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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 03/03/2005 000 4.0 02930 31 , MINUTES y 4 e° \ Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History Advisory Committee Meeting ' CReCrj 0'95 March 3, 2005 '�'� ryS`;� CJ mi The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Confere 0e loom at Npp1i"`y on Thursday,March 3, 2005. Members Present: Grady Price Blount, Margaret c d 8kiStiaron Brower, Joe Martinez, Phyllis Riddle, and Linda Scott. Upon motion by Grady Price Blount and seconded by Margaret Bolick the minutes of the February 3, 2005 meeting were unanimously approved. Business: A. Rick Stryker reviewed the revenue and expenditure projections for the remainder of the fiscal year. It appears that the expenditures will be within budget. The extraordinary increase in electrical costs is being offset by maintaining staff vacancies through the end of the fiscal year. Most revenue categories are expected to meet budget objectives. Facility rentals for the Museum(13490) will exceed expectations. The noteworthy disappointment is that admission revenue, the major source for Museum revenue, will not only be significantly below budget but will also continue a long term decline, an ominous reflection of the decline in attendance. This does not bode well as a foundation for the projected budget for FY 2005/06. B. The Committee once again contemplated fees for admission and facility rental. A chart showing the continuing decline in paid attendance suggested that it would be a poor time to raise admission fees. A compilation of the admission rates of 12 South Texas institutions and 7 of comparable institutions across the state provided convincing evidence that our admission rates were"competitive." C. The Committee reviewed a series of charts that provided a historical perspective to the Museum's current situation. The Committee was reminded that museums provide services based on their missions—a copy of the mission was the starting point for this review: a) Over the past 20 years General Fund support for the Museum has followed a gradual increase from $600,000 to just under$1.4 million. b) This support resulted in fluctuation in staff size from 19.5 FTE's through a peak of 31 FTE's to the present 17.8 FTE's. c) The Museum has served an audience that shrunk from+175,000 when Museum admission was free(until 1990); to a level in the middle 1990's that fluctuated (+110,000); to an attendance that continues the relentless decline from 56,042 last year. d)Private support through the Friends has addressed an exhibit and program need that, while significant, has not been growing as a percent of overall support. D. hi the light of shrinking resources, fueled by declining attendance and revenue, there was a consensus of those present that a revision of the Museum's mission was an urgent need. A sub committee appointed by Committee Chair Phyllis Riddle consisting of Grady Price Blount, Margaret Bolick, and Phyllis will begin a dialogue with the Friends Board and Dusty Durrill regarding the development of a process to determine the future of the Museum. E. hi answer to the request that the Committee be briefed on recent marketing efforts, Rick shared a variety of examples including: Texas Heritage Trail brochures similar to what will SCANNED %or /et S Advisory Committee Meeting March 3, 2005 Page 2 be developed with 20 south Texas counties (Texas Tropical Trail) and paid advertising including Chamber of Commerce Map, South Texas Weddings, Que Pasa, and Corpus Christi is for Kids). There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.