BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

February 3, 2026

(January Meeting changed due to weather)

  1. Call to Order: Andy Kiel
  2. Roll Call: Dustin Sheppard, Rik Goodright, Gary Wimer, Penny Gasbarre, Susan Myers, Jason Anderson, Deb Kitko, Tom Hilt, Helen Oriatti-Bruns, Ray Leisy, Wayne Larson, Mark

Graham, Diane Butler

  1. Excused: Jeff Musselman, Erich Riebe
    1. Absent: Kerri Kiel
  2. November Board Meeting Minutes (Action Required)LINK
    1. Motion to approve the November 2025 minutes. 
      1. 1st Jason Anderson   2nd Tom Hilt   Vote: Motion Passed
  3. Treasurer’s Report: (Action Required)
    1. Narrative:  LINK Balance sheet  LINK  P&L  LINK P&L-Operating LINK
    1. Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. 
      1. 1st Gary Wimer   2nd Tom Hilt   Vote: Motion Passed
  4. President’s Report: Andy Kiel
    1. 250 Years of Liberty Exhibit – There is a passport booklet that goes along with the 250th celebration created by Jason Anderson that helps to draw kids/adults around to all of the local historical societies and historical sites over the year . They will be available for sale for $5 at the Historical Society and free for those students in the The Young Historian Club. 
    1. Annual Meeting on April 23rd – Make sure to mark your calendars. 
    1. Newsletter went out and check website for updates. – Tom Hilt has a nice article on Men’s Diner (a short historic fiction story he wrote about Wooster places) in the newsletter. 
    1. 4th of July Picnic around 4pm 
    1. George Schwartz and Alvin Rich Awards will be awarded at the April 23rd meeting. 
    1. Holiday Open House: Wonderful choir
    1. Church Walk on Friday, December 5th: 101 attendees
    1. Members Night: Sandi Keim won the fruitcake award
    1. Thank you for donations in 2025
  5. Executive Director’s Report: Rik Goodright
    1. Going to send out bids for lawncare
    1. Visitors through the door – over 500 visitors, over 1000 including students
    1. Volunteer hours were over 2679hrs for 2025.  There are around 50 volunteers and 16-17 volunteers are doing multiple jobs. Always looking for more volunteers. 
    1. Ray had an interview with PBS on if Wooster had the first Christmas tree in the US. –

LINK

  • Slop sink/mop sink in Kister building men’s bathroom.  Maybe convert men’s bathroom to universal bathroom to allow for multi-use. 
  • School visits start again on May 11th-15th.
  • Looking into options for Transportation Building doorway to help improve energy efficiency. 
  • Kister building has new set up for 2026. 
  • Committee Reports:
    • Finance – Dustin Sheppard – LINK – Year end investments will be in next month’s report.
    • Nominating Committee – Ray Leisy – May be hearing from Ray in the next month around finding new folks to join the board. 
      • Introduced Nancy Caperton at the meeting. 
    • Technology – Deb Kitko 
      • Noah update : Americorp volunteer working on our website and keeping the calendar up to date. He is also working to update the website with relevant information.  ii.            Gary shared that Beall House internet is installed and hoping to get security cameras next.  
    • Fundraising – Penny Gasbarre
      • Looking to collaborate with the library on a cemetery walk in 2026 and a Ghost Walk in 2027.
    • Buildings & Grounds – Ray Leisy – LINK
      • We received our certificate of occupancy for the Schoolhouse. 44 people –  if sitting at tables and chairs. 123 people –  if standing. 92 people, if sitting in chairs only. Penny and Ray worked with the fire department, Murr Printing, and an electrician to get the certificate completed. 
    • Acquisitions – Lori Everett  
      • Lori is currently training more people to help with acquisitions. 
    • Public Relations & Marketing –  
    • Newsletter – Penny Gasbarre
    • Programs and Special Exhibits – Penny Gasbarre/Jason Anderson LINK
    • Gearing up for the 250th Anniversary 
    • Jason is working with Penny on a History Club for Kids. Will be meeting on Thursdays in the Schoolhouse.  There will be separate meetings for 4th-8th grade and high school students. Jason has reached out to all Wayne County schools and created a professional development day through Tri-County Educational Center for area teachers to help get teachers aware. 
    • Voices from the Past Series will be going on this year.  3 sessions this year. First one is February 22nd.
    • Tom Hilt – 1930s Scout DVDs
    • Mini Library Update – Penny said it is going well and always looking for history books or historical fiction. 
    • Membership – Ray Leisy & Penny Gasbarre
      • Membership form went out in the newsletter. 
    • Military Committee – Charlie Lepold                                 
    • Civil War Roundtable – Penny Gasbarre
      • President/General Grant in April.  There will be a public event – General Grant at the Methodist Church and a Civil War Roundtable event – President Grant. 
    • Sports Hall of Fame –  Erich Riebe
      • Grand Opening is Monday, April 27th
  • Old Business
    • Identifying potential new board members
  • New Business
    • Will be receiving a constitution edit before the next meeting Save the Dates:  

 1) Next Board Meeting: February 24, 2026 at 7:00pm.   

Motion to Adjourn: 

                   ii.     1st Tom Hilt   2nd Wayne Larsen   Vote: Motion Passed