2015 annual report - Rock County Historical Society

Transcription

2015 annual report - Rock County Historical Society
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:35 AM Page 1
2015 ANNUAL REPORT
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:35 AM Page 2
OUR MISSION:
The Rock County Historical Society Enriches
and Engages the Communities of Rock
County, Wisconsin through Preservation and
Dissemination of the Unique History and
Heritage of Our Area.
OUR VISION:
A place that defines the essence of Rock
County, Wisconsin; its people, places and
achievements during its rich past. A destination
that serves to bridge past to present by using
history as a tool to offer relevant, educational
and entertaining experiences.
OUR VALUES:
Education
Authenticity
Entrepreneurialism
Preservation
Play & Discovery
2
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:35 AM Page 3
CONTENTS
Director's Message..................................................4
Year in Review .........................................................5
Special Events .........................................................6
Education.................................................................8
Archives....................................................................9
Development ........................................................10
Membership...........................................................12
Volunteer & Internship Program ..........................13
Special Projects .....................................................14
Operations .............................................................15
2015 Financials ......................................................16
Marketing & Rentals..............................................17
Collections .............................................................18
Staff and Board .....................................................19
3
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:35 AM Page 4
Director’s
T
The
planning and design seemed endless, yet our
focus was toward the light at the end of the
tunnel.
message
This
T resounding thought was ever present as the
Historical Society embarked on another plan, this
one much different from the newly launched
Strategic
Plan of 2014. The Campus Master Plan,
S
created this past year, rivals its predecessor in
content and visualization while providing the nuts
and bolts of how our collection of sites and yet to be cultivated landscape
will transform into an iconic destination for Rock County.
The Plan is similar to an onion, peeling back layer after layer of detail as the
needs of our sites, landscape, operations and most importantly, our visitors
are addressed, for the present and the future. Once complete, the Plan will
make the collection of six sites into a cohesive History Campus, a process that
has caught the attention of our current supporters, new converts and the
Wisconsin museum community. Moving forward, it will serve as the blueprint in
helping us be entrepreneurial, with a focus on our goals and metrics to gauge
our success.
As the year moved forward, we added two key position to our staff team,
Volunteer/Intern Program Manager & Development Manager; positions solely
devoted to resource development and with the Society's expected growth in
the coming years, the need will never be greater for human and financial
resources. A changing current within the Society during the past year was to
think differently about how we present and offer history to the community.
By embracing an entrepreneurial and social mindset, our team is dedicated
to improving the quality of life and economic development in Rock County. It
may seem difficult to see how history can make these connections or provide
this value, but museums and historic sites like ours are quickly adapting this
trend to stay relevant and sustainable.
2015 will be remembered by taking the path of courage and confidence with
the belief in something not yet complete.
Thank you for your belief in us and for your support in the exciting year to
come!
Sincerely,
Michael Reuter
Executive Director
4
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:35 AM Page 5
Over the past year, the Rock County
Historical Society offered new tours,
educational programs and events for visitors
from all walks of life, both inside and out of
Rock County, Wisconsin. All of these
activities were made possible through the
Society’s many generous donors, members
and sponsors.
The following pages detail the
accomplishments and growth of the
Historical Society in each department.
Year in Review
5
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 6
Special Events
Annually our events are designed to
Opening New
Doors
April 2015
engage our traditional audiences while
attracting a new generation of visitor. By
incorporating more hands-on experiences,
skill building and entertainment, visitors walk
away educated, improved and directly see
the value of history in enhancing the quality
Our past, present and future was
commemorated at our gala celebration, while
publicly unveiling our 15-year Strategic Plan.
of life.
58th Annual
August 2, 2015
Wisconsin’s longest running outdoor art festival! The 58th
Annual Tallman Arts Festival featured over 100 artists from all
over the Midwest specializing in countless mediums.
Sustainability through Art was this year’s theme, many
enjoyed the “Green” themed activities, featured artists who
used sustainable materials, live music, great food, kids’
activities, live auction, and more!
June 28, 2015
Hosted on the North Lawn with the backdrop of the
Lincoln-Tallman House, our Light the Way kick-off
spurred community interest and sponsorship in
illuminating our historic gasoliers and sconces, while
enjoying the rich food of Chef Rafe and the music of
the Rock River Philharmonic.
6
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 7
Chill on Oak Hill October 14, 2015
Sherry Thurner spooked and surprised
guests as she guided them through the
rows of graves and tombstones in Oak
Hill Cemetery. Over 800 people
expressed interest in this compelling
event through social media!
Historic House Gala
September 12, 2015
Dr. John Haye cordially opened his majestic residence to
Society supporters as we honored this year's House Tour
participants, while auctioning off tickets to support the
construction of our Campus Core.
Whiskey, Wine
A N D H O L I D AY C H E E R
December 6, 2015
35th Annual Historic House Tour
September 13, 2015
Attendees came and marveled at half a dozen of
Janesville’s prettiest porches, fanciest facades, and
grandest gables, many dating from around the 1920s!
The Historic House Tour featured a tour through multiple
fine houses in the historic district of Jefferson Ave and
Bostwick Ave.
7
Many enjoyed the magical ambiance
and cheer of the holiday season at our
holiday open house! Wine and Whiskey
helped the Historical Society complete
its Light the Way campaign while guests
enjoyed wine and whiskey pairings with
hearty appetizers.
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 8
Education
Here at the Rock County Historical
Society we highly value learning,
especially when it’s done in fun,
innovative ways. In 2015, RCHS
embarked on many fronts to make our
collective history more relatable,
accessible, and downright enjoyable
to everyone. We were fortunate to
have two awesome summer interns
who helped us design and implement
new programming, some of which you
will have the chance to experience
this year. We are excited for the course
we are currently on and we cannot
wait to show you everything we have
planned in the years to come!
SO HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE
WE IN 2015? THESE NUMBERS
SHOULD HELP YOU GET A
BETTER PICTURE.
635 third grade students visited the
Frances Willard School
19 History Campers came and
experienced local history
301 people went on our Walking Tours
around Janesville
Over 100 people came to the October,
Chill at Oak Hill program
ROCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
VISIT BELOIT
A new, hands-on, free geocaching program, Cache Quest,
was created in partnership with Visit Beloit to create and place
multiple historic caches around the Beloit and Janesville
communities. By using geocaching, an interactive, team
building activity, the Society is diving head first into a new
strategy of using history to engage new audiences.
rooted in discovering the odd,
A new, hands-on exhibition roote
unique and special collections of Rock County, Caches &
Curious offered that and so much more! The history of how
the first museums were created was offered as a framework,
but it was the natural, American and local history collections
that were on display that captivated and educated
audiences of all ages.
Over 40 historic Rock County
locations were logged on “the clio”, a
new walking tour app we use
33 Cache Quest caches were placed
all around Rock County
1 awesome new exhibit, Caches and
Curios went up
A new partnership between the Society and local artists
created Art with Heart, an arts awareness and social benefit
program that uses art to further the mission of a Rock County
nonprofit in need. In its inaugural year, Art with Heart supported
the mission of Project 16:49, a nonprofit focused on finding
shelter for homeless teens. Through the sale of youth art at the
Tallman Arts Festival, Art with Heart raised $1,000 towards this
important mission.
8
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 9
archives
Home to 10,000 images and over 50,000 documents, scrapbooks and
family mementos, the Charles Tallman Archives is Rock County's primary
resource for the public to dig up their family's roots, discover the past of
their historic home or simply foster a deeper appreciation for family history.
During the past year, the archives has expanded its services and products,
offering photo reproduction and historic house kits for the general public
to use and enjoy for a variety of purposes.
Moving forward, the archives and its dedicated corps of volunteers
continues to provide exemplary customer service, while keeping an eye
on emerging trends in the archival and genealogical filed in order to
connect its customer and researchers to new resources and historic
materials.
3,500
3,593
$5,600
VISITORS
VOLUNTEER
TOTAL REVENUE
RESEARCHED
Their Family History
HOURS
from archival services
and products.
were Spent Aiding
Customers & Cataloging
Collections
9
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 10
Development
Support and success of the Rock County Historical Society comes from a diverse group of community support.
Our Membership is the bedrock of our existence in their belief of our mission; the City of Janesville has been a
steadfast supporter of our stewardship of the Tallman site, Rock County government believes in the broader
County narrative, and our new relationships with the Business Community opens new doors to a previously
untapped group of supporters.
Our Annual Appeal program provides critical operational support to keep our doors open and programs staffed
while offering engaging and educational experiences. We honor the contributors to this program below:
$10,000 and above
BMO Harris Bank
Elizabeth and Alan Dunwiddle Fund
Janesville Foundation
Nowlan and Mouat Charitable Trust
Prent Corporation
Studer Foundation
Theodore Batterman Family
Foundation
William Wright
$1,000 to $9,999
Alliant Energy
Robert Duecker
Claremont Jackman Foundation
Tom Jeffris
Jeffris Family Foundation
Jim and Ann Johnson
Marion and Robert Lietz Fund
MacFarlane Pheasants
McClelland Fund
Rowland and Audrey McClelland
Mercy Health System
Carolyn Mowbray
Parker Foundation
Charles Rydberg
Seneca Foods
Siron Foundation
William Wartman
Wisconsin Humanities Council
$500 to $999
Blackhawk Bank
First National Bank
Harris Ace Hardware
Tobin and Oakleigh Ryan
Joan Ryan
$499 and Under
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Ahern
John E. Anderson
Raymond and Virginia Anderson
Daniel and Karen Atwood
Annette Austin
David and Sonjia Bagley
Douglas Batty
Albert Bennett
Peter Bentley
Sharon Bishop
Jane Bordner
Sue Braden
Dave Briske
Donald Brovick
Whitey and Leslie Brunsell
Dale and Mary Buchholz
Lindsay Callender
Bradley Cantrell
Rosemary Fleming Cash
Sally Cheever
Joyce Dodge
Dennis Dooley
Nancy Belle Douglas
Melita Downing
Leonard Eager
Ardy Eddy
Laurel Fant
John S. Haye
Donna Herzfeldt
Richard Hodge
Hufcor, Inc.
Patricia Hughes
Gloria Huschka
Judith Jaggard
Johnson Bank
Vicki Johnson
Deborah King
Yvonne Koball
Beverly Koch
Arra Lasse
Alfred and Nancy Lembrich
Bradley W. Losching
Dr. Steve and Melissa Lyon
Jack and Joan Malin
Douglas and Nancy McDonald
10
Kathryn and Patrick McDonald
Family Charitable Fund
Thomas McDonald
Bill McKelvy
James and Kristin Meier
Robert and Vivian Miller
Tamara Mitchell
Carla Olson
Dolores Otto
Camilla Owen
Mitchell Pelsue, DDS
Bonnie Prochaska
Michael Spoon and Hannah Roach
Anne Roe
Cheryl Rogers
Leora Stavn
Frank and Martha Scott
Diana Shadel
Don Schieve
Earl Schultz
Dr. Patrick and Terri Sitorius
Charles Smith
Harris Thacher
Susan Thompson
Thomas and Kathy Thostenson
Julie Unbehaun
Rita Walker
Kay Ward
Jacqueline Webb
Roberta Wickham
Gloria James Ziegler
In-Kind $500
Jax Custom Printing
Mary Terry Design
Meridian
Ed & Larry's Fast Service
Vacuum Cleaners
Novak Networx
Best Events Catering
Flooring & More
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 11
During 2015, the Historical Society continued to strengthen old and forge
new relationships with the business community in Rock County through its
annual sponsorship program. By offering Brand Recognition and Employee
Benefits, the program soared, securing over a dozen businesses that
provide financial and in-kind support.
CURATOR LEVEL
HISTORY BUFF
RESEARCHER
11
Lisa Karr Photography
HISTORIC 100
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 12
Membership
Members are the bedrock of support for the Historical Society. With this commitment, they get
exclusive access to our new tours, exhibits and programs.
A revised Membership Level structure and new marketing collateral offers even more incentive to
support the Historical Society in the year to come.
Thank you to all of our members who supported us in 2015 at across all of our levels.
Abraham Lincoln
Ruth Ann Potts
Matt & Molly Ryan
William Tallman
Willa Bagley
Oakleigh & Tobin Ryan
Henry Janes
Daniel Atwood
Kathy Boguszewski
Bradley Cantrell
James Lyke
Rowland McClellan
David Ryan
Dr. Patrick Sitorius
Carol Smith
Historian
Winfred Bold
Ellsworth Brown
James Cripe
Melita Downing
Jean Guritz
Jeannine Hanson
John S. Haye
Dr. Thomas Haye
Dennis James
Britten Langfoss
Diane Miller
Anda O'Connell
Patricia Reynolds
Hannah Roach
Cheryl Rogers
Don Sartell
Earl Schultz
Frank Scott
Terry Sheridan
Pete Skelly
Gary Smith
Greg Smith
Family
Stephen Adams
Den Adler
Raymond Anderson
Larry Barton
Individual
Maddie Adams
Maggie Bromley
Mary Buelow
Lori Cassels
Robert Duecker
Lorna Helling-Spoden
Joshua Hickman
James Hurley
Vicki Johnson
Nancy Kopp
Michael McGinnis
Dorothy McNall
Kirsten Mortimer
Carol Roherty
Virginia Saltzman
Marion Schumacher
W. W. Schwartzlow
Diana Shadel
Betsy Smith
Edna Thorp
John Bauwens DDS
Donald Beutin
Arica Bock
Roberta Bradley
Donald & Terry Branz
Anthony & Kay Briski
G Richard Cope
David Cress
John Decker
Ron Delaney
Will Everts
David & Julie Feingold
Dan Fredricks
Diane & Paul Fuller
David Gibb
Cynthia Grantz
Marlene Grundman
James Hay
Robert Heeman
Dale Henning
Craig Holden
Jonathan Hopkins
Patricia Hughes
Gee Gee Jannene
Arra Lasse
Tim Maahs
Nancy McDonald
Dana McKelvy
Dr. Katsumi Neeno
Joan Neeno
Larry Nitz
Hiram Nowlan
Donald C Persons
David Schollmeier
Everett Scott
Tom Skinner
Susan Speth
Martin Stabb
Keith Steinbeck
Mary Terry
James Thorpe
Julie Unbehaun
Pam Van Brocklin
James Viney
William Vogt
Jackie Wood
Senior/Student
Barbara Anderson
Donna Arndt
Donna Bader
Faye Bidwell
Suzanne Bill
Barbara Bobzien
Dave Briske
Lillian Brown
Mary Butts
Norma Carlson
Rosemary Fleming Cash
Jane M. Colby
Ken Conner
Marianne Dean
Katherine A Demrow
Dolores Dilley
Nancy Belle Douglas
Elayne Drenckpohl
Barbara DuBois
Deanna Frank
Mary Frei
Ray Freiwald
Eugene Gibbs
Karen Goelzer-McKaig
12
Naomi Hackbarth
Kathleen Harrison
Marsha Havertape
Margaret Henke
Sandy Heuerman
Virginia Hirsch
Grace Jackson
Lynne Jacobsen
Joan Jorgensen
Sally King
Nancy Larson Will
Gloria Lentz
Sue Ellen Madere
Barbara Mara
Pam McGill
Paulette Melvin
Jean Moore
Patricia Mork
Gerald Mueller
Michael A. Perry
Marthea Riley
Marlene Roessler
Betty Schoenenberger
Susan Schroeder
Peggy Schutt
Roger Schwartz
Francis Seefeldt
Ella Selby
Richard Selje
Kay Sharpe
Richard Snyder
Jane Stamm
Leora Stavn
Don Stoker
Shirley Swanson
Walden Thiede
Patricia Thom
Anne Thomas
Susan Thompson
Kathy Thostenson
Sherry Thurner
Kaaren Torkelson
Jacqueline S Webb
Nancy Welch
Roberta Wickham
Paul Wixom
Nanci Zigler
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 13
Volunteer and Internship Program
For almost 70 years, RCHS has relied on
the passionate, dedicated work of
volunteers to preserve and interpret
the history of Rock County. As we
move into an exciting new chapter of
our development and growth as an
organization, our volunteers are a
large part of our plans for the future.
To ensure that our volunteers and
interns receive the training and
support that they need as the
organization grows, RCHS hired their
first Volunteer and Internship Program
Manager, whose sole focus would be
volunteers and interns.
Because of our volunteer’s efforts in
2015, we gave over 100 tours of the
Lincoln-Tallman House, helped 675
people discover their own history in
the Archives, welcomed over 3,500
people to our special events, and
shared the rich history of Rock County
with 435 local school children. Giving
over 6,000 hours, our volunteers have
supported us with their talents and the
gift of their time.
In turn, RCHS is able to give back to
the community; below are just two
examples of our many volunteers, and
what they both give as well as receive
from RCHS:
Toni • One of the regular Front Desk
Volunteers, Toni, is not only a cheerful
resource, she is also an example of the
kind of opportunity our Volunteer
Program can provide to the
community. In her time here, Toni has
advanced her skills in office
management, and plans to take
classes this fall to earn her Associates
degree. Because of her dedication
and tenacious perusal of new tasks,
we as a staff were able to help her
grow, and to give her new projects
that challenged her to learn new skills.
Jonathan • When Jonathan arrived at
RCHS, he knew that he wanted to
contribute, but was unsure of where
he would fit into our program. After
talking with the Education Curator, we
decided to create a role for him that
would allow him to be a part of our
volunteer team, but also help him to
further his own plans of earning his
Masters in Public History.
With
Jonathan’s help, we were able to
develop content for our Help Wanted
tour, and he now has a deeper
understanding of tour development
as well as a very personal experience
with museum work.
Both Jonathan and Toni exemplify the
power of our program in the
community – RCHS is a place where
people can share and gain skills, as
well as connect with others. Our
volunteers help the RCHS staff to
reach their goals and also allow us to
give back to the Rock County
community in meaningful and
powerful ways.
13
VOLUNTEERS
190 individuals
4 groups
VOLUNTEER HOURS
5,924 hours
INTERNS
3 Summer Interns
3 Collections Interns
2 High School Interns
INTERN HOURS
1,300 + hour
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 14
Special Projects
STER PLAN
CAMPUS MA
Campus Master Plan
We
focused
our
resources
on
one
overriding project, the Campus Master
Plan. The first main goal out of our Strategic
Plan, the Plan was created with numerous
contributions from a variety of RCHS
stakeholders, in partnership with Madison
based architecture firm, Vandenwalle &
Associates. Its purpose was simple, to
provide innovative design concepts to the
site that complimented the qualities of
architecture and landscape to create a
stunning, yet functional history campus.
Through six overlays and five site plans, the
Campus Master Plan defines detail and
depth in the campus' vision while blending
the historic and contemporary features.
The Campus Master Plan is in the blueprint
from which physical changes to the
campus will occur.
14
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:36 AM Page 15
operatons
The day to day operations of a five building campus is vast, and after not
having an Operations Manager on staff for the majority of 2015, it became
clear that having someone to head that department was necessary.
Although I had been doing many various operational duties to fill voids, I was
officially offered the position of Operations Manager in January 2016. Despite
there being no official department head, and me being out of the office for
four months on maternity leave, the department had a successful 2015.
In the Gift shop we added 16 new and diverse items and generated a
revenue of $3,802.38
We had 168 members renew their RCHS memberships, and 28 new members
join, for a total membership revenue of $10,810
Although the road construction on Jackson Street impacted our visitor metrics
in the summer months, we had over 1000 school children through the house,
along with 2000 general guests, for a total revenue of $11,522.50. We could
not have welcomed this many school children and guests to the campus
without our wonderful interpreters, both paid and volunteer. They all have a
passion for the Lincoln-Tallman House that makes them invaluable in
providing guests with a memorable tour of our campus!
GIFT SHOP
MEMBERSHIP
VISITORS
Revenue $3802.38
New members 28...................$2065
School Tours......1043 students
Number of new items.....16
Renewing members 168.....$10,810
Tallman Tours........2000 guests
Total Revenue $12,875
Revenue $11,522.50
35TH ANNUAL HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR AND GALA
With a diverse offering of architectural styles, the homes of the Jefferson and Bostwick
neighborhoods provided an interesting and memorable house tour in 2015.
LINCOLN TALLMAN INTERPRETERS
Without our Interpreters, the rich history of the Lincoln-Tallman
House could not be shared with hundreds of volunteers each
year. Thank you for you for sharing its story!
Victoria Ames
Rachel
Cunningham
Samantha Gartner
Betty Gilbert
15
Judy Gilmore
Oakly Good
Lynne Jacobsen
Brianna Koerth
Joanna Morris
Jim Romenesko
Rita Walker
Jim Dumkee
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:37 AM Page 16
2015 Financials
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
2015 Support and Revenue by Source
Public support ............................................................. 50,578.99
Public support - restricted use ................................ 194,639.50
County contributions ................................................... 9,243.80
Service revenue from the City of Janesville ................ 45,000
Event and exhibit revenue, net ................................ 93,542.44
Membership dues and admissions........................... 28,307.90
Investment return............................................................. 455.85
Archives ......................................................................... 4,274.23
Other .............................................................................. 7,776.59
Total revenue......................................................... 433,819.30
2015 Expenditures
Wages and benefits................................................. 221,355.89
Event and Exhibit Expenses ....................................... 44,876.71
Office expenses ............................................................ 8,319.07
Insurance ....................................................................... 9,101.00
Marketing and communication............................... 17,187.36
Maintenance and repairs ........................................... 7,811.36
Telephone, utilities, and IT.......................................... 34,072.75
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Professional fees ........................................................... 6,400.00
Archives ......................................................................... 1,414.44
ASSETS
Other .............................................................................16,666.63
Cash and certificates of deposit ........................... 391,282.61
Expenditures - restricted use ................................... 246,008.95
Investments.................................................................. 39,063.00
613,214.16
Inventory .........................................................................4,393.00
Property and Equipment...................................... 1,018,034.30
Depreciation ............................................................... 50,293.00
TOTAL ASSETS ....................................................... 1,452,772.91
Total expenditures ............................................... 663,507.16
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ........... 30,178.84
Net Assets ......................................................................................
Unrestricted ............................................................. 902,323.07
Temporarily restricted ............................................ 459,317.00
Permanently restricted ............................................ 60,954.00
Total Net Assets....................................................... 1,422,549.07
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS...................... 1,452,772.91
16
1
0
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:37 AM Page 17
Marketing & rentals
The Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Meghan Walker,
had her first intern in the summer of 2015. An wonderfully
creative and innovative person, Bonnie Willison brought so
many great ideas to the table that the different social
media channels that RCHS was marketing through saw an
incredible increase in followers over the course of a single
month. The official RCHS Facebook page averaged 10-20
“likes” per month and, after Bonnie devoting 40 hours a
week to marketing specifically through social media, RCHS
saw 100 new “likes” for each month that Bonnie was
interning.
Meghan also got to test new marketing waters in 2015.
Using a portion of the $5,000 funds from a JACVB Tourism
Marketing Grant, Meghan explored bus and television
advertising for the first time for the Holiday Tours of the
Lincoln-Tallman House and for the Tallman Arts Festival.
0
2015 was the most successful year of rentals yet with 5
1
first-ever Halloween party held in the furnace room of the
0
weddings, 3 private parties, and 1 business special event. A
Lincoln-Tallman House has opened the gates for more
themed private parties to be had!
2015 - 100 NEW “LIKES”
Successful year of rentals 5 WEDDINGS, 3 PRIVATE PARTIES,
AND 1 BUSINESS SPECIAL EVENT.
FIRST-EVER Halloween party
17
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:37 AM Page 18
Collections
Artifacts and archival materials from all corners of Rock
County were donated in 2015 to help preserve our
county’s history. 88 donations were received including
a Beloit Adam’s Korn Kurls advertisement, a Bergen
postcard and a variety of other items representing
Clinton, Evansville, Janesville, Johnstown and Milton.
20 loans were brought in for the Caches and Curios
exhibit, including the changing featured collection of
the month.
An outgoing loan to the University of
Wisconsin - Rock County allowed 700 visitors to see
Lincoln related items in their library from our collection.
700 88 DONATIONS
VISITORS
20 LOANED ITEMS
representing Rock County
experienced RCHS
collections at
UW Rock County
18
for Caches & Curios
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:37 AM Page 19
Staff
People are what drive great organizations.
Without a passionate and dedicated staff,
the mission of the Rock County Historical
Society could not be fulfilled. Our Board of
Directors thanks you for your steadfast
commitment to better the communities of
Rock County through the lessons of our past.
Amanda Strobel Wise
Volunteer &
Internship Program
Manager
Laurel Fant
Curator/Collections
Manager
Michael Reuter
Executive Director
Keighton Kos
Operations Manager
Meghan Walker
Marketing & Outreach
Coordinator
Nathan Fuller
Education Curator
Nancy McDonald
Development
Manager
Ruth Anderson
Development
Archives Manager
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Maahs
President
Lisa Kim
Secretary
DuWayne Severson
Treasurer
Anda O’Connell
Emeritus
Jackie Wood
Emeritus
Nicholas Osborne
Rock County ExOfficio
Brian Schweigl
City of Janesville ExOfficio
Kathy Boguszewski
Trustee
Jim Carney
Trustee
Jeni Lindstrom
Trustee
NOT PICTURED:
Joe Knilans
Trustee
Carolynn Mielke
Trustee
Matt Ryan
Trustee
Molly Ryan
Trustee
Greg Smith
Trustee
19
Paul Stengel
Trustee
Bill Vogt
Trustee
RCHS Annual Report 2015 REV_Layout 1 4/26/16 7:37 AM Page 20
426 N. Jackson Street
Janesville, WI 53548
www.rchs.us
1