O’Fallon Museum Board – Meeting Minutes April 8th 2025

O’Fallon Museum Board

Minutes

April 8, 2025

Present Absent

Toni Reetz, Trustee

Linda Rost, Secretary Cheyanne Dame, Trustee

Vaughn Zenko, Curator Kenny Griffith, Trustee

Curt Williams, Chairman

Convene: 

The meeting was called to order by Curt at 4:08 pm at the O’Fallon Museum metal building.

Public Comment:  Time limit 10 minutes per subject.

Minutes: Read by trustees. 

Toni made a motion to approve minutes as read and Linda seconded. Minutes approved.

Accessions –  

• Toni made a motion to accept the items below and Curt seconded it. Motion passed.
• Toys – Magnetic pickup sticks, Milk Duds, Teddy Bears
• Creamery Box – Fallon County Creamery from Baker
• Curt made a motion to accept the item below and Toni seconded it. Motion passed.
• Darla Hanson gave to Lew Price to present to us – old newspapers
  • Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary
  • Billings Gazette where Kennedy was slain
  • Beach – Four men held for 1st degree murder
  • Billings Gazette – Desert Storm

Deaccessions

• Core samples from oil field – there are four boxes plus the samples on display
  • Ask Kenny his thoughts
  • Schools and/or area museums may be interested in them.

Donations Approval

• $500 – in memory of Alex Collie to museum from Alex Collie, Jr.
• $150 – from Kenny and Karen Griffith to Society
• $40 – in memory of Alex Collie to museum from Red and Lucy Lovec acknowledging Alex Collie, Jr.
• Will send thank you and donation receipt.
• A donation to the museum or society are tax-deductible.

Discussion of Curator’s Report

• Muriel K. Bowen – Kari Lininger-Downs is writing a book about this topic and need permission to use quotes from O’Fallon Flashbacks. There are 8 references. Permission granted. 1918
  • She is also visiting the area this summer – Would like to host her.
  • Will self-publish with mom, Janice Rustad-Lininger
• CSI case – May 12th at courthouse – usually have party. – Doing Bud Butler for the case
• MAM conference in Bozeman – went to Gallatin County Museum which is in an old jail
  • They still have old jail cell and have stories of the murders
  • Are there old jail cells/doors somewhere? – Maybe the original jail? Talking about moving old jail over here.
    • Options – fill it with foam and move it; try to move it and then repair it.
• March – 59 total visits; 12 out of town; 6 tours; 18 on LEGO day
• April – already 35 with 25 on LEGO day
• April 17 – playtime at museum through May 23
  • Chamber should be doing advertising and registration and museum does the work
  • Eggs for April 17 – Linda Rost
• High Tea – May 3, 2025 at 11 and 2; register at museum or school
  • Fundraiser for community theater – $10/adult; $5/kid
• Poetry Contest – End April 21, 2025
  • Geography, History, Person POV
  • People’s Choice Award with prize package
• Art Camp July 7-10
• STEM Camps July 14-16 (Lifestraw); July 21-23 (Mission to the Moon)
• Digitizing project – old home videos here at the museum – will take donations
• Trying to open up museum for meeting space
  • DPHHS last month
  • Montana Non-Profit Association – will be here
  • Community Theater PAR – will be here
• Events with alcohol? – Could do hard liquor and/or beer
  • Toni makes a motion to approve the use of alcohol in the building, as long as all the details are worked out. Linda seconded.
  • Should have discussion with Kenny.
  • Toni amended her motion to table it. Linda seconded. Motion passed.
  • Must apply with state and cannot sell it. 
  • Live-action clue – 9 rooms.
  • Could do meal and cocktails. 
• AI data shows the slowest day was Tuesday and highest was Sunday.
  • Shows where they are coming from – come from Carter County Museum
  • 2800 people attendance recorded; AI said 1700 people – may not count kids
  • Not a lot of repeat visitors – big spikes in June, July, and October
• Next year is America’s 250th birthday

Old Business

• Removal of inactive board member
  • Cheyanne Dame has missed more than three meetings unexcused. 
  • Toni makes a motion to removal Cheyanne Dame from the Board. Linda seconded. Motion passed.
  • Commission can now advertise for a new member.
• Heritage Fest
  • Cowbelle meeting – if you serve beef, will chip in $200
    • Could do hamburger patties and Cowbelles will donate $200 as long as there is beef – Jake Wagner
  • Could spend less money but scale it back – Could use the event budget for other things
    • Petting zoo, BBQ, kids’ games, chuck wagon, train, wagon rides 
    • Vendors – Jeannie Tronstad (Molly Barkley? Jessica Kolbach? Others?)
  • Also plug in to Plevna Jamboree
• Peggy Smith – Geisha dolls – any Thursday or Friday – also donating China cupboard and case 
• Historical Society Trackless Train – Will be delivered tomorrow – April 9, 2025
  • Where to store it?
  • Engine plus cars is 32 feet long; three cars are 6×4. Engine is 8 feet with cow-catcher
  • Could be 16×6 if side-by-side.
  • They do have covers, so they could be stored outside, but that is not ideal.
• Cars – there are some duplicates – don’t need two tan ones.

New Business 

• Grants – did Melissa apply as Museum or Historical Society?
  • Grid United – only available for Fallon County – up to $50,000
    • Glass case for Steer Montana with lighting, humidity
    • Roof on schoolhouse – needs new rafters – need a quick estimate
    • Willard hall roof?
• Future events
• Other

Next Meeting: 

s\Curt Williams, Chairman     s\ Recording Secretary, Linda Rost, Trustee