HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Minutes: 01/04/17M " USEUM COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, January 4, 2017
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, Victor Wu, Donna Lee, Virginia Blitz, Director
Darlene Bradley, Curator Dana Hicks, and Education Coordinator Rebecca
Wilcox.
REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS / LIAISONS
Commissioner Lee offered her thanks to Museum staff for their hard work this past year and
wished congratulations and a warm welcome to the new Director of Museum and Library
Services, Darlene Bradley. Commissioner Blitz, as liaison to the Friends of the Arcadia
Museum, updated the Commission on the status of the group and their parent organization, the
Arcadia Museum Foundation. At the November 9th joint meeting, the Foundation Board
members resigned their positions to allow the Friends of the Arcadia Museum Board members
to assume the positions in order to maintain the 501 c3 nonprofit status. Commissioner Wu will
continue to assist the Friends of the Arcadia Museum with their finances as they transition.
Commissioner Blitz also noted that she has enjoyed seeing an increase in commissioner
attendance at Museum events. Chair Carter posed a clarifying question about the Museum and
the relationship with the Local History Room in the Arcadia Public Library. Director Bradley
explained that the Local History Room differs from the Museum in that it is strictly a research
library that was created before the Museum was established. Access is available by
appointment only and because of the size restrictions, the collection is much smaller than that of
the Museum. It houses photographs, yearbooks, local newspapers on microfilm, and is often
used by residents and researchers for genealogy, and for local Arcadia history research.
Director Bradley noted that she would like to see these resources coordinated for ease of
research. Chair Carter requested adding discussion of the Commission's next museum trip to
the agenda for the next Commission meeting on March, 1, 2017.
DIRECTOR REPORTS
A. Introduction of Darlene Bradley, newly appointed Director of Library and Museum
Services
B. Report from the Director: Director Bradley noted that she is looking forward to working
with everyone at the Museum and Library and with the Commission. She shared that she
grew up in Arcadia and worked at the Pasadena Library for 18 years, primarily with their
local history collection, which sparked her passion for local history. She reiterated her
excitement in starting this new position.
C. Report from the Curator: Curator Hicks reported on the current exhibit, "Singular, Plural,
Multiple: The Art of Laura Henneforth." The opening was a success with over 70 people in
attendance. The exhibit closes Saturday, January 7. The upcoming exhibit is titled, "Only
What We Could Carry: Remembering the Santa Anita Japanese Assembly Center, 75
Years," which opens January 21. This exhibit will also feature a Day of Memory on March
25, with three speakers who were interned at the Assembly Center, along with a traditional
koto player. Curator Hicks shared the new Museum calendar for 2017, including future
exhibits: "Heart and Soul: The Art of Kathryn Hansen"; the "0th Annual Arcadia Juried
Photography Contest and Exhibition"; and "Away from Home: Photography of Jane
McCrea". Curator Hicks noted that the Thursday lunchtime history talks will now be Saturday
morning's featuring new topics and/or research. The Museum will continue the Spring
Soiree and Arcadia at the Movies events, both of which have seen success and growth.
Coordinator Wilcox shared that the December family program, which is coordinated with
Snow Festival at the Community Center, was a great success with two sold -out marionette
shows. Coordinator Wilcox also detailed new educational programming including
"Scrapbooking Studio", which will begin the first Friday of February. The upcoming "Hands -
On Saturday for Families" will be February 11, and will be about Chocolate. Coordinator
Wilcox will visit two 4th grade classrooms at Highland Oaks to facilitate a new outreach
program about reading California maps this month. Lastly, Coordinator Wilcox shared that
she is also continuing meetings with Renee Costarella, Instructional Coach with the Arcadia
Unified School District, in helping to update the local history curriculum for Arcadia's 3rd
grade classrooms. Curator Hicks then began her presentation on the American Association
for State and Local History's StEPS (Standards and Excellence Program for History
Organizations) program and will continue to update the Commission on Museum staff's
progress.
D. Thank you letter for Ontario Museum of History and Art: Curator Hicks shared the thank
you letter she drafted on behalf of the Commission to be sent to the Ontario Museum of
History and Art's staff to show our appreciation for the tour on November 8, 2016.
a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 2, 2016
Recommended action: Approve
b. Approve the Special Meeting Minutes of November 8, 2016
Recommended action: Approve
Approval of Consent Calendar Items "a" and "b" was moved by Commissioner Wu, seconded by
Commissioner Lee, and carried on a voice vote.
AYES: Commissioners Carter, Wu, Lee, Reza, and Blitz
NOES: None
Chair Carter adjourned this meeting at 6:08 p.m. to Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in
the Museum Education Center at 382 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia.
Approved:
Darlene Bradley, Director of Libraruseum Services
Minutes prepared by Rebecca Wilcox, Museum Education Coordinator