Giving Back to Our Community - The Children's Museum of ...
Giving Back to Our Community - The Children's Museum of ...
Giving Back to Our Community - The Children's Museum of ...
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<strong>Giving</strong> <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Our</strong> <strong>Community</strong>: Through the Physical<br />
and Virtual Campus and Surrounding Neighborhood<br />
In 2006, work began on the planning stages <strong>of</strong> Phase II <strong>of</strong><br />
the museum’s campus expansion plans. Guided by the<br />
Master Campus Planning Working Group <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong><br />
Trustees, a good portion <strong>of</strong> the year was spent familiarizing<br />
the staff and working group members with the<br />
requirements in accessing the Federal Transportation<br />
Authority grant the museum received in 2005.<br />
In fourth quarter, enhancements <strong>to</strong> heighten visi<strong>to</strong>r<br />
safety and lower vehicular congestion, along with landscape<br />
improvements <strong>to</strong> beautify the surrounding neighborhood,<br />
were fashioned in<strong>to</strong> an initial Request for<br />
Proposals and published for the response <strong>of</strong> potential<br />
architects and engineers in early 2007.<br />
<strong>The</strong> facilities and security departments were both reorganized<br />
in 2006, with new department direc<strong>to</strong>rs hired in<br />
both areas. As a result, a 12 percent reduction in facilities<br />
expenses was realized. Staff uniforms were also introduced<br />
in these areas, along with Visi<strong>to</strong>r Relations, <strong>to</strong><br />
improve the recognition fac<strong>to</strong>r <strong>of</strong> these important frontline<br />
staff members.<br />
Restaurant enhancements were made in 2006 <strong>to</strong><br />
improve cus<strong>to</strong>mer service and <strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> visi<strong>to</strong>r<br />
requests for broader <strong>of</strong>ferings and healthier choices.<br />
INFORMATION AND INTERACTIVE<br />
TECHNOLOGY<br />
<strong>The</strong> museum’s Information Services and Media<br />
Technology departments were merged in early 2006 <strong>to</strong><br />
form the Information and Interactive Technology<br />
Department bringing efficiencies in resources in the<br />
delivery <strong>of</strong> information across the institution.<br />
In conjunction with the February opening <strong>of</strong> Scholastic’s<br />
<strong>The</strong> Magic School Bus Kicks Up A S<strong>to</strong>rm, the museum<br />
announced its receipt <strong>of</strong> a s<strong>of</strong>tware donation from<br />
Micros<strong>of</strong>t valued at $350,000. <strong>The</strong> new technology was<br />
used <strong>to</strong> upgrade the museum’s s<strong>of</strong>tware infrastructure<br />
and aided in the development <strong>of</strong> interactive media<br />
throughout the institution.<br />
<strong>The</strong> museum’s Web site home page was redesigned in<br />
2006, giving the 1,505,539 online visi<strong>to</strong>rs an updated<br />
and more dynamic platform from which <strong>to</strong> plan their<br />
future visits.<br />
E-commerce continued <strong>to</strong> grow as the museum saw<br />
increased online revenue from ticket sales, membership<br />
sales, gift certificates sales, school registrations and<br />
<strong>Museum</strong> S<strong>to</strong>re sales.<br />
ANNUAL REPORT 2006 THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS<br />
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