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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Minutes: 07/06/16MUSEUM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 CALL TO ORDER — Chair Carter called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum Education Center. Jana$ all _ffld _4USJ­ffA is gas as ROLL CALL: Commissioners Dale Carter, Donna Lee, Virginia Blitz, Carlos Reza, Jr., Director of Library & Museum Services Mary Beth Hayes, Curator Dana Hicks, Library Services Manager Darlene Bradley, and Education Coordinator Rebecca Wilcox. Approval of an excused absence for Commissioner Wu was moved by Commissioner Blitz, seconded by Commissioner Reza, and carried on a voice vote. AYES: Commissioners Carter, Lee, Blitz, and Reza NOES: None REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS I LIAISONS Commissioner Blitz reported that she attended the Friends of the Arcadia Museum meeting on June 8th and will attend the next meeting on July 13th. They are working on organizing and combining mailing lists with the Foundation. At this meeting, the Friends notified members of the illness of Floretta Lauber, the President of the Arcadia Museum Foundation and the Friends of the Arcadia Museum (FAM). Joyce Platt, the Vice President of FAM, has assumed the role of President until a new leader is elected. They also discussed the upcoming anniversary dinner for the Museum in October and the open house reception. Commissioner Blitz noted that she visited the exhibit: "Fonk Sa Thiossan: Cherish Your Culture, The Artwork of Djibril N'Doye 1) , and really enjoyed it. Commissioner Lee took this moment to thank Curator Hicks for the lovely volunteer appreciation breakfast. She enjoyed the opportunity to meet Museum volunteers and FAM members. Commissioner Carter noted that he came across some historical photographs in the Hale Building on W. Huntington Drive; Curator Hicks noted that those photographs are from the Museum's collection. Commissioner Carter and Lee noted that it would be nice to have a list of where the Museum's photographs are being displayed throughout the city. The Curator proceeded to give a list of businesses displaying photographs from the Museum's collections. Commissioner Carter added that while visiting family in Iowa, he came across a local history museum and wanted to share two ideas he thoroughly enjoyed: "Did You Know" placards and a 360 degree view of all their local parks through a viewfinder. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND APPOINTMENT OF LIAISONS Commissioner Blitz nominated Commissioner Carter for Chairperson for 2016717. Commissioner Lee seconded the nomination. The Commission cast a voice vote as follows: AYES: Commissioners Lee, Blitz, Reza, and Carter. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wu Commissioner Blitz nominated Commissioner Lee for Chair Pro Tempore for 2016-17. Commissioner Reza seconded the nomination. The Commission cast a voice vote as follow] AYES: Commissioners Blitz, Reza, Lee, and Carter. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wu Commissioner Carter nominated Commissioner Wu for Liaison to the Arcadia Museum Foundation for 2016-17. Commissioner Lee seconded the nomination. The Commission cast a • vote as follows. AYES: Commissioner Blitz, Reza, Carter, and Lee. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wu DIRECTOR REPORTS A. Report from the Director-, Director Hayes officially welcomed Commissioner Reza to the Museum Commission. She also noted that she and Curator Hicks will have some projects to present at the next meeting. The Museum also received a check for $1,705 from the Derby Day 5K at Santa Anita Park. This is the most the Museum has received from this event, and it was determined that over 300 people selected the Museum as the charitable recipient of their $5 admission fee. Director Hayes will be writing a staff report for the donation and will present it to the City Council for acceptance. Director Hayes also mentioned the illness of Floretta Lauber, and noted that plans are still moving forward for the anniversary dinner as Deborah Lewis, Vice President of the Museum Foundation, is acting President in Ms. Lauber's absence. B. Report from the Curator: Curator Hicks reminded the commissioners that Floretta Lauber is a champion of the Museum and served as the founding president for both the Museum Foundation and the FAM groups. As a result of Ms. Lauber's illness, there will be changes coming for these groups and we will know more after both groups meet next week. Curator Hicks also reported on the progress of the Lucky Baldwin figure, which should be completed by August; well before the unveiling at the Museum's anniversary in October. The Museum Foundation is paying for the figure, and the Friends of the Museum are covering costs for the clothing. Curator Hicks also reported on Ruth Gilb, who visited the Museum with her retirement home community, Kensington Gardens, on July 6th. The current exhibit is the 8th Annual Juried Photography Contest, which will be taken down on Saturday, July 9th, to be followed by an exhibit featuring new historic photographs from the Museum's collection of the WW1 Balloon School at Ross Field. The opening reception will be at 10:00 a.m. on July 23rd, and will feature a lecture from local historian Mark Rosenblum. Curator Hicks noted that this year's photography contest submissions were the best yet, and is looking forward to submissions next year with the theme: Street Photography. In the Research Library and Museum lobby, several art panels from the 100 -to -1 Club have been installed. Curator Hicks also noted the installment of the exhibit "1984 Olympics Memorabilia: Santa Anita Park Equestrian Events," which was curated by Yolanda Hu, a Young Adult Volunteer and high school sophomore, as her independent project. The Local Veteran's Room exhibit space was also repainted and cleaned, with the story of Gene Glasco now on display. Curator Hicks also reported on two successful Spring Soirees, with the first event hosting an acoustic guitarist and the second a kora player. Summer programs for the Museum will be the Arcadia at the Movies. The first will feature the film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town on July 30th at 7:30 p.m. and the second will feature Zombies of the Mora Tau on August 27th at 7:30 p.m. Both will feature movie history and film background lectures by AJ Downhower, film historian. Curator Hicks then allowed Education Coordinator Wilcox to introduce herself and share her projects with the commission. Coordinator Wilcox reported that she has a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Museum Studies, with a focus on museum education. She has worked with the Smithsonian and Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as the Petersen Automotive Museum in their education departments. Currently, Coordinator Wilcox noted that she is working on developing relationships with the schools and teachers, updating school and scout programs, as well as updating volunteer training materials. C. Annual trip to off-site Museum: Curator Hicks proposed three locations for the annual off- site visit: The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, the Ontario Museum of History and Art in Ontario, and the Riverside Metropolitan Museum in Riverside. The Commission decided on the Bowers Museum. A date will be determined at a later time, but the trip will occur on a Tuesday in late October or early November 2016, to be followed by lunch in Arcadia. The Curator will be contacting the Bowers and will report back at the next Commission meeting. D. Updates on it Museum 15 th Anniversary, October 2016: Curator Hicks reported that preparations continue for this event. The Museum Foundation will have their regular meeting on July 13th, where they will discuss progress on the Foundation's dinner this year. The dinner this year will also include a celebration of the Museum's 15th anniversary. E. Commission photograph: Due to Commissioner Wu's absence, the photograph has been postponed. a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 4, 2016 Recommended action: Approve Approval of Consent Calendar Item "a" was moved by Commissioner Lee, seconded by Commissioner Blitz, and carried on a voice vote. AYES- Commissioners Carter, Lee, Blitz, and Reza. NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Wu Chair Carter adjourned this meeting at 6:20 p.m. to Wednesday, September 7th, 7 2016 at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum Education Center at 382 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia. Zug=* Mary Beth Hayes, Dire Library & Museum Services Minutes prepared by RIcox, Museum Education Coordinator