz Stewart introduced the potential for releasing a more public statement from the Board for the purpose of expressing the Museum’s RHS Minutes_063020_approved Page 3 of 3 RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 30, 2020 , 2005 , 2005 , 2002 commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) to the general public. She suggested that she would be more interested in knowing what action steps we were willing to take in these areas, and Board members agreed. Trustees wou ld like to consider a statement as well, and Liz committed to present sample statements and action items at the next Board meeting. Mission Moment Information Liz Stewart shared details of a proposed partnership proposed by UW instructor Meena Selvakumar between the UW Museology Department and the Renton History Museum in the area of diversity and inclusion. The Museum signed on to a grant application by UW Museology to the NEH CARES grant program; if successful, the grant would enable the Museu m to enlist the assistance of a team of UW students in formulating plans for a stronger online presence and programming. Museum staff would be a part of a learning community around issues of inclusion, benefit from the students’ fresh perspectives, and wou ld gain up to $10,000 to help fund the project. We should know if the grant was successful in September or October. Adjournment _____ Jessica Kelly moved to adjourn the meeting, Lynne King seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. Doug Brownlow, Secretary Renton Historical Society