2024 Strategic Plan – Adopted June 17, 2024 Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum

  1. Enhance visibility through increased programming, events and outreach in the community.

    1. Increase programming and events.

      1. Implement Inspire Olympia programs when approved.

        1. Plan, schedule and implement a tour or event focusing on the heritage of an underrepresented group in the local history narrative.

          [Greg, Nick Vann on 9/19/24 program; Inspire Oly grant staff on others]

      2. Resume Holiday Home Tour.

        [Events Committee: David (Chair), Greg, Shanna, Ann, Jill, Dwight, Vickie, Cheryl, Ben, with assistance from all board members and volunteers.]

      3. Plan events to bring visitors to the Bigelow House. These may include:

        1. Summer event in Bigelow House yard for neighborhood and beyond (ice cream social or apple press). [Paul P., Cheryl, Vickie, Ben]

        2. Periodic historic book club meetings at the Bigelow House. [Jill, Vickie]

        3. Tours for legislative interns during their summer lecture series. [Paul P.]

        4. Continue development of Scavenger Hunt program to help visitors learn about different parts of the property. [Jean, Ben, Charlene, Shanna, Ann, Vickie]

      4. Revise interpretative plan for the Bigelow House, with tribal participation, to include Native elements on the property. [David, Shanna, Jill]

      5. Participate in local events with significant public exposure, such as Harbor Days and Wooden Boat Festival, when feasible.

        [Greg to do Heritage Day on 10/12/24, possibly others; Dwight, Ben, Cheryl]

      6. Seek additional Washington State Diversity in Local History grants as appropriate and if funding is available. [Greg]

      7. Partner with the Capitol Theater for its Centennial. [Greg, Paul P., Ben]

      8. Partner with the Library on a class on Sylvester’s Window. [Jill, Ben, Vickie, Shanna; consult with Lynn Erickson]

      9. Institute/Re-institute neighborhood tours: South Capitol, Downtown, Bigelow Neighborhood. [Paul P., Shanna, Ben]

    2. Increase outreach.

      1. Continue outreach committee to develop new outreach strategies.

        1. Coordinate with staff funded under Inspire Olympia grant who will assume responsibility for managing social media presence.

          [Inspire Olympia grant staff]

      2. Activate Education Committee for outreach to education community to implement Inspire Olympia grant and Roger Easton History Program Grant. [Education Committee: Greg, Shanna, Jean, Shirley, Vickie, Ann, Denise Halloran and Gery Gerst]

        1. Recruit members to the Teaching History workgroup. [Inspire Olympia grant staff]

        2. Select a lesson plan developer to draft a lesson plan on the Bigelow House and the Bigelow family. [Inspire Olympia grant staff]

        3. Identify and act upon opportunities to partner with other efforts to enhance teaching of local history and linkages to OHS&BHM.

          [Inspire Olympia grant staff]

      3. Continue to provide annual “State of the OHS&BHM” report to the City Council, Mayor and staff. [Greg]

      4. Engage with the Bigelow Neighborhood Association [Paul P.]

        1. Summer event in Bigelow House yard for neighborhood and beyond (e.g. ice cream social or apple press). [Paul P., Cheryl, Vickie]

      5. Continue to build relationships with the Squaxin Tribe. [Education Committee: Greg, Shanna, Jean, Shirley, Ann, Vickie; Inspire Olympia grant staff]

        1. Revise interpretative plan for the Bigelow House, with tribal participation, to include Native elements on the property. [Shanna, Charlene]

        2. Continue Squaxin blessing at annual meeting. [Greg]

      6. Enhance annual meeting with audience engagement. [Greg, Vickie,Cheryl]

      7. Liaison with the Thurston County Bar Association in follow up to their May, 2024 presentation. [Shirley]

  2. Develop facility to house our dispersed collections.

    1. Explore opportunities for a temporary facility and approach city for financial support for staff and capital needs. [Greg, Paul P., Shanna, Charlie, Jean, Shirley and possibly recruit from membership and AHA; see also names under IV below]

    2. In partnership with AHA, continue plans to develop a permanent facility. [Greg, Paul P., Jean, Shanna, Charlie, Shirley]

    3. Improve and enhance stored Bigelow House collection. [Collections Committee]

      1. Review Bigelow House collections to determine what can be eliminated in accordance with applicable standards beyond items previously eliminated (records, sheet music, books, toys). [Ben]

      2. Develop storage strategy that safeguards and protects the collection.

      3. In order to restore the “middle bedroom” at the Bigelow House, undertake planning for items remaining in that space.

        [Paul C., Shanna, David, Susan Goff]

  3. In partnership with AHA, continue to realize the vision of a new arts, heritage and cultures museum in downtown Olympia.

    [Greg, Shanna, Shirley]

    1. Upon receipt of a decision from the City on AHA’s proposal, determine next steps to assist with and support proposal refinement, fundraising and grant efforts, archive space planning and temporary exhibit development.

    2. Partner on temporary exhibit development. [See above names; Dwight, Cheryl]

  4. Build support for paid staff. [Greg, Paul P., Shanna, Charlie, Shirley, also Cheryl on 2b]

    1. Develop methods for increasing revenue.

      1. Develop strategies to enlarge membership base.

        1. Continue to provide Thurston County History Journal. [Charlie, Paul C., Ann]

        2. Prior to December membership drive, review Bigelow House guest book to target prospective members. [Shirley]

      2. Establish a committee specifically directed to finding options to fund staff.

        1. Approach city for financial support for operating, programming and building maintenance.

        2. Review other museum funding, staffing and programming models.

        3. Research grants that allow funding of staff.

      3. Develop a fundraising back-up plan with other fundraising options.

        1. 2025 Gala [Events Committee: David (Chair), Greg, Ann, Shanna, Jill, Vickie, Dwight, Cheryl, with assistance of all board members and volunteers]

    2. Update staff and volunteer needs. [Greg, Paul P., Jean, Shanna, Charlie, Shirley]

      1. Update assessment of basic or minimum staff needs and requirements, as well as ideal requirements, in the areas of administration, technology, board support, media and communications, events and programming, and membership development, so that we are positioned to act when revenue is available.

      2. Develop staff job description(s) [Tour Coordinator and Program Manager descriptions have been developed as of the commencement of this plan]

      3. Orientation/social for new board members. [Paul P., Vickie]

  5. Enhance internal systems to assure viability of our organization and the Bigelow House into the future.

    1. Board structure [Greg, Shirley, Paul P.]

      1. Reassess how we recruit board members.

        1. Continue to recruit from membership.

        2. Diversify board

          1. Outreach to communities of color.

          2. Revisit changing by-laws to include a student position for one year terms, as well as ex officio members.

      2. Develop succession plans for board members, key volunteers, and officers.

      3. Formalize relationship and participation with the Olympia Heritage Commission and staff. [Greg]

    2. Bigelow House infrastructure and needs.

      [Greg, David, Shanna, Paul C., Ron Locke, consult with Craig Swalling]

      1. Develop priority list for maintenance projects.

      2. Develop a list of capital needs and capital grant options.

      3. Seek grants to restore/rehabilitate BHM and the grounds, including the shed.

      4. Recruit new docents.

        1. Develop strategies (including possible use of student interns, engagement with the Bigelow neighborhood, and outreach strategies referenced in I.B).

        2. Increase participation of board as docents, greeters, and volunteers.