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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 09/06/2007 MINUTES Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History 71: , C Y r' o; Advisory Committee Meeting �� September 6, 2007 s. rt& The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at Noon on Thursday, September 6,2007. Members Present: Margaret Bolick, Robert Hatherill, Jonda Holcomb, Nelida Ortiz, Phyllis Riddle, and Linda Tomo. Business: 1. Upon motion by Phyllis Riddle and seconded by Linda Tomo the minutes of the August 2 meeting were unanimously approved. 2. Upon motion by Linda Tomo and seconded by Margaret Bolick the absence of Robert Hatherill from the June and July meetings was excused for good cause. 3. Rick Stryker reminded Committee Members that the presentation of the Visualized Concept Study to the City Council by Ralph Appelbaum will be on September l 1, 2007. Members are asked to attend that meeting if possible. 4. Upon motion by Phyllis Riddle and seconded by Linda Tomo the Committee unanimously recommended that the City Council support the solicitation of funds for Voyage:A Journey through our Solar System exhibit as well as the placement of the exhibit along the seawall. 5. Upon motion by Linda Tomo and seconded by Phyllis Riddle the Committee unanimously adopted the Education Program Fee Schedule recommended by staff. This Fee Schedule will go into effect when it has been approved by the City Manager. 6. Upon motion by Margaret Bolick and seconded by Robert Hatherill the Committee unanimously adopted the Birthday Party Policy recommended by staff. This Policy will go into effect when it has been approved by the City Manager. 7. Committee members reviewed a report showing a 30% increase in attendance in summer 2007 and an increase in school group attendance over the past fiscal year by 8%. Although experience enhancement programming provided on a daily basis (except Sunday) certainly had an impact, other factors including rainy weather contributed to the increase. 8. The Museum Director asked that the Advisory Committee concur with his appointment of Robert Whistler as Honorary Curator of the Study Collection. The Museum has had honorary curators for a very long time, but the revision of the collection policy calls for a more active recruitment of professionals with training and expertise in collections management and research to serve in honorary capacities and to serve on collection committees to help in the development and implementation of collection management policies. Bob is a trained naturalist, retired from the National Parks Service, with education and training that would qualify him to be a professional curator. He has functioned on a very high level for quite a while working with a number of curators and collection managers. SCANNED tr, rl Also part of the collection policy is the creation of adjunct curator appointments. This is a title more akin to those in the university environment so it is assumed that this title, although similar in function, might be more appropriate for a university researcher or faculty member. Upon motion by Margaret Bolick and seconded by Nelida Ortiz the Committee unanimously concurred with the appointment. 9. The Columbus ships are not in seaworthy condition. A marine survey of Nina done in January found that the condition of the ship had deteriorated to the point that an investment of at least $400,000 would be needed to use it as a dockside exhibit with public access. The ships should be refitted at least every ten years. Nina was last refitted in 1994 and the other two were refitted in 1997. They were surveyed in 2001 and again in 2005. As might be expected their condition is deteriorating. Two full time people are not enough to sustain three vessels. The City Council was recently asked by a citizen to support the effort by him and a group of people who anticipated that a fairly modest investment of money and labor might be adequate to refit Nina. Rick Stryker met with him and apprised him of the condition of the ships as well as the plan to refit the ships and then enclose them in a new facility. Mr. Stryker provided Committee Members with two pieces of information. One answering the question of whether the Columbus ships could ever be used as passenger carrying vessels or sail training vessels. The answer is no. The second piece was pulled from the Pride of Baltimore II web site which gave a little history of that ship which was specifically built with modern modifications that permitted it to be certified for functioning as a traditional sailing vessel. This approach is certainly possible as an adjunct to the plans to create a new museum facility to include the Columbus ships. There was a general discussion regarding this information and how the Museum might work with outside entities to create a demonstration historic vessel. 10. Mr. Stryker reported on the investigation by staff in the potential use of a Smart Board in Museum programming. He also reported that the Elissa will make a port visit hosted by the City, including the Marina and the Museum. The Front Porch sound system has been revamped with sound equipment that is much better for the current use of the area. This was supported by income from the Permanent Endowment Fund. The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.