HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 05/03/2012MINUTES JUN 01 2092
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Advisory Committee Meeting CITY SECRETARY'S C
May 3, 2012
The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at Noon
on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Members Present include: Jonda Halcomb, Robert Hatherill,
Kathy Juneau, Tom Kimes, Shannon Madden, Jim Moloney, Scott Sutherland, and Linda Torno,
Upon motion by Tom Kimes and seconded by Scott Sutherland, the minutes of the April
5, 2012 regular meeting were unanimously approved.
Luci Sosa has resigned from the Advisory Committee to accept appointment on another
City committee. Upon motion by Linda Torno and seconded by Kathy Juneau the
absences of Robert Halcomb, Shannon Madden, and Jim Moloney were excused for good
cause.
Business:
a. The Museum's recommended General Fund budget for FY 2013 leaves expenditures at FY
2012 levels but mandates strategies to significantly increase earned revenue. To fund this
initiative $25,000 from HOT tax and $25,000 from the Endowment were allocated immediately
to spend on advertising:
• Chris Cisneros, Special Projects Coordinator for Development Services, has been
working on this on behalf of the Museum. She presented the creative artworks for signs,
banners, ads, and billboards done by Brad Snyder.
• Ms. Cisneros then presented the Summer Advertising Campaign that she developed for
the Museum.
• Rick Stryker outlined the earned revenue objectives of this campaign. The overall goal is
to increase earned revenue by $250,000 by doubling paid attendance while increasing
revenue from rentals and events.
Jim Moloney reminded Committee members that negotiations have been ongoing for
some time for an MOU between the Friends (for whom he is President) and the City.
They have reached a critical stage including some new strategies for partnering with
private entities to increase earned revenue. Jim wanted to expand the negotiating team to
include additional representatives from the Advisory Committee. He appointed Kathy
Juneau who is a member of the Auxiliary as well as an Advisory Committee member and
Scott Sutherland from the Advisory Committee to participate in these negotiating
sessions on behalf of the Committee. He also tentatively scheduled an Advisory
Committee special meeting for May 24 at Noon to review the provisions of the MOU
and to consider a recommendation to the City Council.
• Rick reported on the coupon and discount ticket program that has been significantly
ramped up. Then he showed Committee members examples of the advertising
investments already made this year by the Friends in the effort to increase public
awareness of the Museum.
b. There is a parallel strategy underway by the Friends to enhance private support.
• Development Director Patricia Drolet reported on two of these strategies being
implemented through the Friends, the Honor Roll coupon give away to deserving
students and the Summer Pass Program to provide seasonal discounted family admission
to the Museum from June 12 through August 10, 2012,
• Ms. Drolet then reported on the effort to obtain private support to fund the salary of the
Museum Archeologist through July 2013 to allow him time to finish the Lower Nueces
River Valley Project.
• In partnership with school districts, coupons for free child admission (with accompanying
adult) will be given out to reward student academic achievement.
• Ms. Drolet and Mr. Moloney then reported on the 2012113 lecture series, calendar and
annual appeal, all sponsored by the Friends to raise funds for the Museum. Also in the
plan for the next year is a fund raising event that has not yet been conceptualized.
• Over the past three years the Gift Shop has shown average gross sales of $90,200 with an
average net return of about 7.1 %. The inventory is maintained at $28,000 to $50,000 at
retail. Per capita sales are $1.48. So as attendance increases both gross sales and net
return will grow.
c. Staff Reports
• The exhibits planned for the next year include completion of the new Kenedy Gallery
exhibit on the Gilded Age in Corpus Christi by this summer, installation of a new'exhibit
element in the Children's Wharf, and completion of the Change Over Time exhibit that
will be installed in the South Building in space currently occupied by the PaIeo and
Marine Science exhibits.
• Rick Stryker briefly reviewed the education and public programming planned for the next
year under a plan similar to the current year.
The meeting adjourned at 1 :15 p.m.
2012 Meeting Schedule: Thursdays: June 7, August 2, September 6,
October 4, November 1, December 6