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210923 Museum Advisory Committee AgendaPage 1 of 2 The Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg Museum Advisory Committee September 23, 2021 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting AGENDA 1.Call to Order 2.Adoption of Agenda Proposed Resolution #1 Moved by: Seconded by: THAT the Agenda as prepared for the Museum Advisory Committee meeting of September 23, 2021, be adopted. 3.Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Attached) 4.Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 5.General Business and Reports 5.1. Election of Chair 5.2. Slate Roof Update 5.3. Website/Marketing Update 5.4. Offsite Storage Update 5.5. Fence/Sign Update 5.6. Tax Rolls/ Records Update 5.7. Deaccession Policy (Attached) 5.8. Financial Report 5.9. Tour Guide Report Page 2 of 2 5.10. 5.11. 5.12. 5.13. Curator’s Report (Attached) Land Acknowledgement Statement (Attached) Christmas Decorating 2022 proposed Calendar of Events 6.Next Meeting Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. 7.Adjournment Proposed Resolution #2 Moved by: Seconded by: THAT the September 23, 2021 meeting be adjourned at _____ p.m. Please contact the Staff Liaison listed below to gain access to this electronic meeting: Contact Patty Phelps, Culture and Heritage Manager/Curator 519-688-3009 Ext. 4211 = ATTENDANCE Chris Baird, Patty Phelps, Sherry Hamilton, Joan Weston, Chris Rosehart, John Lessif, Donna Scanlan and Dianne MacKeigan. MEMBERS ABSENT/REGRETS Bob Marsden, Rosemary Dean 1.Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:38 pm (late start as agenda failed to send and copies had to be made) 2.Adoption of Agenda Moved By- Sherry Hamilton Seconded By- John Lessif Resolution #1 THAT the Agenda for the Museum Advisory Committee meeting of October 22, 2020 be adopted with the addition of c) Off site storage under new business and the addition to b) of Staff (Staff Action Plan) Carried 3.Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof- none 4.Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting Sherry Hamilton circulated her notes to support her report at September’s meeting. Joan Weston took the opportunity to point out some concerns with the notes. The current museum budget includes $40,300 earmarked for the Station Arts Centre and another $5000 The Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg Museum Advisory Committee Thursday, October 22, 2020 4:30 pm Lions’ Den Community Centre 45 Hardy, Tillsonburg MINUTES for community events. Neither of these amounts comes to the museum. Chris Baird assured us this would be rectified going forward. Joan also pointed out that Glanmore House has a permanent staff of 5.5 and Woodstock Museum has 3.5 employees so 3 fulltime staff at Annandale National Historic Site is not out of line. Sherry Hamilton then took some time to express her dissatisfaction with the quality of the minutes finding them inadequate for council to get a sense of the concerns. The secretary, Dianne MacKeigan, offered to surrender the position to her. The offer was ref used. Chris Baird intervened and suggested that the minutes for September’s meeting be forwarded to council with Sherry Hamilton’s notes attached. Moved By-John Lessif Seconded By- Donna Scanlan Resolution #2 THAT the minutes of the meeting for the Museum Advisory Committee of September 24, 2020 be adopted and forwarded to council with Sherry Hamilton’s notes as an attachment. Carried 5. General Business & Reports 5.1. Financial- There was a balance of $139 181.52 in the Annandale House Trust account. A $1000 donation has been added to this amount since the statement. 5.2. Tour Guides- No tour guide activity in the time of COVID 6.3. Curator- The curator’s report was circulated and discussed. Chris Rosehart asked about the types of items accepted for the museum collection and the number of items in storage and whether some could be culled and how that would happen. Patty explained the decommissioning procedures and that they hadn’t been updated in some time. Moved by- John Lessif Seconded by- Sherry Hamilton Resolution #3 THAT this committee should review the collection policy about decommissioning artifacts at the next meeting. Carried Moved By-Patty Phelps Seconded By-Dianne MacKeigan Resolution #4 THAT the reports be accepted as discussed. Carried 6. New Business a) Slate Roof- Chris Baird reported that after a consultation with the roofing consultant, a drone inspection will be made of the roof at a cost of $200 with a report to follow. It was noted that Parks Canada may be approached for help with roof repairs. b) Staff Action Plan for RCP Service Review Report Chris Baird presented five recommendations for the museum: Discussion followed two of the items. M1- Use the town website and other social media platforms to provide useful current information to citizens and users. Discussion ensued with the committee feeling that the museum needs its own website. Moved by- Sherry Hamilton Seconded by- Donna Scanlan Resolution #5 THAT staff investigate the possibility of a dedicated web site. The Advisory Committee supports staff’s 2021 budget request for a promotional and marketing plan to be developed for Annandale National Historic site. Carried M5-For the tourist information service, make a concerted effort to respond to phone and email enquiries by providing links to helpful information sites, rather than by mailing brochures and flyers. Some discussion here with clearing out the brochures in the entryway to perhaps make way for an interactive display of some sort. c) Off site storage In response to Sherry Hamilton’s question about where extras like Christmas trees and other items that can’t be stored at the museum are kept, Chris Baird reported that Applewood Mini Storage at 188 Lincoln St. is the site at a cost of $115 a month from the museum budget. This is being reviewed with an eye to culling some materials and sharing the cost with some other town groups. Other Updates: a) Old tax roles stored in the basement at Annandale will be shredded and disposed of clearing up some space b) There will be a delay in the fence replacement as there is no pressure treated lumber available. c) The museum sign has been taken out for refurbishment and the small sign on Brock street will also be done. 7.Next Meeting- Thursday, November 26, 2020 4:30 pm 8. Adjournment Moved By- Sherry Hamilton Resolution #6 THAT the meeting be adjourned at 6:00 pm Carried Annandale National Historic Site Deaccession Policy Page 1 DEACCESSION POLICY De-accessioning is the permanent removal of an object or objects from the permanent collection. The Tillsonburg Museum known as Annandale National Historic Site will de- accession objects from its collection only in accordance with recognized provincial museum standards and current professional ethics as outlined and recognized in the Canadian Museum Association (CMA) Ethics Guideline and International Council of Museums (ICOM) Running a Museum: A Practical Handbook. The Tillsonburg Museum may de-accession any object within the collection which; • no longer reflect the museum’s operating mandate or current collection policy. • can no longer be adequately cared for by the museum • is a duplicate • whose condition is deteriorated beyond reasonable recoverable standards • has been proven that another organization or people have legal or ethical right to a particular artifact • require repatriation** • pose a threat or risk to the museum collection, staff or public POLICY ACTION; (a) The museum will not acquire objects with the intention of disposal (b) De-accessioning of objects will be upon recommendation of the Curator and / or the Collections and Exhibition Specialist to the Advisory Committee. No object may be de- accessioned without adequate proof of the museum’s unconditional ownership and the approval of the Advisory Committee. (c) Unless the object has been accidentally destroyed or stolen, the object de-accessioned shall, as much as possible, be kept in the public domain. Therefore methods of disposal in order of preference are: (i) Exchange with another museum or charity (ii) Donation to another museum or charity (iii) Sale to another museum or charity (iv) Sale at public auction (v) Safe and ethical destruction in keeping with Professional museum practices and standards (if hazardous or beyond reasonable repair ) (d) Disposition shall be in the best interest of the museum, the public it serves and the trust placed in it. Therefore, every effort will be made to ensure that the de-accessioned objects remain in the Canadian Public Domain and that the recipient offers the best care for the use of the object. Annandale National Historic Site Deaccession Policy Page 2 (e) Every effort will be made to ensure that the objects significant to the region remain in the region. (f) Consideration will be given to those institutions that can provide the highest degree of care or make the most appropriate use of the object. (g) Proceeds from the sale of de-accessioned objects will be placed in the Artifact Trust and not used for operational or administrative purposes. (h) All information regarding a de-accession will be fully documented and retained in the museum’s records. This to include objects de-accessioned due to loss, theft, or damage. All information shall be collected, retained and maintained under the current guidelines of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) ** REPATRIATION: “The Museum will deaccession collections for the purpose of repatriation, when it can be shown that the other bodies or governments have a right to the material. The Museum will proceed with repatriation only when assurances that the collections will be preserved in accordance with the highest standards of the museum profession”. (Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature). The Collection Policy was last reviewed and approved by the Annandale National Historic Site Advisory Committee on Thursday, February 25, 2016 CURATOR’S REPORT OF MUSEUM ACTIVITIES COVERING MAY TO AUGUST 2021 MAY • Building closed to the public under Provincial Order • Staff worked from home and in the building o Continued working on  Virtual and on-line programing  Collection data base entry  Seeking out Grant opportunities  Re-organizing of Wood room Storage room project JUNE • Building was closed to the public under Provincial Order • Staff rotated working from home and in the building per Corporate H & S instructions o Worked on  Facebook virtual programing  Offered end of year Virtual School Trip to tour first floor of Annandale house • 10 schools booked at a cost of $20.00 per class  Development of fall 2021 programing  Development of Summer camp program  Planning Canada Day in the Bag event  Research & planning for 2022 Town 150th Anniversary exhibit  Completion and submission of annual Community Operating Grant application  No word heard to date regarding success or failure of application  If granted amount would be $17,899.00 JULY • Building re-opened to public July 26 o Timed appointments still in effect with limited numbers allowed, social distancing and mask wearing in the building by staff and visitors required o Only first floor open and Pratt Gallery due to the cleaning protocols still required • Staff back in building • Collection & Exhibition Specialist started 6 month Parental leave – returning Jan. 4,2022 • Two Summer Student positions hired o Hired for 8 week period o 75% of salaries covered by Young Canada Works Grant • Installed Wedding dress exhibit in Pratt Gallery o Six gowns from the 1950’s displayed from the museum’s permanent collection • Hosted Canada Day in the Bag event  86 participants  Sponsorship by Sobey’s Tillsonburg for cake, icing and reusable bag  Cost $22.60 pp  Revenue- $1943.60 Expenses -$1095.03 Profit/Loss - $848.57 AUGUST • Building open by appointment Monday – Friday o No weekend hours as cost saving measure o 160 visitors & members booked appointments to tour facility • Wedding Dress exhibit in Pratt Gallery o Hosted “Trousseau Tea” on lawn in conjunction with exhibit  21 participants • Cost $15.00 pp • Revenue - $315.00 Expenses - $213.78 Profit/Loss - $101.22 • Hosted 11 - day camp programs on lawn o Program was 1 ½ hours in length  Offered Monday, Tuesday and Thursday  Offered to both children and adults (different days)  104 total participants (87 children, 17 adults)  Revenue - $537.00 Expenses - $263.00 Profit/Loss - $274 UP-COMING Exhibits in Pratt Gallery September 10 through October 31: Oxford Creative Connections Inc. Small Wonders Art Show & Sale November 29 2021 through January 9, 2022: All We Wanted for Christmas; Toys and Games from the Museum’s Collection PROGRAMMES AND EVENTS Pebble Art Fun Workshop for children & adults – Friday, September 24 – P. D. day for students Painted Gourd Workshop – Wednesday, October 6 – Adult only program Family Pumpkin Party on lawn for families – Saturday, October 30 Stencilling Workshop for children & adults – Friday, November 12 – P.D. day for students Poinsettia Tea – Friday, December 17 – if Covid restrictions allow Ornament Making Workshop for children & adults – Wednesday, December 22 FINACIAL REPORT – UPDATE The Annandale House Trust balance as of August 31, 2021 is $145,310.64 TOUR GUIDE REPORT – UPDATE Nothing new to report, as the museum is unable to host large group tours under the current social distancing regulations. Land Acknowledgement Statements for Annandale National Historic Site/Town of Tillsonburg Version 1 - For when people come to the museum and we do an introduction/at the beginning of a program: Welcome to Annandale National Historic Site in what is now Tillsonburg, Ontario. Tillsonburg is located on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples and is covered by the Between the Lakes Treaty Number 3 of 1792. I/We would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Attawandaron peoples. Version 2 - For our self-guided tour brochure/or to put up on the wall for visitors to see: Welcome to Annandale National Historic Site in what is now Tillsonburg, Ontario. Tillsonburg is located on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples and is covered by the Between the Lakes Treaty Number 3 of 1792. I/We would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Attawandaron peoples. Ontario is home to diverse Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) and we recognize their role as stewards of the land. The Indigenous communities near Tillsonburg include: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of The Thames, Munsee-Delaware Nation, Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation, and Six Nations of the Grand (which is made up of Mohawk, Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida and Tuscarora Nations). Sources: https://files.ontario.ca/pictures/firstnations map ips https://native-land.cal https://communications.uwo.ca/comms/land-acknowIedqemenP https://museums .ca/site/reportsandpubIications/museonIine /ianfeb acknowledqementst atements