Roswell Museum Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes Monday, September 16, 2013 @ 4:00 pm Bassett Auditorium MEMBERS PRESENT: Joyce Tucker, Melinda Gonzalez, Jaimie Barnes, Laurie Mitteer, Peggy Krantz, Rey Berrones, Tom Tutor, Carolyn Sidd MEMBERS ABSENT: Ivan Hall, Jason Garcia, Sashua Patton OTHERS PRESENT: Barbara Patterson, Stephen Vollmer, Deborah Melancon, Tracy Hutcherson CALL TO ORDER: 4:09 p.m. PRESIDENT’S REMARKS: Joyce Tucker, President APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Jaimie Barnes moved to accept the minutes, Melinda Gonzalez seconded: all were in favor and the motion carried without dissent. FINANCIAL REPORT: Deborah Melancon, Bookkeeper. Inclusion of budget and fiscal year to date expenses. MEMBERSHIP REPORTS: Tracy Hutcherson, Membership Coordinator Inclusion of verbal membership report as computer program has not been fixed as of yet. EDUCATION COMMITTEE: None. ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE: Recommended two pieces at the last meeting. 1. Bruce Berman piece. We do have another (older) piece by Bruce Berman. Carolyn Sidd moved to recommend acceptance to the Board, Peggy Krantz seconded: all were in favor and the motion carried without dissent. This acquisition has been finalized. 2. Natasha Bowdin piece. This piece is a thank you card relevant to her RAiR exhibit. This piece would be matted and framed. Rey Berrones moved to recommend acceptance to the Board, Laurie Mitteer seconded: all were in favor and the motion carried without dissent. This acquisition has been finalized. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: None. DIRECTOR’S REPORT: 1. Staff – The part time position of Museum Attendant I has opened again with Marcus de Thouars stepping up to Museum Attendant I full time. In turn, Erika Ikeda-Hobbs has stepped into the position of Museum Attendant II. The part time position of Museum Attendant I was posted by the city last week and we expect to begin a review of applications next week, with interviews to follow. Tracy Hutcherson has returned from maternity leave. 2. Relating to exhibits Sara Woodbury and Stephen Vollmer recently had the opportunity to guide journalist Rosalyn Stevenson through the Museum. Initially she called wanting a phone interview to serve as a “filler” for the September 4th edition of The Zine: Living and Entertainment Guide that is distributed throughout Chaves, Lea, Eddy, Lea, Otero and Lincoln Counties. She agreed to drive down from Lincoln and resulted in a 3 hour visit. The RMACE became the Cover feature 1  with Jim Waid’s Sundial used as the cover image. The article inside is a full three page spread in color. The FAL annual show opened on August 22 in the Bassett Auditorium and ran through September 1. It was a great success and brought hundreds of visitors to the museum that might otherwise not have come. The League has already met to discuss lining up dates for next year. Following the completion of re-lighting and painting of the Spring River Gallery, installation of Aria Finch’s exhibition began on August 20 and opened to the public on September 5. A reminder: Her reception will be held on Saturday, September 28 following her having received the Governor’s Award in Santa Fe on the 27th. Ven Voisey’s exhibition, The Unfinished Animal, in the Winston Marshal Gallery was (temporarily) closed due to the heavy rains this last week. Following the take down of Ven Voisey’s exhibit (9.22), RAiR artist Derek Chan, will begin the installation of his exhibition on the 23rd with a soft opening (9.28). His lecture and reception is scheduled for October 18. October 25: Sara Woodbury, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, is in the process of making final selections and has entitled the exhibit: Art as Flux/Subject to Change. The exhibit, based up on a selection of works from the RMAC Permanent Collection will explore how art and creativity are linked to the inevitability of change. 3. Programs and Events – September 26 – Film Series, Standing out, will air Thursday evening at 7:00 pm. October 1 – 11:00 am: Aria Finch will give a gallery talk on the works in her exhibition, Tweeting Elations. October 5 – Block Party and Chalk Art Festival October 12: Reading of his Haiku poetry by John Brandi. October 19 – Martie Zelt Lecture October 25 – Art as Flux/Subject to Change soft opening October 26 – Papermaking workshop with Martie Zelt – Free. November 22 – Jessica Kirkpatrick will lecture on her works to be seen in her exhibition. December 7 – Holiday Open house 4. Meetings and In-House activity August 28 – A meeting was held with Lorie Mitteer, Carolyn Mitchell and Earnie Crawford representing the Pecos Valley Quilters who are preparing for the Roswell National Quilt Show to be held in the Civic Center next year. The discussion centered on ways the RMAC may collaborate in programming which might be a weekend quilting workshop held in conjunction of the Civic Center Exhibition. September 9 – Stephen Vollmer met with the Mayor, City manager and the RISD Superintendent. The meeting concentrated on working together to bring the Planetarium up to full speed with regular programming for the students as well as the citizens of Roswell and visitors to the community. The City has re-opened it’s search for the position of RMAC director. Applications will be accepted through the 27th of this month. 5. Building and Grounds. a. Spring River Gallery – the lighting and painting is complete, the replacement ceiling tiles arrived following the installation of Tweeting Elations. They will be installed after the take down of the current exhibit. b. The Museum continues to deal with the roof leak problems. The staff has responded by moving works and maintaining a constant watch. City offices and departments have been actively engaged in the conversations and dialogues focusing on safety analysis of the situation. We have documented and tracked areas and maintain ongoing checks by all staff in the galleries and areas beyond public access. 2  c. The protective cage required for the new A/C unit and compressor for the Annex has yet to arrive. Randy Creighton in Facilities & Maintenance is overseeing the project and will let us know the moment the cage arrives and will proceed with the installation. d. Motor for the Spring River Fountain on the right side of the entry bridge has been installed. e. No further action or discussion relating to previous mention of the difficulty of visible signage identifying the RMAC located on the SE corner of the building, facing south has taken place. f. Lester Corbell has submitted 2 refined proposals for the sign to be placed on West 11 th street gate that would provide visitors and guests with the needed information/instruction on finding the museum entrance. g. No further information has been provided concerning the status of the Spring River Bridge. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Block Party – Please see Meredith Bennett for information on where to volunteer and what time. 2. Parade – If any of the board members would like to volunteer passing out post cards in the parade, please contact Nancy Fleming. OTHER BUSINESS: NOMINATING COMMITTEE: N/A BOT Meeting adjourned: Tom Tutor moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:55 pm. The motion was seconded by Carolyn Sidd: all were in favor and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Tracy Hutcherson, Membership Coordinator, for Ivan Hall, Secretary/Treasurer 3