Annual Report
FY 2012
at The Katherine and John Dobbs
Family Center
The Place Where Play IS Learning!
“Soaring to New Heights!”
Mission
The Children’s Museum of Memphis creates memorable learning experiences through the joy of play
in hands-on exhibits and programs.
A Letter
From the Chief Executive Officer
Board of Trustees
Executive Committee
Richard (Dick) Tillman, President
Anna McQuiston Holtzclaw, Vice
President
Lucia Heros, Secretary
Alex Taylor Wiley III, CPA, Treasurer
Jon Bascom, Finance & Audit Chair
Ronald (Ron) Kastner, Marketing &
Development Chair
Elvira Ormseth, Education, Exhibits &
Outreach Chair
Dr. William (Bill) Widdop, Past
President
Trustees
Dr. Jara Best
Phillip (Phil) Blum
Joe Brown
Melika Burrow-Dillihunt
Dennis Colley, Education, Exhibits &
Outreach Vice Chair
Joseph Dandan
Katherine Dobbs
Katina Gaines
Caren Nichol
Brett Shanaman
Carey Snider
William Taylor
Keith R. Townsend
Peter White
Robert (Bob) Craddock, Board
Attorney
Founders
Mars Child
Polly Glotzbach
Harriet McFadden
Harry Phillips, Sr. (deceased)
Welcome to the very
first published Annual
Report for The Children’s
Museum of Memphis! It
has been a year of great
transformation here, and we
are excited to tell you what
has been happening for the
last fiscal year. During our
22nd year of operation we
made great strides toward
delivering on our mission
with more community
support than ever.
The most exciting news
is the commitment from
Katherine and John Dobbs
for capital improvements and
new exhibit projects over the next 10 years. During the 2011 holiday
season, the museum’s Executive Committee unanimously voted to
approve the partnership by accepting the largest single gift in the
history of the museum. The museum’s campus was then named “The
Katherine & John Dobbs Family Center” in their honor. From this
partnership, the first new exhibit project in the works is the splash
park to open in May 2013 (construction began in October). With the
theme of a flower garden, the 8,000-square-foot waterpark teaches
children about concepts related to how plants grow from a seed and
photosynthesis, taking proper precautions in the sun to prevent skin
cancer, and water conservation, to name a few.
Our efforts in Fiscal 2012 were recognized nationally when CMOM
was voted “Best Children’s Museum” by AAA Southern Traveler
magazine. On its quest to be one of only 10 children’s museums
nationally to be accredited, CMOM also received its official site
visit from the American Alliance of Museums. We will find out in
December if we will be accredited.
The museum continues to strive to offer even more educational
content in all its exhibits and programs – over the past year we have
brought summer camps back, extended hours in the summer, updated
FedEx and AutoZone exhibits, our marketing materials are now
offered in Spanish, the blockbuster Dinosaur traveling exhibit was a
smash hit, a new campground with rock climbing wall was installed,
the popular Pin Wall is a hit, the Musical Seesaw is also therapeutic
for children with autism, a new hospital exhibit with a giant
Operation Game thanks to Baptist Memorial Health Care is coming soon, and the program staff has gone from
two to five employees. New projects in the pipeline include a Fire House, a laser harp, and an outdoor classroom
with a giant milk bottle.
Jason’s Deli and The Village Toymaker continue to partner with us and offer excellent services to our visitors.
Our annual fund raiser Cirque du CMOM continues to break records every year – and the Golf Tournament
is in its 10th year. The board and staff are currently working on the museum’s next four-year Institutional Plan:
“Soaring to New Heights!” for the years 2013-2016.
The results of all our efforts in Fiscal 2012 include almost 168,000 people served (up 8.3% over the previous
year), lots of smiling faces and an increase in overall earned and contributed revenues, resulting in almost
$414,000 at the end of the year that can serve as operating reserves and be invested back into the exhibits and
programs.
We look forward to a bright year in 2013, the museum’s 23rd anniversary. The year is going to be full of surprises
for all our guests and the entire community as we continue to engage imaginations and create excitement about
learning!
To all our donors and partners who have supported the museum in its daily operations as well as innovative new
practices, thank you! With your help, we will continue to make an impact on the children of our community.
Richard C. Hackett
Chief Executive Officer
Attendance & Membership - Then & Now
Since opening its doors on June 16, 1990, the museum has had almost 3.2 million visitors!
Fiscal 2012 Attendance Statistics
Paid Admissions
Members
Groups
Birthday Parties
Free
66,594
60,856
25,036
8,975
6,434
39.7%
36.2%
14.9%
5.3%
3.8%
TOTAL – 167,895
Recognition & Awards
The museum was voted “Best
Children’s Museum” by AAA Southern
Traveler magazine.
The Children’s Museum of Memphis
won the 2012 Award of Excellence
by the Tennessee Association of
Museums (TAM) for its Educational
Programming in the Safety House
Mobile Learning Lab.
Fiscal 2012 Financials
Earned Revenue
Admissions
Membership
Birthday Parties
Facility Rentals
Exhibit Rentals
Football Parking
Programs
Endowment Income
Miscellaneous
Gain (Loss) on Investments
$778,412
$373,477
$77,853
$46,743
$41,325
$24,171
$7,815
$26,981
$26,819
($25,014)
Earned Revenue Total
$1,378,582
Contributed Support
Contributions
Cirque & Golf Events
In-Kind Contributions
$1,120,201
$296,533
$122,053
Contributed Support Total
$1,538,787
Total Revenue & Support
$2,917,369
Expenses
Program Services
Management & General
Fund Raising
$1,522,110
$255,172
$226,866
Total Expenses
$2,004,148
Increase (Decrease)
in Net Assets
$913,221
The museum’s Endowment Fund has a current balance of $836,352.
Income from the endowment is currently being re-invested back
into the fund.
The annual economic impact of the museum on the local Memphis
economy is $7.6 million.
Cirque du CMOM
The museum’s annual fund raiser,
Cirque du CMOM, again broke records
for attendance and net income. Set in
February, this year’s theme was “Night in
Hollywood: A Vanity Affair!” Over 900
people dressed as Hollywood stars walked
the red carpet. An online auction is tied in
with the event and helps to boost income.
Title sponsor for the last several years has
been IBERIABANK. Chairmen were Cindy
Dobbs and Janie Lowery. Planning for the
February 2, 2013, party is well underway
with the theme, “Rio de Janeiro: Carnival,”
with chairmen JJ Keras and Jana Tayloe.
See you there!
Golf Tournament
The museum’s Annual Golf Tournament began in 2002
and was held at the Memphis Country Club for seven
years (2002-2009). In 2010 it was moved to The Links at
Galloway Golf Course. This event is run by a volunteer
committee and raises money to expand outreach
programs, provide free workshops for teachers, keep
the exhibits operational, subsidize group visits, pay
for underprivileged families to visit the museum, and
provide art supplies for programs. Special thanks for
the 10th Annual Golf Tournament goes to title sponsor
International Paper and the committee made up of Ron
Kastner, Charles (Chuck) Hamlett and Britt Daniel.
“Yes, EVERY Child!” Fund
With the help of one of the founders, Harriet McFadden, the museum is re-organizing and
re-energizing its Advisory Board over the next year. A special luncheon and meeting was held
recently to bring together all 158 people who have served on the board over the last 22 years
as well as all 52 people who have either chaired or co-chaired the annual fund raiser. One of
the topics Harriet talked about was the “Yes, EVERY Child!” fund. The fund was established 22
years ago and allows school groups that cannot pay the ability to come to the museum on a field
trip. It also subsidizes special memberships for families that cannot afford to pay the admission
fee. Currently the fund operates in the red every year – the demand for assistance far outweighs
donations. It is our hope, with the community’s help, we can turn things around.
Educational Programs
The museum added three additional program staff this past year. This is a reaction to the increased attendance
over the last two years. The museum now offers an average of 14 public programs each week inside the museum.
Special programming for school groups includes 10 outreach programs that are offered directly in the classroom;
12 special programs that may be added to a group field trip; three learning labs that may be checked-out by
teachers for use on their own in their classroom; and home school programs throughout the year. The museum
provides curriculum guides that are directly connected to academic standards and State Performance Indicators
(SPIs) from the Tennessee Curriculum Standards to help support curriculum requirements. The museum also
offers summer, spring and holiday camps as well as provides workshops and special nights out for teachers.
Exhibits
You may have noticed the museum’s exhibits change quite frequently. The philosophy behind the changes is to
keep things fresh and to provide new things all the time to keep people engaged and coming back.
Exhibits with recent facelifts:
•
International Paper Tree House – with Laser
Harp
•
AutoZone Garage
•
FedEx Going Places
•
SunTrust Bank
•
CMOM-TV Station
•
Hyde Family Foundations Bookatarium
•
Indian Community Fund Windows to the
World
•
Kroger Kids’ Market
Additional new exhibits:
•
Lego Creative Constructions
•
Tornado Generator
•
Earthquake Table
•
Giant Checker Game
•
Musical Seesaw
•
Pin Wall
•
Campground and Rock Climbing Wall
•
Midtown Homes’ activity stations
New exhibits coming soon
•
Splash park opens May 2013
•
Baptist Memorial Health Care Growing
Healthy Hospital – complete with giant
Operation Game
•
Smiles, Inc., moving to a much bigger space
•
Neighborhood Friends and the old Van Vleet
Gallery transforming into a Fire House
complete with a modern fire truck
Our wish list:
•
Outdoor Classroom with giant Milk Bottle
•
Makeover of the WaterWORKS exhibit area
•
Transforming Building D into a Science, Health
and Sports Center
Institutional Planning
The museum continues to be guided and operates under a series of long-range plans. During this year as we
finished up the current goals, we were also writing a new plan with help from a consultant with the Alliance for
Nonprofit Excellence. After many meetings, SWOT analysis, retreats and brainstorming, the museum’s staff and
board have developed six main goals for the new plan, “Soaring to New Heights,” to take effect on January 1,
2013. The new plan will run from 2013-2016 and concentrate on:
Goal 1: By 2016, reach 250,000 visitors a year.
Goal 2: Strengthen and maintain the museum’s core (internal capacity building).
Goal 3: Grow financial capacity.
Goal 4: Enhance programming around play-based learning.
Goal 5: Evaluate and expand exhibits and attractions.
Goal 6: Establish a board work plan to focus and strengthen board governance.
CMOM Institutional Plans
2006-2008
Setting a Firm Foundation for Growth
2009-2012
Building for the Long Term
2013-2016
Soaring to New Heights
Did you know the museum is a member of the
following organizations?
•
American Alliance of Museums (for
Accreditation)
•
Association of Children’s Museums
•
Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence
•
Greater Memphis Chamber
•
Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau
•
Tennessee Association of Museums
•
Tennessee Department of Tourism
Core Values
•
The intersection of play and hands-on learning
•
A positive impact on the community
•
A positive family experience
•
A complement to classroom education
•
Inclusiveness
•
Excellent customer service
•
Nurturing appropriate partnerships in the
community
•
Following the best practices of the children’s
museums field
Incorporated in 1987, the museum is a private,
nonprofit (classified as a 501(c)(3) organization)
educational children’s museum.
Children play to learn! Adults learn to play again! The place where play IS learning!
Museum Staff
Richard (Dick) Hackett, Chief Executive Officer
Randy McKeel, Chief Financial Officer
Cliff Drake, Chief Operating Officer
Felicia Peat, Director of Education & Programs
Carrie Callaway Roberts, Director of Public Relations & Marketing
Jim Hyde, Exhibits Manager
Brad Laney, Visitor & Volunteer Services Manager
Debbie Wilkins, Special Events Manager
Sharon Rogness, Member Services Coordinator
Jana Smith, Visitor Services Coordinator
Alex Smythe, Visitor Services Coordinator
Chara Mitchell, Program Specialist
Monica Sanchez, Program Specialist
Katrina Skefos, Program Specialist
Tamara Williamson, Program Specialist
Keosha Williams, Administrative Assistant & Reservationist
Ivy Taylor, Admissions Cashier
Rena Gatewood, Gallery Assistant
Johnathan Jones, Gallery Assistant
Ali Muhina, Information Officer
Michael Garries, Maintenance
Eddie Stewart, Maintenance
Nonprofit
Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
Memphis, TN
Permit No. 1617
2525 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104