HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 11/04/1993 MINUTES
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Advisory Committee Meeting
November 4, 1993
The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum at 12 : 00 Noon,
Thursday, November 4, 1993 . Members Present: Ruth O'Brien, Alda
Klett, Susie Sedwick, Delbert Hooper, Sharon Brower, Dr. Linda
Mora, Cindy Gamez and Alicia Perez . Members Absent: Gene Penne-
baker, Dwayne Dean, and Deborah Kobelan.
Chair Alicia Perez called the meeting to order, and the minutes
of the September 2 meeting were approved as corrected.
The Chair advised that election of officers will take place in
December. She also advised that Art Howerton has resigned from
the Advisory Committee . The Friends Board will make a recommen-
dation to Council to fill this vacancy.
The absences of Cindy Gamez ( from the last meeting) , Sharon
Brower ( for the last four meetings) and Dr. Linda Mora (from the
last two meetings) were approved for good cause .
4a . Mr. Stryker made an in-depth presentation of the Seeds of
Change exhibit design concept and advised that October, 1994 is
the projected completion date. The Friends have spent $85, 000 to
date bringing this exhibit to the Museum. Another $350, 000 is
needed to complete the installation. Work on fundraising will
begin after the Annual Appeal .
4b. The Columbus Fleet Association wishes to hold a fundraiser
at the Museum on December 12 sponsored by the Water Street Market
and has requested that the Advisory Committee make an exception
to the standing rule and allow this fundraiser to take place.
Upon motion made by Ruth O'Brien, seconded by Susie Sedwick, the
Committee unanimously approved that this request be granted.
4b2 . The concept for the picnic area was shown to Mr. Stryker
this morning, and he wanted to pass this along to the Advisory
Committee. The concept is a goldfish bowl with raised beds to
contain the area and permanent artwork on the Museum wall . There
would be two "goldfish" in the "bowl , " along with the 4 tables
and benches, with target seating for one school class . The
tables and benches have been budgeted and will be installed as
soon as possible. The additions will cost $11, 000 and can be
done in stages . However, these additions stand in line behind
the Xeriscape Garden. The Advisory Committee unanimously ap-
proved the concept of the "goldfish bowl, " stating the additions
could be made as time and money permit .
4c. Mr. Stryker advised there were pieces to deaccession. The
Cox:wwittee was shown each item (from Mrs . Kennedy' s home on Broad-
way which were stored in the Kennedy barn after the house was
torn down and were then donated to the Museum) . Many of these
items were stored in the Jordan Building for years . Most of
these items are in poor condition.
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Advisory Committee Meeting
November 4, 1993
Page 2
Mr. Stryker also requested that copies of the Ft . Worth Star
Telegram from the 1930s be deaccessioned. Saving them as an
artifact has little merit since newspaper deteriorates . If
deaccessioned, these newspapers will be offered to the Ft . Worth
Museum. If they don' t want them, they' ll be thrown away.
All of the recommended deaccessions were unanimously approved.
4d. The Advisory Committee was given a demonstration of a
reproduction of the 1554 crossbow made by David Watson of Austin.
We have two of these crossbows . One will be used in the Ship-
wreck exhibit to show how the artifact looked before spending
several hundred years underwater. The second will be used for
school group demonstrations . Both of these crossbows were
purchased by the Friends for the Museum.
Mr. Stryker then pointed out the major attractions of the Seeds
of Change exhibit . He advised that everything is in excellent
condition. The Crossing the Bearing Strait mural will be on
display on the second floor this time next month, and a miniature
Seeds of Change exhibit will be in its place in the North Build-
ing.
The Columbus Fleet Association has asked if the Museum would like
to participate in a joint "billboard" to be located at the North
end of the Museum. This sign would be 40 ' long by 12 ' high. It
would read as follows :
Shipwreck Exhibit
Nina, Pinta & Santa Maria
The Museum' s cost would be $1, 000 . The Advisory Committee
unanimously approved this concept .
4e . Peter Ferretti conducted a session with Museum employees
(paid for by the Friends) . The general idea is to give better
service (second to none) and make each visitor' s stay more
pleasant . Families were targeted when interactive exhibits were
created. Employees have been overlapping jobs so that if some-
thing is wrong, someone will do what it takes to make it right .
Name tags will also be changed, using only the employee's first
name .
Ruth O'Brien reported that, hopefully, work will begin on the
cement for the second pavilion in about two weeks . Work is being
done displaying stuff in the first pavilion . Ruth advised that
everyone will be approached soon to buy a brick with a name on it
(to be part of the Xeriscape Garden) .
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at
1 :25 p.m.
/sso