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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.20.26 MAB Minutes Board Members Present In Person: Rick Andrews, Nancy Bullock, Dana Crater, Stephen Fortlouis, Lucy Holman, Ben Ivey, Laura King, Eileen O’Malley Board Members Present on Teams: Susan Barbee Absent: Harold Jarvis II, Tim Pinnick, Commissioner Dane Scalise Staff Present: Kate Baillon, Barbi Baker, Kitty Yerkes, Darcie Roten, Simon Lashford, Emmaline Rhodes, Lisa Wurtzbacher The Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board held its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in the Pancoe classroom at Grace Street and via Teams. The meeting was called to order by Rick Andrews at 4:05 pm. Consideration of Absences: Barbi Baker • Harold Jarvis II, Tim Pinnick, and Commissioner Dane Scalise were unable to attend. Approval of Minutes: Rick Andrews • A motion to accept the March 18, 2026, minutes was made by Barbee, seconded by Fortlouis, and approved without opposition. Associates Report: Kitty Yerkes • The Associates Board is working on the Summer Soiree grand opening event scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026. The event is from 6 to 9 pm with a VIP reception from 5-6 pm for sponsors. Tickets are $125 and include food, beer, wine, and entertainment. • The board is currently working on sponsors for the event. Sponsorships range from $500 to $10,000 with a goal of reaching $50,000. • More information may be found on the Museum’s website: https://www.nhcgov.com/2348/Summer-Soiree-Aug-22-2026 • Yerkes noted the museum is also working on volunteer recruitment and recently held two volunteer open house events on May 16 & 20. Approximately 100 people attended to learn more about how to participate. More information may be found here: https://www.nhcgov.com/564/Volunteer • Andrews asked if people signed up after the events. Yerkes noted that 25 people have already completed the volunteer paperwork. • Andrews also asked about the membership program. Yerkes noted we are finalizing the details and brochure now with plans to launch in June. • Holman asked if there was a target number of volunteers needed. Yerkes noted we will take everyone we can get and ideally 28 people per day. Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 20, 2026 4 pm, Grace Street & 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 Retiring Board Members: Kate Baillon • Kate thanked retiring board members Dana Crater and Eileen O’Malley. Both have served consecutive three-year terms for a total of six-years of board service. Both has also served as board chairs during their terms. • Baillon also noted that Rick Andrews, Lucy Holman, and Ben Ivey have agreed to another term on the Advisory Board. Proposed Officer Slate: Rick Andrews • Andrews presented the proposed officer slate for the next fiscal year: o Lucy Holman, Chair o Harold Jarvis II, Vice-Chair o Tim Pinnick, Secretary • A motion to approve the officer slate was made by Fortlouis, seconded by Crater, and approved without opposition. Grace Street Update: Kate Baillon • Baillon noted that exhibition and artifact installation are well underway in the new museum space. • Teams from Ravenswood (exhibit fabrication) and Click Netherfield (case manufacturer) are both on-site daily putting the exhibitions together. • The CFM collections team is working alongside and filling the cases with artifacts as they are completed. • A soft opening will happen in early August – exact date TBD. • A ribbon cutting with the county commissioners is scheduled for Monday, August 17 at 2:30 pm. • The Summer Soiree Grand Opening event is scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 6 to 9 pm. Staffing Update: Barbi Baker • Baker introduced the museum’s newest team member, Emmaline Rhodes. She has been hired as our Planetarium Supervisor. Rhodes shared a few things about herself including previous experience at Morehead Planetarium. • Baker noted the museum recently promoted our Administrative Coordinator to the Visitor Services Coordinator. • We are currently working to fill a few positions prior to opening: FT Visitor Services Assistant, PT Visitor Services Assistant, and Administrative Coordinator. Info on job postings may be found here: https://www.nhcgov.com/305/Careers • Baker noted that the county budget was approved at the commissioner meeting on Monday, 5/18. Within that budget is an additional position that we will be posting in the coming weeks for a Planetarium Educator. This position will ensure we can operate the planetarium seven days per week. Grace Street Update – Amazing Pollinators: Darcie Roten/Simon Lashford • Roten and Lashford shared a visual presentation of the first traveling exhibition, Amazing Pollinators. • It included a walkthrough of the exhibit with explanations of each of the primary zones. This exhibition is bilingual in English and Spanish. • The presentation may be viewed on the Advisory Board SharePoint site by clicking this link. • Crater asked if there would be any programming that ties in with the exhibition. Roten noted the Museum’s education team is developing a field trip program. Rhodes also noted a planetarium film called Backyard Wilderness that ties into local ecosystems. • Crater mentioned an event called National Lemonade Day that teaches about youth entrepreneurship as a possible pollinator tie to the exhibit. Grace Street Update – Curious Nature: Simon Lashford • Lashford shared a visual presentation of the Curious Nature exhibition located on the Museum’s terrace. • It included a walkthrough of the exhibit with explanations of each of the zones. • Lashford also discussed a primary feature, a kinetic water play table. • The presentation may be viewed on the Advisory Board SharePoint site by clicking this link. • King asked a question about the impact of development and if there was any imagery or aerial views of New Hanover County over time that show the changes in our ecosystems. Roten noted there is a through line in the Cape Fear Stories exhibition that discusses ecosystems. Old Business: Rick Andrews • Holman thanked outgoing board president Andrews for his service to the board over the last year. A motion was made by Holman, seconded by King to adjourn the meeting. With unanimous consent, the meeting ended at 4:55 pm. The next board meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 4 pm at Cape Fear Museum and via Teams.