Ooops!
That’s right – Ooops!
There are times in both our personal and professional lives where we have had to suck it up and say “Ooops - I blew it!”
That time is
right now for the
Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum Board. Between
cryptic phrases and “restrained” compliments, it is woefully obvious to even the most casual observer that there was a clash between factions of the Board and it’s former Executive Director – Sue Baker. As often happens, stilted comments with tinges of hollow praise from Board members followed her exit.
Today, a full page was purchased and paid for, privately, in a local Waukesha newspaper. The content of this page was a letter of gratitude and thanks to Sue Baker for all she has done for Waukesha County.
It was signed by over 180 of the most giving and influential people in the Waukesha area! It contains an all-too-brief-bio of Sue’s contributions and accomplishments. More importantly – It clearly and definitively states: “…Sue Baker is the heart of the Waukesha County Museum.”
And I agree! I have had the good fortune to know Sue through various interactions over the past 8 years. She is personable, professional, responsible, diligent, and she would “bleed Waukesha” if cut. The Museum grew because of her untiring efforts to build support and awareness at every level. She grew at every level and the Waukesha Community is a far better place as a result of her efforts.
Following is a possible simple summary for the series of complex events leading to her departure:
Everyone, Board and Director alike, agree the potential for a coveted Les Paul Exhibit is great. Ideas, concepts, and budgets are refined and Les Paul himself endorses it. Full-Speed ahead! …Except for the fatal flaw in the plan – Who was going to raise the millions of dollars needed to produce the exhibit? Did the Board recognize the crucial need to maintain the status quo with its director while adding a proven, experienced fund-raiser and a budget for this accordingly? The answers are self-evident – no!
Sue was now adding the Herculean task of raising
$4,000,000.00 to her already full-time director duties. After a couple years and
only $1,000,000.00 pledged, everyone was nervous. Now the Board hires a paid consultant to assess Museum operations, and Sue Baker is gone… Interestingly, the Board has still not recognized the fine line they are walking: If the Museum needed a full-time director “pre Les Paul”, how did they rationalize adding fund-raising responsibilities of millions of dollars to an already full-time job? Better to move on than say “Ooops – we blew it?”
Let’s now add another very critical caveat to this discussion – This is Waukesha! And the giving, generous nature of Waukesha has stepped to the plate for numerous worthwhile past causes. Today’s full-page ad of support shows a sizable group of these notable locals still support Sue Baker. Will they continue their wholesale financial support of the Museum and its Board moving forward? Time will tell… (Refrain: “Ooops – we blew it!”)
Maybe the time has come for a heady dose of reality and common sense decision-making. First – The Board must look inward and ask themselves if
they are happy with their recent decisions (hindsight is 20/20). They must then look at each other with a critical eye, and a Board of forward-thinking individuals must emerge form this review. Second: Re-think “the plan”. You raised a million, but where are the next three million coming from? The signers of the ad? I think not…How about the Museum Board taking a deep breath and finally saying “Ooops –
we blew it?”
It’s now time to reduce the Les Paul Exhibit in scope and dollars; hire a temporary fund-development director to raise this money; re-hire Sue Baker as the Museum Director; and finally come back to the Community with the simple “Ooops – we blew it…
but we are working to fix it!” 
