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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.19.25 MAB Minutes Board Members Present In Person: Rick Andrews, Nancy Bullock, Stephen Fortlouis, Lucy Holman, Ben Ivey, Harold Jarvis II, Laura King, Eileen O’Malley, Tim Pinnick Board Members Present on Teams: Susan Barbee, Dana Crater Others Present: None Absent: Commissioner Dane Scalise Staff Present: Kate Baillon, Barbi Baker, Heather Yenco, Kitty Yerkes The Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board held its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in the Museum’s new first floor classroom at Project Grace and via Teams. The meeting was called to order by Rick Andrews at 4:05 pm. Consideration of Absences: Barbi Baker • Commissioner Scalise was unable to attend. Approval of Minutes: Rick Andrews • A motion to accept the September 17, 2025, minutes was made by Bullock, seconded by Fortlouis, and approved without opposition. Associates Report: Kitty Yerkes • Yerkes thanked confirmed Invest in Grace sponsors nCino, Corning, and Novant. • Baillon and Yerkes attended an OLLI event at the Cameron Art Museum on 11/19 and presented about Project Grace. They also discussed membership and volunteer opportunities. • Yerkes noted that volunteer training will likely begin in July as we get closer to the opening of the new museum. • An all new membership program will launch about 4 months prior to opening. • Andrews asked what volunteers will do at the new museum. Yerkes noted she is meeting with each of the museum gallery teams to determine the needs. It will likely be a combination of answering questions, assisting visitors, cleaning up loose play parts, and more. • Holman asked if there will be a need for event volunteers. Yerkes noted absolutely yes. There are also opportunities for students to participate as volunteers. Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 4 pm, Project Grace & Teams 2015-16 Board David Ball Stuart Borrett Gwen Brown Melissa Collins Will Oden, III Dan Owen Tim Potter Nancy Pritchett Bill Terrell Allen Trask, III Rob Zapple NHC Commissioner Ex-officio: Mike Hudson CFMA, Inc. 2025-26 Board Rick Andrews Susan Barbee Nancy Bullock Dana Crater Stephen Fortlouis Lucy Holman Ben Ivey Harold Jarvis II Laura King Eileen O’Malley Tim Pinnick Dane Scalise NHC Commissioner Ex-officio: Toni Pence CFMA, Inc. Lisa Wurtzbacher Assistant County Manager Kate Baillon Museum Director Barbi Baker Museum Manager Operations • Crater asked a question about reciprocal memberships and if they are part of our program. Yerkes noted several partner organizations including ASTC, NARM, SERM, and Smithsonian Affiliates. • Ivey asked how many members we currently have at CFM. Yerkes replied approximately 500. And encouraged all board members to sign up as members when we roll out the new program. • Barbee mentioned connections at the airport and aquarium for possible partnerships and will put the museum in touch. Collections Report & Update: Heather Yenco • Yenco shared information about new acquisitions including campaign materials for Sheriff Joseph McQueen’s reelection and an optical fiber sample from Corning. • Historian Jan Davidson wrote a This Month in History column about Sheriff Joseph McQueen that you can read here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/capefearmuseum/albums/72177720329991 983 • The optical fiber spool from Corning will be on display in the new Science Matters exhibit. • Yenco shared an update on the Simmons Sea Skiff. It is currently in the Washington DC area as we’ve had a custom mount cradle made for the display at Project Grace. The boat will be coming back to NC in mid- December. • The team is currently working to prepare, clean, label, and pack 400 artifacts that will be on display in the new museum. • We are also working with a mount making team that is creating new mounts for the artifacts and will do custom fittings as we get closer to installation. Code of Ethics: Kate Baillon • The updated and approved Code of Ethics document was handed out to all board members for signature. This is required as part of the museum’s accreditation process. The document is being emailed to board members that were not present for signature. • More information on the accreditation process may be found here: https://www.aam-us.org/programs/accreditation-excellence- programs/accreditation/ FY2026-2027 Budget Process: Kate Baillon • Baillon attended a budget kick-off meeting just before the board meeting. County departments are working together to meet strategic goals as part of the budget process. • Baillon reiterated a few full-time positions that are approved for the current fiscal year and will be hired in the ramp up to the opening at Project Grace. A planetarium supervisor, exhibit technician, visitor services coordinator (already hired), and two visitor services assistants. • As part of the 2026-2027 budget process, we are hoping to add additional positions to support the planetarium, education, and visitor services to allow the museum to operate fully, including planetarium shows seven days a week as well as maintaining a minimum of two people at the front desk for safety and to accommodate increased visitor volume. • The museum is also looking at ways to adjust work schedules for current staff to always maintain at least four people in the building. We also plan to have volunteers in the building on most days as well. • The building does have good camera coverage throughout that can be monitored from the front desk or offices. • Holman asked how board members can help advocate for the museum’s needs and suggested a one-page reference sheet. Baillon will provide a document regarding operations strategy and budget and will share it with board members. • Information on the museum’s fee schedule at the new building can be found here: https://www.nhcgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/621/Fiscal-Year- 2025-to-2026---New-Hanover-County-Fee-Schedule-PDF Room Use Policy: Kate Baillon • Baillon noted that there has been discussion at the county management level to be sure room use policies across departments are all aligned. • As part of this review, there will be no bookable meeting rooms or spaces at the new museum. • Museum rooms will be useable for museum, library, or NHC driven programs or partner programs. • Museum sponsors may reserve rooms as part of their naming rights or sponsor benefit package. • Ivey asked for an example of a partner program. Baillon noted the America 250 event taking place in April 2026. CFM is the A250 committee chair for NHC and this will be a partnership between the county, state, and Azalea Festival to bring the NC founding documents to Wilmington for a display. Project Grace Update: Barbi Baker • Several board members toured the new museum prior to the start of the meeting. • The planetarium installation is complete and there are only minor punch list items to finish. A question was asked about planetarium shows. Morning shows will typically be reserved for student field trips and afternoon shows are for the public. The average show is 20 to 40 minutes long. • Baker reminded the board about the transition schedule from Market to Grace Street. The Market Street location will close to the public on 12/31/25 for a seven month transition period to the new building. • The giant ground sloth will likely move to the new building sometime in January 2026. Old Business: Rick Andrews • Ivey asked a question about This Month in History topics and upcoming schedule. Baillon note that topics are often determined by current research or ongoing work within the context of our museum galleries or programs. Ivey asked if the board could receive a list of topics noting that they are subject to change. A motion was made by Holman, seconded by O’Malley to adjourn the meeting. With unanimous consent, the meeting ended at 4:59 pm. The next board meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 4 pm at Cape Fear Museum and via Teams.