February 15, 2005

Vice Chairperson Pennie von Achen called the Administrative Committee meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. on February 15, 2005, at the Watkins Community Museum of History. Board officer Napoleon Crews was present. Society representatives Philip Humphrey, and Director Rebecca Phipps were also present.

The minutes of the January 18, 2005, Administrative Committee meeting were approved as written. Von Achen stated that there was a correction that needed to be made to the board minutes of January 25, 2005. In the section “Open Position on the Board” under Hill: it was written that the membership committee would handle the task of finding the Derby replacement. The minutes should have read that the nomination committee would handle the task of finding the Derby replacement.

FINANCIAL REPORT

No financial report was available because of the recent computer crash. The financial information is being retrieved from backup data. Phipps believes that one half of the county money was received today. The county pays it financial commitment twice a year. She assumes that we are okay financially.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Phipps: There is a movement under the K.C. Museum and Corinthian Hall to sponsor united museum exhibits. Area events would be coordinated so that the participating museums would display similar exhibits at the same time. For example, there will be a quilt show in K.C. on the first of March, and the Watkins Museum will participate by having a small quilt show. We will also sponsor a needlework show to coincide with the K.C. Cross Stitch Hop to be held March 15 – April 30. The most significant upcoming event is the Taipei Government’s Year of the Rooster Chinese Zodiac national exhibit. Watkins Museum was asked to host this exhibit. The first showing is March 11-31 and is by invitation only. The invitations are being sent out and handled by the Taipei Government. We beat out K.U. for this particular event. Mayor Barnes will be here as well representatives from the Kansas and Missouri Governors’ offices. A public showing of the exhibit is contemplated for April, and we intend to include Lawrence’s Chinese population. A pins and needles lecture will be held April 3, and we should consider using the lecture as our general membership meeting, where members can present topics of interest. The NEA Lewis and Clark discussion project will be every Thursday in April.

COMMITTEES REPORTS

Von Achen: committee reports must be submitted at the March meeting.

FILLING OPEN POSITIONS

Discussion regarding the Charles Derby and Lew Phillips positions was deferred until a later administration committee meeting or the board meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

The Douglas County Heritage Summit meeting began the discussion to determine how the county will proceed with and under the national designation. The meeting was a brain storming session. The visitor’s center was also discussed and Phipps suggests that we take the lead on the visitor center planning. The historical aspects of the entire project need to be controlled. She will remain alert as to opportunities for keeping Watkins Museum in a leadership role concerning the heritage summit project.

Crews reported that he had received a number of complaints regarding the condition of the museum archives room and the fact that many exhibits have been lost or misplaced. Humphrey requested that all complaints be reduced to writing because it is hard to address them if they are not. Crews responded that not all complainers want to or can reduce the complaints to writing. Sometimes the complaints are lodged at another meeting or in passing, and it does not always work to tell the person to reduce it to writing particularly when museum staff has already admitted that the complaints are founded. Phipps will come up with a plan for correcting the problems in the archives room. The plan will be reviewed by the administration committee at its next meeting. Crews, Phipps, and von Achen toured the archives room and the physical condition of the room looks much better than it did in November of 2004.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

FEBRUARY MEETINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE AND BOARD

The meetings will be chaired by Pennie von Achen as John Simmons will be unavailable.

MARCH MEETINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE AND BOARD

The date for the administrative committee meeting must be changed to March 15^th, and the date for the board meeting must be changed to March 29^th.

BOARD DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

The workshop is scheduled for a half day on March 9^th. Information to the board will be disseminated when it becomes available.

AGENDA FOR 21 DECEMBER OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Von Achen: will the same as today’s administration committee agenda, with the following inclusions:

Phil Godwin fundraising discussion and Stan Hernly on sign replacement.

The next Administrative Committee meeting is Tuesday, March 15, 2005 from 5 – 7 P.M.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Napoleon Crews

Secretary