DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

January 27, 2004-Minutes

Chairman Jerry Niebaum presided. He called attention to the museum web-site that now has links for the Board members’ bios, minutes and other information that may be needed.

The minutes of the December 18 Board meeting and January 17 retreat were approved as corrected. (Andrew Debicki’s name was misspelled and Humphrey talked about the legal history.) Niebaum distributed the minutes from the Administrative Committee meeting of January 20.

A Sesquicentennial Commission meeting will be held on Wed. Jan. 28 at the Lawrence Public Library. Geographer David Carttar presented his map of the history of Lawrence.

The next DC Board meeting will be Feb 24 at which John Simmons will chair. Phipps will lead an orientation session for all Board members present.

Niebaum has received a letter from Sondra McCoy resigning her position on the Board. The person elected would serve until the next annual meeting. Piller moved that Phil Humphrey be nominated. Dailey seconded the motion. Dailey moved that nominations cease and that Humphrey be elected to serve with a unanimous ballot. Waggoner seconded the motion. Motion was approved with voice vote.

Niebaum has received a letter from Richard Pankratz, director of Culture Resources Division of the Kansas State Historical Society. The letter informed of a meeting to be held February 21 because of the Watkins building’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places in conjunction with the Lawrence Historical District nomination.

Niebaum read a letter that he and Phipps signed in support of the Bleeding Kansas National Heritage Area project.

Judy Billings was introduced. She spoke of the Bleeding Kansas National Heritage Area project bill that she has written. This would make most of northeastern Kansas a Federal Heritage Area with the focus on Bleeding Kansas. The goal is to have the designation by the end of 2004, the Sesquicentennial year of Lawrence. Discussion was held regarding funds to help support this project. It was noted that the symbolic gesture of the support letter was the most important action. It was agreed if individual board members wished to contribute s/he would send the funds to the Museum and indicate that it is for the Bleeding Kansas project.

Piller was unable to give reports as the accountant handling the reports has been too busy to update them. It is hoped that a report will be available by next week.

Niebaum distributed copies of the Douglas County Historical Society membership list. Memberships are renewed yearly based on the month a member joins. Niebaum noted that there was no letter for a follow-up to non-renewals. This will be discussed at the Membership Committee meeting. The only benefit a member has currently is receiving a quarterly newsletter.

Niebaum distributed a listing of the dates for Board and Administrative meetings and final committee assignments. These are also available on the web-site. The Chairpersons of the Membership and Business Membership committees agreed that the committees would find a fourth person to complete their committees. These persons should be members of the DC Historical Society. Discussion was held regarding the Hospitality Committee. The responsibilities of this Committee would be to organize an effort to met and greet people for events held in the Museum. Niebaum and Phipps will attend the next meeting of the Friends of Watkins to discuss ways the Society and Friends can work together.

Phipps distributed a list of volunteers. She noted that not all volunteers are members of the DC Historical Society nor do they need to be. She was asked to write a list of categories/ opportunities that are available to be a volunteer.

Phipps reviewed events scheduled for February. These included Family Fun with Valentines on Feb 7; the last day for the "150 Years of Buttons" display, Feb. 10; the opening of the Lingerie Display on Feb. 14; a lecture, "Pioneer African Americans at the University of Kansas: A Story of Struggle & Success" by Amber Kendrick on Feb. 21, and a lecture, "American Chaplains in the Vietnam War." by Brad Carter, on Feb. 28.

Phipps announced that as of February 1, the Museum will be open new hours. The new hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The Museum would be closed on Sundays.

Phipps distributed visitors’ attendance statistics for review (see attached). She also distributed a partial annual report for the Society.

Phipps noted that $10,000 has been received from the Rice foundation for computers and $5,000 for gallery renovations. Also received is a $5,000 grant from the Lawrence 150 Committee for temporary exhibit walls and electricity. The Douglas County Community Foundation will make their decision in March.

Curator, Alison Miller distributed her report (see attached). Helen Krische Dee is organizing the archives starting with an inventory and has sent sixty volumes to be rebound.

Phipps reported she had ten applicants for the development officer’s position and will interview three of these applicants. There have been forty applicants for the custodian’s position.

Because of the lateness of the hour, the assessment review and planning from the retreat have been postponed until another meeting.

Niebaum asked that the committee chairs meet with their committees and have reports ready for the March Board meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Patty Johnston

Secretary