Business plan

(draft) Business Plan 2009—2012

I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II LONG-TERM GOAL

II a SHORT-TERM GOAL

III CURRENT SITUATION

1. Condition of building

2. State of collection

3. Membership demographics

4. Relationship with Fort Rensselaer Club

5. Current financial situation

6. Legal

   1. Condition and availability of legal documents and information including constitution and by-laws.

   2. Homestead as Certified Historic Structure IV THE LOCAL MUSEUM MARKET

1. Demographics of local community—personal and economic

2. Other museums in area—similarities & differences

3. Community interest in supporting local history

4. Lessons to be learned from Arkell Museum experience

V INITIATIVES TO ACHIEVE SHORT-TERM GOALS

1. Make necessary repairs to building

2. Obtain curator to handle issues with collection

3. Build a “safe room” for temporary storage of collection

4. Publicize VHS to community, see Evan’s business plan proposal

5. Develop membership drives

6. Hold regular meetings to keep members informed of progress

7. Develop a Web site with links to/from other similar sites

8. Consider guest lecturer series where speakers discuss local history and/or specific items in our collection

9. Consider an annual re-enactment event to commemorate a local historical occurrence, i.e., something that took place at the homestead during colonial times

10. Contact similar local museums to gain information and share ideas

11. Explore implementation of levels of members, i.e., corporate members, sponsors, etc.

12. Pursue grants

13. Develop other revenue sources, see Evan’s business plan proposal

14. Aggressively solicit volunteers to implement above initiatives

VI INITIATIVES TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM GOALS

1. Develop plan for ongoing financial support

2. Explore cost-sharing possibilities with similar local museums

3. Obtain permanent paid curator

4. Enhance building so it’s secure, presentable and climate controlled

5. Restore art works in need of repair

6. Frame and display collection throughout building

7. Open building and collection to public

8. Develop ongoing marketing initiatives