HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-03-2019 Fairhope Museum of History Advisory Board Meeting MinutesFairhope Museum of Hi story Advisory Board Meeting
April 3, 2019
2:30 pm @ Fairhope Museum of Hi sto ry
Prio r to ca lling the meeting to order, three museum professionals from the Alabama State Department of Archives and
the Museum of Alabama spoke to the group abo ut the work of museums and resources available to help sma ll facilities
like ours. They gave information about the State's Bice ntennia l celebration, the work of the State Archives and took
question from the Board and the aud i ence. Finally they encouraged everyone to visit the State Archives and Museum in
Montgomery.
Attendance
• Paul Czajka-Board me m ber since 2017
• Wayne Brunson-Board member since approximately 201 5
• Louie Blaze-Board member since 2019
• Catherine Ki ng-Board member since 2008
• Oliver Gilmore-Board member since 2019
• Darby Wiik-Museum Interim Director City of Fa irhope
• Jack Burrel l -Ci t y Council Liaison
Absent :
John Taratsas-Boa rd member since ~2008 (John ema iled the museum regarding his absence)
Sherry-Lea Botop-Director of Econom ic & Community Development City of Fairhope
upplementary Materials distributed:
• Agenda
• Current budget
• Attendance figures
• Februa ry m inutes
Minutes
• Ms. King ver ified a quorum was reached called the meeting to order at 2:40 pm .
• Motion was made to approve minutes from the last meeting. Approved.
• Ms. King noted that the By -Laws stipulat e that the Board will seven appointed members. There is one
vacancy at present. Discussion followed about individuals Board members knew who might be interested in
serving. Ki ng wi ll approach a respected individua l about membership. Ms. King said it is likely the FSTC
Pres ident is not aware of his posi t ion is an ex-officio board membe r and that he should be notified. Ms. Wi ik
w ill contact FSTC regarding this.
• Ms. King has reviewed Board By-Laws and recommends they should be updated. Board members agreed
and King wil l present a rev ised draft at t he next meeting for review and discussion.
• Ms. King noted the Ci t y's website has not been updated to re flect the current Board membersh i p and Ms.
Wiik added that the meeting minutes should also be posted on line. Ms. W i ik will contact the City Clerk's
office about these corrections/additions .
• An update about Museum staffing was on the agenda, but Mrs. Botop, the representative ass igned to the
Board from the Mayor's office, was unable t o attend the meeti ng. General discussion followed about the
urgent need to fill the director position as soon as possib le, followed by the assistant pos it ion, so that the
Museum w il l be fully staffed.
• Mr. Blaze bro ught up the issue of the Museum's copy machine. The Friends group pays for the copier lease
and is interested in reducing or eliminati ng this cost (so as to use Friends funds to support other Museum
projects), but ag ree the Museum staff mus t have a quality copier sui t ed to their needs. Mr. Burrel l said the
cost of the lease and maintenance on the copier probably could probably be paid by the City and
recommended the Museum submit a proposal to t he City Council to take up the cost of the monthly lease.
Mr. Brunson made a motion -seconded by Mr. Blaze -all were in favor -to ask the Ci t y Council to t ake up
the matter of signing a new lease for a museum copier. Ms. Wiik said she would contact the copier company
to get a proposal.
• Ms. King said she would like the Advisory Board to consider how best to fulfill its ro le and be of service and
support to the Museum. When the aforementioned review of the By-Laws is made, this issue will be
addressed.
• Mr. Burrel l repo rted that the Architectural Review Board voted in their last meeting to approve funding for
an assessmen t of the Welcome Ce nter building (which includes the Museum's archive space). Members
voiced the ir concern about having a safe and convenient place for the Museum's collection.
• Ms. King announced the annua l Satsuma Blossom Festival, sponsored by the Friends group, will be held on
April 13. In addition this August 26 th is the seventy-fifth anniversary of Barney Gaston's assault from the air
on a German take line approaching Sivry, France during WWII. His actions resul t ed in his hero's death and
saving the town from occupation. From the audience, Jerry Fort is suggested the weekly guest speaker
program might include someone doing a talk on Barney Gaston.
• The next Board meeting is Wednesday, July 10th -Please note this date, as incorrect information was
distributed at this April 4 meeting.
• Mr. Brunson made a motion to adjourn and Mr. Czajka seconded.
• Meeting was adj ourned at 3:24 pm.
The next meeting of the City of Fa i rhope Museum Advisory Board
is Wednesday, July 10 at 3 p.m . at the Museum.
[END] -Catheri ne King & Darby Wiik 4/24/2019