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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Minutes: 01/07/2026MUSEUM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, January 7, 2026 CALL TO ORDER — Chairperson Dale Carter called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. in the Museum Education Center. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Chairperson Dale Carter ROLL CALL — Chairperson Dale Carter; Commissioner, Angela Ayala, Virginia Blitz, Marilyn Daleo; Library Director Darlene Bradley, Museum Curator Stevy Acevedo, and Museum Education Coordinator Lauren Porras. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None ELECTION OF OFFICER: Commissioner Marilyn Daleo nominated Ginny Blitz as Chairperson Pro Tempore. This was seconded by Chairperson Dale Carter and the nomination was accepted by Commissioner Blitz. REPORTS FROM MUSEUM COMMISSION MEMBERS/LIAISONS: Blitz informed the Commission that during Make Your Own Snow Globe event, the Friends of the Museum hosted a Snow Day booth where they distributed the Museum's custom candy canes to visitors, adding a festive touch to the event. Commissioner Daleo shared that the Arcadia Lions Club will be coming to a close, marking the end of a long-standing community organization. Additionally, Carter informed the Commission that a well-known painting previously displayed in the Santa Anita Depot has been removed due to sensitivity concerns. Director Bradley shared that the Elks Lodge will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Don Fandry, a valued Friends of the Museum board member. They also mentioned that the City is currently conducting its mid -year budget review and noted that City of Arcadia has launched a new website that includes new integrated Al features. Additionally, the Library's Seed Library continues to grow in popularity, offering residents the opportunity to take seeds home and cultivate their own gardens. REPORT FROM THE CURATOR The Curator shared updates on continued collections work supported by staff, volunteers, and interns. An inventory of the Arcadia Historical Society Collection is underway, along with the success and completion of the Military Banner Program. Cataloging and digitization efforts in Catalog -It remain ongoing, with interns and volunteers helping process materials and accession new donations. Additional training was completed to ensure accurate updates to the Arcadia Veterans Registry kiosk, strengthening the Museum's understanding of community records. Several meaningful donations were received during this period. These include Arcadia National League materials from 1969 and 1972, panoramic photographs from First Avenue Middle School's classes of 2010 and 2012, Arcadia Little League photographs from former Mayor Gary Kovacic, and 1952 Arcadia High School sports team photographs featuring track, basketball, and football. Together, these additions continue to expand the Museum's sports and education -related collections and preserve important community memories. Exhibit work is ongoing in collaboration with local community members on a temporary Arcadia Little League exhibit, including a newly installed display at the Arcadia Public Library. Community members have generously loaned personal memorabilia to enrich the exhibition, with representation from both Little League and Girls Softball teams. These partnerships highlight the Museum's continued focus on community -driven storytelling and preserving Arcadia's shared heritage. The Friends of the Arcadia Museum (FAM) met on November 6 and discussed upcoming programs, including the Make Your Own Snow Globe event and Snow Fest. Volunteers created 500 custom snowmen for FAM to distribute as giveaways, and Board members assembled bags with candy canes, snowmen, and flyers. Curator Acevedo also attended the Arcadia Unified School District PTA meeting to promote the Museum's Educational Kits, Hidden Histories Documentary Series, and upcoming programs. Curator Acevedo also stated that the Museum submitted its application for the 2026 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship grant to fund two paid summer internships. Staff will be notified in Spring 2026. Additionally, the Museum was accepted to present at the 2026 California Association of Museums conference in Los Angeles with the session "The Little Museum that Could: Tiny Team, Mighty Mission," highlighting how the Gilb Museum continues to grow its impact through creativity and strong community partnerships. REPORT FROM MUSEUM EDUCATION COORDINATOR Coordinator Porras stated that in November, the Museum continued in -classroom visits for the Tongva Dictionary program, reaching nine classes at Longley Way and Camino Grove Elementary. A total of 36 classroom visits have been scheduled so far for the 2025-2026 school year, and Holly Avenue Elementary has already requested its annual spring field trip to the Museum. Educational kits remain a strong point of engagement, with all 200 Architecture in Arcadia kits distributed to the community. Athletes in Arcadia kits were assembled with volunteer support and released in October, and 400 of the final 2025 kit, Movies in Arcadia were all distributed. Public programs continued throughout the season. The final Preservation Workshop of the year, focused on genealogy, was held on December 13 and led by Museum Intern Kreuzer and Curator Acevedo. The Museum also hosted a Hidden Histories Documentary Series screening on November 1 featuring "Artbound: Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead." The 2025 Military Banner Program has concluded with 74 banners displayed along Huntington Drive and Baldwin Avenue, including 10 new applicants. The banners were installed in time for Veterans Day and remained on display throughout November. Volunteers played an essential role in preparing for the Make Your Own Snow Globe event, assisting with decorations, event logistics, and a full mock run-through prior to the program. Their efforts resulted in the successful preparation and distribution of 600 snow globes and 500 decorated snowmen. Volunteers also assembled 400 Movies in Arcadia kits, with 300 distributed during Snow Day, and have already begun developing the Museum's first educational kits for 2026. A Holiday Volunteer Party was held on December 20 to recognize their dedication and contributions. CONSENT CALENDAR: a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 5, 2025, AT 5:OOPM in the Museum Education Center at 382 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia. Recommended action: Approve Commissioner Daleo moved to approve Consent Calendar Item "a" which was seconded by Commissioner Ayala. The motion carried. Ayes: Chairperson Carter, Chairperson Pro Tempore Blitz, and Commissioners Ayala and Daleo Noes: None ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Dale Carter adjourned the meeting at 5:38 p.m. to Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum Education Center at 382 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia. Approve d: -_. Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services Prepared by: Lauren Porras, Museum Education Coordinator