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Home My WebLink About08/28/2018 - Minutes r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY RENTON NIST4RY BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 26,20 T 8 MusEut� Attending: Laura Clawson, Antoin Johnson,Jessica Kelly, Colleen Lenahan, and Betsy Prather. Absent: Pete Kalasountas, Elizabeth P. Stewart. Guest: Shane Klingenstein, Sarah Samson. Call to Order President Laura Clawson called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Public Comments Information Edward Jones representative, Shane Klingenstein visited to update the Board on the state of the Endowment funds. He recommended no changes to the portfolio at this time. Board Communications Information There were no Board communications. Lynne King took charge of four thank you notes to donors. Retreat Follow-up Information Vice President Colleen Lenahan distributed an anonymous worksheet for Board self- assessment on previous work during the retreat.Trustees took 5-10 minutes to fill them out. Colleen will compile the results and share them at the August meeting. Correspondence Information There was no correspondence. Consent A�enda tPresident) Action Item A quorum was present. • MOTION: Lynne King moved to approve the cansent agenda as amended and Antoin lohnson seconded. Motion passed, none opposed, none abstaining. Old Business Action Items (1) Committee reports: Fundraiser Committee: Committee Co-Chairs �ynne King and lessica Kelly updated the Board on the search for a caterer, and explained the decision to go with Rain City Catering. Rain City has also agreed to be a silver sponsor far the event. Lynne and Jessica will follow up with �iz Stewart on completing the contract. They also reported that we have five committed auction items and four desserts. (2) Renton River Days: Curator Sarah Samsan updated the Board on plans for Renton River Days 2018, including progress on Renton History Live!, two one-act plays based on real historical events in Renton. She passed around the sign-up sheet for volunteer shifts during the festival. RHSMinutes_062618_approved Page 1 of 2 r r r r r r RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY RENTQN H ISTORY BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 26,2078 MusEu� Discussion Action Items (1)Strategic Plan revision: Committee Chair laura Clawson scheduled next meeting for July 17, 6—7:30 pm. Mission Moment Sarah Sarnson gave the Baard a report on staff attendance at the Washington Museum Association Annual Meeting,lune 20—22. Three staff members attended: Liz, Sarah, and Kim. Sarah talked about the devastation of the fire at Aberdeen History Museum and the need ta be vigilant about fire monitoring. She gave a brief overview of the sessions and activities, including her own, "The Woke Museum," about social justice in small history museums. Other presenters included Virginia Wright from Rainier Valley Historical Society and Nancy McKay from Highline History Museum. Adiournment Lynne King moved to adjourn, Betsy Prather seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm. Liz Stewart substituting for Antain Johnson, Secretary Renton Historica) 5aciety RHSMinutes_062618_approved Page 2 of 2 MU5EUM REPORT For June-July 2018 Compiled by Elizabeth P. Stewart, Director Sarah Samson, Collection Manager Kim Qwens, Public Engagement Coordinator Nezanet Tewolde, Museum Office Aide Operations Visitors in June: 319 Visitors in July: 617 Visitor numbers reflect members and researchers as well as paying visitors. There were no tours during this periad.The site was used by one private party and meetings by 4Culture and the Cedar River Council. Administration Public Engagement Coordinator position: Kim Owens submitted her resignation on July 20 after she had accepted the position of Program Director at the Seattle Architecture Foundation. Kim accomplished many important initiatives here during her almost two years with us: establishing an alternative set of Renton River Days programs, Renton History Live!; rewriting the volunteer handbook; re-working our evaluations; and, most importantly, revising our Coast Salish curriculum and getting it adopted by the Renton School �istrict. The position was advertised in early August, and we will begin interviewing candidates August 29—31.The position will remain open until the best possible candidate can be hired. Strategic Plan Cammittee:The Strategic Plan Committee held its third meeting on June 5, with Museum Director Liz Stewart and Curator Sarah Samson participating.The team formulated three rough top-level goals. Top-level goals are: • Policies re: Society business • Capacity building/Collections J Space • Fundraising &Community Outreach The committee's next task is to wordsmith the top-level goals into more inspiring and understandable goals, and then to add identified action items underneath.The temporary absence of Committee Chair Laura Clawson has slightly slowed progress, but the committee still expects to complete the strategic plan before the end of the year. Washington Museum Association conference:Three members of the Museum staff—Directar Liz Stewart, Curator Sarah Samson, and Public Engagement Coordinator Kim Owens—a�ctively participated in this year's WaMA conference in Bellingham,June 20—22. Liz is vice president of the organization, so helped organize presenters and the silent auction. Sarah presented a Museum Report,August 2018 1 session on "The Woke Museum," about how small history museums are incorporating social justice into their operations. Sarah also helped organize the Registrars to the Rescue effort, bringing collections prafessionals into three local museums to help with collections work. Building 4Culture Grant: Because several museums were ��r• - — unable to complete their capital projects,the Renton ,�.= t ; _ �'p� History Museum was offered the opportunity by �_~- ;. �' �� Councilmember Reagan Dunn's office to re-apply for a � � � .f ' �� second project from this grant program. (The lobby and � *� ,�` 1 office remodel was completed in Rugust 2016 from this � �� ' �; �� r�� grant program.) Luckily, �iz had a small capital project � � -��'`�'.""�'��' ��'� Y""� � u._. already to go—new exterior signage—with estimates �� >"� �,,�., from a local sign company. We quickly submitted a new �= ``�`�� .�; grant application in late March, �iz testified at King �x' `-Y�' � - ____ County Council in support of the grant in July, and we were awarded the grant in early August. The grant for$43,000 will enable us to replace the door canopy,the monumental sign, and the letters on the building with new signage that is consistent with our logo. Annual History-Making Party: In lune and 1uly, staff supported the Board's efforts ta organize a successful fundraiser in September. Save the Date cards went out to almost 800 members and athers in late July, with invitations to follow. Liz has been promoting the event on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and Sarah has been preparing forms and spreadsheets to track auction items. Museum Office Aide Nezy Tewolde has compiled a guest list, and so far we have sold 26 tickets. Exhibits Hometown Teams exhibit: On June 23 �iz attended a Humanities Washington J Museum on Main Street workshop in preparation for our hosting the Smithsonian H�ametown Teams exhibit in spring 202p. We will soon start gearing up to plan programming and Renton-specific exhibit components for the exhibit, and Sarah will be attending an installation workshop in Moses Lake in March 2019.This will be the Museum's third Smithsonian exhibit, after Key ingredients (2007) and Journey Str�ries (2010j. Rentonites in WWI: On the Battlefront and the Homefront: Rentonites in the Great War opened an Memorial Day, May 28, and has been a very popular exhibit.Visitors have remarked on its exclusive Renton focus, a contrast with many other WWI commemoration exhibits in the area. On the Battlefront remains up until Sunday, Nov. 11 when it will clase with a special set of hours and hourly mini-talks by exhibit curator �iz Stewart. From Switchboards to Selfies: Our next UW student-curated exhibit, From Swirchboards to Selfies:A Look Back at How We Connect, opens on Nov. 29.The exhibit explores changing personal communication technologies in history with a Renton focus. From handwritten letters to Facebook, from telegrams to texts, communication has never been easier, but can we really Museum Report,August 2018 2 hear each other through all the noise? Curator Sarah Samson warked with the group of student curators throughout the spring, and will pick the project back up this fall. Collections Grant opportunities: Our application to the 4Culture Equipment grant program for new wall racks for textiles and framed pieces for the offsite storage location was successful, and Sarah will soon be working with WorkPainte to get them installed. On August 17 a representative from the Costume Society of America came on a site visit to see whether we qualify for their Angels Project in spring 2019. If we are selected,the CSA will bring in a team of textile conservators for one full day to assess and conserve our most fragile clothing pieces. Oral histories: The Oral Histary Team has completed their first round of interviews, and met on Sat.,July 14 to plan for the next round.The next round will include Craig Lande of�ande Feed Co.; retired City Attorney Larry 1Narren;Judge Bob McBeth; Steve Kirkman (brother of boxer Boone Kirkman); and Stan Greene,founding volunteer of the Renton History Museum. Craig Lande has already been by to meet with volunteer Barb Horton, and has donated numerous Lande Feed items for the collection. Collections work: Sarah has been working with two new volunteers this summer in collections: Nancy Nishimura has been scanning Charles W. Sanders' glass plate negative into PastPerfect, and Qion Green has been transcribing the 1929 City Directory into a searchable document. Pro�rams. Outreach, and Educatian Annual Meeting: We hosted the Annual Meeting of the � Renton Historical Society on Weds.,June 6. At 52 attendees, ��,� �- f, the event was less well attended than ather years, although � ��4, _`. ' those in attendance were enthusiastic. Trustees led the vote �� on new ofFicers, including: President Laura Clawson, Vice ' President Colleen Lenahan, and Treasurer Jessica Kelly. (Antoin Johnson continues as Secretary.) Kim gave out � - volunteer awards, and the Historical Society awarded the ,� " George and Annie Lewis Custer Award to the Board and staff ;-�- t .� �,; � , af the Rentan Civic Theatre for their preservatian of one of �'- �� Rentan`s early theaters. � �- �' �� '� � �,,,,�.. ►• - . ;�., \�.. Museum Report,August 2018 3 �� p Bookmarks& landmarks: The Rentan History Museum � I� ` � participated for the first time in South King County �+�, ��,-� , ; Cultural Coalition's and KCLS's Bookmarks & Landmarks � � `�;�>�"�` �� `�,. �� program,which pairs historic sites with baoks. The �� ` Museum hosted Tim Egan, New York Times columnist ; - _ > and author of The Big Burn, in a wide-ranging talk that � , r=y covered the baak itself, wildfires, and climate change. � �'� It was a full house of 50+ people. Coast Salish curriculum: Before she left, Public Engagement Coordinator Kim Owens was able to conclude a license agreement with the Renton School District for use af our Coast Salish curriculum. The license agreement enables the district to host the curriculum on their Blackboard software for easy access by teachers for three years, after which we will revisit the curriculum, make any needed changes, and (we hope) renew the agreement. Attorney Dan Clawson reviewed and OK'ed the agreement and the district signed and paid in full on August 7. This accomplishment is the result of almost 18 months af work on Kim's part, as well as more than a decade of groundwork by other staff members, so we are very gratified to have it completed. The curriculum includes the opportunity for paid field trips to the Renton History Museum, so our next Public Engagement Coordinator will be picking up the planning for that. Rentan History Live!: On Sat.,luly 28 during Renton River Days we hosted five performances of Renton History Live!,two one- � {�4 � act plays based on real Renton events. Kim, Sarah, and '�` � volunteer playwright Sabella Curtis created A Vt/oman's Work is Never Qone, based on the experiences of three Renton women �,_ who petitioned Renton City Council in 1918. Kim also worked �f�' ' T � with RenTeen Raven Klingele and a group of student actars to �>� �_: f. , dramatize her script, The Trial of Marlene Collier, based on the 1938 murder at Lonely Acres. The productions were well attended, and audiences enjoyed seeing real Renton events " � dramatized. ��- .1:�•_ Volunteers Volunteer Cornmittee: Kim met with the Volunteer Committee for the last time on August 9, and staff and Volunteer Committee went out for lunch in her honor. Volunteers took a field trip to the Klondike Gold Rush Museum on July 20,with Museum Office Aide Nezy Tewolde accompanying them. They also have plans to contribute a basket for the September 26 silent auctian. Liz will meet with the Volunteer Committee until a new Public Engagement Coordinator has been hired. Volunteer Program: In June 35 volunteers contributed 225 hours of service, on activities that included preparations for Renton History Live!, costume creation, script develapment, oral Museum Report,August 2018 4 histories, collections projects, Board service, and Saturday greeting. In July 33 volunteers gave 265 hours of their time for Renton River Days activities and other volunteer work. We are so grateful for all your time during a busy summer! �- � Museum Report,August 2018 �