OAHS Board Highlights ~ January 2023
Joel Olsen, president
- Treasurer Luke Heiar presented a working budget format. Board members and volunteers responsible for events and programs are asked to submit a realistic budget for 2023. The budget for the coming year will be presented to the Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
In December, the board unanimously agreed to present honorariums to Dixie Brown and Heather Young for their invaluable work with the Museum.
Museum Coordinator Dixie Brown reported that a new book scanner was purchased recently. Volunteers are already at work starting to scan valuable documents. This will be an invaluable tool moving forward.
The revamped Website is up and running. This project was completed by students at MATC as a semester project in web design. Heather Young has been appointed to maintain the site. The value of the web design [gratis to OAHS] was about $7,000. The new design should work better on I-pads and cell-phones.
Various exhibits in the Museum have been updated this past fall. A few small displays have been changed out, while others have been cleaned. Some large items have been moved about to create more open viewing areas. Much of this work was done in anticipation of the annual Christmas at the Museum open house.
The amendments to the OAHS Bylaws were approved at this meeting, culminating several months of re-writing and editing. The amended Bylaws will be presented to the Society for approval at the Annual Meeting.
Discussion at the Board continues on relocation options. We are waiting for the Village to update the assessed valuation of the 249 Main Street parcel, before we indicate serious interest in this property. However, a new project at this site – or purchase of older buildings elsewhere in town – will all require a very considerable expense. While the Museum is in critical need of new space for exhibits and work areas, we are mindful of the support we would need to embrace a relocation project. We are still “testing the waters” of many aspects of such an endeavor.