Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/2020 - Minutes RHS Minutes_111720_final Page 1 of 3 RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 17, 2020 , 2005 , 2005 , 2002 Attending: Colleen Lenahansen, Laura Clawson, Amy E. Gorton, Jessica Kelly, Rhea Kimble, Lynne King, Mike Lennox, Elizabeth Stewart, and Staci VanderPol. Guest: Sarah Samson, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Call to Order, Intro, Guest Speaker President Colleen Lenahansen called the meeting to order at 5:34 PM. The meeting was held remotely due to the Coronavirus pandemic. • Guest Sarah Samson discussed the state of collections and deaccessioning. Review of collection’s history and overview of collections • Renton History Museum has been collecting since 1968, record keeping started 1980. • Currently the collection consists of 20,000 photographs, 15,000 archival documents, 10,000 objects. • Collection space is very limited - wish list: bigger building with more shelves • Sarah provided an overview of the process of deaccessioning. • She hopes to create a deaccessioning exhibit planned to help pave the way for deaccessioning some items, including the Model A Ford. News, Updates, and Public Comments Information (1) Reopening update: Museum Director Liz Stewart provided an update on operations. • Museum closed until December 15th with new mandate from Gov. Inslee • 70 people came through in the two months museum was open prior • Staff going back to teleworking to limit exposure. • Staff has plenty to do before the end of the year including: Newsletters, EOY Appeal, Membership Appeal. Invoices already sent to 4Culture for Relief Grants. We do have the online exhibit that supplements the in-person exhibit • We had planned a possible partnership with UW Museology for Community Engagement plan for virtual exhibits and programs funded by an IMLS Grant, but their application was not selected. • Not having a public engagement coordinator is very limiting and challenging. Current staff do not have the skillset to offer extensive programming or reproduce exhibits virtually, so this will be something we will be searching for in the new employee. • We’ll keep trying and working towards a solution. • Board of Trustees member Betsy Prather resigned. She is moving to Elk, WA. She expressed how much she enjoyed meeting and working with other trustees and will continue to support the Museum in whatever way she can. RHS Minutes_111720_final Page 2 of 3 RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 17, 2020 , 2005 , 2005 , 2002 Review and Approval of Minutes Action Item Board meeting minutes from the October 2020 meeting were distributed in advance of the meeting and Colleen Lenahansen reviewed them quickly. • MOTION: Jessica Kelly moved to approve October minutes as submitted; Lynne King seconded. Motion passed, none opposed, none abstaining. Work session Action Item (1) Budget 2021: Jessica Kelly introduced the first draft of the 2021 operating budget, developed by Liz Stewart and Finance Committee. • Based on the best of knowledge, next year is an unknown • Decreased income overall by 10% • Staff salary includes all three positions. No pay increases are planned. • Fundraising line is drastically reduced. Realistic goal, but hopeful to bring in more. • Renovation of north gallery - may have city’s help, may not - might do a gofundme • Possible intern (with stipend) to help with remote work/online f undraising (2) 990 tax form 2019: Jessica Kelly presented the 990 tax form, as completed by McCorkle & Associates. (It had also been distributed before the meeting). • Jessica had reviewed it and didn’t find anything wrong • MOTION: Laura Clawson moved to approve the 2019 990 tax form as submitted. Lynne King and Mike Lennox seconded the motion. Motion passed, none opposed, none abstaining. (3) Open Secretary position: Colleen Lenahansen reported that Staci VanderPol will become the new Secretary in January 2021 and thanked Amy E. Gorton for filling in while Staci is out. (4) Follow-up on fundraising ideas: Colleen and Jessica and led a discussion of possible fundraising ideas during the pandemic. • Ad Hoc committee met. • Stephen and Theresa Clymer’s Letter will go to full mailing list for the EOY Appeal, personalized letter with photo from them • Membership mailing goes out tomorrow and also has an opportunity to give • Digital piece will be a Facebook fundraiser that will help amplify the Clymers’ letter, Board of Trustees is encouraged to create their own Facebook fundraisers to support the museum/sharing the museum fundraiser o $5,000 goal RHS Minutes_111720_final Page 3 of 3 RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 17, 2020 , 2005 , 2005 , 2002 o Liz’s Facebook Birthday Fundraiser was a huge success • Jessica asked a question: Timeline. When will we have the letter language? And/or what day should we set up our individual fundraisers? o You can set it up anytime, you can set it up now, or wait until the museum sets their up o The longer it’s open, the better o Liz to talk to Sarah about it tomorrow for branding, and can send it to the BOT • Reminder to login into AmazonSmile for the museum, maybe share the museum’s post on your own page • Rhea Kimble asked for advice on how to juggle promoting and supporting all the different organizations you support o There are several different ways to support, following the museum on social media, donating, login for AmazonSmile, join the BOT Mission Moment Information Liz Stewart reviewed the City Council’s Resolution #4414, City of Renton Business Plan, and Equity Lens, all of which created more concrete goals to move the City toward equity and inclusion. The new resolution aims to bring the city business plan in line with these goals. Museum staff have taken several trainings provided by the city, including one introducing an equity lens that will be incorporated into the City’s operations. The use of an equity lens will invite Renton residents into the process of policymaking, to bring diverse perspectives to bear. Exciting for several reasons, but also because the museum will be able to watch how the city will implement this and learn from them, get free resources, and free trainings. Wrap-up and Adjournment _____ Colleen Lenahansen reviewed Action Items. • Review 2021 budget, ask any questions, and be prepared for a vote at the December 15 meeting. • Liz will send the Clymers’ letter to trustees to review language. • Liz will send branding tools to Colleen to share for others’ Facebook fundraisers. Laura Clawson moved to adjourn the meeting, Jessica Kelly seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 6:52 pm. Amy E. Gorton, Acting Secretary Renton Historical Society