Roswell Museum Board of Trustees
Regular MeetingRoswell, NM · February 26, 2018
Minutes
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Monday, February 26, 2018
REGULAR MEETING AT 4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by Chair Liakos at 4:05 pm.
ROLL CALL
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees convened with members Anne Baker, Jamie Barnes,
Donovan Fulkerson, Cymantha Liakos, Priscilla Ornelas, Bill Siders, being present. A quorum was
established.
Absent: Members Peggy Krantz, Jessica Parham, Nanette Schumacher, Lorrina Segovia, DeAngela
Velasquez, and City Council Liaison Tabitha Denny were absent.
Staff present: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director; Cindy Torrez, Executive Director, Roswell Museum
and Art Center Foundation; Sara Woodbury, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
Community members present: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Member Baker moved to approve the agenda. Member Ornelas seconded. A voice vote was unanimous
and the motion passed, with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher, Segovia, and Velasquez absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Executive Director Brooks stated that the minutes would be amended to reflect the correct
spelling of Member Baker’s name. Member Baker motioned to approve the minutes for the
January 22, 2018 board meeting with the spelling correction. Member Siders seconded. A voice
vote was unanimous and the motion passed with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher, Segovia,
and Velasquez absent.
INFORMATION ITEM: VISIT TO MICHENER MUSEUM
Curator Woodbury presented three potential acquisitions after sharing images from her recent trip to
Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to attend the opening celebrations for the exhibition Magical and Real:
Henriette Wyeth and Peter Hurd, which will open at the Roswell Museum on June 15. She also shared
photographs of a new exhibition on view in Horgan and Graphics Galleries, Peter Hurd on Paper.
ACTION ITEM: PROSPECTIVE ACQUISITIONS
Curator Woodbury discussed a collection of works by noted abstract artist Doris Cross (1907-1994),
currently held under the purview of her daughter, Norma Cross, in Santa Fe. Curator Woodbury
described the art historical significance of Cross while sharing several images of the works in the
collection. She said that there are at least 200 examples, all documented, and while the Museum is
unlikely to accept all of them due to limited storage, it is interested in the works on paper. Curator
Woodbury mentioned that Norma Cross is interested in having the acquisitions working group visit the
collections on-site so that they can view the works in person.
Curator Woodbury discussed a potential acquisition of works by noted WPA artist Helmuth Naumer
(1907-1990) from his grandson. Originally from Germany, Naumer immigrated to the United States and
received acclaim for his work in pastel. Curator Woodbury stated that while Naumer’s grandson has a
total of about 60 available works, she worked with him to narrow down the selection to 16 potential
works in pastel, watercolor, and oil paint, citing limited storage. The Board expressed an interest in the
works and wanted to see them in-person first, due to the fragile nature of pastels. Chair Liakos then
asked if there are any plans to expand museum storage, as that seems to be an ongoing concern with
acquisitions. Executive Director Brooks stated that staff is currently exploring possibilities for vault
expansion through special grants, but this will likely be several years in the future.
Curator Woodbury discussed a potential acquisition from Signe Stuart, a Santa Fe artist interested in
offering a work by her late husband, Joe Stuart, artist and former director of the Roswell Museum
during the early 1960s. Curator Woodbury mentioned that Roswell Museum collection includes work by
former staff, so the donation is appropriate. She stated that Stuart would also be interested in having
the acquisitions working group visit her studio and see the works in-person. Member Siders motioned
to approve scheduling a time to view the prospective acquisitions in-person. Member Baker seconded.
A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed, with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher,
Segovia, and Velasquez absent.
Curator Woodbury mentioned a prospective loan request for the painting A Letter from Willy by Robert
Colescott. The requesting institution is the Peabody Essex Museum, which is working on a large
exhibition on the bed in American art, scheduled to open in October 2019. She informed the Board that
the work is in excellent condition but will have a conservator look at it first to see whether it is fit to
travel, due to its large scale. The Board discussed that the loan would be a good opportunity to publicize
the Roswell Museum collection, but would not make the loan an action item until after a conservator
had examined the work.
WORKING GROUP UPDATE
Executive Director Brooks discussed the annual report she is currently completing for the City. Once
that is finished, she will be working on a more detailed report for the Museum. She also informed the
board that members interested in other working groups will be hearing from the staff organizing them.
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE REPORTS
Executive Director Brooks presented the membership and visitation numbers for January. She
discussed her interest in increasing Planetarium attendance, which currently averages between
20-50 attendees per show. She is particularly interested in targeting the Wednesday afternoon
show, which is intended to attract early-release students.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Brooks discussed the recent hire of Cydney Littlejohn. She mentioned that Littlejohn
earned her BA in marketing and has recently been working in the healthcare field. She also stated that
Littlejohn brings a professionalism to marketing that will benefit the Museum. Executive Director
Brooks mentioned the Magical and Real retrospective and her recent grant application to the New
Mexico Humanities Council to sponsor a lecture series similar to one being organized by RMAC’s
partnering institution for the exhibition, the James A. Michener Art Museum. She then summarized the
recent successful Gratton workshop, which is an educational program targeting adult students.
Whereas, previously the workshop has been offered every other year, the endowment through the
RMAC Foundation has grown sufficiently to accommodate a workshop ever year, which the Museum
will consider in the future. Executive Director Brooks said that the workshop is intended to introduce
students to media normally not taught at the museum, as well as bring in special guest instructors. In
terms of tuition students previously either paid the full fee or received a need-based scholarship. For
this years’ workshops all students may pay on a sliding scale according to what they can comfortably
afford. This year the Museum is offering two workshops featuring former Roswell Artists-in-Residence,
in conjunction with the special exhibition RAiR at 50. The first workshop, which took place on February
24 and 25, featured Daisy Craddock, who introduced students to pastels. The Museum will offer
another workshop next month with Clayton Merrell, who will teach a class on egg tempera. Executive
Director Brooks then stated upcoming events, including the Brown Bag Talk on February 28 and the film
series on March 1.
RMAC FOUNDATION REPORT
Executive Director Torrez reviewed the murder mystery fundraiser, which took place on February 10.
123 tickets were sold, including five corporate sponsors. Nine items were sold in the live auction.
Executive Director Torrez believed that the event was successful and that the attendees enjoyed
themselves. She also mentioned that the Foundation is looking forward to doing the event next year,
and that it requires less effort to stage than the previous Kentucky Derby fundraiser. She also
mentioned that the Foundation will host its annual meeting in May, and then will not meet in the
summer.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CHAIR’S REMARKS AND BOARD ANNOUNCMENTS
Chair Liakos stated that she will not be present for the March meeting, co-chair Siders will conduct
the March meeting.
ADJOURN
Member Fulkerson motioned to adjourn and Member Baker seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and
the motion passed, with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher, Segovia, and Velasquez absent. The
meeting adjourned at 5:23 pm.
Agenda
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGENDA
Monday, February 26 at 4:00 PM
Bassett Auditorium at RMAC
100 W. 11th Street
Chair: Cymantha Liakos
Members: Anne Baker, Jamie Barnes, Donovan Fulkerson, Peggy Krantz, Priscilla Ornelas,
Jessica Parham, Nanette Schumacher, Lorrina Segovia, Bill Siders, and De Angela Velasquez.
Staff Coordinator: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director, RMAC
City Council Liaison: Tabitha Denny
RMAC Foundation: Cindy Torrez, Executive Director
A. Call to Order
B. Roll Call
C. Approval of Agenda (action item)
D. Approval of Minutes (action item)
1. Consider approval of the January 22 meeting minutes
E. Presentation by Sara Woodbury on visit to James A. Michener Museum (information only)
F. Presentation and consider approval of new acquisitions for collection (action item)
G. Updates by Working Groups (information only)
H. Membership/Event Report
I. Director’s Report
J. RMAC Foundation Report
K. Chair’s Remarks and Board Announcements (information Only)
L. Public Comment
M. Adjourn
Next Meeting: March 19, 2018
Notice of this meeting has been given to the public in compliance with Sections 10-15-1 through 10-15-4 NMSA 1978 and Resolution 17-
49.
NOTICE OF POTENTIAL QUORUM – A quorum of the City Council may or may not attend, but there will not be debate by the City
Council. The Council, acting as attendees to an informational presentation, will not be discussing public business and no action will be
taken.
If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of
auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact Human Resources at 575-624-6700 at least one
week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible. Public documents including the agenda and minutes can be provided in various accessible
formats. Please contact the City Clerk at 575-624-6700 if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed.
Printed and posted: February 23, 2018
DRAFT DOCUMENT
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Monday, January 22, 2018
REGULAR MEETING AT 4:02 PM
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by Chair Liakos at 4:02 pm.
ROLL CALL
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees convened with members Ann Baker, Jamie Barnes, Donovan
Fulkerson, Peggy Krantz, Priscilla Ornelas, Jessica Parham, Nanette Schumacher, Lorrina Segovia, Bill Siders,
and DeAngela Velasquez being present. A quorum was established.
Absent: Member Bill Siders and City Council Liaison Tabitha Denny were absent.
Staff present: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director; Cindy Torrez, Executive Director, Roswell Museum and Art
Center Foundation; Amberly Meli, Registrar
Community members present: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Member Parham moved to approve the agenda. Member Krantz seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the
motion passed, with member Bill Siders absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Parham motioned to approve the minutes for the November 20, 2017, board meeting. Member
Segovia seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed.
SECOND READING OF THE BYLAWS
Chair Liakos and Executive Director Brooks reviewed previous questions regarding the Open Meetings Act as it
relates to the bylaws. In accordance with the Open Meeting Act, Members cannot have a proxy in terms of
voting, but can call into a meeting if necessary. Member Parham motioned to approve the bylaws as amended.
Member Baker seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed, with member Bill Siders
absent. Chair Liakos clarified that the bylaws can be amended at any time, and the Bylaw Working Group was
dismissed until further notice. Member Krantz asked whether the bylaws had been officially approved by the
City. Executive Director Brooks stated that she would send the bylaws to the City Clerk for evaluation, but that
the amended bylaws would stand unless additional changes were needed.
2018 MEETING SCHEDULE
Executive Director Brooks presented a board meeting schedule for 2018. She brought up a question regarding
the date and time of the Annual Meeting to be held in April. Chair Liakos proposed that the meeting last two
hours and should include reports from the staff. The Annual Meeting was moved from the proposed April 16 to
April 23, as it works better for the Board Members. The meeting will be from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, and staff will
be invited. Member Baker motioned to approve the 2018 board meeting schedule with the amendment to the
April meeting. Member Schumacher seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed, with
member Bill Siders absent.
STRATEGIC PLAN WORKING GROUP REPORT
Chair Liakos discussed the outcome of the first meeting of the Strategic Plan Working Group. The working group
identified several areas where the Board can potentially form working groups with staff to help discuss
objectives. The Board discussed forming working groups on the following topics: education, the annual report,
and reviewing policies and practices for the Museum library, and volunteers. Executive Director Brooks
suggested waiting on the volunteer topic until the Communications and Events Coordinator began as they will
play a role in volunteer management. Executive Director Brooks clarified that the working groups must have
fewer than six members to avoid a quorum and that the groups do not make any final decisions, but may
provide recommendations to the entire Board. Member Parham voted to approve the formation of an
education working group, an annual plan working group, and a library working group. Member Baker seconded.
A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed, with member Bill Siders absent. Members Baker, Krantz,
Parham, and Velasquez expressed an interest in the Education Working Group, and indicated the possible
interest of Member Siders. Chair Liakos and Members Baker and Segovia expressed interest in participating in the
Annual Report Working Group. Members Krantz, Ornelas, Parham, Schumacher, and Velasquez expressed an
interest in the Library Working Group.
ACQUISITIONS WORKING GROUP
Executive Director Brooks and Registrar Meli presented the background of a potential acquisition of artwork
from the Doris Cross estate. Executive Director Brooks suggested the formation of an Acquisitions Working
Group to represent the board in a wider discussion of the potential donation and to participate in a possible visit
to the estate to view the works. Member Fulkerson suggested having a rotating Acquisitions Working Group on
standby at any time to discuss potential acquisitions. Executive Director Brooks added that working groups are
not permanent, but are temporary groups created for specific projects. Member Krantz made a motion to put
together an Acquisitions Working Group to explore the Doris Cross donation. Member Baker seconded. A voice
vote was unanimous and the motion passed. Chair Liakos and Members Baker, Barnes, Krantz, Ornelas, and
Parham expressed an interest in taking part. It was agreed that the working group would be officially put
together after staff confirms potential dates to visit the estate.
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE REPORTS
Executive Director Brooks presented the membership and visitation numbers for November and
December. She mentioned there is an interest in including web analytics as a part of future reports. She
discussed how membership numbers are rising and she expects them to continue to do so. There was a
discussion of museum rentals and Executive Director Brooks outlined the new Roswell Convention and
Civic Center schedule of fees and suggested forming a working group in the future to discuss the
Museum’s rental fee schedule to insure that it is consistent and clear.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Brooks gave a hiring status update for the Communications and Events Coordinator position
for which she anticipates a late-February start date. Executive Director Brooks then informed the Board about
some staff office moves and facility updates for the Curator of Education and Bookkeeper office spaces. She
discussed the Holiday Open House, which had 375 visitors. In the future, the plans are to schedule less “sit-
down” performances in the Bassett Auditorium during the open house to encourage more exploration of the
galleries. Executive Director Brooks distributed copies of a January-March Museum Events Listing, which will
serve as a marketing tool for local press, as well as guides for staff, board members, and volunteers and local
organizations that like to stay up-to-date on museum events. She concluded her report with a discussion of
planetarium visitation through the months of November and December, which has varied from as few as two
guests at one show to as many as fifty-eight at another. She discussed the new expanded schedule, which now
includes two shows on Wednesdays at 2pm and 3:30pm to test which time will be better for public school
students on their early release day.
RMAC FOUNDATION REPORT
Executive Director Torrez previewed plans for the Foundation’s upcoming annual fundraiser on February 10. The
Foundation is working with the Neverland Theatre Company on a murder mystery dinner planned around the
“murder” of an art critic. Rather than hold the event over two evenings, the Foundation is hosting the event one
night only, with heavy hors d’oeuvres rather than a sit-down dinner. Tickets are $100 per person and the
Foundation is offering corporate sponsorships at two levels. There will also be a live auction during the event.
The Foundation hopes to sell 200 tickets. The fundraiser is to continue to raise money for the Magical & Real:
Henriette Wyeth and Peter Hurd, A Retrospective exhibition coming to the Museum in June 2018.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CHAIR’S REMARKS AND BOARD ANNOUNCMENTS
None
ADJOURN
Member Parham motioned to adjourn and Members Segovia and Velasquez seconded. A voice vote was
unanimous and the motion passed, with member Bill Siders absent. The meeting adjourned at 5:07 pm.
DRAFT DOCUMENT
Director’s Report to the Board of Trustees
February 26, 2018 Board Meeting
Submitted by: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director
1. Staffing
Cydney Littlejohn (soon to be Cydney Fulks) will be starting on March 9 as the Museum’s Communications and
Events Coordinator. She is originally from San Angelo, Texas, and has lived in Roswell for 6 months. Her
background is in healthcare management and marketing. She has a BA in marketing from Angelo State
University. Her initial projects will focus on upcoming events including pARTy After Hours, Third Thursday, the
Hurd/Wyeth Lecture Series, and the fall art and science festival. She will also start on several marketing
initiatives related to these events as well as museum signage including interior and exterior wayfinding and a
digital signboard. With lots to get done, we anxiously await her joining the staff!
2. Magical and Real opened in Pennsylvania
Sara Woodbury represented the Museum at the opening weekend of Magical and Real: Henriette Wyeth and
Peter Hurd at the James A. Michener Museum of Art in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, January 19 to 21. She gave a
lecture, participated in a panel discussion with co-curator Kirsten Jensen and helped lead a VIP tour. By her
description, the exhibition and related activities were impressive and well-attended. She brought back great
programming and exhibition ideas to inspire our version of the exhibition, which opens on June 15.
3. New Mexico Humanities Council
Drawn from some of the lecture ideas that the Michener Museum is hosting, we submitted a grant to the New
Mexico Humanities Council last week to support five lectures and a panel discussion to take place during
Magical and Real this summer. Topics include how the exhibition came together, biographies of the artists, an
examination of their work and influences, the importance of place to the artists, as well as Wyeth's artistic
family. The speakers will be exhibition co-curators Sara Woodbury and Kirsten Jensen, art historians and
catalogue essayists Leo Mazow and Melissa Renn, and the Curator of the Brandywine River Museum of Art
Christine Podmaniczky.
4. Gratton Workshops
This year we are presenting two Lorene Johnson Gratton art workshops as part of the program funded by the
RMAC Foundation through funds bequeathed by Johnson, a long time museum member, to support workshops
for adults led by professional artists. The two-day workshops present opportunities to access techniques and
artists not normally available through are regular class program. In coordination with the RAiR at 50 exhibition,
two former artists-in-residence, Daisy Craddock from New York and Clayton Merrell from Pennsylvania, will be
joining us on February 24-25 and March 24-25, respectively. Craddock will be presenting “Working with Oil
Pastels and Oil Sticks” and Merrell will present “Exploring Egg Tempera.” The funding provides for travel,
teaching honoraria, as well as supplies and other miscellaneous expenses, and is partially reimbursed through
student tuition. The program allows for those with the financial inability to pay to receive scholarships, and
overall the cost per student is subsidized as it exceeds what the general student can afford. This year, with
support by a committee from the Foundation, we are offering the workshops on a sliding scale based on what
students can afford to pay up to $125 (as opposed to scholarship/no scholarship). Spaces are still open for
March’s workshop.
5. Film Series and Brown Bag Lunch Talks
We have begun screening the Documentary Film Series with Jodorowsky’s Dune on February 1 and Cutie and the
Boxer on February 15. The films and series idea have been very well-received and have set an excellent tone for
the remaining film (Beauty is Embarrassing on March 1) as well as future series. We also presented the first of
this year’s Brown Bag Lunch Talks on January 31 for which Sara Woodbury lectured on Pennsylvania
Impressionism to accompany the exhibition in the Founders Gallery. I invite you to attend our upcoming talks
and film and encourage you to promote them to friends and family.
5. pARTy After Hours
Based on the success of last year’s pARTy After Hours, we are scheduled to present two more in 2018. The first
will be held on March 30 and the second will be in September. The event was conceived as a pilot series of after
hours events, geared for adults, that aim to expand access to the Museum and present art as an integral aprt of
our lives. 217 people attended the last event, which featured art-making, live music, a film screening, gallery
tours, games, food and a cash bar. We also hosted a kids zone for parents to drop off their children while they
enjoyed the event. Funding is provided by the RMAC Foundation with additional support by Roswell Next and
YPAC. March’s event will feature artists Julie Alpert and Andy Arkley with interactive sound and art installations.
We’ll be looking for volunteers to help. Let me know if you are available.
Upcoming Events
• Saturday and Sunday, February 24 & 25: Gratton Art Workshop: Oil Pastel and Oil Stick with Daisy
Craddock
• Wednesday, February 28, 12 noon – Brown Bag Lunch Talk: Peter Hurd on Paper with Sara Woodbury
• Thursday, March 1, 7 pm - Art Documentary Film Screening: Beauty is Embarrassing
• Wednesday, March 28, 12 noon – Brown Bag Lunch Talk: Museum Manners 101 with Amberly Meli
• Saturday and Sunday, March 24 & 25: Gratton Art Workshop: Egg Tempera with Clayton Merrell
• Friday, March 30, 6-9 pm: pARTy After Hours
More details are available in the current issue of the newsletter.
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