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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 04/02/2009 RECEIVED JUN 0 3 2009 CfiYSECRETARY'S OFFICE MINUTES Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History Advisory Committee Meeting April 2, 2009 The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at Noon on Thursday,April 2, 2009. Members Present: Jonda Holcomb, Robert Hatherill, Kathy Juneau, Tom Kimes, Shannon Madden, Jim Moloney,Nelida Ortiz, Luci Sosa, and Linda Torno. Upon motion by Kathy Juneau and seconded by Robert Hatherill, the minutes of the March 5, 2009 meeting were approved as presented. Upon motion by tom Kimes and seconded by Robert Hatherill, the Committee unanimously excused the absences of Jonda Holcomb, Tom Kimes,Nelida Ortiz, Luci Sosa and Linda Tomo. Business: a.The Museum was told to submit a budget request for FY 2009/10 that was 3%below this year's adopted budget. The FY 2008/09 budget, not including allocations, is $1,343,617. The proposed budget for FY 2009/10 is $1,305,962. The reductions came from anticipating lower electrical costs and eliminating the funding for vacant staff positions (1.6 FTE's). It is anticipated that revenues for the new fiscal year will amount to $316,321, which is also less than the $335,532 that was budgeted for this fiscal year. Upon motion by Tom Kimes and seconded by Linda Tomo the Committee unanimously recommended that the City Council approve the budget as submitted. b.Construction of the Voyage exhibit is a little behind schedule. It should be completed and delivered in May and installed in early June. The opening events will be timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary on July 20 of the first moon landing(Apollo 11). On that day there will be a public presentation by visiting scientists at Flour Bluff Auditorium that will be open to the entire community. On July 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a workshop for 60 science teachers from across the community to teach them how to integrate the exhibit into their curriculum. Funds are still being raised for the Journey through the Universe programming that is planned for next school year. There will be four family science nights, 304 classroom programs by visiting scientists, and 305 teachers trained. c. Bath Engineering is designing the facility revisions that were approved in the Bond 2008 package. The greatest portion of the work involves HVA/C improvements including the replacement of eight air handlers. Although some energy efficiencies will be realized by replacement four air handlers in the South Building, greater efficiencies will be found by replacing the four air handlers on the roof of the North Building with SCANNED R V three units. Some inconvenience will be experienced by visitors with the South Building work, but the North Building will probably have to be closed for a period of as much as four weeks. That closing, if necessary, will hopefully be timed to coincide the off season in December and January. Work on the projects in this package could begin this fall. d. The Advisory Committee spent one meeting in 2008 brain storming a replacement exhibit for the"Paleo Hall"including the identification of the"change over time" concept as the exhibit theme. We delayed further work on the exhibit so that we could focus on completing the Cultural Encounters exhibit, which is now virtually completed. Our approach to developing exhibits has now evolved. Leading the effort to develop the exhibit will be education staff including Sandra Linderman and science educator Kristi Cantu. They are beginning the work of conceptualizing the exhibit and will enlist involvement of interested science curriculum coordinators from school districts. Similar to the Cultural Encounters exhibit,the installation will likely be phased over a prolonged period of time due to our limited exhibit and education staff. e. Staff reports -The Land and Sea Odyssey was again successful. The Museum sold 40 new memberships. From our partner institutions there were 1,336 members of the Aquarium, 190 members of the Botanical Gardens, 160 members of the Lexington, 58 members of the Art Museum, and 19 members of the Asian Cultures Museum. -The Harte Library will display the Earth From Space exhibit through April. This exhibit was acquired by the Museum from the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Service. It will be displayed at the Museum this summer. The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.