HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Minutes: 07/02/2025MUSEUM COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
CALL TO ORDER — Chairperson Angela Ayala called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum
Education Center.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Chairperson Angela Ayala
ROLL CALL — Chairperson Angela Ayala, Chairperson Pro Tempore Janalee Shimmin; Commissioner,
Virginia Blitz, Dale Carter, Marilyn Daleo; Library Director Darlene Bradley, Library Services Manager
Sammantha Alba, Museum Curator Stevy Acevedo, and Museum Education Coordinator Lauren Porras.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND APPOINTMENT OF LIAISON
A. Commissioner Daleo nominated Commissioner Carter for Chairperson and was seconded by
Commissioner Biitz. Commissioner Carter accepted.
B. Commissioner Daleo nominated Commissioner Blitz for Chairperson Pro Tempore but declined
acceptance. Commissioner Carter nominated Commissioner Shimmin as Chairperson Pro Tempore
and was seconded by Commissioner Blitz. Chairperson Pro Tempore Shimmin accepted.
C. Commissioner Blitz was unanimously voted as liaison to the Friends of the Arcadia Museum.
REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS/LIAISONS:
Commissioner Marilyn shared that the Arcadia Woman's Club is partnering with the Arcadia Historical Society
to host a fundraising event on November 14. The dinner will be casino-themed and aims to raise funds for the
needed renovations to the historic Arcadia Woman's Club building.
Commissioner Carter shared that his wife has a PTA scrapbook from the mid-1970s and is interested in
donating it to the Museum. Staff will follow up to review and assess the scrapbook for possible inclusion in the
collection.
REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR
Director Bradley shared that the new fiscal year has officially begun. The Museum's budget has been
approved and remains flat for the year. She also noted a special thanks to the Friends of the Museum for their
continued fundraising efforts, which helped make the purchase of the new Veterans display case possible.
REPORT FROM THE CURATOR
Curator Acevedo updated the Commission on the Gilb Museum's participation in several community events,
including the Arcadia Firefighters Pancake Breakfast and the Holly Avenue School field trip to the Museum,
while also welcoming new Getty Interns and a City Intern in May and June. Volunteers and interns have been
actively contributing to digitization, cataloging, and exhibition work, with a focus on local collections such as the
Arcadia Woman's Club and Camp Santa Anita materials. The Museum continues to support education and
public outreach, including summer programming, PTA promotions, and collaboration with local schools on
exhibits and translation efforts. Staff have completed key facility upgrades and conservation projects, including
restoration of statues, city plaques, and the Peacock Fountain. The installation of a new archival fireproof filing
cabinet was done in the Museum and new restroom equipment, specifically hand dryers, was also installed in
the Museum Education Center. Staff also presented at major museum conferences, toured peer institutions,
and celebrated local history through events like the Arcadia Historical Society's Kentucky Derby Garden Party.
REPORT FROM MUSEUM EDUCATION COORDINATOR
The Gilb Museum participated in several outreach events and released two new educational kits this Spring.
The kits included Music in Arcadia and the Good Luck Knot Kit, both well -received by the public and promoting
cultural and local history. The Preserving Memories digitization program wrapped up its spring session and will
return in the fall. Free tour tickets have been distributed at outreach events, which have helped boost Museum
attendance. School programs continued successfully with Baldwin Stocker and Holly Avenue Elementary,
serving over 140 students through hands-on activities and guided tours. Staff is now preparing for upcoming
summer events, including the Summer Enrichment Program, Dino Day, and Concerts in the Park.
A total of 16 new volunteers joined the Museum this season, and the Museum introduced Slack to improve
communication and planning among teen volunteers, who logged 289.25 hours between May 1 and June 18.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 7, 2025
Recommended action: Approve
Commissioner Daleo moved to approve Consent Calendar Item "a" which was seconded by Chairperson Pro
Tempore Shimmin. The motion carried.
Ayes: Chairperson Carter, Chairperson Pro Tempore Shimmin, and Commissioners Daleo, Ayala, and Blitz
Noes: None
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairperson Ayala adjourned the meeting at 5:32 p.m. to Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 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