Looking back at 2009, forward to 2010 at the Gabriola Museum
Mary Wholleben
GHMS President
Tuesday, March 9 2010
2009 has been a busy and challenging year for us all in the GMHS. It has been an exciting time;
With new ideas, new board members and volunteers.
We have had many activities this year including the Living Legacy of the Joined Hands presentations started in 2008 along with several successful presentation, such as June Harrison’s life as a Gabriolan and world renowned Professor Jean Clottes’, tour of Gabriola’s petroglyphs and presentation on pre historic Rock Art and the influence of global warming.
We have worked hard this year on raising our profile with in the island community. We have increased our museum summer hours, participated in many island events and had a consistent presence at the Farmers Market this summer. The result has been an increase in admissions, visits and gift shop sales.
We have also increased our presence in the School, by providing tours and activities for four classes last spring and we are in the process of preparing programs with the teachers, for this up coming spring.
As a board, we exceeded our expectation of the Living Legacy component required for our grant last year.
By obtaining the Join Hands 150 BC Grant we were able to open our museum to the Quamichan First Nation so they may see tools and implements used by their ancestor, who chose to make Gabriola their home. As honoured guests at a potlatch held on Gabriola this summers we were invited to share in their living legacy. And we still have more work to do; Louise Silva’s contacts in the Cowichan Valley require more research. Then I’ll feel complete.
It must be noted and realized that:
Over the past 15 years the directors, volunteers and citizens of Gabriola have developed a “very” remarkable collection. We intend to enhance and make available to the people of Gabriola and its visitors this wonderful collection.
Our board of directors will see a change this year with the retirement of Jean Wisdom, our treasurer.
Jean has been the treasurer during the past 3 years. The board and members will miss working with such a dedicated and loyal member of the society.
Amongst other changes is the board was the appointment of Caroline Wilkinson as secretary. A position left vacant when Kit Szanto retired.
This year we hired Dale Ferguson to replace Ruth on the front desk. Dale’s background (Hoggan/Cox) and extensive knowledge of Gabriola has been a wonderful bonus for the museum and visitors. Now if we can get her to write down some of her stories we’ll have plenty of entertaining, informative and very interesting facts about Gabriola’s past and the peoples who have lived and do live on Gabriola.
Caroline Avramemko continues to keep us clean and tidy inside – always spotless – thank you.
And to Wray Dunning for keeping the roof over our heads and the museum mechanically sound.
Of course a thank you to Anne Toms for maintaining the Native Plant Garden on the museum grounds.
We have wonderful and talented individuals as directors and committee volunteers, but we are always wishing to have more. With the many societies currently on the island and new ones being created, funds and volunteers are becoming more difficult to acquire, we must find new and innovative ways in order to adapt to the changing environment. Any suggestions and or assistance to the board would be greatly appreciated.
Last year we applied for a student grant and were successful, so much so, we were able to acquired several extensions, taking the student into Feb. 2010.
We have already sent in our application for the summer of 2010. Janet in archives will explain the relevance of the grant and how fortunate we have been.
We also applied for a Direct Access Grant, which became unavailable, due to provincial funding problems. Hopefully down the road, funding will be come available.
As this is the 15th Anniversary of the Gabriola Museum, the board is in the process of planning and organizing an event celebrating the past 15 years.
We would like to hold the event on BC Day, given that Gabriola Island is part of BC history, the date would be Saturday, July 31st.
We would like to host an alumni reunion of past board members, volunteers, committee members and staff so they may share their history of the museum with us. It will be a festive celebration, which will include historical presentations by other societies that have helped shape Gabriola Island. Should you like to be involved or have ideas, please let us know.
Last but not least, we thank all of you, the members, for your interest and support in keeping the museum running during 2009, for with out your support, the task would seem impossible.
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