MINUTES of the Douglas County Historical Society Board of Directors
August 22, 2006
The Board met at the home of President Sibley beginning at 5 PM. Present were: B. Springer, G. Smith, R. King, P. Von Achen, B. Piller, President C. Sibley, W. Myers, J. Simmons, W. Winkler (recording), J. Martin, and B. Waggoner.
The July Minutes were approved.
New Business. A proposal was made by Von Achen to recognize the Museum staff for their hard work on the Civil War on the Western Frontier program by means of voluntary contributions by the individual board members. The proposal was accepted, and the board decided to present the staff with lunch at a fine local restaurant.
Michael Hoeflich, former President of the Kansas State Historical Society and a professor of law at KU, is willing to serve as a volunteer development director. The board will meet with our facilitator Carol Nalbandian, for a Museum planning retreat on January 26. Hoeflich will talk with Rebecca Phipps and some Board members on Aug. 29. According to Phil Godwin, Nalbandian has assisted Cottonwood, Inc., with fundraising programs and is well respected as a planning facilitator.
The new Constitution and Bylaws, if approved, will specify a Board of 15 members. Due to resignations, this is our current number. Six current members' terms expire this year, but not all are eligible for re-election (Piller, Dailey, and King have all served two consecutive terms). By 14 September, President Sibley plans to appoint a nominating committee. According to the present constitution and bylaws, the committee must consist of the board chair, two board members, and two DCHS members. The new documents are being sent to the membership 2 months before the Annual Meeting.
A motion was made by Springer for the board to endorse the proposed new Constitution and Bylaws for the DCHS, and seconded by Von Achen. The motion passed.
The place and form of the Annual Meeting are still under discussion. A dinner at the Eldridge Hotel on Nov. 14 with either Michael Hoeflich or Lora Lorsen from NPR as speaker was being considered. The proposed date for the Annual Meeting is Tuesday, 14 November 2006.
Sibley will be out of town from 24 to 28 August and from 04-12 September.
There was a short discussion about whether or not the DCHS should remain in the Watkins Bank building. Piller suggested that we look into having a black tie affair at the Museum as a fund raising event.
Glee moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Piller, and the meeting was adjourned at 6 PM. Note that the next meeting will be at the Museum, 5 PM, Tuesday Sept. 26.
Respectfully submitted,
William Winkler, Secretary
John Simmons made many useful comments.