Four resign from history board

“It’s a mess. It’s very disheartening.”

That’s how at least one former worker describes the Steele County Historical Society in light of recent developments of the organization’s fourth director to leave within the past 10 years and several board members resigning.

Stephanie Kibler, of Ellendale, served as the meetings and events coordinator from 2016 to 2019. She stepped forward to comment about SCHS after the current director, Jennifer Thiele, announced her sudden departure last month. Thiele resigned prior to an in-depth investigation published in last week’s edition on Gus’ Station involving two of the original organizers, Lloyd Kaplan and Terry Prokopec,   

Thiele took over the director position in May 2023. Prior to her arrival, Kellen Hinrichsen, James Lundgren and Kim Purcell have all served as executive directors since Laura Resler left in 2015.

Kibler speculates that Thiele felt she was in a “no win situation.” She said the environment being created is not a good one for anyone.

Besides a revolving door of directors, SCHS has also had problems maintaining a steady board of directors. Within the past month, at least four board members have left abruptly, including Patty Jessop, Chris Fiske, Janis Lueth and Jane Middlestadt. Jessop served as the group’s president.

Dave Effertz has taken over as acting president. Remaining board members include Elizabeth Anselmo, Tom Bonacci, Jerry Ganfield, Alexandra McGuire, Nancy Vaillancourt and Keith Holman.

Prior to leaving, Thiele told the Times the board’s bylaws require it to have 12 members.

“It’s heartbreaking because it’s such a good organization,” Kibler said.

She blames Kaplan and Prokopec, in part, for playing “a role in the recycling of directors.” However, she also points out, that the issues go much deeper within the organization.

During her tenure with the center, Kibler found it to be an undesirable work environment. “In the last three months of when I was there, I was in tears most days going to work,” she said. “It was painful because of the toxicity. When I walked out of there, it felt good,” she added.  

She left in 2019 to accept the top job with the History Center of Freeborn County in Albert Lea. “It was night and day difference going from Steele to Freeborn,” Kibler said, who recently left Freeborn to become director of the Spam Museum in Austin. She noted how Steele has gone through three directors in the more than six years she had been in Freeborn.

Kibler said the current board at Steele needs to make drastic changes in order to turn things around. She suggested the board takes a self-examination and talk to past staff and board members.

“The board needs to take a deep look at how they are allowing this to continue to happen,” she said. “They need to connect with past staff and board directors that have left to understand the situation. They all came in with positive attitudes and left with sour tastes.”

She added, “They need to ask themselves ‘what are we doing wrong,’ and why are we cycling through qualified directors at a high speed.”

Kibler also addressed the perception of how Ellendale residents have become disconnected from SCHS. In last week’s investigation, several long-time historians spoke negatively about how SCHS staff and board have treated Ellendale in particular, especially over the trouble with Gus’ Station and Kaplan and Prokopec.  

“Every historical society struggles with alienating parts of the county. They need to make it feel like an inclusive place for all of Steele County. They need to reach out to Ellendale,” she said, adding “they (Ellendale) should not feel like they don't belong there.”

Given the turmoil within the organization, Kibler said it’s concerning about what’s ahead. “I can’t imagine it will be easy to fill the position,” she said. “I would be very concerned, and I would have reservations (about the job).”