Markham Museum Advisory Board

 

Town of Markham

The Markham Museum

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 – 7:00pm

 

Minutes

 

Attendance:

 

Members:                                                         Staff:

Gunter Langhorst                                              Anna Rose

Monica Peel                                                     Andrea Carpenter

John Buie

John Bayfield

Sue Smitko

Jim Wicks

Bob Baird

Lorne Smith

Councillor Moretti

 

Regrets:

Genny Landis

Randy Barber

Ardy Reid

John Ryerson                                                   

 

1.      Call to Order

 

Meeting called to order at 7:05pm with Gunter Langhorst presiding as Chair.

 

2.      Approval of previous meeting minutes

 

Amendment to previous minutes – with regards to the Friends of the Museum Foundation, it is not only in the hands of the Provincial Government but also the Federal Government.

 

Moved by Monica Peel

Seconded by John Buie

 

That the minutes of the Markham Museum Advisory Board meeting held on January 9th 2007 be adopted, as amended.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

3.      Additions to Agenda

No additions to the agenda were made.

 

4.      Board Election

 

·        Gunter Langhorst started the election with brief opening remarks about how he felt the Board should not stay in its current state and that roles on the Board must be changed to reflect what the Board will look like once it becomes a Foundation.

·        Gunter then resigned as Chair of the Markham Museum Advisory Board.

·        John Buie then spoke about the Foundation’s Executive Committee’s role. 

·        He went on to explain that the board would now be nominating and voting in current Advisory Board members for positions on the Foundations Executive Committee. 

·        These positions include; Past Chair, Chair, Vice Chair, Corporate Secretary, and Corporate Treasurer.

·        Councillor Moretti then led the Board through the election process.

 

Nominations for Chair

Moved by Monica Peel

Seconded by John Bayfield

- That John Buie be appointed Chair. . 

 

                                                                                          CARRIED.

 

Nominations for Vice Chair

Moved by Gunter Langhorst

Seconded by Monica Peel

- That Bob Baird be appointed Vice Chair .

 

                                                                                                CARRIED

 

Nominations for Corporate Secretary

Moved by Gunter Langhurst

Seconded by John Buie

- That Sue Smitko be appointed Corporate Secretary

 

                                                                                                CARRIED

 

Nominations for Corporate Treasurer

Moved by John Buie

Seconded by Monica Peel

- That Ardy Reid be appointed Corporate Treasurer subject to Ardy’s acceptance of the nomination.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED

Ardy accepted the nomination subsequent to the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

Thus, the following is now the Executive Committee of the Markham Museum Advisory Board, which will then transition in the Friends of the Museum Executive Committee.

 

Chair – John Buie

Past Chair – Gunter Langhorst

Vice Chair – Bob Baird

Corporate Secretary – Sue Smitko

Corporate Treasurer – Ardy Reid

 

·        The terms for these positions are one year and in the future the terms will be staggered for 2 or 3 years to permit orderly succession.  Lorne Smith suggested that the Board adopt the method the Markham Fair uses so that not all members drop off the Board at one time.

 

·        Councillor Moretti stated that there will be no new board members appointed as of yet and this is how it will be for the next year.  In the future though there is the possibility of appointing two new members.

 

·        Monica Peel put forward a motion, which was seconded by John Bayfield, to thank Gunter Langhorst for his great work as Chair over the past many years.  All were in favour and expressed their thanks.

 

5.      “2007 In Review”

 

·        Anna Rose took the Board through a power point presentation on all the accomplishments and highlights of the Museum in 2007.  She also took them through an overview of the 2008 Markham Museum Business Plan.

 

6.      Transportation Building Renovation Update

 

·        Anna Rose state that there is currently a tender out and the plan is to have the building renovations completed as early as June 2008.  However, the Museum staff is not planning to use the Ward Building again for programming, rentals, and events until October 2008.

 

7.      New Collections Building Update

 

·        Councillor Moretti stated that a full report was asked to be provided for General Committee.  General Committee will be meeting again after March Break.   Currently, there are internal reviews of financing taking place.

 

·        Anna Rose stated there is money allocated in the budget for a contract based curator for the Museum.  As well the exhibit plan for the new building is currently being worked on by Museum staff.

 

·        It was the general consensus of the Board that the Museum should have a Manager and a Curator, separate from one another.  The Board needs to set aside a time to have a discussion about this in the near future so that it can be brought forward to Council during the Collection Building discussion.  Bob Baird stated that he would like to feel more comfortable with the definition of a Curator is in the context of our situation.  In response Monica Peel mentioned that there should be a description left over from the original processes which took place before.

 

·        John Buie and Jim Wicks both stated that the new Collections Building Committee still needs more members as it’s currently made up of Gunter Langhorst and Jim Wicks.  Lorne Smith stated that he is already on that committee and Bob Baird agreed to join.

 

8.      Book Committee Update

 

·        Susan Smitko reported on behalf of the Book Committee.  The book was originally divided into eight themes but has now grown to ten themes.  The themes are: Systems of Governance; Education System; Economy; Geography – the Changing Landscape; Technology; Social and Cultural; Social Services; Intellectuals and Innovators; Religion; and International Involvements. 

 

·        The Committee is asking people to fill out the booklets and to send them back to the Museum so that the information can be used in the book.

 

·        The Government and Education booklets have been finalised and are currently being distributed.  Tomorrow’s Book Committee meeting will be utilised to finalise the Geography and Economy booklets.

 

·        So far interviews have been completed with Don Cousens and Bill Crothers.

 

·        Next interview is planned with Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

 

·        Susan Smitko also asked Board members to think of people they may know who are knowledgeable on one of the themes and to pass this information on to her.

 

9.      Foundation Update

 

·        John Buie reported that we are going to move forward with becoming incorporated.

 

 

 

10.  New Business

·        Anna Rose discussed the Trillium grant that the Museum is currently working on with the Lions Club.  She stated that for the grant to qualify and to be looked upon favourably the Museum needs to give the Lions a minimum 5 year lease on the Print Shop building at the Museum where the proposed renovation and exhibit would be.  Anna Rose therefore proposed that the Board approve a 10 year lease agreement at $1.00 per year.

 

·        The Chair brought forward the motion that the Lions Club of Markham be able to lease the Print Shop for 10 years for $1.00 per year.

 

Moved by Monica Peel

Seconded by John Buie

All were in favour.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED

 

·        Lorne Smith stated that this partnership between the Lions and the Museum may work as a template for other groups proposing similar use of buildings.

 

·        Lorne Smith stated that the Carr family is selling a baler if the Museum is interested in acquiring it.  Museum staff to look into and report back at May Board Meeting.

 

·        Lorne Smith discussed the upcoming Winter Carnival’s Pancake Breakfast on February 9th.  He is looking for volunteers to help with the pancake making.  The museum is also looking for Bake Sale items to be donated.

 

·        Anna Rose handed out a list of groups/people who will be contacted about public consultation when we get to that stage of the new Collections Buildings plans.  Anna asked that Board members please let her know if there is anyone else that should be added to the list.

 

·        Jim Wicks suggested that a new picture of the Board needs to be taken at one of the up coming Board meetings.  Therefore all members are encouraged to attend the April board meeting as a photograph will be taken.

 

11.  Next Meeting

 

The next regular meeting of the Markham Museum Advisory Board is scheduled for:

 

Wednesday April 2nd 2008 at 7:00pm

 

The meeting will be held at the:

 

Markham Museum Mt. Joy School House Board Room

 

 

Adjournment

 

Moved by Bob Baird

Seconded by Gunter Langhorst