DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

April 13, 2004-minutes

The Administrative Committee meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. on April 13, 2004 at the Watkins Community Museum. Attending were Board officers Patty Johnston, and Bob Piller; Society representatives Phil Humphrey, Lew Phillips, and Pennie Von Achen, and Director Rebecca Phipps, with Jerry Niebaum, Chair presiding. John Simmons was unable to attend.

The minutes of the March 16, 2004 meeting were approved as written.

A letter of resignation from Board Member George Catt was read. Pillar moved to recommend to the Board that the two vacancies on the Board be left vacant. Phillips seconded the motion. Motion was approved by voice vote.

Niebaum read a letter from the Antique Automobile Club thanking the Society for use of a meeting room at Watkins. Niebaum had attended their last meeting and a $1500 contribution was received.

Niebaum has written thank you letters to George Catt, Andrew Debecki, Phil Humphrey and Ralph Reschke, President of the Antique Automobile Club for their contributions.

Humphrey has offered another challenge that is Board members contribute to the Society in the following manner: five patrons ($1,000), five sponsors ($500), and six Friends or Preservers ($250-100.). He has made a patron contribution. It was agreed to give this some thought before presenting this to the Board at the May meeting.

Piller distributed a year to date report. Some questions were asked regarding the restricted and unrestricted funds. Piller was directed to make a written request for the Mary Richards funds.

A draft of the 2005 Base Budget request for the County was reviewed. The base budget would be in the amount of $268,000 out of which the County usually gives $80,000. There is a request for $70,559 more for 2005 for the areas of collection, exhibits and educational programs.

Phillips gave a progress report on the National Parks Service grant.

Starting in 2005, the Watkins Museum will sponsor The Civil War on the Western Frontier programs as fund-raisers. The Chamber of Commerce will create the brochures as has been done in the past. A committee is being formed to make arrangements for a Civil War ball.

The Antique Automobile Club has agreed to provide one of their cars for Rebecca and others in period costume to ride in for the September 18 sesquicentennial parade. Phillips will check on obtaining some magnetic signs to place on the car and for future use.

Phipps had spoken with the Americana Music Academy regarding the Museum supporting their proposal to the City for use of the Carnegie building. This non-profit organization promotes folk music for about 1600 students and 25 instructors. Phipps had written a general letter of support for them.

As Niebaum will not be attending the next Board meeting on April 20, Simmons will preside. The next Administrative Committee meeting is May 18. It was agreed to set Administrative Committee meeting dates for June 15 and July 13. A meeting in August will be on call only.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

Patty Johnston

Secretary

Addendum:

Phillips had a telephone conference with the National Park Service Midwest Regional Coordinator, James Hill. The Park Service granting agency has decided that the grant of interactive exhibits and a large mural that was approved was not a good fit for the Watkins Museum. They are proposing one of two things be done by the Society. The first is to subcontract the grant to another agency. They recommend the John Doye Site in Topeka. The second suggestion is to discontinue the grant. Phipps said that Hill assured her that future grant proposals from the Society would not be viewed in a negative way. Piller moved that Harris attend an Administrative Committee meeting to discuss the matter and the Board members be invited to attend this meeting. Phillips seconded the motion. Motion was approved by voice vote with five yes and zero no.