The Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board

Meeting No. 4

Mount Joy School, Markham Museum

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 – 5 p.m.

 

 

In Attendance:                                                         Regrets:

John Buie, Chair                                                     Randy Barber

Genny Landis                                                           Councillor Moretti

Glenn Schick                                                                        Vince Tortorici

Bob Baird                                                                  Martha Mingay

Ardy Reid                                                                  Gunter Langhorst

 

Staff:

Cathy Molloy,

Director, Markham Museum

Pam Cook (Recording Secretary)

 

 

1.    CALL TO ORDER & OPENING REMARKS

 

The Meeting of the Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board was called to order at 5:14 p.m.

 

The Chair indicated that a number of Board members attended the Main Street Environment Assessment meeting on May 15th.  Gunter, Glenn and Ardy attended the Rouge Park Alliance wine and cheese function on May 28th.  The official reopening of the Museum on the May long weekend had a tremendous turnout.

 

2.    REGRETS

 

Regrets were received from Councillor Moretti, Randy Barber, Martha Mingay and Vince Tortorici.

 

3.    ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF MEETING

 

There was no quorum, and the draft minutes of the Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board, dated Thursday, May 5, 2010 were received.

 

CARRIED


 

4.    BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

The Chair reported that Ardy Reid has expressed an interest in working with John Ryerson on the new committee to assist the development of a cultural plan for Markham – Building Creative Markham. 

 

There has not been a decision yet on how to best thank the Rotary Club for their donation.

 

5.    DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Cathy Molloy, Director indicated that she will present the Museum Business Strategy for the remainder of 2010 and for 2011 at the next meeting.  Capital and operational budget materials for 2011 are currently under development. 

 

The landscaping plan is on schedule, but the widening of Hwy 48 (Markham Road) will be taking an additional six feet of frontage.  It is not anticipated that this will result in any need to revise or redo the landscape plans.  The Markham Museum will lose over an acre of land in total with this endeavour. 

 

Parking should be available for the June 12th GGHG event.  Cathy requested as many Board members as possible to attend the official ceremony at 10:30 a.m., but that the gates open at 9:30 a.m.  The Sherman tank will arrive at 8:00 a.m.  It is anticipated that a recruiting office will be set up, as well as camouflage ‘face-painting’, a search activity, cadet challenges, GGHG cavalry and the concert band.

 

The office relocation for the Museum should be completed within the next few days.  Work stations and computer terminals are in place.  ITS has confirmed that the Museum has been approved for wireless capabilities in the near future.  The current manager’s office will become a sick room and a room with a cot that can be used for supervisors of overnight events such as guides and scouts.  The large office space will be converted to a staff lunch and meeting room.  There will also be lockers for staff who do not have a desk. 

 

The blacksmith shop is finished and the Museum has enlisted help from a local blacksmith to train one of our staff to make some pieces and to assist in interpreting the process to the public.

 

There was a Rouge Park Culture night on May 28th.  Rouge Park are entering into major governance changes and once that is completed the Museum looks forward to working with them.  The Rouge Park Committee did erect a bee box out in the orchard and they will be attending a few of the summer camps to assist with environmental programs. 

 

The Director requested that as many Board members as possible attend the re-location ceremony for the sundial on June 14th at 8:00 p.m. 

 

Cathy reported on her attendance at the CMA conference in St. John.  The trend seems to be a focus on intangible cultural heritage and a lot of the conference focused on human dignity when interpreting culture.  The Director further indicated that she met the Toronto Heritage people and there was some discussion about the Scarborough Museum and an expressed interest in working together with Markham for some community activities.

 

The Markham Classic Cruisers meet in the parking lot every Wednesday evening.  They have signed off an agreement relating to insurance issues.  Two of the people from that group have agreed to come out and look at the 1930’s Star Car and try and get it running for the Museum at special events. 

 

The Transportation building is being considered for ‘Markham at the Movies’, who plan to show films from the Toronto Film Festival on Wednesday nights.  This would be a joint endeavour, with the Museum recovering any out-of-pocket expenses.  It is anticipated this would start in November.

 

International Museum Day was held on Victoria Day and over 1,500 people attended.  The attendance at camps on PA days and holidays has also been impressive.  Cathy reported that the Museum staff have been incredibly busy and have been performing ‘above and beyond’.

 

6.    SECRETARY’S REPORT

 

Nothing to report at this time.

 

7.    TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Nothing to report at this time.

 

8.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

a.    Executive Committee – nothing to report at this time

 

b.    Museum Collection Committee – nothing to report at this time

 

c.       Development Committee  -  John Buie

The Development Committee is working on a logo for the Foundation to use for correspondence, invitations, and other publications.

 

d.    Volunteer Committee – nothing to report at this time.


 

9.    OTHER BUSINESS

 

a.    Rouge Park

Bob Baird commented that a public pathway is being considered from Milne Pond, right through to Steeles Avenue.  To present it to the public Deputy Mayor Jack Heath recently led a small hiking group starting at Milne Pond and stopping at the Community Centre in the Legacy development. 

 

10. NEXT MEETING

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board will be held on Wednesday, August 4th at 5 p.m. at the Mount Joy School.  Bob Baird will chair this meeting in the absence of John Buie.  Glenn offered regrets for that meeting as well.

 

11. ADJOURNMENT

 

Moved by Glenn Schick

Seconded by Bob Baird,

 

THAT the May 5th meeting of the Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board be adjourned, the time being 5:46 p.m.

 

CARRIED