Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Agenda: 09/04/2024CITY OF ARCADIA Arcadia Museum Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday September 4, 2024 5:00 p.m. Location: Museum Education Center, 382 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability who require a disability related modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, may request such modification or accommodation from the Museum at (626) 574-5468. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to the meeting. 根据《美国残障人法案》，需要调整或提供便利设施才能参加会议的残障人士（包括辅助器材或服务）可与市书记官办 公室联系（电话：626-574-5468）。请在会前 48 小时通知市书记官办公室，以便作出合理安排，确保顺利参加会议。 Pursuant to the City of Arcadia’s Language Access Services Policy, limited -English proficient speakers who require translation services in order to participate in a meeting may request the use of a volunteer or professional translator by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (626) 574-5455 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. 根据阿凯迪亚市的语言便利服务政策，英语能力有限并需要翻译服务才能参加会议的人可与市书记官办公室联系（电话： 626-574-5455），请求提供志愿或专业翻译服务，请至少在会前 72 小时提出请求。 CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL OF MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS: Angela Ayala, Chairperson Janalee Shimmin, Chairperson Pro Tempore Marilyn Daleo, Commissioner Ginny Blitz, Commissioner Dale Carter, Commissioner PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual wishing to speak before the Museum Commission is limited to five (5) minutes per person, unless waived by the Museum Commission. Under the Brown Act, the Museum Commission is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any item not listed on the posted agenda. The matter may automatically be referred to staff for appropriate response or action or may be placed on the agenda of a future meeting. REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS / LIAISONS Announcements / Statements / Future Agenda Items DIRECTOR REPORTS Announcements / Statements / Reports Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Museum Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage located at 380 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, during normal business hours. a. Director’s Update b. Curator’s Report c. Military Banner Update d. Museum Education Coordinator’s Update e. Interns and Volunteers f. Programs g. Exhibits h. Collections i. Flyers • Preschool Program • Educational Kits • Preservation Workshop • Santa Anita Park Exhibit: Now Open CONSENT CALENDAR All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and can be acted on by one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Museum Commission, staff, or the public requests that a specific item be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and action. a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 3, 2024 Recommended action: Approve ADJOURNMENT The Museum Commission will adjourn this meeting to Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum Education Center at 382 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia. The Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage Museum Curator’s Report July – August 2024 HIGHLIGHTS The 6th Annual Summer Enrichment Program was a success with a total of 176 new and returning participants attending the program. The Santa Anita Racetrack 90th Anniversary exhibit opened on August 10. Forty-five guests visited the Museum that day, with additional employees of Santa Anita Park visiting the following week. The Military Banner project is continuing. There are currently 57 applications. The deadline to apply has been extended to August 24 and could extend again. AmGraph will be creating a proof version of a banner before production of the final banners in September and October. COLLECTIONS and INTERNS Volunteer Ms. Deborah Cordano has been invaluable to the Museum’s Military Banner Program, contacting local veterans via phone and email, doing research and helping applicants complete paperwork. Intern Mr. Zackary Ostrowski has been working on the Arcadia Woman’s Club collection, adding additional photographs and information to our database. Volunteer Mr. Alick Diaz continues to assist with the digitization and cataloging of recent donations given to the Museum, including the Tim Portwood Little League Collection. Intern Mr. Andrew Bermudez continues his internship at the Gilb Museum and compensation through the Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living (SCRS-IL). Mr. Bermudez has been working on the donation from Dr. Semeen Issa, the First Avenue Middle School Principal, which consists of class photographs and awards. Mr. Bermudez’s contract will end this winter. July 1-31st, 2024 In-Person Visitors: 295 Virtual Visitors: Website: 535 Facebook: 229 Instagram: 3913 Twitter: N/A YouTube: 148 August 1 -20th, 2024 In-Person Visitors: 160 Virtual Visitors: Website: 257 Facebook: 751 Instagram:1258 Twitter: N/A YouTube: 132 Intern Ms. Hannah Chang is also doing an internship at the Gilb Museum with compensation through the SCRS- IL. She is scanning and cataloging items donated by Marilyn Daleo, including Arcadia Weekly newspapers and documents from school district events. Volunteer Azariah Towns has been assisting in developing lesson plans and activities for the upcoming preschool programs that begin this fall. An inventory of items donated during this time: ● Ethel Laczko from the Arcadia Senior Commission donated a Jurassic Park book and dinosaur figures that will be used during the Dino Day event and teaching programs. ● A print of “Thee Happy Hollow”, with an illustration and photo of the Thee family home was donated by Photography Contest participant Ronald W. Thee. EXHIBITS The 14th Annual Photography Contest exhibit was on display in the Museum’s temporary exhibit space until July 20. On August 10th, the Santa Anita Park 90th Anniversary exhibit opened in the temporary exhibit space. Getty Marrow Intern Mr. Samuel Reed worked on the exhibit during the summer as part of his internship project. He created informative panels with additional historic photographs, video clips playing on two TVs and items from our museum collections. Substitute Coordinator Ms. Lily Wu and Volunteer Mr. Kenny Woo helped with printing, mounting and installation of the exhibit panels, display cases and lighting. Substitute Coordinator Ms. Katherine Hobbs contributed research and a historical timeline. The exhibits at City Hall (Vintage Hollywood at Santa Anita) and the Council Chambers (Cultivating Arcadia Agricultural Wonders) are continuing. ADMINISTRATION Curator Ms. Stevy Acevedo began her maternity leave on July 9. Ms. Rebecca Andersen will be filling in as Acting Curator until October 19. The Friends of the Arcadia Museum (FAM) did not meet in July but conducted their August 1 board meeting at the Museum. They have already raised over $14,000 to help fund a new enclosed exhibit case for the Veterans History Room. Their next steps include meeting with the Arcadia City Council to present the funds to the Museum. Museum staff will then purchase the display case and coordinate with the Public Works Department to assemble and install the case. The next FAM meeting will take place on September 5. The Getty Marrow Undergraduate Interns, Ms. Ellya Kim and Mr. Samuel Reed have been working in the museum since June. Both have completed their main tasks, the Summer Enrichment Program (Ms. Kim) and the Santa Anita Park 90th Anniversary exhibit (Mr. Reed). They also attended community outreach events along with visiting other museums and historic places. Their last day in the museum will be the Dino Day event, August 24th. The Peacock Fountain basin in the Arcadia County Park has been repaired by Public Works and is now ready for Silverlake Conservation to continue their work on restoring the multicolored tiles on the outside surface. That phase of the project will most likely be scheduled for this fall. Staff, including Museum Education Coordinator, Ms. Lauren Porras, Ms. Kim, and Mr. Reed were invited to a tour of the Santa Anita Park by Mr. Pete Siberell on July 24. The group was able to tour the park grounds, including historical rooms and old barns. This tour was led by June Aochi Berk who was a small child when she was incarcerated in the Santa Anita Japanese Assembly Center in 1942. Staff applied for the Superintendent's Award for Excellence in Museum Education Competition through the California Association of Museums (CAM). The Museum program was not selected this year, but CAM encouraged us to reapply next year. Acting Curator Andersen, along with Library Staff, attended the League of California Cities (Los Angeles County Division) Board of Directors Installation Ceremony at Santa Anita Park on August 1. Arcadia Mayor Dr. Michael Cao was sworn in as President. EDUCATION and PROGRAMMING Education Coordinator Lauren Porras, and Getty Intern, Ellya Kim completed the Summer Enrichment Program with a total of 139 students across all the programs. There were 9 students who received a special certificate and a back-to- school gift bag for attending and participating in all four programs. The Summer Enrichment Program had four separate presentations with two sessions each week. The morning session was instructed by Ms. Porras and the afternoon session was led by Ms. Kim. The programs included The Science of Animation, Ancestry and Me, Fossils: Who’s the Poop-etrator, and Trashology in Anthropology. Attendees learned about a vast array of topics surrounding museum topics and history regarding Arcadia. The community was very appreciative of the engaging content and fun activities. Feedback was consistently positive from parents, students, and guardians. For individuals that could not attend the Summer Enrichment Program, Ms. Porras and Ms. Kim turned the lessons and activities into kits that families can take home. Eighty kits were created for each program and any unused ones were converted into take- home kits. There is a limited supply of the remaining kits that are still available. Ms. Porras and Getty Interns Reed and Kim attended the last City of Arcadia Summer Concerts and Movies in the Park on August 8 with the Library Staff. There were 50 kits handed out and was an opportunity to promote upcoming events such as Dino Day and Preschool Program. The Hispanic Heritage Educational Kits were assembled with the help of our Getty Intern Ms. Kim and our teen volunteers. This kit is now available for the community to reserve and pick-up. Indigenous Heritage kits will be available in October. Production of these kits has begun with the help of volunteers. Museum staff will hold their annual Dino Day event and are anticipating over 100 visitors to the Museum and Museum Education Center. The event will be organized into five numerical stations. Activities include excavating fossils, making a trace fossil, crafting a velociraptor eye magnet, and decorating their very own dino themed gift bag. Staff and volunteers have been preparing materials, decorations, and supplies for this event. Ms. Acevedo, Ms. Andersen, and Ms. Porras planned out prospective programs and their subsequent dates for 2025. Ms. Porras hopes to reach a new audience and improve engagement by offering programs that appeal to different interests of the community. Education Coordinator Porras has conducted interviews for prospective Fall interns. They will be tasked with assisting in the Museum’s Preschool Programs and publicity. The candidate will be selected by the third week of August with a tentative start date by the first week of September. The Intern would aid Gilb Museum staff in designing educational programs, as well as planning educational programming for children, adults, and seniors, including the Museum’s Preschool Program. Preschool programs will be returning the first week of September and will continue Fridays 10am-11am until November 8. Each week will be different activities inspired by specialized themes and Arcadia history. Preschool students will hone their fine motor skills, engage in teamwork activities, and develop their creative expression. Ms. Porras has begun gathering materials and supplies in preparation for this upcoming program. MARKETING The Museum continues to promote upcoming events, exhibits, and educational kits across all social media platforms. Getty Intern Ellya Kim worked on the Museum's social media by creating content that was scheduled to be posted on Later.com into December. Museum Education Coordinator Porras has been focusing on continuing a social media plan and schedule for the Museum. She is actively promoting events and scheduling them using Later.com. Ms. Porras has worked with Ms. Kim throughout the summer and saw growth in engagement throughout all social media platforms. Instagram reels have been the most popular amongst any other postings in the community. This has resulted in the Museum's social media platforms having had a major increase of interaction with a 1,4635% increase in accounts reached and a 547% increase in engagement. The Museum’s monthly newsletter via MailChimp has also been very popular in the community with weekly sign ups from guests. MailChimp has been a way for the Museum to promote upcoming programs, events, and collection items to the community. VOLUNTEERS The Museum continued to have teen volunteers throughout the weekdays of July and August. There have been five more teen volunteers added to the team. All five are relatives or friends of current volunteers. Ms. Porras will reopen volunteer enrollment in mid-September. Volunteers have been very busy with the production of kits that will be shared with the community in the following months. This includes all the Preservation Workshop kits and Summer Enrichment Kits that are given to participants who attend the program. Ms. Porras has also had volunteers aid in prepping supplies for Hispanic Heritage Educational kits which are now available to the public since August 6. On Saturday August 17, Ms. Porras and Ms. Kim conducted Summer Volunteer Appreciation for all of the teen volunteers for the summer. It’s important to acknowledge their hard work and dedication as it’s what allows the Museum to serve the community. This was a great opportunity for new volunteers to meet one another and a great way to show gratitude for all the hard work the volunteers do for the Museum and the community. Educator Porras organized the afternoon with team building and relay games, pizza, snacks, and a custom volunteer tote bag as a giveaway. There were 21 volunteers in attendance. Volunteers, teen and adult, assisted with assembling activity supplies for Dino Day. Responsibilities included making excavation kits and pre-cutting materials for the event. Volunteers assisted with decorating and setting up activities before the program and helped run the program stations as well. The deadline to nominate teen volunteers for the Presidential Service Award is September 21. We have a handful of volunteers that we can nominate for their hard work and dedication. These students will receive a certificate highlighting the number of hours volunteered and a crewneck sweater courtesy of the Gilb Museum. Volunteer Hours: July 1- August 20: 2361.15 hours Submitted by Acting Curator Rebecca Andersen and Director of Library & Museum Services, Darlene Bradley MUSEUM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, July 3, 2024 ____________________________________________________________________________ CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson Pro Tempore Angela Ayala called the meeting to order at 4:59 p.m. in the Museum Education Center. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Chairperson Pro Tempore Angela Ayala ROLL CALL – Chairperson Pro Tempore Angela Ayala, Commissioners Janalee Shimmin, Virginia Blitz; Director of Library and Museum Services Darlene Bradley, Library and Museum Services Manager Samantha Alba, City Council Liaison Paul Chang, Museum Curator Stevy Acevedo, Museum Substitute Coordinator Rebecca Andersen and Museum Education Coordinator Lauren Porras. Commissioner Virginia Blitz motioned to excuse Chairperson Marilyn Daleo due to travels. Commissioner Janalee Shimmin seconded. The motion carried. Ayes: Chairperson Pro Tempore Ayala, Commissioners Shimmin, Blitz Noes: None PUBLIC COMMENTS: None ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND APPOINTMENT OF LIAISON a. Commissioner Shimmin nominated Chairperson Pro Tempore Ayala for Chairperson and was seconded by Commissioner Biltz. Chairperson Pro Tempore Ayala accepted. b. Commissioner Shimmin was unanimously voted as Chairperson Pro Tempore. c. Commissioner Blitz was unanimously voted as Liaison to the Friends of the Arcadia Museum. REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS/LIAISONS - Commissioner Blitz informed the Board that the Friends of the Arcadia Museum have been fundraising for the Museum’s programs. They recently had a fundraiser at Vons Credit Union in El Monte and made over $500. The Friends of the Museum are also currently fundraising for a new enclosed exhibit case for the Museum’s Local Veteran’s History Room. Councilmember Chang informed the Board of the Sierra Madre Parade taking place on July 4. Additionally, the City of Arcadia has been able to agree on terms with three of the five union groups. On July 16, there will be a reorganization of the City Council. Mayor April Verlato will no longer be Mayor and Dr. Michael Cao will be the new Mayor. Dr. Cao is a Veteran from the Air Force that served 10 years. He will also be the League of California President for the Los Angeles County Chapter starting in August. The City Summer Concerts and Movies are at the City Hall lawn every Thursday from June 20 to August 8. REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR Director Bradley informed the Commission about the Summer Reading Program, as well as the start of the Walking Book Club which will be taking place through the month of July. Another program the Library is providing is One County, One Book Club which brings together 18 different library districts in Los Angeles County. In this program participants will be reading and discussing L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón. Lastly, Director Bradley announced that there will be a New Principal Librarian starting July 15 for Adult and Teen Services. REPORT FROM THE CURATOR Curator Stevey Acevedo informed that The Gilb Museum concluded their 2023-2024 School Programs with visits to 43 class visits in the Arcadia Unified School District. Highlighting their commitment to education, the Museum hosted its third Preservation Workshop on June 1, focusing on digitization techniques and drawing participation from 18 attendees. In the realm of collections and internships, volunteer Ms. Deborah Cordano and Curator Ms. Stevy Acevedo collaborated on the Museum’s new Military Banner Program, set to display 125 banners in honor of Veterans Day in the City of Arcadia. Interns like Ms. Maria Barrios and Mr. Zackary Ostrowski contributed to exhibit preparations and collection digitization, with Mr. Ostrowski transitioning to pursue a Master's degree in Library Science at UCLA in the fall. Volunteer Mr. Alick Diaz continued his efforts in cataloging recent donations. The Museum's recent acquisitions include a 1966 Santa Anita Highlands Garden Club Cookbook and Arcadia Little League Yearbooks, donated by local residents. The ongoing 14th Annual Photography Contest exhibit remains on display until July 20, while preparations are underway for the Santa Anita Park 90th Anniversary exhibit opening on August 10. Administratively, the Friends of the Arcadia Museum (FAM) supported Museum initiatives through fundraising efforts, including a successful Vons fundraiser and plans for a new exhibit case for the Veterans Local History Room. Ms. Porras, with a background in Anthropology and Art History, joined the Museum as Education Coordinator on May 7, enriching educational outreach efforts. Curator Acevedo actively engaged with the community, presenting Museum programs at the Arcadia PTA meeting and attending events like the Arcadia Historical Society Spring Garden Party. The Museum's staff applied for presentations at the California Association of Museums Conference and the Superintendent's Award for Excellence in Museum Education, reflecting their dedication to educational excellence. Ms. Acevedo also conducted a tour for LACMA interns and participated in the Alhambra Historical Society Museum tour. Looking ahead, Museum staff are preparing for conservation efforts on the Peacock Fountain at Los Angeles County Park and are excited about upcoming events such as the Summer Enrichment Program and Dino Day. REPORT FROM MUSEUM EDUCATION COORDINATOR Education Coordinator Ms. Porras shared that the Museum engaged with the Arcadia community during various events and programs throughout May and June. In early May, Curator Acevedo presented at the Arcadia Chamber Community Connection Event via Zoom, outlining a series of exciting summer programs including Summer Enrichment, Preservation Workshop Series, Dino Day, a Photography Contest exhibit, and monthly scavenger hunts. This event provided local organizations and community members with insights into upcoming Museum activities. On May 4, Museum staff participated in the Firefighters Annual Pancake Breakfast alongside the Arcadia Public Library, fostering community engagement and support. A notable event on May 11 was the screening of "Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story," attended by co- producer Ms. Debra Nakatomi. This screening was followed by a Q&A session and offered attendees free DVDs of the documentary. Later in May, Curator Acevedo conducted a special tour for the College Women’s Club of Pasadena, enhancing outreach efforts and community relations. June began with the Museum hosting its third Preservation Workshop on digitization led by Curator Acevedo, which saw active participation from 18 attendees. This workshop encouraged participants to bring personal items for digitization advice, setting the stage for future workshops. The Museum celebrated the completion of all 43 scheduled school programs for the 2023-2024 academic year, concluding with a visit from Holly Avenue Elementary on May 22 where 162 guests filled the museum . Interactive stations highlighted diverse educational themes, supported by volunteers from the Friends of the Museum Board. In preparation for summer activities, a mandatory volunteer orientation was conducted on June 15, facilitating coordination among new and returning volunteers and aligning expectations for the upcoming programs and events. Throughout June, Museum staff, including Ms. Porras and Getty Interns Reed and Kim, actively participated in community events such as the City of Arcadia Summer Concerts and Movies in the Park on June 20, and the Downtown Arcadia Patriotic Festival on June 29. Looking ahead, Ms. Porras will be focused on preparing for the Gilb Museum's 6th Annual Summer Enrichment Program, scheduled for every Saturday in July, featuring a variety of educational topics. Additionally, preparations for the annual Dino Day, featuring a collaboration with the Alf Museum, commenced, aiming to engage the community through educational and entertaining paleontology-themed activities. On the marketing front, the Museum continues to leverage social media platforms and its popular monthly newsletter via MailChimp to promote upcoming events and educational initiatives to its community. Volunteer recruitment has been robust, with 67 active volunteers engaged as of June 20, supporting the production of educational kits and preparing for outreach activities such as the Patriotic Festival and summer enrichment programs. As volunteer applications closed for the summer, plans are underway to reopen applications in the fall to continue supporting Museum initiatives and community outreach efforts. From May 1- June 20 the Museum volunteers have provided 490.99 volunteer hours to the Museum. CONSENT CALENDAR: a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 1, 2024 Recommended action: Approve Commissioner Shimmin moved to approve Consent Calendar Item “a” which was seconded by Commissioner Blitz. The motion carried. Ayes: Chairperson Ayala, Commissioners Shimmin, Blitz Noes: None ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Ayala adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m. to Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum Education Center at 382 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia. Approved: ________________________________________________ Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services Prepared by: Lauren Porras, Museum Education Coordinator