HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 03/03/2005 000 4.0
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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
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Advisory Committee Meeting
March 3, 2005
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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.