Pember on path to recovery

You are currently viewing Pember on path to recovery

The treasurer of the Pember Library and Museum says the institution is on the path to recovery.
Less than six months after its executive director resigned and nine months after a state audit revealed the Pember Library and Museum was in a precarious state, Bob Tatko said the institution has stabilized its finances and begun to move ahead with a number of physical improvements.
“We’ve made steady and stable progress,” Tatko said. “We’re paying all our bills on time and carefully maintaining our costs. We’ve cut back to the basics.”
The institution, which lost a total of $106,000 in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years realized a profit of $2,000 during the 2013 fiscal year, which ran from June 1, 2013 through May 30, 2014, and so far to date, remains on track to finish the current fiscal year in the black.
“We’ve made some great progress and hopefully the public will have faith in us,” Mary King, director of the library’s board of trustees said.
Financially, the board has saved thousands of dollars by adopting what Tatko describes as an austerity budget. Earlier this spring, the board eliminated $32,000 worth of professional payments that Tatko characterized as “not necessary.” The board has also forged ahead without an executive director, saving thousands of dollars in salary.
“We’ve carefully reviewed all our expenses. We’re really watching all our costs,” Tatko said.
The board has invested $87,000 from its endowment account and $167,000 from the Capital Campaign account, the latter of which was invested in a high dividend mutual fund account.
It has aggressively pursued grants, applying for a total of nine grants totaling $180,000 and the board plans to apply for another six grants this fall.
There has also been a renewed emphasis placed on fundraising. The institution generated more than $3,000 from an ice cream social in July and the library’s “Pennies for the Pember” campaign has generated nearly $3,000 in donations in three months. King said the institution will send out its annual fundraising letter this fall and donations will be applied to operating expenses.
The board has also instituted a number of physical improvements aimed at improving the Pember’s infrastructure.
The library’s antiquated electrical system has been updated, two air conditioners which maintain the proper temperature and humidity to “ensure the safety and continuity” of the museum’s collection have been installed and the lighting has been replaced with a modern system that will improve lighting while saving the museum hundreds of dollars. Repairs have been made to the roof, eliminated a number of leaks and there have been a number of improvements and repairs made to the trail system at the Hebron Nature Preserve.
“It’s almost back to what it was five years ago,” King said.
The board plans to purchase a new broiler that could reduce fuel usage by as much as 450 gallons per year, rebuild a handicap ramp so its ADA complaint, replace the second floor ceiling in the museum and repair the school house at the nature preserve.
Relations with key stockholders including donors and both the town and village have also improved with the latter two pledging their support. The village recently agreed to cover the insurance costs of the library and museum’s collections.
“The town and village have been very helpful through this initial process as we move forward,” Tatko said.
The museum has also strengthened ties with the Slate Valley Museum and in addition to First Fridays is working on a joint volunteer program as well as collaborative programming such as a Festival of Wreaths that will complement the Slate Valley Museum’s Festival of Trees.
King said the board has achieved all these accomplishments without cutting programs or reducing hours, but said the library and museum could still use donations and volunteers.
“We’re still in need,” she said.
Still, Tatko said “there have been a lot of good steps taken in the past 164 days.”
“Our main goal is to the make sure the Pember returns to its original grandeur and greatness for the next generation.”