FRIENDS OF THE GOLDA MEIR LIBRARY

Board of Directors Meeting

January 6, 2006   12:00 p.m.

4^th Floor Conference Center

 

Present: Ewa Barczyk, Pat Van Alyea, EJ Brumder, Bruce Fetter, Bob Meldman, Marianne Lubar, Donn Haglund, Martine Meyer, Gil Church, John Koethe, Tyrone Dumas, Nancy Laskin, Suzy Ettinger, Bob Pietrykowski, Tom Bliffert, Gwen Plunkett, Alderman Michael Murphy.

 

Guests:  Susan Modder, Lucia Petrie, Dawn Lee-Vue (recorder), Craig Wesley, Jerry Tarrer

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m.

 

1. Welcome and introductions

 

2. Lucia Petrie, Vice Chancellor of Development attended the meeting to discuss the University�s plan for the campus comprehensive campaign.

 

�        The campaign is featured on the front page of the Business Journal today.  UWM is launching a $100 million fund raising campaign and has recruited four of Milwaukee�s most prominent businessmen to lead it.  Chief executive officers Gale Klappa of Wisconsin Energy Corp., Dennis Kuester of Marshall and Isley Co., James Ziemer of Harley Davidson, Inc. and Ed Zore of Northwestern Mutual are the campaign�s chairmen.  Sheldon Lubar is serving as the campaign�s honorary chairman. 

�        Lucia gave the committee the background of the campaign, what it is, how major gifts work, types of gifts, what counts in a comprehensive campaign, and how the board can help.  The Board can help connect people to the Development office and help thank them for contributing.  Lucia also mentioned that it is called a comprehensive and not capital campaign because it goes beyond bricks and mortar.  The Chancellor stressed two things; it�s an institution of access and opportunity and also the second focus is research.  Research attracts stellar faculty and dollars, and hence increases funds for research and students.

�        Dumas asked how funding gets determined. Lucia mentioned that there�s been a consultant hired determine direction of the asks but the individual schools and colleges are identifying the needs.  Pietrykowski expressed interest in the campaign because it focuses more on the teaching, students and research as opposed to the capital portion.

�        Fetter asked about the status of the Columbia hospital project. Lucia replied that the University has not reached a price with the hospital since it is not yet ready to move and sell it.  Lucia does not expect that the issue will be settled immediately. 

�        Church asked about the book naming project.  Lucia says it will be a good idea to link it with the campaign.  The Development office is currently working with a public relations firm but will not be ready to look at the materials till much later.

�        Plunkett asked how the money will be spent.  Lucia explained that the campaign is donor driven, but hopes to have 25 percent (of the 100 million) for scholarships.  Faculty and research is another 25 percent.  We have $10 million set aside for the Water Institute but have not yet found a right donor for that.       

 

3. Minutes of the October 7, 2005 Board meeting were approved as submitted.

 

4. Treasurer�s Report: Meldman reported that the balance as of December 22, 2005 was $73,177.75.  The report was accepted by the Board as submitted. 

 

5. Interim Director of Libraries� Report:
   • Barczyk brought the newly redesigned Libraries� Guide to Resources folder that was co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 
   • The rare 19th century photographs of mapping the west held by the UWM Libraries featured in the exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum was successful. There was also a lecture by Dr. Robin E. Kelsey; Harvard University which was well received.  Barczyk mentioned that this is the first time that the UWM Libraries� has mounted our collection in the Art Museum.  Barczyk added that a tour was arranged for invited guests with David Gordon and Chancellor Carlos Santiago.
   • Received gifts for the Brumder German Collection.  We have a goal of creating an endowment to sustain this collection.  Barczyk thanked E.J. Brumder for his leadership. 
   • The Ettinger Foundation awarded $25,000 over 5 years for our book arts collection and speaker series.
   • Submitted federal and private grants for WTMJ. 
   • The Best and McColl fellowship awards have been made.  We are supporting 5 researchers in AGSL including faculty from Texas State, Republic of Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan and the UK to come use the collections. 
   • We created a browsing collection in the Current Periodicals with comfortable seating arrangements.  Part of the funds came from the telefund campaign from the dorm students� parents. 

�        Visitors:  Valerie Harper came to visit the UWM Libraries to see the archival materials on Golda Meir in preparation for her role as Golda Meir in �Golda�s Balcony�.  UW System President Kevin Reilly came to visit our extensive holdings in Irish literature since he holds a PhD in Irish Studies.  Nice recognition that we have a premier collection in Irish Studies.  

• The annual Holzheimer lecture will be held on March 8, in AGSL at 6:00 p.m.
• Remodeling update: The state will be funding the Libraries remodeling project but it is $1.5 million short of what we need.  We should know by early spring who the architects will be.  We are on the campus agenda for the 2009 biennium remodeling addition. 
• Just completed the publication for the Fromkin lecture series, one of the longest running lecture series.  The publication is funded by the Fromkin family foundation and we are now in the process of selecting a Fromkin speaker for 2006. 
• Dumas asked how much is the Libraries worth in terms of the value of the Libraries assets.  He feels that it will be a good way to sell the Library�s by using our assets.  Barczyk will look into it. 

 

6. Committee Reports:

 

Development Committee: Meldman updated the committee on the cruise to Alaska.  In terms of more publicity, we have an insert in the North Shore newspaper.  The Friends would raise $30,000 if they filled 30 cabins.  The deadline is January 31 for the refundable $600 deposit.  The informational meeting is next Thursday in the AGSL at 6:30 p.m.

 

Program Committee: Conta reported that the annual board meeting will be set for Wednesday May 17 at 4:45pm followed by the program by David Gordon, Director and CEO of the Milwaukee Art Museum as the guest speaker.  The Friends Booksale is set for April 3^rd till the 5th.  The first day is open for UWM students only.  Conta thanked the board members for their volunteering their time. Conta brought the potential tour of the Newberry Library in Chicago.  Looking at some possible dates in March and April on Saturdays.  Limiting the number of people to 20 people to take a bus down to Chicago. 

Fetter mentioned checking with Newberry Library about parking arrangements for the bus.

The Tea and Tour has been scheduled for Thursday Jan .26 and Feb. 23.  This is a great way for the community to know about the Library. 

 

Nominating Committee:  Pat introduced two new members, Betty Bostrom and George Mosher to be part of the nominating committee.  Will be working on a chair.

 

7. Presentation of the UWM Libraries Book Arts resources and programming in Special Collections:  Max Yela, Head of the Special Collections presented the book arts program and discussed how the Ettinger Foundation will help with the program.   Max describes them as artists� books, not art books.  The purpose of the program is to preserve and collect these books for teaching purposes as well as to promote the idea of a book as an art and then to also document changes in the book because they become artifacts.  Board members were given a tour of the display of the various types of books.  The Board expressed their interest in the program and would like to be notified of future book arts programs.

 

8. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.