Fisher House Board Meeting
2/7/2006
Minutes
Attending: Brad Emerson, Bob Slaven, Carol Blyberg, Jim Fisher, Amey Dodge, Maureen Rawding, Gary Vencil
January Minutes: Approved without revision.
Treasurers Report:
Annual Appeal: $8,220
Total Income July 1 – February 7: $16,….
Expenses July 1 – February 7: $11,…
Treasurers Report Accepted
No Fisher Moment
Acquisitions
EBay Auctions:
t Jonathan Fisher Letter currently ending Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM
t More will be posted over time.
o The seller is not willing to consider scanning or photocopying the letter(s)
o The seller wants to sell these one at a time
t Brad proposes that we bid $1,000 at the last moment.
t Brad proposes to offer $800 for the balance of the letters.
Other acquisitions
t Brad proposes to approach the owner of Journal #55 and the Geometry Book to see what price he will sell these.
Sales
t Brad would like to explore the possible sale of surplus original copies of the Scripture Animals
t Other surplus objects may raise between $1,500 to $2,000
Motion:
Motion that Brad be authorized to bid a reasonable amount for the Jonathan Fisher letter.
Motion passed with one dissent.
Motion that Brad be encouraged to negotiate for an amount between $800 to $2,000 for the Fisher family letters.
Motion passed with one abstention.
Jim asked whether we can request copies. Karen suggested that the auction winner needs to be contacted for permission.
Staffing
Amey has spoke with Joyce about a work schedule.
Joyce would work for the house:
Day Hours
Thursday 5 hours
Friday 5 hours
Saturday 4 hours
Total cost would be approximately $3,015
Employment offer June 22 – September 24th
Jim moves, Carol seconds a motion to offer this contract.
Passed without dissent.
Summer Hours
House will open Thursday, Friday and Saturday Approximately 11:00 – 3:00
Budget
Questions:
Benefits for Joyce – presumes that she will be an employee during the summer.
Joyce’s work will be as a contractor this spring.
Revision – Painting storage $108.
Karen moves adoption of the budget.
Motion passes without dissent.
Historic House Tour – Committee Report –
t Date: Thursday, July 20th
t Houses: Newton, Butler, Bjorkman, Rawding, LeCompte, Lyons, Fisher House, Stevens (Parsonage), Widman, Holt. Waiting to hear from Nevin.
t The committee is now selling advertising space in the tour booklet.
t Tickets will be sold at the Holt House and refreshments will be served here.
Black House Report – Bob Slaven
t Looking at the Black House Budget – they have a much larger budget with many foundation contributors.
t Brad, Bob and others are looking at these lists of contributors to explore the potential for future Fisher House
t The Fisher house is pursuing
Request from the Farnsworth
Request to borrow a self portrait, spring and an original Scripture Animals
Passed without dissent.
Further agreed that we will explore long term keeping of the Scripture Animals
Recent acquisitions
Historic Pillow Case displayed.
Investments
The portfolio has been turned over to Bar Harbor Bank and Trust Optimum Program
Brad handed out a few pages of graphics representing the investment distribution.
Brad noted that our portfolio is currently worth a little more than $200,000
Fisher Moment – Gary Vencil
Gary passed out copies of his Index to Mary Ellen Chase’s Jonathan Fisher: Maine Parson
He read a section from the book on the Harvard riots.
Gary is working (off and on) an index to Scripture Animals Another index of the book may already exist.
Phone and Internet
Decision to move ahead with broadband access, etc. approved.
Museum Exhibit Technology
Next meeting: March 7th 4:00 PM at the Fisher House