DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

May 25, 2004-Minutes

The minutes of the April 20 Board meeting were approved as written.

Humphrey offered a financial challenge to the other Board members. He stated that the Board should show a commitment to the fund-raising efforts by leading the way in giving especially at the membership level. He challenged others to join the Society at the level they can afford.

Niebaum told of a fund-raiser idea by Grace Cooper with the North Carolina Salisbury Post newspaper that mentioned a vintage clothing fashion show.

Laura Parkinson had been selected to represent Kansas at the National History Program Contest. She wrote asking for sponsorship from the Society. Humphrey moved that $100 be donated with the requirement that she give a presentation of her work and volunteer ten hours of time with the museum. Waggoner seconded the motion. Motion was approved with voice vote indicating fifteen for and one opposed.

Piller distributed the year to date financial summary. Discussion was held to clarify a few items.

Niebaum reported that he, Piller and Phipps had met with Craig Wienaug and presented the 2005 budget. Four additional items had been requested: 1) $16,559, ½ the deficit; 2) $4,100 for ½ the increase in staff; 3) $25,000, Development officer’s salary, and 4) $25,000, renovation of the bathrooms in the ground floor of the museum building. Wienaug suggested that the last two items be dropped from the budget and requested separately as one-time requests. This was done. He also said that the Commissioners wanted a financial campaign timeline.

Phipps distributed flyers for the Will Rogers presentation on July 11. Children’s events include Flag Day fun on June 5 and Make Your Own Journal on June 12. The 150 years of Bicycles exhibit will open on June 1. Waggoner suggested showing some of Will Rogers’ old movies about the time of the presentation. During the Chautauga days there will be a lunch pail lecture very day at the Museum from 12:00-1:00. On June 25, Phipps, Miller and another ladies will participate in a reenactment of an anti-drinking protest at the Free State Brewery. Several events are scheduled for the Civil War Days in August.

In collections, Miller hired an intern using the Kansas Humanities Council Grant to assist with the clothing collection. She expects a second grant announcement soon which will be used for organizing costumes and cleaning the sub attic.

Phipps reported that Krische-Dee is progressing with the data entry and inventory of paper items. Paul Jordan is cataloging Douglas County abstracts. Krische-Dee has sent out fifty-two notebooks to be bound. She has negotiated a good deal for the binding of books and articles. The office supply exhibit has been well received. It is available as an exhibit at area businesses.

Statistics for April, 2004 showed 1,142 visitors to the Museum. There are some new memberships. The Topeka and Kansas City newspapers have been advertising the Museum events. The Museum staff has done some long range planning. It is noted that to put the museum collection in ideal shape, the amount of $124,490 is needed in the next fifteen years. To have the archives organized and stored, as they should be the amount of $103,742 in the next ten years will be needed. Discussion was held regarding the condition of the collection and archives and importance of record keeping and care of the items. An example is the lawsuit against the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

It was also noted that the process of handling memorial contributions needs to be reviewed. The Bleeding Kansas National Heritage area bill is on hold. Supporters need to write their congress people.

Membership – Simmons distributed an action plan and because time is limited, further discussion will be held in June after the other Board members have reviewed the plan.

Events – Von Achen stated that four events are to be held in the next twelve months. They are the Halloween movie, a scavenger hunt in the museum, a New Year’s eve event and a road rally.

Business membership – Dick Martin presented the timeline that the county commissioners had requested. It has several components, including 1) developing a donor base and organizing it, 2) implementing the drive, and 3) evaluating the campaign.

Governance and policies – There was no report as Hills had left the meeting at 6:15. Phipps indicated that the work on the personnel policies continues.

Phipps requested a banner for the parade and for volunteers to carry the banner. The banner used in the July 4^th parade last year has not been found.

King noted that when he attended his 50^th graduation anniversary celebration from law school that the class members attending were each interviewed separately about their law school days. These interviews were videotaped. He suggested that the elderly people in the county be interviewed and videotaped. Phipps stated that this idea is in the process and volunteers and equipment are needed.

The next Board meeting will be June 22. There will be no Board meetings in July or August.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Patty Johnston

Secretary