SOME SAD GOODBYES AND A WELCOME
Susan Kirby has been Development Director at MCHS for eight years and before that she was on our Board of Directors. Susan has resigned to pursue other efforts. She is leaving a big void in our staffing. Although only a part-time position, Susan oversaw the membership, Annual Fund appeal, Speakers Bureau, website updates and myriad other tasks. As one can read from this job description, you truly have to multi-task to work here. We are very sorry to see her go and wish her all the best in her new endeavors.
Chris Helsabeck has left as weekend staff person at the Waters House. He goes onto to a career in his chosen field. Good luck Chris!
Cynthia Helsabeck, Chris's mother, has stepped in to take his place. She began as a volunteer at Waters and it is through her that we got Chris in the first place. Welcome!The Annual Fund is still in progress and it's not too late to send in your donation. While donations are down a bit this year, MCHS is still seeing considerable support from our members. It's wonderful to have a group of people who believe in the value of saving our past and recognize the Society's importance to the community! We are anticipating a cut in our state and county grants for the next fiscal year which makes the Annual Fund drive even more important. If you were planning to give and haven't done so yet, you still can! Mail checks to MCHS, 111 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 or charge it over the phone by calling 301-340-2825.
UPDATES...
• New Executive Director: The job notice for a new Executive Director has gone out to various museum listservs. You can also read it on our website.
• Gazette Newspaper Project: MCHS has recently signed a donor agreement with the Washington Post Corporation, owner of the Gazette Newspapers. We hope to soon begin the scanning project. The newspapers consist of over 40 years of the Gazette as well as other small community papers.
• County History Book for Young Readers: This project is taking a little longer to get to the publishers than anticipated. We are currently working on the book's photographs and hope to get it to the publisher in January.
• Fete Invitation Apologies: It has come to our attention that a number of members did not receive their Holiday Fete invitation. We mail them bulk mail and usually do not have a problem. We want to extend our sincerest apologies.
• Speakers Bureau: The Speakers Bureau is growing and we have some new speakers as well as topics. Maude McGovern will speak on Stories from Rockville's Underground Railroad, Don Housley will talk on The Civil War Camps at Muddy Branch and the Outpost Camp and Blockhouse at Blockhouse Point, and James Johnston, who wrote the Montgomery County Story on Yarrow Mamout, will talk on several topics. For a complete list of speakers and topics, please go to our website. An updated brochure for the Speakers Bureau will be produced in 2008. We also want to thank Clarence Hickey, volunteer extraordinaire, for helping out with the Speakers Bureau. Susan Kirby has been managing this valuable outreach program and over the years has added speakers and topics. She asked Clarence to take it on so the program could continue to grow. He will be overseeing the program for the time being. His first contribution was to begin a dialogue with the University of Maryland's Lifelong Learning Center at Shady Grove. Many of our speakers will be appearing there in 2008.
• Volunteer Holiday Party: The volunteers had a lovely holiday brunch on December 17. William Bird from the Smithsonian talked on holiday floats and window displays which made us all remember when the windows at Woodies were decorated. The potluck that followed was delicious.
• Collections Inventory: Joanna Church, our Collections Manager, is in the process of clearing up some of the "old loans" in the collection. Some of these are more difficult to resolve than others. If you've visited the Winter Pastimes exhibit in the Beall-Dawson House, you may have admired the 19th century wardrobe on display. This wardrobe has been on loan to MCHS since 1969, and the whereabouts of its owner is no longer known. If anyone has any information on Mr. M. W. Chandler of Silver Spring, or his family, please let Joanna know, so that hopefully the wardrobe can be returned to its home, officially renewed as a loan, or donated fully to the Society.
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT:
Despite the weather, tough tree roots, and a lot of mud, Eagle Scout Ben Morris and his team of volunteers from B.S.A. Troop 439 successfully dug a 170-foot telecommunications conduit between the Library and the Administration building on December 8. We now have a clean high-speed network connection between the two buildings. Many thanks to all the scouts and parents who braved the mud and the weather to help us update our computer network.
VOLUNTEER ELECTRICIAN NEEDED:
MCHS has need of a capable electrician to fix a few light fixtures around the Beall-Dawson House and Jane Sween Library. If anyone is experienced in working on antiquated light fixtures and would like to help out for a short-term volunteer project, please contact Karen at 301-340-2825 or kylottes@montgomeryhistory.org.
BOOKS NEEDED FOR ANNUAL MCHS BOOK SALE:
Fiction & Non-Fiction--Hardback & Paperback--Videos, CD's, Cassettes--Sheet Music & Prints. Please, no textbooks, moldly, mildewed or torn books, magazines, encyclopedias or Readers Digest Condensed Books.
Donations accepted Tues-Sun 12-4 at the Beall-Dawson House, Rockville
Call 301-340-2825 to arrange for special drop-offs or pick-ups