City of Jacksonville Heritage Cultural Center Board met May 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, the May board meeting was held at the Jacksonville Area Museum building (Old Post Office) with a teleconferencing option available in accordance with the suspension of the requirement of the Illinois Open Meetings Act requiring in-person attendance by members of a public body during the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. by David Blanchette, Chairman. Those present included David Blanchette, Chad Boehlke, Diane Hollendonner, Kyla Hurt, Nick Little, Laura Marks, James Pisell, Greg Olson, Samantha Sauer, and Tiffany Warmowski. Absent were Jane Breen, John Clancy, Patsy Erickson (Emeritus), Brittany Henry (Ex-Officio), and Judy Tighe (Ex-Officio). Steve Varble attended as marketing consultant. Also present was McKenna Servis, museum manager.
The minutes of the April 7, 2022, board meeting were approved distributed.
Treasurer Laura Marks reported that the checking account balance was $36,991.61 at the end of April. Expenses included monthly bills (George Alarm, I3Broadband, and garbage pickup), $790.00 to Lawson’s for snow removal, $665.46 to Gaylord for archival storage supplies, $357.82 to Steve Varble for reimbursement on stools and supplies, $135.43 to McKenna Servis for reimbursement on supplies for First Thursday games, and $64.70 to Kyla Hurt for reimbursement of floor mats. She also distributed a record of museum visitors and donations October 2021 through April 2022. It was suggested that visitors should be encouraged to make a donation and sign up as museum members. The donor recognition signs also need to be updated.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Administrative: McKenna Servis presented the manager’s report. The shelving units are currently on backorder until August. The Dominican Sisters will hold an anniversary celebration on April 22, 2023 and have requested that the museum host a temporary exhibit to go with an event that will include a proclamation from the mayor. They will supply all of the exhibit materials from their archives. The Routt exhibit created by Lisa Hall’s class for the 120th anniversary will be set up on May 21 and be on display for one week; they will handle publicity for it. Jim Pisell suggested setting up a Google calendar or something similar to keep track of planned exhibits and events. MacMurray homecoming weekend is June 17-19. The First Thursday Central Park Market brought in about 27 visitors. It was voted to participate again on June 2 and move the board meeting to June 9.
The museum sign still needs a hole dug to install the 12’ post. Blanchette will talk to a contractor about digging the hole and setting the pole in concrete. Scott Jess is still working on the MacMurray Hall lighting installation. The Morgan County Historical Society met recently at the museum. There is $20,614.00 left in the Let’s Make History funds. A reporter from the Journal Courier interviewed Samantha Sauer after noticing the commemoration of county and city bicentennials on the meeting agenda. She explained there were no firm plans yet but the museum was looking forward to working with other county/city entities on the celebrations.
Museum summer interns will be Francesca “Frankie” Boston and Megan Walker. Both interns are looking forward to working at the museum. The interview pool had good candidates.
The Capps exhibit is developing nicely and will be displayed at the end of the west gallery. Terry Maggart donated a Capps suit that is now displayed on a mannequin. The exhibit will include photos of the plant, family history, and Capps Indian blankets. Several interviews with former employees have been completed. Laura Marks suggested preparing a handout with family information. Although it isn’t possible to tour the plant buildings, it may be possible to schedule a walking tour of the neighborhood for museum members with Terry Maggart as the guide. It was voted to authorize spending up to $300 for professional installation of the large Capps sign in the west hall. Another idea for the public event is a speakers’ panel of former employees.
Steve Varble reported that the Mother Carson photo is installed and signs expanded to tell her story (the amphitheater photo had to be moved). There is still too much light coming in through the west windows and may be fading Mother Carson’s birthing book. He will check with Bound to Stay Bound about creating double-sided window photo panels from the Fox/Murray collection to put up in the windows. He also pointed out that the number of COVID deaths reached the one million milestone and the museum should start gathering items to have on hand for an exhibit in future years (items to mark wearing masks, COVID tests, toilet paper shortage, stimulus check letters, signage, etc.).
Fundraising: The Museum Foundation received a $5000 donation from Nancy Becker plus donations in memory of Carol Drennan to assist in preservation of the Drennan collection. Eventually the Foundation will take over membership duties such as renewal reminders and donation solicitations. Steve Varble recommended collecting member emails to send out group messages about special events or general information about the museum.
Jessica Gale at Our Town Books is getting the sales structure for historical books set up. Gift shop items specific to Jacksonville Area Museum need to be developed.
Collections: It was voted to accept donations of Capps suit fabric samples and a repairer’s thread box, a family Bible from Janene Harbison, a 1906 Morgan County Atlas, a Capps box (sample case?), a Capps suit from Terry Maggart and a 1917 Crimson J. Ellen Miller also donated two more mannequins. Greg Olson talked about the Bob Dalton collection of 3x5 index cards (approximately 40,000) recording historical events in Jacksonville and how it might be used as a resource for the museum someday. McKenna reported that Jacksonville Memorial Hospital wants to donate the metal letters (Passavant) from the hospital building.
Exhibits: (See above actions.)
Promotion: Steve Varble distributed a handout with statistics on podcasts showing there had been 129 “listens” so far. McKenna suggested interviewing Dr. Joe Squillace about the Morgan County Poor Farm. Social media has been very active, with 25 new followers and significant interest in posts about the Jacksonville Female Academy, the podcast release, the Capps exhibit announcement, and the Central Park Market information. The new website is almost ready to launch.
OLD BUSINESS: McKenna now has information on how to solve the voice mail problem. The board discussed ideas for promoting attendance from different churches/civic groups in town and possibly featuring items in the collection that have significance to those groups.
NEW BUSINESS: Chad Boehlke reported that shelving is available from Prairie Skies Public Library at a cost of $125 if they could be used at the museum. He also plans to take trash from the basement to the Citywide Cleanup in June. Laura Marks brought up making plans for winter hours in case we want to shorten hours or close during January/February as some other tourist attractions in the area do. Nick Little asked if there is anyone available for off-hours tours in case of special requests; Laura said that she would be available if called. Nick also requested permission to borrow some of the extra doors stacked in the basement to use in a window display in June.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
NOTE CHANGE IN MEETING DATE: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, June 9, 5:15 p.m., at the Old Post Office building, 301 E. State Street. Social distancing rules will be observed and call in option is available upon request.
With no further business or announcements to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
http://cms6.revize.com/revize/jacksonvilleil/city_government/boards_commissions_and_committees/docs/Boards%20Commissions%20Committees/HCC_Minutes/2022/Minutes%2005.12.2022.pdf
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