Governing Structure

​The “Organizational Directors” consist of representatives from the Oregon School District, Oregon Park District, Oregon Library, Village of Progress, Serenity Hospice & Home, Ogle County Historical Society, Depot Museum, Chana School Museum and City of Oregon.  There are six “Individual Directors” consisting of local business and community leaders.  Executive Committee (EC) consisting of CMAAA’s Executive Director (ED), President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and City of Oregon (City) Representative (currently the Mayor).

committee Structure

The very nature of CMAAA involves complexity: Nine very different, long established Oregon institutions are ex officio represented on its Board—each having a different focus, and probably different interest in CMAAA and what it can do for them.  Furthermore the facilities of the Coliseum are probably going to be used in many different ways, again with each institution having a different interest in such uses.  CMAAA must draw on the varied capabilities of each of these institutions—and those of its constituent volunteers—not to mention of other individuals in the Ogle County community.
The mechanism for taping into those capabilities would seem to be Committees of CMAAA to support, advise, and inform the CMAAA Executive Director, Executive Committee, and the Board.  A sensible approach would be appointment of a Chair (and Vice Chair, especially one suggested by the Chair), who in turn would recruit other volunteer committee members.  In order of likely “needed first in time” (not necessarily in ultimate importance to CMAAA) is formation of the following Committees—and their “charges”:
Space Planning Committee:
  • Determine the dimensions of the various spaces in the Coliseum;
  • Determine current [historical] uses of which spaces at what time of year for how long;
  • Conduct a survey of the Institutional Board Members of their institution’s desire for:
    • Floor space;
    • Wall or gallery space;
    • “Table” (surface) space [for hand out materials about their institution” and/or other materials];
    • “Store space” of what type [envisioned is an area where items, including “advertising” shirts, hats, etc. might be sold]
    • Need envisioned for periodically used “Temporary” exhibit space [of Floor, Wall, or Table] 
  • “Store space” of what type [envisioned is an area where items, including “advertising” shirts, hats, etc. might be sold]
  • Need envisioned for periodically used “Temporary” exhibit space [of Floor, Wall, or Table].
  • Begin conceiving of modular units—and cost of fabrication—for permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary displays of “Art, Antiques, and Americana”.
  • Inform the Executive Committee of the results of the above which, in turn, will be required for negotiation of the lease and use agreements with the City.
Digital Media Studio Committee:
  • Ascertain the details of the commitment from Comcast, the high speed fiber optic company, to the City to supply a “recording studio” for the Coliseum;
  • Try to determine the space needs for this [on the top floor space], in conjunction with (in order to do so), with the Space Planning Committee.
  • Consider, and recommend to the Executive Committee and Executive Director, what might be in such facility and the uses to which it might be put, e.g.:
    • As to video production, technology has apparently advanced to the point that actual “studios” (except for very high end) brick and mortar studio facilities become obsolete very quickly, and are largely hand held, portable, etc.  Issue: what really would one have for that?
    • As to video conferencing facility OR “site” to “hear/see” remote presentations, especially interactive, there seems to be a different situation, including “corporate use” [for a fee for use], “classes”, “round table” production of “talk”, etc.
    • Possible “facilities” of use—”Green Screens” [hardware and software—currently the latter the most expensive, including constant updating], “audio” production [think podcasts], “news stories” [e.g. Rockford stations, radio or TV “remote” studio location for “interviews” of local news stories or human interest, etc].
  • A number of these uses will be “charitable”, e.g. no charge, such as for the School, possibly Highland or other community college courses, while as to others “user fees” would be charged, e.g. entrepreneurs, corporations, businesses.
  • To do this “board of advisors” would be needed for design input, but might be members of the Committee.
  • Consider, and recommend to the Executive Committee and the Executive Director, how to run this recording studio once built out including the following issues and questions:
    • It would not be wise for CMAAA or the Executive Director to do so directly—off mission, too specialized, and would take too much time and attention, and therefore,
    • An independent contractor Limited Liability Company [LLC] might be set up, owned by CMAAA—as a business—to operate it, directed by, for example, a Highland professor/expert in these activities.
Museum & NFP Store Committee:
  • Museum Store will be a venue for local outside artists (or artisans), upon acceptance, to (on consignment) market their work in various mediums (paintings, glass, pottery, sculpture, textiles, etc.) for sale.  It would also constitute a venue for CMAAA organizations to market items for sale representing their organization.
  • Using survey data from the Space Planning Committee, work out the space needs and location [anticipated to be at the “front” of the building, the original “main entrance”, which will not be so used upon construction of the ramp and entrance on the south side].​
  • Develop recommendations for the Executive Committee and the Executive Director as to the structure of the Store, how it would operate, budget, personnel requirements, etc.
  • Assist the Executive Director with the initial requirement of procuring an accounting/inventory software package.
Art, Antiques, and American Acquisition & Temporary Exhibitions Committee:
  • Develop recommendations for the Executive Committee and the Executive Director as to establishment of standards and procedures for accepting proffered donations of objects for permanent exhibit acquisition, long-term exhibits with retained ownership, and temporary exhibits.
  • Assist the Executive Director with tasks of photographing, recording, informational tagging and researching of all museum acquisitions.
  • Assist the Executive Director with the initial requirement of procuring a museum inventory software package.
  • Recommend organization of CMAAA objects for possible exhibition elsewhere; and
  • Vetting and making recommendation regarding offered exhibitions from elsewhere at CMAAA.
  • Sub-Committees:
    • “Acquisition Standards & Specific Works Recommendation Sub-Committee” which will propose written standards (or future modifications) as to the acquisition of offered donations of works (or collections) whether permanent, on very long term loan, or otherwise, and then apply those standards (once adopted) in specific situations and make recommendations to the full Committee and, if approved, to the Executive Committee;​
  • ​"Temporary Exhibits Sub-Committee“ which will both vet and suggest exhibits of collections of artists, artisans, or items, e.g. historical, of other institutions (or individuals) to be displayed at CMAAA, and also temporary exhibits of CMAAA items to be offered for display at other institutions; and
  • “Taft Students ‘Funeral Procession’” Sub-Committee which will liason with the City and NIU External Affairs and Art Museum regarding the proposed move, cleaning, possible restoration and placement outside the front of the Coliseum.
Finance & Insurance Coverage Committee:
  • Work with the Treasurer and Executive Director regarding budgets and financial tracking of operations and projected costs of events, programs, displays, etc.
  • Develop recommendations for the Executive Committee and the Executive Director as to insurance coverage required and companies specializing in different fields of insurance for: (1) Liability coverage, over and above the “City” coverage; (2) Removable assets owned by CMAAA, 
such as, and not limited to, the digital media studio equipment and softwear, museum fixtures in the form of permanent and movable display cases, art stands, tables, chairs, lighting, computers, flat-screen displays, security equipment, etc.; and (3) NFP's store inventory, museum store inventory, permanent museum acquisitions, temporary museum exhibits, and long-term museum exhibits.
Marketing & Design Committee:
  • Develop logo and “look” for all materials and “labeling” of CMAAA; and
  • Marketing of CMAAA and collections to the public, including web site, social media, etc.

​Strategic Planning Committee:
  • Development of, and periodic revision and updating of, a strategic plan for CMAAA, including finance and fund raising.
  • Sub-Committees:
    • “Development/Fund Raising Sub-Committee” which will including solicitation of area companies, especially for “naming” opportunities on galleries, fund raising events, etc.
Institutional Coordination Committee:
  • Coordinating among institutions represented on the CMAAA Board regarding the Coliseum and its use; and
  • Coordinating between CMAAA and the rest of the Ogle County Community, individuals and organizations, as well as outside of County organizations, e.g. NIU.