In order to fulfill the mission of the museum, we will need to achieve the following objectives:
1. Initial organization started; winter of 1989-90.
2. Solicitation for letters of support and advice; 1990. [see bullets from letters of support]
3. Establish legal organization; accomplished April, 1991
a. incorporate as non-profit organization set up Board of Directors
b. file for charitable, tax-exempt donations (Section 501 (c)3 of Internal Revenue Code)
c. set up bank account
4. Meetings with a museum architectural firm; 1991.
5. Developing an Advisory Board made up of representatives of state universities and scientific offices; accomplished summer of 1992.
6. Announcement of museum project to the scientific community of Kentucky; presentation and exhibit at the 1992 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Science at Ashland, Kentucky.
a. preparation of materials for exhibit
b. T-shirt art work (donated by Steve Greb) and silk screening
c. obtained volunteer to help with exhibit
7. Work with the Ky. Department of Parks to retrieve Pleistocene mammal bones from Big Bone Lick, Ky. on loan to University of Nebraska; 1993-continuing.
8. Representative William Lear introduced a bill in Frankfort, that if passed, would have initiated a study organized by the Legislative Research Commission to determine the need for a state natural history museum. The bill passed both committees, but died on one of the floors.
9. Helped to start the Kentucky Paleontological Society; 1993.
10. The Webb Company asked if the museum project would be interested in the donation of The Market Place for the site of our future museum. We asked the assistance of the architectural firm of Glaser and Assoc. and had several meetings with The Webb Company and also examined the building. Several legal problems dealing with ownership halted our efforts to pursue this possibility. [see Lexington Herald-Leader, Thursday, Feb. 10, 1994].
11. On behalf of the Museum, the Parks Department, and the Kentucky Geological Survey, Don Chesnut and Anne Webster visited the University of Nebraska's collection of Big Bone Lick, Kentucky mammal fossils. An inventory of specimens and paper records was made and a report was submitted to the Parks Department [Feb. 1995]. [See Lexington Herald-Leader, Monday, March 6, 1995].
12. Construction of web pages and setup of website for museum project; 1995-1996.
13. Representative Ernesto Scorsone introduced a bill [HCR 47] in Frankfort (1995-1996), that if passed, would initiate a study organized by the Legislative Research Commission to determine the need for a state natural history museum. The bill passed one committee but died in the second one.
14. Worked with Nancy Blackmore on Big Bone Lick fauna for children's book (1997). Ms. Blackmore is now an advocate for the museum project as well as for a new museum and dig at Big Bone Lick.
15. Wrote letter to Gov. Paul Patton describing our project and asking for political support (1997). The letter was forwarded to Kentucky Division of Historic Properties which replied that we should work with the Kentucky Historical Society.
16. The President of the museum project was the President-Elect, President, and Past President of the Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists (KSPG) for the years 1997-1999. The current President (1999) of the KSPG has written a letter of support for the museum project.
17. In 1999, the Department of Parks has asked the president of the museum project to be the negotiator for the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the return of Big Bone Lick fossils from the Nebraska Natural History Museum. The governors of Nebraska and Kentucky have made an agreement that some of the fossils should return to Kentucky. Negotiations will begin in the year 2000 to determine which fossils will be returned.
18. Planning to have informational booth at the Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences November, 1999 at Richmond, Kentucky.
19. Dr. William "Bill" Martin and others are drafting legislation to be introduced to the 2000 General Assembly. This legislation, if passed, creates and funds a museum of natural history for the state. A draft copy of the legislation will be displayed at the museum booth at the Kentucky Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting in November, 1999.
20. The President is invited to sit at a panel for a symposium on "The Kentucky Natural History Museum: Progress Toward Statutory Authorization" to be held at the Kentucky Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, November, 1999.
21. Senate Bill 216 introduced to the 2000 General Assembly to create state natural history museum. Senator Pendleton submitted the bill (SB216). It passed all its committees after Dr. Thomas Clark gave it glowing recommendations. It went to the final floor (House) and was passed 93-0 on March 27, 2000. Funding was removed from the bill in order to pass it. We will work on another bill in the next General Assembly to get funding for planning.
B. Future objectives
1. Initiate regularly-scheduled meetings with advisory and directors boards.
2. Organize committees
a. site, design, and construction committee
b. public relations and fund-raising committee
c. science advisory committee composed of subcommittees (e.g., archaeologic, geologic, botanic, etc.).
3. Soliciting cost estimates for central museum.
4. Organize and start public fund-raising program.
5. Consolidate plans for exhibits; obtain funds for exhibits.
6. Solicite bids for potential sites in Kentucky; site selection.
7. Solicite specimens for permanent collection.
8. Build central museum and exhibits.
9. Hire permanent staff.
10. Begin plans for travelling exhibits.
11. Select regional sites for travelling exhibits.
12. Establish educational services, sponsored digs, and video programs.