BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES
May 27, 2025

  1. Call to Order: Andy Kiel
    a. Andy Kiel called the meeting to order at 7:00pm
  2. Roll Call: Andy Kiel
    L Andy, Penny, Ray, Dustin, Erich, Beth, Dustin, Tom, Gary, Kerry, Wayne, Rik – present
    12,_Deb Kitko, Jeff Musselman, Diane Butler- absent
    b- Welcoming Dr. Mark Graham from the College of Wooster
    .1. March Board Meeting Minutes (Action Required)
    a. Motion to approve the minutes: Tom moved, Ray seconded. No discussion. Unanimously approved.
  3. Treasurer’s Report: (Action Required)
    a. Narrative LINK Balance sheet LINK P&L LINK P&L-Operating LINK Average monthly expenditures $6850
    Goal six month cash reserve
    Nothing out of the ordinary this past month.
    b. Need a motion to transfer Buehler’s funds from restricted account to unrestricted account, $5000 will be transferred to 15-Year Capital Restoration Account
    i. Penny moved, Tom seconded. Any discussion: we received a check for over $34k deposited to restricted funds, and then a second check for $910, put into operating account. Currently, the Buehlers have donated over
    $35k from their estate. We are asking to transfer $5000 from the account to go into our 15-Year Restoration Account, to avoid drawing these funds from elsewhere.
    ii. Vote: unanimously approved.
  4. President’s Report: Andy Kiel
    a. We would like to encourage the committee members to work with the docents to improve the signage – both for the docents and the visitors.
    i. Information like names and dates should be near objects/portraits, so we want to work with the docents and committees to get this information out there.
    b. Recent third grade and eighth grade tours
    i. We had four groups of 70 (280) third graders come through over the past few weeks; 15 came from Wooster Christian and a group from home schoolers came as well.
    c. Sports Hall of Fame work days
    i. Erich noted that with the move, they are reorganizing the material to account for gaps (some schools don’t have as much material represented in the collection). They are pursuing donors. Grand opening will likely be in spring of next year. They have four work days planned – they’re unpacking & going through what they have, trying to find things that grab attention. SHoF is also committed to representation from all schools, which will involve reaching out to Hall of Fame members & their families.
  5. Executive Director’s Report: Rik Goodright
    a. Car removed from parking lot; towing protocols & getting a sign
    i. Car had been in the parking lot for an extended period; we got the police
    involved. The car was not a Wooster vehicle so they couldn’t do anything about it; searched the plates and found the owner. Rik messaged them on Facebook. We haven’t had this problem very often, but we are going to work with Murr’s [Graphics] to get signs that say, “violators will be towed at their own expense.” Legally, we have to put where cars are towed to – and we need a tow company that will charge the owner, not WCHS.
  6. ii. Penny noted that last fall, the neighbors were using the WCHS parking lot for a party. Neighbors requested that we put up a sign for event parking only.
  7. b. Maddy Mullins (KSU)
  8. i. Maddy will be a volunteer/intern this summer. She is a rising sophomore at Kent State, she will be working with Lori in Acquisitions.
  9. c. Volunteer hours
  10. lV. Volunteers contributed 232 volunteer hours in May. We document our volunteer hours for grants but also for tax purposes, so please record your hours.

Secretaries from sheriff’s office visited WCHS, and spent an hour touring here. A second group from the small business association also toured.
Cliff Motts’ family came today to celebrate his 104th birthday! Upcoming tours: First Presbyterian Church is coming in on June 9.

  1. Committee Reports:
    a. Finance – Dustin Sheppard
    ROI through WCCF increased by more than $3000.
    b. Nominating Committee – Ray Leisy
    No report. We have one opening (prospective board invitation to Mark Graham)
    c. Technology – Deb Kitko – LINK
    i. Operating system upgrade/expiry this summer. We need to research what we need to do to upgrade to secure the operating systems (Susan’s, Lori’s, Vicki’s)- we may need to upgrade soon, so we may come back to ask for funds to cover the upgrades.
    We’ll ask Computer Mixx to come evaluate. Dustin will come when they visit to share treasurer’s info. Gary raised the option of a site license – perhaps this could save some money.
    d. Buildings & Grounds – Ray Leisy – LINK
    i. Carriage House -Ray negotiating w/ city to build an extension; we have commitment from Rod Martell for student labor (carpentry) next year. WCHS would need to cover permits, lumber & cement, etc.
    ii. Allyson wants to install a fireplace mantle w/ blower (not working fireplace) in Log Cabin; Log Cabin committee has their own money for this addition. Gary can donate beams from 1854 house.
    iii. We’re going to work on the bake oven (a commercial oven from the children’s home) a donor has given $2000 to rebuild the bake oven. We will remove the beehive oven component for now. This is the next task of the B&G committee.
  2. iv. Q re: raising flag. When? Penny would like the 250th celebration flag to be mounted with the American flag.
  3. e. Acquisitions – Lori Everett – LINK LINK
  4. f. Public Relations & Marketing – Kerri
  5. i. Kerri has a flyer system. She can make flyers to promote things WCHS is doing to reach out. Materials will go in Main St, Chamber and possibly City of Woo promo.
  6. ii. WCHS will be in the church tour this year, Kerri will be creating materials for this in Oct.
  7. iii. Rik mentioned getting a “real estate” box w/ flyers so people walking by could take flyers.

iv. Kerri to be added to WCHS Facebook access so she can contribute.

  1. Newsletter
    i. Roseanne working on next newsletter calendar, we should be getting an email soon
    J. Education & Visitor Services ,– k.Membership- Ray Leisy & Penny Gasbarre \ ._,
    i. We got two new members over the weekend (the Spiers), and both are very interested in volunteering – particularly in being docents. Ray can train them as docents.
    I. Programs & Special Exhibits Committee – Penny Gasbarre
    i. Members’ Night Weds 12/3 and Sat eve public tours (12/6): Penny describes that we’ve agreed to shorten Members’ Night hours on 12/3 based on traffic on previous years, and then on Saturday for the public tour, we’ll be running the open house in the evening instead (to show off the lights). Perhaps this year we can find a choir to sing? Using Stibbs family altar. Susan’s edited volumes of Stibbs family letters will be on sale for $20 el.
    m. Beall House Committee
    n. Military Committee – Charles Leopold
    o. Civil War Roundtable – Penny
    i. Previous roundtable was Mother Bickerdyke; upcoming is Justin Mays and July is Charles Leopold, who will focus on Spotsylvania.
    p. Sports Hall of Fame- Erich Riebe (see above)
  2. Old Business
  3. New Business
    a. Clue: we’re going to have a Clue (game) night, which will be themed. With Clue, you can get volunteers more easily because they don’t have to learn a whole script. Theme could be sports, to promote the Sports Hall of Fame. We’ll also have people put their names in a hat to draw prizes. We will also have food. They’ll have to solve the puzzle. Instead of using Clue names (ex: Professor Plum), presenters could wear jerseys. We plan to charge $10/pp. We’ll do a trial run beforehand! Goal date: October.

Save the Dates: Next Board Meeting: June 24, 2025, at 7:00 pm. (Who will be secretary? Penny asking around)

  1. Motion to adjourn: Ray moved, seconded by Penny. Unanimously approved.