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News
Monday, February 13, 2006
Historical Society Makes Cuts Due to Financial Problems
The Westport Historical Society has had to cut its staff because of a $650,000 construction debt. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
By
Westport Historical Society officials said today they have eliminated two top staff positions because of financial problems growing out of a now-competed building expansion program.
At a press conference, Allen Raymond, society co-president, said the society has been carrying a $650,000 construction debt since the 2003 completion of the project to expand the building on the corner of Avery Place and Myrtle Avenue. In addition, the society has a $375,000 annual operating budget, he said.
As a result, the society’s leadership decided to cut the director and associate director positions, he said, which saves approximately $90,000 annually in the operating budget.
Denise Torv, director, and Katie Otey, associate director, both will end their tenures this month, according to a release, but both will continue to be involved with operations.
Raymond said volunteers will be taking over the jobs of the two paid staff, and they are going to have a training session on Saturday.
“We will have a volunteer here every day,” he said. “We’re going to be open seven days per week, and they’ll greet people when they come in. They’ll take them around the exhibits and the period rooms.”
Raymond said his understanding of the construction debt is there was a deadline for the project—which created a new exhibit hall—and much was done to meet that deadline.
Ann Sheffer, a member of the society’s board, said $1 million was raised for the project, which was the original estimate.
Weather and rising construction costs, she said, contributed to an additional $600,000 being spent.
“Once you finish a project it’s hard to have another capital campaign,” she said. “We like to raise money for our programs, but we were raising money for a lot of other things like interest and utilities.”
Raymond said the society has budgeted $50,000 to be spent towards the interest for the construction loan.
“More than 10 percent of our budget has been going towards interest,” he said.
There may be a capital campaign in the future, he said, but it’s hard to do when the organization is “bleeding money.”
The focus right now is on running things more efficiently, Raymond said.
“We’re actually doing more, but it’s going to be done with volunteers,” he said.
Raymond said when the financial problems were brought to the attention of the volunteers and membership, there were flocks of people seeking to help.
Sheffer said a lot was done with only volunteers before there was a paid staff, including having someone on site.
“It became less obvious to do because we had a paid staff here,” she said. “This has always been a volunteer-driven organization. We didn’t have a staff until about 10 years ago. It’s fun to be a volunteer because you learn a lot.”
While there have been a lot of financial problems, the society is also planning a lot of expanded programs and changes this year, including a new Destination Westport program and changes in the gift shop.
Dave Matlow, Westport Historical Society co-president, said society officials needed to be more assertive with the gift shop to increase foot traffic.
“I’m sure you saw the sale sign outside, and that’s not something we would have done before,” he said. “We’re also going to be open on Sundays. We’ve never been open on Sunday.”
The merchandise is also changing, he said, and there will be a focus on items from Westport artists and craftsmen.
Sheffer said many people who visit the shop are looking for a gift for someone new to Westport or leaving the town.
“Our books are popular, but we needed something fresh,” she said.
The Destination Westport program—which kicked off last weekend with the Ben Franklin tour—is to make the Historical Society the place people go to learn about Westport, Raymond said.
“We want people to come here first when they visit Westport,” he said.
Destination Westport includes a number of walking and bus tours throughout the year highlighting the history of the town.
Comments: Comment Policy
That this wealthy town with a rich history has such an anemic historical society characterized by a state of semi permanent torpor is hard to believe. There are plenty of creative opportunities for fundraisers that would be fun, include multiple age groups, and increase the bottom line without having to resort to Paul Newman. This can be both a social society (its’ apparent role for past memory) AND an educational tool as well as a self sufficient one. Problem is cracking the code in getting in and creating change- just isn’t on the radar screen.
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