HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Minutes: 11/02/16MUSEUM COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
CALL TO ORDER — Chair Carter called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum
Education Center.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners Dale Carter, Carlos Reza, Victor Wu (5:30 p.m.), Donna Lee
(5:20 p.m.), Virginia Blitz, Curator Dana Hicks, Library Services Manager Darlene
Bradley, Director Mary Beth Hayes
REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS I LIAISONS
Commissioner Blitz, as liaison to the Friends of the Arcadia Museum, shared that the Friends
assisted with the Foundation fundraising dinner, the 15th Anniversary Open House, and the Rail
Symposium. The Friends, led by Joyce Platt, also cleaned out the cupboards in the Museum
Education Center and made a list for the Curator of what needed to be added to the inventory.
Ms. Platt will be in attendance at the Arcadia Chinese Association's Gala event in November
representing the Friends. The Friends are also now an active member of the Chamber of
Commerce. Commissioner Carter thanked the Curator for hosting the Railroad Symposium. He
also noted that this was Director of Library and Museum Services Hayes last meeting before her
retirement in December.
DIRECTOR REPORTS
A. Report from the Director: Director Hayes reported that a new Library and Museum
Services Director will be chosen by the Library Board of Trustees and the City Manager.
They will be reviewing 7-10 candidates. There were 20 candidates but not all were qualified.
Commissioner Carter thanked Director Hayes and noted that she would be missed. Director
Hayes reported on the City's Leadership Academy, a program to better inform citizens about
the City and its services. The program is for nine weeks and each week a different City
department gives a presentation. Tonight is the Library and Museum Services Department's
night so she would be leaving early. At the Library she will give a talk, PowerPoint, and tour
of the Library and then come back to the Museum for a tour of the Museum. Those
participants that would like a more in-depth tour of the Museum will have the opportunity to
sign up with the Curator at a later date. The Library will be closed to the public the week of
Thanksgiving as the building will be tented for termites. The Library will open back up to the
public the Monday following Thanksgiving.
B. Report from the Curator: Curator Hicks reported on the Museum's 15th Anniversary
Foundation Dinner and Open House. The open house brought in people that hadn't been to
the Museum for a long time so it was very nice. The Friends did all of the work for the Open
House. At the Foundation Dinner, the new Lucky Baldwin statue was unveiled. The
Chamber of Commerce put it on their Facebook. LED lights are being changed out in the
gallery and will continue to be changed out throughout the Museum. Upcoming is an exhibit
that features the artwork of longtime volunteer, Laura Henneforth. It will be a one woman
show with an opening reception on November 19, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Acoustic music and
wine will be on hand. Ms. Henneforth is also working on a Famous Arcadians exhibit at the
Museum. The Railroad Symposium went over well. The November Lunchtime Talk will
feature Mr. Baker, Monrovia's Historian, who will give a talk on Monrovia's history. Staff is
working on the 2017 calendar and it should be available in January. A Photograph
Identification Team will be meeting to plan an event in which about 15 people look over
photographs and try to identify the photos. This will take place on November 16, 2016 at
10:30 a.m. There were two Hands On Saturday events featuring Picturesque Russia! and
Dia de los Muertos with Mariachis with between 50-60 people in attendance for each
program. They are doing lots of Girl Scout programs. Rebecca has school tours planned for
January through June of 2017. There are four teachers interested in class visits with the
Arcadia Time Machine. At a later time, they are considering a box for teachers to check out.
They have established a Youth Council with 5-6 high school students to help with Hands On
History programs. There is also a teen volunteer who is interested in Museums and will work
on an independent project. The first exhibit in January will be on the Santa Anita Assembly
Center. On March 25, 2017, the 75th Anniversary Special Day of Remembrance will take
place. In February, there will be a Hands On Chocolate Valentine's Day program. Curator
Hicks then presented a webinar on StEPS (Standards and Excellence Program for History
Organizations). This is a self -paced workbook in which the Museum staff would work
through to set a path to accreditation. The Museum Commission was in agreement to
proceed with the StEPS program.
C. Updates on annual trip to tour off-site museum: Curator Hicks asked that everyone meet
at 9:00 a.m. so that they could leave at 9:30 a.m.
D. Updates on Gilb Museum 15th Anniversary, October 2016: Commissioner Wu
announced that the Foundation hasn't met since the fundraising dinner but that $10,000 was
raised from the dinner and donations. There were 53 in attendance for the dinner.
E. Commission Photograph: The Commission photograph was taken
CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Approve the Regular Meetinq Minutes of September 71 2016
Recommended action: Approve
Approval of Consent Calendar Item "a" was moved by Commissioner Reza, seconded by
Commissioner Wu, and carried on a voice vote.
AYES: Commissioners Carter, Wu, Reza, and Blitz
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Lee
Chair Carter adjourned this meeting at 6:30 p.m. to Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. at
the Museum Education Center at 382 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia.