FRIENDS OF THE GOLDA MEIR LIBRARY

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

May 26, 2005    5 p.m.

Special Collections Reading Room

 

Present: Pat Van Alyea, Ewa Barczyk, Tom Bliffert, E.J. Brumder, Gilbert Church, Deborah Conta, Bruce Fetter, Donn Haglund, John Koethe, Nancy Laskin, Marianne Lubar, Robert Meldman, Martine Meyer, Ald. Michael Murphy, Gwen Plunkett, Lolita Schneiders, Prescott Wurlitzer.

 

The meeting was called to order at 5 p.m.

 

  1. The minutes of the May 20, 2004 annual meeting were approved as submitted.

 

  1. President’s report:  As of May 26, 2005, Friends membership total is 322.  President Bruce Fetter reviewed some of the year’s highlights.  The Friends:

 

·        Presented UWM’s new Chancellor, Carlos Santiago, with a rare 18th century map of Puerto Rico at his inauguration.  The map will be added to the American Geographical Society Library’s Collection.

·        Underwrote the Libraries 2004 Outstanding Staff Awards.

·        Developed several fundraising strategies, including book-naming and the targeting of select campus groups for Friends membership.

·        Presented, with Historic Milwaukee, Inc., a book-reading by local author Will Fellows on building preservation.

·        Friends financial support also included:

 

Ø      American Geographical Society Library’s Academic Adventures faculty lecture series

Ø      Special Collections’ Book Forums

Ø      Archives’ Revisiting the Past lecture

Ø      Holzheimer Lecture: Maps and America

 

The Friends held two successful book sales in October and April and raised over $10,000 for the Library, each sale setting a new record.  Bruce thanked the program committee, volunteers and other committee members involved. 

 

Deborah Conta, chair of the Program Committee, and other Program Committee members were acknowledged for organizing the book sales and planning today’s program, as well as the Will Fellows event. He also thanked the members of the Board for their involvement in the Friends for their active support as well as their involvement.  The library staff were also thanked for their help with the book sale and programs.  Finally, he thanked Interim Director of Libraries Ewa Barczyk for her cooperation and guidance. 

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report:  The President reported for Rabbi Barry Silberg that proceeds from the book sale were transferred to the library special acquisitions. Beginning balance was $54,613.69; ending balance, $48,838.01.  Treasurer’s report was accepted.

 

  1. Report of the Interim Director:  Ewa thanked the Friends’ President; the Executive Committee; the Board of Directors; and the membership at large for their support and help.  Ewa highlighted several of the Libraries activities:

 

·        Opening of the Gathering Place @your library—a coffee shop and study area, featuring wireless access to the internet (as, indeed, our entire building now does), comfortable seating, and a casual atmosphere.

·        Creation of two digital collections, Greetings from Milwaukee: Selections from the Thomas and Jean Ross Bliffert Postcard Collection and Picturing Golda Meir.

·        Important acquisitions, including the archives of the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, dating from1870 to the1990’s; Juan Alvarez Cuauhtémoc's photograph collection documenting the Latino civil rights movement in Milwaukee from the late 1960s through the 1970s; and more than sixty publications from George Brumder’s late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century publishing house, donated by his descendant, Friends Vice-President E.J. Brumder.

·        Promise of a seven-figure bequest for the American Geographical Society Library from Prof. Robert McColl of Lawrence, Kansas.

·        Transferal to the Libraries’ Special Collections of important book arts materials from UWM’s Art History Gallery, including original book works by internationally noted artists.

·        Securing of several grants in the Archives Department, two in support of the preservation and promotion of the WTMJ-TV News Film Collection, and one to assist the Libraries in making its archives more accessible to researchers.

 

Ewa thanked the following UWM Libraries staff who assisted with the preparations for today’s event: Steve Burnham, Margaret Cushinery, Amelia Klem, Dawn Lee-Vue, Susan Modder, Kathi Paly, Kim Silbersack and Max Yela.  Ewa also thanked the Friends and will be looking forward to working together with them in the coming year.                     

 

  1. Committee Reports

 

Development- Bob Meldman reported that the Friends would offer an educational trip to Alaska next summer as a fund-raiser. He has secured places on an outstanding cruise line and the libraries will realize income for each cabin as well as land tours.  This will take a lot of planning and approval from campus but will be financially worthwhile for the libraries.

 

Nominating- Lolita Schneiders moved the adoption of a slate of nominees for 2005/06; the adoption was seconded.  There were no further nominations from the floor.  It was carried unanimously that the nominees be elected.  Officers elected to two-year terms were as follows: Pat Van Alyea, President; E.J. Brumder, Vice President; Robert Meldman, Treasurer; Deborah Gardner Conta, Secretary.  Nancy Laskin and Marianne Lubar were elected to four-year terms on the Board. Ald. Michael Murphy and Prescott Wurlitzer were re-elected to four-year terms on the Board. 

 

Program- Deborah Conta reported on the success of the Will Fellows event. She announced that the next booksale would be held on October 17-19, 2005.  Deborah thanked the library staff for providing the extra staff support, security, advertising and making arrangements for the left-over books. Tonight’s program will feature Mayor Tom Barrett and Robert Greenstreet, Dean of UWM’s School of Architecture and Urban Design, speaking on “Milwaukee: A Vision for the Future.” 

 

  1. Old business- No old business to report.

 

  1. New business

·        Outgoing President Bruce Fetter and Treasurer Rabbi Barry Silberg were honored with certificates of appreciation. Fetter, a UWM history professor whose teaching interests include Africa and cartography, was also presented with a 19th century map of Africa. He will continue serving on the Board, as Past President.  Norman Lasca was thanked for his two-year term in that role.

·        New categories for Friends of the Golda Meir Library membership were proposed, seconded, and approved unanimously. They are Individual, Contributing, Sponsor (includes ILL), Supporter, Corporate Benefactor, Life Member (available to individuals only).

 

  1. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

 

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