Fisher House Board Meeting

01/17/06

Minutes

 

Attending: Brad Emerson, Deale Salisbury, Amey Dodge, Gary Vencil, Maureen Rawding, Jim Fisher, Bob Slaven, Karen Wyatt

 

December Minutes: approved without revision

 

Annual Appeal

·      $6200 in contributions to date

·      $5,000 grant from Belvedere Foundation

·                    Better than last year.

·                    Process was difficult.

·                    Brad announced that he prefers to contract with downeast graphics for labeling next year. We should start earlier building the list.

·                    Each board member will be responsible for adding personal notes to the letters or they will have to be sent anonymously.

 

Garden and Historic House Tour - Bob Slaven

·                    Partners: Fisher House, Blue Hill Historical Society

·                    Committee members: Bob Slaven, Amey Dodge, Maureen Rawding, Brad          Emerson, Carol Blyberg, David Snow, Justine Schneider, John Roberts

·                    Steering committee met last night

·                    Tour will be held on a Thursday July 20th, 10:00 to 5:00

·                    Tour fee will be $20.00

 

Archives

·                    Brad has spent some time in the archives

·                    Activity in the archives have been very slow

·                    Current system merged documents, objects and ...

·                    Brad brought Richard Boulet to visit the archive

·                    Richard Boulet’s comments:

·           Digitize objects to be added to the Maine memory network

·           Work with someone who is experienced in digitizing the artifacts

·           Should seek a grant for this project - Karen is aware of lots of grants

·           Concerned about the climate and humidity controls, risk of fire.  The library has

·           Detailed cataloging is recommended for the library. 

·           Networking computers recommended.  Library has some materials that they can provide.

·        At some time a new computer may be helpful for managing digital files.

·        Karen noted that we need a consistent hand working on accessions.

·        There are security issues, need a lock on the archives door, etc. – Jim has a deadbolt and plans to install it.

·        The archives committee will need to meet about this.

 

Financial Analysis

See handouts for income and expense projections

 

Assets

Bar Harbor Bank          $190,000

Stocks                            $17,000

Union Trust                     $10,000

 

Income Projections - see handouts

 

De-accessions

·        Blue Hill Historical Society has sold some of Esther Woods rugs

·        Need to review past minutes to understand how revenues are distributed from sales of the rugs.

·        Bill Petry, Brad Emerson and Burton Perle will work on the sale of non-fisher owners

·        Esther Woods rugs are going to considered for sale

·        Bob Slaven moves to empower the Accessions Committee to sell these rugs

·        Bob moves that the board directs the President to dispose of items that are not significant for the Fisher Collection

 

Expenses

·        Anticipate an increase staffing during the summer.

·        No sewer fee should appear under expense as this house is on well and septic.

·        Internet costs will be higher

·        Add $300 for alarm and some amount for fire extinguisher

 

Museums

·        Exhibitions - new labels for artifacts

·        Mural - an enlarged morning in Blue Hill image

·        Karen may be able to digitize the image with her equipment.  Brad can send her the transparency/negative.

 

Development

·        Advertising

·        Brochure

·        Meeting with New Cargos and others to market materials

·        Consignments with local craftspeople

·        Board approves sending this draft to the budget

·        Budget committee will meet at Amey's house on Wednesday january 25th at 4:30 PM

·                    The sentiment of the board is to turn this portfolio over to the Bar Harbor Bank and Trust

·                    Jim- Motion to empower the finance committtee to empower Bar Harbor Bank and Tust to actively manage the portfolio. Amey seconds, motion passes

 

Kitchen and yet more de-accessions

·          Fisher Kitchen is not a good historic re-creation

·          Brad suggest that the room be re-designed as a moving exhibit space

·          The rocking bench may be original.

·          There are other items that also may be original - the old table is a Farnsworth loan.

·          Bob - Motion that the board empower the acquisitions committee to redesign the kitchen area to become a reception area and museum space.  The committee is empowered to sell items that are not of historical significance with funds going to an acquisitions fund.

·          Jim Moves Amey seconds motion to place funds from all sales of these items into an Acquisitions Fund. Passed

 

Acquisitions

·        EBay - won and action for a pillow case embroidered by Mary Fisher Stevens and a third copy of the photo.  One copy of the photo will be put on long term loan with the parsonage.

·        Brad is donating a copy of the Maine Catalog

·        Brad recommends purchasing a copy of Maine and the Early Republic that includes an article "Jonathan Fisher's Emblematic Mind"  Purchase cost is $30

·        Kevin Murphy is writing a book on Jonathan Fisher.  Brad has another copy of his book.

 

Historical Society is deciding about their open hours.

 

Fisher House Staffing Needs

 

Manager Position

·        Jim - need to email past job descriptions to board

·        Discussion of hiring needs for the summer.

·        Joyce is interested in working for the house again next summer.

·        Discussion moved to whether Joyce might be contracted for office management services for approximately four hours per week

 

Internship

·        Christopher Brazee has submitted a resume and list of proposed activities for the Fisher House.

·        Jim will send a copy of the CD to Karen and Brad of what has been photographed.

·        Jim moves, Maureen second motion to approve $1,200 toward an internship and to authorize Brad to negotiate with Christopher Brazee based on Christopher

 

Volunteers

·        Board Commitment: Each of the board members present agreed to assist with interpretation next summer.

·        We will also need to be more aggressive in seeking other volunteers.

 

Formation of a personnel Committee

·        Deale, Amey and Maureen will work on a description of a contract

·        Maureen moves and Karen seconds for the personnel committee to develop a contract for 4 hours per week to pay for office management and book keeping services. 

·        The executive committee is empowered to offer the contract.

 

 

Museum Hours

Amey moved and Karen seconds motion to open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1-4.

 

Fisher House Brochure - need to develop a new brochure

·                    Jim Fisher and Deale agreed to work on a brochure

·                    Karen recommended hiring a professional to create the brochure

 

 

Next Meeting Tuesday February 7th at 3:30 PM at the Fisher House

 

Respectfully submitted, Jim Fisher, Temp.