OMSI ANNOUNCES EXPENSE REDUCTIONS

PORTLAND, OR (Nov. 19, 2008) — The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) announced today it has implemented museum-wide cost-cutting measures. Over the past year, OMSI has made progress by reducing its debt, increasing its dedication to energy efficiency, and operating more sustainably. However, the unprecedented economic crisis has resulted in reduced attendance and revenues necessitating an immediate 10% reduction of expenses and elimination of 20 staff. The staff adjustments are being taken at every level of the organization.

“Today’s reductions were necessary for OMSI to continue to move forward in a fiscally responsible manner,” said OMSI President Nancy Stueber. “We remain committed to providing our visitors quality educational experiences now and into the future. Our talented staff has helped make OMSI a valued part of the community for over 60 years and it saddens me to have any reductions in personnel. I am tremendously proud of what they have helped us accomplish.”

The company will offer severance pay along with outplacement support for eligible employees who have been laid off.

OMSI is a nonprofit organization and receives no state or federal funding for ongoing operations. It relies on revenue through ticket sales, memberships, retail sales, and donations.

About OMSI

Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit www.omsi.edu.

OMSI HOSTS 16th ANNUAL “WHAT WILL WINTER BE LIKE”

AMS MEETING FRIDAY OCT. 24

Prognosticators to Give Weather Outlooks for Upcoming Winter

PORTLAND, OR (Sept. 29, 2008)—Weather experts from the Oregon chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) will gather at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for the 16th annual “What Will the Winter Be Like” meeting. The event is held in the OMSI auditorium and is free and open to the public.

"Will we have another La Nina this winter?" ponders Oregon-AMS president Kyle Dittmer. "We haven't seen a back-to-back La Nina since the 1970's—we're way overdue. Perhaps we'll just have a 'normal' winter, whatever that means anymore.

Experts in the field of weather will talk about the forthcoming winter. Mark Nelsen, KPTV meteorologist, will give a review of the past winter in the Pacific Northwest.

This year's speakers include: Steve Todd, Meteorologist-in-harge, NOAA-National Weather Service Portland; Kyle Dittmer, Hydrologist-Meteorologist, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Portland; Pete Parsons, Meteorologist, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem; and George Taylor, Climatologist, Applied Climate Services LLC, Corvallis.

ABOUT OREGON AMS

The Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society is the local arm of the national organization that promotes the use and understanding of meteorology in the Oregon and Southwest Washington area. New members are always welcome to join the Oregon AMS; information on membership will be available at the meeting. www.ametsoc.org/chapters/oregon/index.html

ABOUT OMSI

Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums and a world-class tourist attraction and educational resource. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 800.955.OMSI or 503.797.4000 or visit www.omsi.edu.

OMSI TO HOST ART INSTALLATION BY JENNIFER STEINKAMP

Interactive Swing Set Anything You Can Do On Display Oct. 11 –Jan. 3

PORTLAND, OR (Sept. 18, 2008) The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will host an installation by artist Jennifer Steinkamp of her piece titled Anything You Can Do. Anything You Can Do is an interactive swing set that visitors can ride to create unique light and sound effects. Anything You Can Do will be on display Oct. 11, 2008—Jan. 3 2009, in OMSI’s Earth Science Hall. The Anything You Can Do OMSI installation was made possible by the generous support of the Hedinger Family Foundation.

“I always discover new things when I create an installation,” said artist Jennifer Steinkamp. “In this case I found out it can feel scary to swing indoors, especially if you are an adult.”

Anything You Can Do consists of two swings and a projected video image with a soundtrack that changes as participants swing. Each of the two swings control a layer of the image and each have their own soundtrack. As the participants swing, the two video layers then combine to form a single image. There are progressively changing sounds for each of the movements and the experience is heightened through bodily participation and play.

Anything You Can Do was created in 2000 and was previously exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LACMA Lab, Los Angeles, California.

ABOUT JENNIFER STEINKAMP

Jennifer Steinkamp is an installation artist who works with video and new media in order to explore ideas about architectural space, motion, and perception. www.steinkamp.com

ABOUT OMSI

Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit www.omsi.edu.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

U2: THE FULL-DOME EXPERIENCE ROCKS THE OMSI PLANETARIUM

Experience one of the greatest rock bands of all time like you’ve never seen them before in U2:The Full-Dome Experience, now playing at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s Kendall Planetarium. U2:The Full-Dome Experience is an immersive digital experience offering rich computer renderings and abstract visuals choreographed to the band’s award-winning music. Special effects performed live by OMSI presenters guarantees audiences will never experience the same show twice!

“This is the first time the Kendall Planetarium has ever presented a full-dome musical show,” said OMSI planetarium manager Jim Todd. “It’s really exciting to see the whole dome of the planetarium come to life. Visitors who have enjoyed our laser light shows in the past will love this unique new combination of music and imagery.”

U2: The Full-Dome Experience is now playing at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday–Friday and at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. This 25-minute version of the show includes the songs I Will Follow, With or Without You, Bullet the Blue Sky, The Fly, Beautiful Day, Mysterious Ways, and Elevation.

An extended 45-minute version of U2: The Full-Dome Experience is now playing Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:15 p.m. and includes the songs Where the Streets Have No Name, Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live at Red Rocks), Pride, I Will Follow, With or Without You, Bullet the Blue Sky, The Fly, Beautiful Day, Mysterious Ways, and Elevation with an encore of the song Vertigo.

Admission to U2: The Full-Dome Experience is $5.50 for the 25-minute day time showings and $7.50 for the 45-minute evening showings.

ABOUT THE KENDALL PLANETARIUM

OMSI’s Harry C. Kendall Planetarium, a 200-seat, 360-degree, 52-foot domed theater, is the largest and most technologically advanced public planetarium in the Pacific Northwest. This high-tech venue features state-of-the-art Sky Scan full dome video allowing the planetarium dome to be completely covered with real and computer-generated images to create one complete environment.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

OMSI DEBT HISTORY FAQ

Why did OMSI ask the state for financial help?

Part of the cost of OMSI’s current building was related to energy-efficiency components included in its construction. These cutting-edge features were expensive and the state agreed to loan OMSI $15.5 million through the Department of Energy. The rationale was that these features increased OMSI’s energy efficiency and made it a demonstration site for energy education to schools and the general public.

Principal and interest payments on the loan amounted to $1.1 million per year. After the flood in 1996, the state agreed to provide approximately 75 percent of the principal and interest payments (i.e., the debt service), and OMSI agreed to pay $250,000 per year. OMSI has paid every installment.

Things shifted in 2001. As a result of the state budget crisis, the state’s contributions to the debt service were reduced and then eliminated. The result was increasing interest on the debt.

What did OMSI do to start addressing the difficulty of the debt?

Several years ago, OMSI started working with the governor and Legislature to restructure the debt. In 2006 a large unrestricted contribution enabled OMSI to make a $4.6 million loan payment to the state. That payment was made in Nov. 2007. We suggested that if the state could match our funds, the remainder would be at a level that OMSI could manage without state support. The response was positive and significant efforts are being made by the governor and the Legislature to match OMSI’s $4.6 million payment.

Why should the state be helping OMSI pay off this debt in the first place?

OMSI is a significant contributor to Oregon’s education and economic development. Unlike many museums around the country, OMSI does not receive any state, city, or county support for ongoing operations. OMSI is completely self-sustaining via earned income and donations.

We’ve read that OMSI has been in financial trouble since the flood and that it continues to be in a financial crisis. Is this true?

No, it is not true. The OMSI Board of Trustees and staff have worked very hard over the past 11 years to overcome the effects of the flood and to put OMSI on firm financial footing. OMSI is not in financial crisis. The debt reduction plan is intended to eliminate a future threat that we anticipated due to the state’s cutbacks in debt service assistance.

Why can’t OMSI just sell assets to pay the debt?

OMSI’s payment of $4.6 million in unrestricted cash helps resolve the debt issue. Other OMSI assets are restricted funds that may only be used for the particular purpose the donor stipulated when giving money to OMSI. Paying debt with these funds is not possible.

Is this the result of poor financial practices?

OMSI adheres to the highest standards of financial practices and reporting. Every year, we undergo an audit by one of the top regional Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms as well as a separate audit to confirm our compliance with regulations governing federal grants. Our financial statements are available to the public on OMSI’s website and our tax return is available at www.guidestar.org. Responsible financial stewardship has been and continues to be a priority at OMSI.

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