Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Page 1
Sitka Historical Society and Museum
Newsletter SUMMER 2013
Contents of this Newsletter … Bob Medinger Retires
… Board Appoints Interim Director
… Curator Hayley Chambers Hired
… Summer Intern
… Membership
… Board and Staff
Bob Medinger Retires
After 6 years as Executive Director of the Sitka Historical Society, Bob Medinger has retired from the position. He was hired by the Board of Directors at a time when the Board had been updating its 3 to 5 year list of goals which had been re-written from 2004 and before. Listed are a few of the major goals at that time:
Expand Community awareness by promoting historical projects and partnerships in the community.
Secure adequate funding to operate with fiscal stability.
Examine and update board committees and board involvement in each committee.
Pursue feasibility of a separate Museum building.
Locate heated, accessible, affordable storage.
Consider ways to better utilize existing display space; involve persons with marketing and display experience.
In hiring Medinger, the board found a person who could help carry the Society forward to preserve Sitka’s rich and exciting history.
The following was submitted by Medinger at retirement:
“June 30th was my last contract day as Executive
Director of the Sitka Historical Society & Museum. I
informed the board of my decision in February, and
Chris Todd is the new Interim Executive Director until
a permanent placement is determined. Chris resigned
from the board after serving for three years in order to
facilitate the transition.
I accepted the Executive Director position six years
ago as a half-time “retirement” job, with a museum
budget of $73,000, a total of two part time staff, a city
allocation of $36,000 and virtually no collection storage
space outside of the museum. This fiscal year ending
June 30th shows this year’s income at $250,000+, the
equivalent of 3 full time positions on staff including a
professional curator, a city allocation of $120,000, and
an additional 3000 sq. ft. of collection storage and
facility space including the Geodetic “White house”
and three rooms at the mill site administration
building.
It was my pleasure and passion to have partnered/
coordinated on several mission driven and board
approved projects over those six years:
Rasmuson Foundation; Applied for and received
Rasmuson Organizational Effectiveness Grant
Totem Square & Baranof Pole Renovation
St. Michaels Bell Tower renovation and the
traditional ringing of the bells again
2010 International Conference on Russian-America
with SNHP
Rasmuson / Foraker Pre-Development Project for
new Museum Planning
100-Year Anniversary ANB/ANS Panel Project
and Traveling Exhibit
2012 Alaska Historical Society/Museums Alaska
Conference in Sitka
Publication: Russian American Conference
Proceedings, “Beyond the Near Horizon”
$300,000 raised via grants, fund-raising & projects
over six years.
I’d like to thank past & present board members,
staff, volunteers and partners for the opportunity, and
their facilitation in moving the Historical Society and
Museum ahead with its mission. The future is bright
with new staff and board members moving forward in
the quest for a new and enlarged Museum for the
community, students, researchers and visitors to Sitka.
My plans include some family & project time,
cruising/fishing Baranof Island, and time at our
homestead hiking/fishing/hunting within Wrangell-St.
Elias Park/Preserve. I hope to keep a hand in Sitka’s
amazing history, and can be reached via email
Thanks, Bob Medinger
Bob enjoying his
retirement luncheon
Page 2
Board Appoints Interim Executive
Director
Chris Todd has
accepted the position
of Interim Executive
Director until a permanent replacement
is chosen. In order to
accept the appointment
to work for the Board,
Chris resigned her
board position of three
years in order to
facilitate the transition.
She spent some time
with Bob Medinger
before his retirement to familiarize herself with the
office. Chis brings much experience to this
appointment, having owned her own business,
volunteered for many non-profits, and other
required qualifications for the job. Her three years
on the Board gave her the knowledge of the
organization to seamlessly fit into the position.
So far in her short time at the helm, she has
been involved with working with the new
bookkeeping services recently acquired, updating
the software and working with the IT services,
keeping up with State Museum activities and many
other day to day activities. While the job
description requires her to supervise staff, she
respects the professionalism of staff members.
She and the Curator make a fine team to get the
work done. We welcome Chris as Interim
Executive Director and we are appreciative that
she was able to take time out of her busy life to
step into this position.
Curator Hayley Chambers Joins Staff
Sitka Historical Museum
The Sitka Historical Society is pleased to
announce the hiring of Hayley Chambers as our
new Curator of Collections and Exhibits. For
nearly ten years Hayley has worked in the museum
field as a curator, intern, and volunteer. Hayley
recently left her position as senior curator at
Deadwood History, Inc. in Deadwood, South
Dakota—the historic gold rush frontier town—for
this position.
After
graduating in
2008 with an
M.A. in Public
History from
the University
of North
Carolina in
Greensboro,
Hayley had an
Alaskan
internship at the
Valdez Museum. It was this small taste of Alaska
that created her desire to return. Hayley grew up in
Daytona Beach, Florida and attended Hollins
University in Roanoke, Virginia for undergraduate
degrees in Classical Studies and Creative Writing.
Her professional background also includes a stint
at the Kentucky Historical Society and museums in
England, North Carolina, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Hayley enjoys spending time outdoors and
watching documentaries. She is an avid traveler,
voracious reader, and enthusiastic postcard and
brochure collector. Her research interests include
immigration, mining, and historic preservation.
Hayley looks forward to getting to know the
vibrant town of Sitka and its residents so please
stop by the museum and introduce yourself.
Summer Intern Returning Intern, Brooke
Wheeler is hard at work,
assisting Hayley with
collections. Here she is helping
to move a few artifacts. We are
pleased to have her back this
summer.
The board is advertising for
applicants for the permanent position of
Executive Director.
A letter of invitation to apply, the job
description and application form are
available on the website:
www.sitkahistory.org or by e-mail at
[email protected] or stop by the
Museum located in Centennial Hall, 330
Harbor Drive. Application process
closes August 30, 2013.
MEMBERSHIP FORM Sitka Historical Society and Museum
Please Circle your choice of Membership Level Senior over 62 $ 20 Under 25 $ 20 Individual $ 40 Family $ 50 Donor $100 Business * $ 175 *Business Membership includes link on our website Sustaining $1000 Benefactor $5000
*Circle Choice 1. New Membership 2. Renewal Enclose Check payable to Sitka Historical Society or Charge to Credit Card (specify card type below) Card Type ___________ Expiration Date ___________ Card# ______________________________________ Signature ____________________________________
*____________________________________________________ Name (s) *____________________________________________________ Other Family Members (Family Membership only)
*____________________________________________________ *Business Name (and contact person for business membership)
*____________________________________________________ Mailing Address *____________________________________________________ City State Zip
*____________________________________________________ Email Address (fastest way to get news of upcoming events)
*____________________________________________________
Phone
Mail to: Fax to: Sitka Historical Society 907-747-6588 330 Harbor Drive Online Membership Form: Sitka, AK 99835 www.sitkahistory.org 907-747-6455 Location: Harrigan Centennial Hall
The Sitka Historical Society and Museum appreciates your past membership and your support, whether
that be your attendance at one of our many programs or events, visiting the Museum or perhaps the donation
of items of historical significance to the Museum. This is the sort of support that allows us to continue to
bring Sitka’s rich history alive for all of us. We thank you very much for being a part of our success.
If you have not joined with us as a member or renewed your membership we ask that you fill out the form
above and your annual membership will begin the day we receive your payment. Membership dues pay for
telephone and internet access, office supplies, museum preservation and exhibit supplies, publication of the
newsletter and more, in other words, many of the fundamentals that make our Society work.
Along with knowing that you are helping to preserve the history of Sitka, here are some of the benefits for
you and your family to enjoy through membership.
Free Museum admission and 10% off of all Museum store purchases.
Timely notification of upcoming exciting events and activities, new exhibits and artifacts.
Early access to special historical publications and book signings.
Sitka Historical Society and Museum Newsletters.
Sneak previews for some of our many special events.
All memberships and donations are tax deductible. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Page 3
Our Mission
To preserve and promote the events, stories and artifacts of the human history of the Sitka area for the
inspiration, education and benefit of the public and future generations
Sitka Historical Society
And Museum 330 Harbor Drive Sitka, Alaska 99835
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SITKA, AK PERMIT NO. 17
Change Service Requested
Sitka Historical Society And Museum 330 Harbor Drive -Sitka, AK 99835
(Located in Harrigan Centennial Hall) E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.sitkahistory.org Voice (907)747-6455 Fax (907)747-6588
Newsletter Summer 2013 Page 4
Visitor
Services
Manager:
Beverly
Dexter
Board of
Directors
2013
Interim
Executive
Director:
Chris
Staff
Karen Christner Sabra Jenkins Chris Kowalczewski
Ron McClain Linda Trierschield
Secretary: Ernestine Massey Treasurer: Jerry Dzugen
Pres: John Stein VP: Pat Alexander
Curator:
Hayley
Chambers
Find us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sitka-Historical-
Society Museum /167383696691834
Summer
Intern:
Brooke
Wheeler