Meeting Minutes
December 4, 2003

Present at the meeting: Bill Siedlecki, Bill Wikrent, Dave Barnard, Don Steffen, Frank Kennett, Glenn Gehring, Hank Thomas, Kevin Thorie, Orv Nelson, Robert Swanson, Roy Ostenso, George Peltier, Annette Taylor, Bob Dahlke.

There were no corrections to the minutes from the previous meeting.

Membership:
Don Steffen forwarded a proposal for membership to the Stout Historical Association. The DCHS board had approved the following plan: Persons may join DCHS at whatever level they wish (single, couple, senior, and so on) and for $10 more become an SHA member. That $10 goes to the Stout Historical Fund in the DCHS budget.

If someone joining wants to donate a larger amount to the SHA, they can designate that in the "additional contribution" section of the form.

The DCHS membership committee is going to look at those categories (there are 8!) and simplify that as well. By charging a "surcharge" for the Stout group we don't have to worry now about the changes that the membership committee will propose.

The DCHS's new membership form will include a checkbox for SHA. When we write our letter to Alumni, we will just provide our own version of the form indicating the costs for each category. The DCHS treasurer will know how to split that out.

Current Membership for DCHS is listed below: $10.00 would be added to one of the first four membership categories for membership into the SHA. (SHA membership)

It was pointed out that we need to create a list of things, such as office supplies, exhibit display and storage shelving, display cases, promotional materials, etc. in order that potential members would have an idea what the money would be used for.

Postcard project
Bill Wikrent shared photos with the group. These might be used as a promotional tool to help raise funds and perhaps as a gift to those who would support SHA with larger financial contributions. Bill will work with Stout students in graphics arts classes during the second semester to finalize cost and other details. He will bring that information back to the group at a later meeting.

Letter to Stout Alumni
Robert Swanson distributed a draft of a letter to Stout alumni. A second page will allow alumni to return information about items that they would send to the museum. Intent to donate. A membership form made up by Don Steffen will be sent with the letter. A self-addressed envelope will also accompany the mailing. It was suggested that we not mail to alumni prior to the Christmas holidays. Bob Dahlke and Don Steffen are working with Jim Tenorio on printing letterhead stationery and envelopes. Our E-mail address and Web page and a list of the Steering Comm. will be added to the letterhead. The Alumni Office will help address and fund the first class mailing. A commemorative stamp will be used.

Grant application
Orv Nelson will work with Sue Foxwell from the university on writing grants that would help with start up and sustaining expenses. It was suggested that we might contact area business for support. We might also look into employer matching programs.

Oral History Committee
Joe Hagaman had suggested ways to communicate with faculty and staff and students about the museum and about the need for recording historically interesting events. Someone suggested that "Brown Bag" conversations be recorded. Kevin Thorie is willing loan recording equipment, interview guidelines and space to make recordings. Bill Wikrent suggested that he could videotape these sessions.

Glenn Gehring will initiate as list of probable people to be interviewed. He will circulate it with the Steering committee for additional names. We will send it to the membership for additional input.

We also need to quickly identify some people who would be good at interviewing and willing to volunteer their time for this project. It was suggested that we might look to students who would be willing to do this for a class project.

Seed Money
Bob Dahlke distributed a letter to the current SHA membership soliciting "seed money" for office supplies. Those who were not at today’s meeting will be mailed a copy. We will need approximately $700.00 for initial printing and postage cost.

Committees
A list of current committees of the Stout Historical Assoc. was distributed -- it is also online at the website. We need more volunteers.

 

The next meeting of the total membership will be in February.