RH=Ray Hill JR=Judy Reeves JC=Jim Carper PP=Paul Pruitt BW=Brandon Wolf RK=Rick Hurt (de Klown) GW=Gigi Wilbur BR=Bruce Reeves 1. Obviously, our name contains the word museum, which I am assuming means that we all feel the need for a building. IS THAT A CORRECT ASSUMPTION? RH: Yes But perhaps not right away. Our "museum presence" could be electronic first, building to a physical presence later. JR: Yes JC: Yes PP: Yes BW: Yes RK: Yes GW: Yes BR: Yes Group answer 100% YES 2. Assuming that we need a building: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE TARGET TIME FOR BEING IN ONE? RH: last qtr 2000 I think it is important to get something up and running within a year or we begin to loose credibility JR: 2nd qtr 2000 JC: 1st qtr 2000 PP: 2nd qtr 2000 BW: 2001 (1 year) RK: 2nd qtr 2000 it would be nice to have something in the working by next pride month, even if it was in a temporary building. 2nd option by National Coming Out Day.. October 11, 00 GW: asap, when funding permits BR: 2nd qtr 2000 Group Answer: 50% 2nd qtr 2000, 25% 1st qtr 2000 (or sooner), 12.5% (last 2000), 12.5% 2001 3. Assuming that we need a building: SHOULD WE RH: Lease a building with an option to buy seems more likely but we should move as the spirit and the opportunity permits. JR: that's going to depend on the fundraising efforts. if we're looking at houston hat passing, we'll be lucky to rent a storage room. if we concentrate on that AND grant funding then i would opt for buying our own place. JC: Buy a building. PP: Buy a building. Or, get it donated – this is a very wealthy city - some straight people might be interested in contributing as well. BW: Try to convince someone to "donate" a space. Or am I totally dreaming? RK: depends on funds... guess we may start out renting a building till we can afford to buy one... GW: Lease a building with an option to buy. BR: Buy a building Group answer: 50% buy, 37.5% lease to buy, 12.5% get it donated 4. Assuming that we need a building: HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE NEED TODAY? (Remember that we need storage space and museum space.) RH: 2500 sq. ft. at minimum JR: 5000 sq. ft again, this depends on funds because we don't want to be constantly searching/moving this stuff AND the more permanent we are the more will come to us. JC: 20x20 for starters PP: 5000 sq. ft. BW: 20x20 RK: 5000 sq feet... not only do we need space for storage and museum, but for people... the fire marshall code... don't want to be crowded in.... GW: I do not know what all we have to store, nor what our near future demands will be. I suggest that we get space with room to grow. BR: 20x20 Group answer: 20x20 42.9%, 5000 sq. ft. 42.9%, 2500 sq. ft. 14.3% 5. HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE NEED NEXT YEAR? RH: 2500 sq. ft. with the chance/hope of expanding JR: 5000 sq. ft this amt of space is pretty common i think and if not enough ultimately, the archives and museum may be in sep. places JC: 1000 sq. ft. probably will expand exponentially PP: 5000 sq. ft. BW: 5000 sq. ft. RK: 5000 sq. ft. GW: see above BR: 5000 sq. ft. Group answer: 5000 sq. ft. 71.5%, 1000 sq. ft. 14.3%, 2500 sq. ft. 14.3% 6. HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE NEED 5 YEARS FROM NOW? RH: 5000 sq. ft. or more JR: 7500-10,000 sq. ft hopefully JC: 5000 sq. ft. or more PP: 5000 sq. ft. (look at this again after 2 years) BW: 5000 sq. ft. + RK: not sure GW: see above BR: 5000 sq. ft. Group answer: 83% 5000 sq. ft (or more), 17% 7500-10,000 sq. ft. 7. Another suggestion that has been made, is that we plan to put as much of our archives as possible on the internet. To some degree, we can even archive things only digitally, e.g. if someone allows us to digitize their stuff with the understanding we will put it on the internet, but they may not be willing to part with it physically. TO WHAT DEGREE SHOULD BE DIGITIZE OUR MATERIALS? GROUP PP BW GW BR 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% of personal memoranda, letters, papers, etc. 75% see% 100% 100% 100% of printed materials 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% of photographs 75% 0% 100% 100% 100% of audio tapes 75% 0% 100% 100% 100% of video tapes RH: I am not expertese enough to have an opinion on this but the internet presence is as much show biz as a physical presence. Remember PT Barnum was in the museum biz. JR: wish you'd broken this down to 2 parts--digitize and internet. i don't have a problem digitizing most anything....BUT i still have some problems with this right now--maybe after we see what we have and are up and running with it i will change my mind JC: I think that putting material on the internet is a very good idea, but maybe not immediately. We would run into the problem of which to use our assets for first - the web site or the physical building. There is also the possibility of only being on the net, with everything else in storage without a library/museum. PP: (a) Combination of scans (hand written letters and legal documents) - and - text files (generated from scans and converted to text by OCR software to save space). (b) % of printed materials – most publications already have their own archive (leave that stuff to them unless it is absolutely ancient) / Newspaper clippings - convert to text files with credits to save space / Newspaper clippings with photos – scans / Posters – scans / Misc. – scans. BW: The idea of the archives being open 100% on the net, blows my mind. It would be a great goal to shoot for. Isn't the Library of Congress now doing that? Putting 100% of it's holding online. That includes taking photographs of things that can't be scanned in. The mind boggles at the possibilities...... RK: again not sure... archival material on the internet has its good points... GW: Digitize all that is possible within space limits. Can always delete later if need be. BR: If for no reason, other than another way to preserve the collection, everything should be digitized (with the possible exception of commerically produced and copyrighted items 8. TO WHAT DEGREE SHOULD WE PUT THOSE DIGITIZED MATERIALS ON THE INETERNET? RH: see above answer JR: see above answer JC: see above answer PP: ONLY in the form of a catalogue with low-resolution thumbnails. If handled in this form, it will save enough space to enable us to put the entire contents of the archive and museum artifacts on-line with plenty of room to grow. The catalogue will also need a search engine. (500 gigabytes of high-resolution storage on CDs takes up no more space than a standard legal size file cabinet) BW: 100% if they are approved for public release. Obviously, if they aren't, they shouldn't be out there. RK: can be decided at a future date GW: Depends on content and what restrictions are placed by the owner. We should give the owner the option. BR: 100% of everything we can. 9. Of the following items (feel free to add to the list), HOW SHOULD WE BE SPENDING OUR TIME TODAY? GROUP RH JR JC* PP BW RK* BR 39% 50% 60% 33% 75% 20% 0% 30% raising money to get in a building 9% 10% 10% 33% 0% 10% 0% 5% collecting collections 4% 10% 0% 0% 0% 10% 0% 5% digitizing collections 8% 10% 10% 0% 0% 20% 0% 10% creating an internet presence 36% 20% 10% 34% 25% 40% 100% 20% crusading with other groups 4% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 30% planning JR: (Collections) I think that if we can just get one from a source, maybe other than a gca member, others will start to follow or at least start looking at us in a more viable light. (Digitizing) i wouldn't spend a great deal on this right now, we have to walk before we can run--i want a hands on operation, not 'surfers paradise'--that's what history/museums are to me (Internet) for letting people know we're here, go for it--for showing what we have, not ready for it (Crusading) if you mean outreach, it's time to get a team together JC: I don't know enough about the computer to make a judgement call on this. But getting known throughout the community, raising money and collecting the first materials seem to be the priorities. (* Extrapolated numbers) RK: informing the public is the most important thing right now and getting them interrested and talking about it with their organizations... Media, Media, Media. Much of our history can be found in our organizations. (* Extrapolated numbers) GW: No opinion at this time. 10. HOW SHOULD WE BE SPENDING OUR TIME NEXT YEAR? GROUP RH JR JC PP BW RK* BR 39% 50% 60% 50% 20% 30% 34% 30% raising money to get in a building 18% 10% 0% 10% 20% 20% 33% 20% collecting collections 9% 10% 0% 10% 20% 10% 0% 15% digitizing collections 11% 10% 15% 10% 20% 10% 0% 10% creating an internet presence 18% 10% 15% 20% 0% 30% 33% 20% crusading with other groups 2% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 5% longer range planning 3% 0% 0% 0% 20% 0% 0% 0% developing permanent exhibits JR: (Collections) kind of depends on $$/bldg situation too RK: raising money, collecting and crusading should all be given equal time. Committees could be set up for each task, so that no one gets burned out doing everything....Each one is important. (* Extrapolated numbers) GW: No opinion at this time. 11. HOW SHOULD WE BE SPENDING OUR TIME 5 YEARS FROM NOW? GROUP RH JR JC PP BW RK* BR 24% 50% 5% 50% 20% 10% 34% 0% raising money to (maintain and improve) a building 24% 10% 15% 10% 20% 50% 33% 30% collecting collections 15% 10% 15% 10% 20% 20% 0% 30% digitizing collections 12% 10% 5% 10% 20% 10% 0% 30% creating an internet presence 23% 10% 60% 20% 20% 10% 33% 5% crusading with other groups so they know about us 2% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 5% planning ------- 0% 50% 0% 20% 0% 0% outreach--schools, etc. for education/tours (added to crusading) JR: (Collections) by then they should be seeking us out too RK: same as above (* Extrapolated numbers) GW: No opinion at this time. 12. If John Doe comes to us tomorrow and says, "Hi! I've got 100 boxes I would like to donate to your organization when you are ready to take them!", we can say "GREAT!" WHAT DO WE DO IF JOHN DOE COMES TO US AND SAYS I'VE GOT 100 BOXES I WANT YOU TO HAVE AND IF YOU DON'T TAKE THEM TODAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO THROW THEM AWAY? RH: Take them, keep them somewhere???? (best option) Take them, sort through them, keep some stuff and ship the rest to L.A.? (alternative) JR: Take them, keep them somewhere???? we have some space, others will find it in a pinch if we take anything from anyone, it should immediately be inventoried and documented JC: Take them, keep them somewhere???? PP: Take them, keep them somewhere! (Don’t look at Rosy, she lives in a match box) **if we take anything from anyone, it should immediately be inventoried and documented** BW: Flee Atlanta, girl...............!!!!! RK: Since we do not have a building as of yet... and the situation comes up soon, I guess we should consider renting a storage facility... GW: Depends on the content. BR: Take them, keep them somewhere???? Group answer:87.5% take them and keep them somewhere, 12.5% flee atlanta 13. If #10 happened, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS FOR FREE SPACE? ANY VOLUNTEERS? (Judy and I can volunteer heated but un-airconditioned space at this point - but that's not the best depending on what we're talking about here.... And it may or may not be better than nothing, either.) RH: Some things do fine without A/C and at the onset of cooler weather we have time to plan and organize. The volume of all this is going to get staggering early in the process. JR: even no a/c is better than lost because we can arrange something and so much stuff is in un-a/c'd attics, storage etc it can't be worse JC: Right. PP: I think our first priority MUST be getting real estate. If we get a donation of artifacts or documents before then, we need to evaluate it for historical value first, then store it at Bruce and Judy’s regardless of the climate control situation BW: My place is already a warehouse of sorts. I like the idea of renting a storage room, from the membership dues......in the name of the corporation..... RK: well my storage space is filled to the gills... with my costumes, float materials, etc... we may have to rent... GW: I have space to build a storage bin at our house, but at this time do not have room to store in existing facilities. 14. BRAINSTORM - WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTS DO WE NEED TO CREATE AND HAVE IN PLACE ASAP? WILL SOMEONE VOLUNTEER TO BEG, BORROW, or STEAL SIMILAR DOCUMENTS FROM ANOTHER ORGANIZATION? (This is NOT a multiple choice question, more like a washlist.) Form for property donation. Form for permanent loan of property. Form for temporary loan of property (probably only used w/ museum). Form for wording in wills. Form for wording in trusts. Written Mission Statement to encourage patrons to adopt our cause. Database for inventory. Best to start from the beginning, otherwise we could get a lot of materials in boxes and not know what we have and where. It can become unmanageable very quickly. I do props for Revels and have learned from experience. It is also good to keep this database for media purposes. 15. OTHER Gigi: I suggest that we purchase clear plastic see through boxes for storage purposes. They stack easily and one can see the contents without having to open a box or go through a stack of boxes. When an organization has more than one person who has access to storage, writing content lists on cardboard boxes does not work well over time. Things get unloaded and reloaded. Also recommend that inventory be taken on a quarterly basis. Otherwise it becomes a monumental task three years down the road. It also helps ensure that things which are stored improperly are found and re-stored properly in a timely manner.