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Home My WebLink About02-10-16 JHC Agenda PacketCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Jack House Committee REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 5:30 PM Parks and Recreation Department, 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kathi Settle ROLL CALL: Vice Chair Toni Kincaid, Commissioners Chuck Crotser, Bob Gordon, Bryant Mills, Eva Ulz and Susan Updegrove Exofficio Committee Member James Papp PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, the public is invited to address the Committee on items that are not on the agenda but are of interest to the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Jack House Committee. The Committee may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly respond to statements made or questions raised, or to ask staff to follow up on such issues. 1.Consideration of the Minutes of Regular Meeting on January 13, 2016 (Settle) – 5 minutes 2.Consideration of January 2016 Financial Reports (Settle) – 5 minutes 3.Consideration of Sponsorship for COW PARADE SLO at the Jack House - (Setterlund) – 10 minutes 4.Discussion of Walnut Tree grafting (Settle) – 5 minutes 5.Discussion of Jack House interior repair (Setterlund) – 2 minutes 6.Staff Report for Parks and Recreation Updates (Setterlund) – 2 minutes 7.Jack House Docent Activities (Papp) – 5 minutes 8.Friends of the Jack House Updates (Papp) – 5 minutes 9.Sub-Committee Reports (Settle) – 20 minutes a.Strategic Planning (Crotser, Settle, Ulz) b.Carriage House Accessibility (Crotser, Papp) c.Collections, Use & Handling Policy (Settle, Ulz, Darnell, Sorvetti) i.Development of interim policy (Setterlund) 10.Member Comments/Communications/Reports (Committee) – 5 minutes Adjourn to Next Scheduled Regular Meeting on March 9, 2016 at 5:30pm APPEALS: Administrative decisions by the Jack House Commission may be appealed to the City Council in accordance with the appeal procedure set forth in Chapter 1.20 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and activities. Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance 1 San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Administration Office 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo Wednesday, January 13, 2016 DRAFT CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kathi Settle called meeting to order at 5:30 PM ROLL CALL: Chair Kathi Settle, Vice-Chair Toni Kincaid, Committee Members Chuck Crotser, Bob Gordon, and Susan Updegrove, Exofficio Committee member James Papp ABSENT: Bryant Mils, Eva Ulz STAFF: Dave Setterlund- Recreation Supervisor, Melissa Mudgett- Recreation Manager Public Comment Tom Halen, representative of Cow Parade SLO, shared with the Committee information about the upcoming program and sponsorship consideration. The presentation highlights are as follows: Cost of sponsorship: $7,000 per life-size fiver-glass cow Charities designated to receive auction proceeds from sales: Arts Obispo, San Luis Obispo Land Conservancy, and Mid State Fair Foundation Sponsors are discouraged from influencing the design of the cow. However you can examine Cow Parade SLO Facebook page to look at 80 design concepts that have been submitted Length of event: September 2016 to April 2017 on display throughout the County. Auction in April 2017. Lois Crotser, a community member and Jack House volunteer docent, read to the Commission three emails from Jack House docents regarding docent issues with current Jack House Docent President, Mr. James Papp. 1.COMMITTEE REFRESHER OF THE CALIFORNIA BROWN ACT, GOVERNMENT CODE 54950, FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS (Ansolabehere) Assistant City Attorney, Jon Ansolabehere, provided the annual overview of the Brown Act, California Government Code 54950 for the Jack House Committee members and answered Committee questions. 2.CONSIDERATION OF MEETING MINUTES (Settle) MOTION: (Kincaid/Crotser) Approve Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2015 as amended. Approved: 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absent Jack House Committee DRAFT - MINUTES 1-1 2 3.CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT (SETTLE) MOTION: (Kincaid/Olson) Approve November and December 2015 Financial Reports Approved: 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absent Committee Member Updegrove asked for further clarification of the US Bank Statement from the Expenditures Report. 4.DISSOLUTION OF JACK HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR SAN LUIS SQUARE DEVELOPMENT (Mudgett) MOTION: (Crotser/Updegrove) Approve the dissolution of the Jack House Subcommittee regarding San Luis Square Development. Approved: 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absent 5.DISCUSSION FOR JACK HOUSE PROMOTIONS (Settle) Committee Member Kincaid suggested purchasing a new street banner. Committee Member Crotser stated a need to be more creative with marketing ideas. Developing partnerships by working with local History Center and other history like groups would be helpful in promoting Jack House events. Committee Member Papp proposed more alternative events to help bring new people to the Jack House. Mr. Papp said that the Jack House should consider providing a community survey asking Jack House guests what they want or don’t want, as this could help align Jack House events with a target market. Committee Member Settle stated that “striking a sentimental cord” with the community and our marketing strategy may bring more guests. 6.SELECTION OF LAURA SORVETTI TO THE JACK HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR COLLECTIONS, USE & HANDLING POLICY (Ulz) The Committee entered into a discussion regarding the subcommittee’s intent and how Ms. Sorvetti will be a great addition to the Collections Committee by her vast experience in collections and with Cal Poly. MOTION: (Crotser/Kincaid) Motion to select Laura Sorvetti to the Jack House subcommittee for Collections, Use and Handling Policy. Approved: 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absent 7.STAFF REPORT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION UPDATES (Setterlund) Jan. 15, Teacher Work Day Camp Jan. 18, MLK Jr. Day: City Offices Closed Jan. 18, SLO Swim Center reopens Jan. 22, Meadow Park Garden work day 1-2 3 8.RELOCATION OF STORED GOODS AND DESIGNATING PROPER STORAGE LOCATION (Papp) Committee Member Papp suggested alternative locations for storage and suggested that an offsite location may be needed. 9.JACK HOUSE DOCENT ACTIVITIES (Papp) Committee Member and Jack House Docent president, James Papp, shared with the Committee recent docent activities. o The Annual Docent Dinner took place in November 2015 at the Ludwick Community Center. The program featured a conversation among former mayor Ken Schwartz, longtime Jack family representative on the Jack House Committee Katchy Andrews, and first docent chair Kathi Settle, facilitated by former Jack House Committee chair Ron Batterson. o Christmas at the Jack House Thanks are due to the many docents and members of the Jack House Committee who volunteered and to Parks and Recreation staff who helped with logistics and publicity. Unfortunately, the event attendance was low with hopes that this could increase with marketing efforts. Mr. Papp shared that some damage occurred due to decorating efforts and that it would be helpful for the Jack House Committee’s Collections Policy Subcommittee to meet to address this concern. o Petition . Docent President, Mr. Papp, addressed an ongoing disruption with the docent committee to seek an alternative president. He expressed that issues should be resolved at the docent-level. Mr. Papp said that he will meet with the docents to address any unresolved issues. o Monthly Docent Meetings An additional evening meeting has been added to accommodate docents who work. o Wash House Docents have discussed moving the shop into the Jack House kitchen from the Wash House. o Marketing Docent president James Papp has met with Parks and Recreation liaison Dave Setterlund to develop a marketing plan for the Jack House. o Docent Handbook Update o Construction Mitigation The removal of the elevator shaft and reconstruction of the dining room and master bedroom windows is scheduled to begin this month. Docent president James Papp has been working with other docents and City Engineer Mike McGuire on plans to prevent damage to the collection from construction work. 10.FRIENDS OF THE JACK HOUSE UPDATES (Papp) First Sponsored Friends Event: Art after Dark was a success with 67 participants Currently soliciting ideas from docent about potential event topics 1-3 4 11.SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS (SETTLE) – 20 minutes a.Strategic Planning (Crotser, Settle, Ulz) Strategic Planning subcommittee did not meet. Committee Member Ulz emailed Leslie Santos Dierks from Spokes, and plans for the Jack House Retreat are moving forward. b.Carriage House Accessibility (Crotser, Papp) Carriage House Accessibility subcommittee did not meet. Committee Member Crotser will continue to communicate with construction professionals in hopes of acquiring free construction services. c.Collections, Use & Handling Policy (Settle, Ulz, Darnell) Collections Policy subcommittee did not meet. The group will continue to work toward the development of proper collection procedure guidelines. 12.MEMBER COMMENTS/ COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS (all) Committee Member Kincaid Met with Betty Stockton and that Ron Batterson’s daughter health is improving. Committee Member Papp advised the Committee that the resolutions should be reached at the docent-level. Committee Updegrove agreed that the Docent issues need to be resolved. Chair Settle shared that the Jack House Black Walnut tree is dormant which provides an excellent opportunity to grafting. (English tree will be grafted to Black Walnut) Mayors meeting report will take place Thursday, January 14, 2016. Vice Chair Toni Kincaid has resigned for the Jack House Docent Group. Meeting adjourned at 7:49p.m. to the next Regular Meeting on February 9, 2016 at 5:30 pm. Approved by the Jack House Committee on __________________. ________________________________________________ Dave Setterlund, Parks and Recreation Department Supervisor 1-4 2015-16 Fiscal Year Reporting Date:January 31, 2016 Accounting Periods:6 January 1 - 31, 2016 Verified By:Dave Setterlund, Community Services Supervisor Melissa Mudgett, Recreation Manager 13,087.28$ Acct 625-3901 BUDGET BALANCE TO-DATE REMAINING $ - $ 1,372.80 BUDGET BALANCE TO-DATE REMAINING JH Fund-625 $ - $ (1,050.83)321.97$ City Fund-100 $ 10,500 $ (6,336.50)4,163.50$ JACK HOUSE Accounting Monthly Account Reporting of Revenues and Expenditures JACK HOUSE FUND BALANCE Jack House Account Summary REVENUES (Through to January 1 - 31, 2016) (Note: Dates are when posted by Finance Dept., not dates of transaction) EXPENDITURES (Through to January 1 - 31, 2016) Jack House Revenues (Fund 625) Total Expenditures (through Jan 1 - 31, 2016) 2-1 JACK HOUSE Accounting $ 1,272.80 $ - $ - $ - $ 100.00 $ 100.00 $ - $ - $ - HTJB book sales = 0 Sub-Total Sales Revenue: $ - 625.58120 – JH Revenue (Tours) $ 100.00 Total Number of Books Either Gifted or Sold No Activity $1,372.80 625.58100 – Food Sales Non-Taxable Sub-Total Non-Taxable Revenue: No Activity 625.58110 – Merchandise Sales Taxable (Gift Shop) Ending Revenue Balance (Jan. 31, 2016) (Includes Accrued Interest. Does not include Petty Cash) 625.47010 – Other Contributions (Donations) 625.42760 – Interest on Investments Beginning Balance (as of December 31, 2015) Jack House Fund REVENUES Fund 625 Revenue (through January 1 - 31, 2016) Sub-Total Interest Earned: 0 No Activity TOTAL JACK HOUSE FUND REVENUE 1/7/16 - Jack House Donation Sub-Total Tours Revenue: Sub-Total Donations: No Activity 2-2 JACK HOUSE Accounting $ - Sub-Total: $ - $ - $ - 60280.7244 Promotions $ 46.92 $ 390.00 $ 344.42 $ 357.00 $ 168.48 $ 32.38 $ 10.54 $ 1,349.74 $4,163.50 The Tribune Advertisement - Vol Docent Ad - 1/15/2016 Jack House Fund EXPENDITURES $ 1,050.83 Expenditures (through January 1 - 31, 2016) Ending Balance Remaining (Jan. 31, 2016) (Matching Finance Plus System) Account 100.60280.7244 $ 5,513.24 Beginning balance as of December 31, 2015 (Matching Finance Plus System) US Bank Credit Card Purchase - Victorian Christmas - 1/15/2016 James Papp Reimbursement - Art Exhibits - 1/15/2016 Ending Expenditure Balance (Jan. 31, 2016) (Matching Finance Plus) TOTAL JACK HOUSE FUND EXPENDITURES Expenditures as of December 31, 2015 (Matching Finance Plus) 89140.7789 Cost of Materials for Resale No Activity Account 625-89140 Total Expenditures: Sub-Total: 89140.7227 Contract Services Expenditures (Post Dates through Jan. 1 - 31, 2016) Jack House Promotions City General Funds - EXPENDITURES $1,050.83 Robert Gordon Reimbursement - Victorian Xmas Centerpiece - 1/8/2016 New Times Advertisement - Victorian Christmas - 1/8/2016 Jack House Decoration - Crotser 1/29/16 Jack House Halloween - Titus 1/29/16 2-3 1 Jack House Docent Morning Meeting Draft Minutes 14 January 2016, 10:30 am–12:20 pm The Jack House Present: Marilyn Darnell, Marilyn Forselles, Pam Hurd, James Papp (president), Carol Whitaker 1. Approval of minutes November minutes were redistributed and approved provisionally in absence of any subsequent notice of changes from docents. Toni had forwarded changes, including Carol Whitaker, not Marilyn Forselles, suggesting less noxious alternatives to fire retardants for the greenery and Marilyn Darnell, not Toni, suggesting the small front room being interpreted as a trunk room. Marilyn Darnell requested that in future, minutes should include both beginning and end time and author. Draft minutes will be sent first to attendees for possible corrections and then to the membership at large. 2. Mitigating the effects of upcoming construction on the house and its contents Docents inquired after the state of insurance coverage of the collection, which James undertook to look into though noting that items in the house were unique as having Jack provenance, and therefore insurance could provide repair costs but not adequate replacements. Therefore it was important to protect them from the possible effects of upcoming construction. These included four major categories of risk: 1. sawdust, plaster dust, and outside dust and dirt, which are invasive and abrasive; 2. object injury and breakage from accident; 3. theft or mislaying of objects; 4. fire from machinery in use or left on after the work day. There is also the risk of water and humidity damage in an El Niño season. At the 13 January Jack House Committee meeting, committee members had expressed Jack House Docent Evening Meeting Draft Minutes 14 January 2016, 5:30–7:15 pm History Center of San Luis Obispo County Present: Donn Clarius, James Papp (president), Kathi Settle, Laura Sorvetti, Eva Ulz 1. Approval of minutes November minutes were redistributed and approved provisionally in absence of any subsequent notice of changes from docents. 2.Mitigating the effects of upcoming construction on the house and its contents Suggestions from Eva, who has experience of construction mitigation in other historic houses, included either plastic tunneling towards the construction site or paper on floors and plastic over walls and doors (which could be affixed with tape because the paint is not original); movers’ blankets wrapping the newel posts and paper wrapping the banister; removal or isolation and wrapping of pictures, furniture, and other objects (depending on portability and likelihood of damage during moving); wrapping and labeling of objects removed; a detailed photographic record or rooms before and after construction work; and sisal matting for removing dust from feet. She also suggested humidity monitoring, given the weather and temporary opening of the wall to the outside. 3-1 2 discomfort at this preservation work being left to the docents but offered no alternative, and a Parks Department representative disclaimed Parks responsibility for the house’s contents. James will continue to liaise with Mike McGuire of Public Works and a will also contact Andrew Collins of Facilities Maintenance with specific recommendations for mitigation based on best practices. Volunteers will help isolate and protect objects in the room affected, which include not only the dining room and master bedroom but the passages in between. James has undertaken to inspect the job site at the end of every work day to make sure power tools are removed or turned off and everything is secured. Docents expressed the desire to have guidance from the Jack House Committee on handling of the collection. There is a Collections Policy Subcommittee of the Jack House Committee consisting of Marilyn Darnell, Kathi Settle, Laurel Sorvetti, and Eva Ulz, who are all docents, as well. 3. Moving the shop Docents agreed that efforts to move the shop indoors to the kitchen area will go forward. Books and stationery will make the move; other gift items, which have been on sale, will be sorted and given to a thrift store such as the Hope Chest or otherwise appropriately disposed of. Marilyn Forselles and Carol Whitaker volunteered to sort. Docents agreed that the shelves in the kitchen side of the pass-‐through would be an appropriate place to display books. Future discussion will focus on how best to use the Wash House space: including as an exhibition space, meeting space, and/or storage space. James pointed out that an introductory video presented by Wes Connor used to run there. Kathi at her meeting with the mayor and other committee chairs earlier in the day mentioned the issue and was offered help in moving furniture by one of the attendees; Kathi’s son is also willing to assist. It was felt that hiring outside movers would cost money we don’t have and, more important, not provide sufficient control and expertise in handling irreplaceable antiques. 3. Moving the shop The evening meeting agreed with the morning meeting that the kitchen side of the pass-‐through is a good location for the bookshop. Eva suggested getting a Square account so we can accept credit and debit cards with a cell phone. Eva also pointed out that using the Wash House as an exhibition space instead of the Carriage House would give us an occupancy-‐ ready, alarmed, and handicapped-‐accessible site out of the way of brides. Due to its configuration, it has 70 feet of exhibition wall space compared to the Carriage House’s 56 feet. 3-2 3 4.Storage James has purchased transparent bins and bags to store Christmas decorations and asked for suggestions for a better place to put them than under the house, where they tend to track dirt into the house. Possibilities are the Wash House, Carriage House, Carriage House attic, or offsite storage, since holiday items are used only once a year. 5. Art after Dark Our first Art after Dark this year brought 67 enthusiastic and diverse visitors, most of whom had never seen the interior of the house. As an event that takes place eleven times a year, it may have the potential to double our attendance. It takes place 6–9 pm, on the first or sometimes second Friday of the month, and involves museums, galleries, and temporary exhibition spaces. To fulfill its potential to draw new and repeat visitors, Art after Dark should ideally involve a new exhibition or event each month, with an illustrated blog post describing it ahead of time on the Art after Dark Web site, and with labeling of the exhibition and someone to give an oral explanation of it and answer questions. Exhibitions can draw from the Jack House collection or bring in outside items to better explain aspects of the collection or of nineteenth-‐century life to visitors; we could also have exhibitions that have nothing to do with the mission of the house, such as a contemporary art show. Art after Dark membership is sponsored by the Friends of the Jack House, but the hope is everyone involved in the Jack House will provide input for exhibitions. Our first Art after Dark last October consisted of a poetry reading on railroad themes; the January exhibition was a collection of old master drawings and watercolors shown on the dining room table to demonstrate how artworks on paper were 4.Storage Eva suggested that if the Wash House were used for exhibitions, the Carriage House could be used for nonarchival storage (such as of Christmas decorations) and, with inexpensive adaptations, a small core of modular insulated archival storage. 5. Art after Dark Kathi, James, Donn, and Eva had served as docents at January’s Art after Dark, and Laura had attended; all were enthusiastic about the results. Eva believed that the house rather than the exhibition drew people, but James feared that that novelty might wear off without a strong exhibition schedule. Laura suggested a February 5 exhibition on Victorian Valentine’s cards; Eva pointed out that changing paper and printing technology had created the Valentine’s card industry in the nineteenth century and offered to work with Laura, providing text and organizing a loan of historic Valentine’s cards from the History Center. A workshop where people would make their own cards could be set up in the Wash House. Art after Dark is sponsored by the Friends of the Jack House, which has programmatic supervision over it and at its November meeting put Laura in charge of putting together its calendar of events. 3-3 4 generally enjoyed in the nineteenth century: sitting down to go through albums or portfolios. At Thursday’s meeting docents suggested exhibitions focusing on book covers, postcards, nineteenth-‐century fashion, and art about the house (e.g., drawings and photos by Schwartz, Hawthorne, and Chuck Crotser). James is willing to coordinate exhibitions and their volunteer curators. Marilyn Darnell suggested improving night lighting of the Jack House sign and vegetation for Art after Dark. James said he would consult Parks Department about keeping up the outdoor Christmas lights on the magnolia tree, adding others, and lighting the sign. Pam pointed out the real concern of additional demand on docent volunteer hours to staff Art after Dark. We were able to field four docents, with an offer from a fifth, in January. James hopes Art after Dark will become an active recruiting ground for new docents and has already asked some who attended to join. Because Art after Dark involves a consortium of exhibition spaces, it is best to participate every month to get people used to coming. Docents supported February, March, and April dates, as long as areas of construction were closed off. Docents discussed when to open the regular Sunday season and agreed on April, possibly mid April, as ideal. The SLO Marathon will take place May 1 from 6 am to 1 pm, with the expo closing at 2 pm. James will look into when the United Way event takes place. 6.Excursion Jean Whitaker is listed as excursion chair. James will contact her about plans. Suggestions included the Stow Ranch and Price House. 6.Excursion 3-4 5 7. Mother’s Day Carol Whitaker suggested moving the Mother’s Day outside festivities and indoor opening to Saturday, to interfere less with family observances. There were docents both in favor and against this idea: discussion of the pros and cons included the fact that it frees up families but also the danger of moving something that people are used to on one day to another. James was asked to consult the Parks Department on their feelings. Last year there were 70 Mother’s Day visitors in the house. There was unanimous agreement among docents that house tours should be free on Mother’s Day. Traditionally there is an exhibition on Mother’s Day, and James undertook to send out an email soliciting suggestions. 8.Christmas at the Jack House There was disappointing attendance at the four Christmas openings this year of 55 visitors, compared to over two hundred in both 2013 and 2014. There will be more discussion of this at future meetings after a new Christmas chair or chairs are chosen. Carol Whitaker suggested discontinuing live greenery because of the unattractiveness of the fire retardant chemical; she also suggested a less intense decoration of the house. James mentioned concerns about new nails in wooden parts of the house having been used to hang decorations; city policy on its historic structures precludes this, inside and out. 9. New chairs A collection of folding plastic chairs have been cleaned and introduced to the house on a permanent basis for meetings and to be available for concert and exhibition seating, docents on long stints, and infirm visitors; they are, however, white plastic wedding chairs, hence discordant and unattractive. James suggested asking the Friends of the Jack House for money to replace these with 7.Mother’s Day Docents at the evening meeting were open to moving Mother’s Day festivities in consultation with the Parks Department, though Donn suggested that if it were already working well, it might be wiser not to try to fix it. 8.Christmas at the Jack House There was a discussion over the lack of historic accuracy of the Jack House’s traditional decorations. As well, Victorian Christmas decorations, which are well documented, were much more restrained and would be less of an effort to put up and take down and friendlier to the fabric of the house. Suggestions included keeping the decorations the same (given their record of popularity) or offering different historic periods of decoration in different rooms. Docents felt that decorations alone may no longer attract visitors among many competing options. 9. New chairs The evening docent meeting agreed with the morning meeting that wooden folding chairs would be both attractive and practical. James undertook to collect options and report back. 3-5 6 either period chairs that were not collection or less discordant wooden folding chairs. Nonfolding chairs would create a storage problem, and docents unanimously supported the idea of wooden folding chairs. 10.Jack House Docent Handbook Revision Committee James and Marilyn Darnell reported on the first committee meeting for revising the Docent Handbook, which included them, chair Judith Collins, and new docent Donn Clarius. Goals are updating material from emergency procedures to docent information, removing duplication and achieving succinctness, and adding new information about the family and house contents. The committee also talked about providing a visitor booklet, a docent cheat sheet (Pam has an excellent one), detailed room books with information about each of the objects, and the option of self-‐guided tours. The overall goal is to give docents all the accurate information available for each docent to be able to assemble her or his tour narrative out of. Judith will be soliciting input from docents. 11. Vacancies Previously unfilled vacancies include docent vice-‐president, secretary, and historian. With the resignations of Toni Kincaid and Lois Crotser, the docents also need a scheduler, a Mother’s Day committee, and a Christmas committee. Toni has offered to train a new scheduler in her system. 12.Docent meeting attendance Docents expressed concern at traditional and low attendance at docent meetings. There was a suggestion to require attendance but a fear of mass resignations if this were enacted. James described his sympathy with those who don’t attend, as the meetings resemble what would normally be board meetings, and no one likes board meetings. Other successful models are available for high attendance, such as a combined social and learning meeting or 10.Jack House Docent Handbook Revision Committee Donn, James, and Eva, who is also on the revision committee but could not attend the first meeting, spoke about the goals of the committee in improving the handbook as a resource and the committee’s desire for input from all docents on information and organization. Kathi welcomed the effort to add new information, as she keeps hearing information from other docents on the house and family that she is unfamiliar with. 11. Vacancies Donn offered to fill the vacant position of historian, which does not require a vote, and his offer was gratefully accepted. 12.Docent meeting attendance Attendees at the evening meeting expressed their thanks for a docent meeting being scheduled that they could attend, so it looks like we will have two meetings for the foreseeable future. 3-6 7 more frequent excursions to promote docent cohesion and training. 13.History Mixer South County Historical Society will host a History Mixer January 29 from 6 to 8 pm in its headquarters in Arroyo Grande. History Mixers are a chance for volunteers and professionals at the county’s various history organizations and historic houses to meet, network, provide help to each other, and have a great time. Food and drink are provided, and all Jack House docents are welcome. 14. Report on the 13 January 2016 Jack House Committee meeting The Jack House Committee meeting included a presentation by the assistant city attorney on ethical requirements under the Brown Act. The committee’s subcommittee for liaison with PB Companies’ San Luis Square project was dissolved. The committee discussed ideas for reversing the disappointing Christmas attendance. There was an outside presentation urging temporarily introducing an artist-‐decorated fiberglass cow to the Jack Gardens at a cost of $7,000. The committee appointed Laura Sorvetti to the subcommittee considering a collections policy. During public comment period, Lois Crotser, who resigned as a docent in December, read out loud to the committee letters or emails from two current docents criticizing James as docent president, one of them in personal terms concerning not only specific actions but character. She proposed the Jack House Committee alter the docent bylaws to remove James as president. Committee members suggested, however, that docents should resolve dissent among their own members and by their own means. At Thursday’s morning docent meeting, James expressed, first, his own deeply personal hurt at the months-‐long effort of a 13.History Mixer 14.Report on the 13 January 2016 Jack House Committee meeting Concerns were expressed by docents over the situation with the collection and the docents’ de facto responsibility—possibly liability—for it. Laura heard of her appointment to the Jack House Committee’s Collections Policy Subcommittee. Docents expressed their distress at recent dissension within the docents, joined with the resolution of the morning meeting’s docents to work together for the good of the Jack House and its programs and resolve concerns and disagreements openly, and considered the episode to be closed. 3-7 8 subset of docents to force his removal and the tactics they have used; second, his belief that it is better to approach him directly with problems that he can do his best to resolve (such as by adding a second docent meeting time) rather than immediately taking complaints to a third party; and finally his concern that the desire to remove him as duly elected vice-‐president and duly succeeding president seemed to be based more on personal loyalties than substantive policy differences and therefore risked breaking docents into irresolvable tribes rather than interest groups who could compromise. The crisis facing the Jack House is that facing all historic houses: maintaining and increasing its relevance in the face of changing demographics and tastes. Creating a division between docents is a crisis we do not need. Toni had assured James during a long and friendly discussion after the Jack House Committee meeting that she had resigned from the docents to escape the drama and had not supported the petition and letter-‐writing campaign. James has urged Toni and Lois to rejoin the docents at any time they wish. Docents at the meeting expressed the belief that the actions that had been pursued against the current president had gone too far and been divisive. James affirmed his willingness to seek input and receive constructive criticism. Docents present resolved to work together for the good of the Jack House. 3-8