Director’s Report
Date: November 10, 2014
Attendance
3 Sundays: 73 (includes 8 from Cub Scout den Sycamore)
4 Tuesdays: 5
1 Group: Cub Scouts, St. Mary DeKalb: 10
Communications/PR
· Winter newsletter written and distributed to about 450 via email or US mail.
· There has been a lot of program publicity in newspapers this past month.
Development
· Attended Barn Restoration meeting of the Board, Michael Dixon, and Roger Keys. Took minutes and distributed to the board via email.
· There has been no further word from NIU Digital Initiatives when the outdoor QR codes will be ready for installation.
Fund Raising/Finance
· Pie sale promotion went out to everyone of our mailing lists, plus Facebook and website. Newspapers have not run the press release—it is expected to finally run this weekend. In the past few orders have come in via these solicitations. Three have been received in the mail so far. The success of this event is due solely to personal solicitation.
Grants
· Submitted final reports for Roberts Foundation Barn Tour grant and IL Humanities Council Road Scholar grant (National Barn Dance program).
· Submitted grant to Roberts Family Foundation for $19,210 for foundation repair. They responded with specific questions: Why were other funding sources not sought?
Is your organization associated with the Anne Glidden Home? Project of Barry Schrader/Steve Bigolin. How long has the disrepair been in the foundation? Were other bids sought for comparison? There has been no further communication to date.
Membership
· Current: 144 (includes 1 reinstatement)
· 17 have already renewed for 2015, about a dozen in response to the newsletter. A renewal letter typically goes out in November.
Programs
· Oct. 26 blacksmith program in conjunction with the library’s Big Read was attended by about 26, a very good attendance considering the Pumpkin Fest parade in Sycamore. Youth volunteer Kaitlyn Schatteman worked for the first, engaging young visitors in activities. She reported that she enjoyed the experience and was made very welcome. (Thanks, Jim and Lynn Morel!)
· Barbed Wire Sites Bus Tour: The 2 pm tour was cancelled due to low enrollment. 22 people attended the 11 am tour, narrated by Steve Bigolin. Jeff Marshall developed a very helpful accompanying Power Point program. Jeff and Cindy Ditzler developed an outstanding Haish display at the Homestead. Budget: Income = $276 - Expenses +-$145 = Profit +-$131
· Holiday Happenings on 11/16 will end the tour season. Michael Crowe of Rochelle will perform at 1 pm on the parlor piano and also play his concertina.
Website
· Stats Oct 8-Nov 3: 510 visitors; 446 unique visitors; 85.5% new visitors; 14.5% returning visitors; 627 pageviews; 1.23 pgs/visit; average visit :58/min.
· Demographic of website viewers: DeKalb 11%; Chicago 8%; Killeen 5%; Gulf Gate Estates 4%; Sarasota 3.5% ; Others--less than 3%