Museum's docents visit schools

Here is one of the thank you notes sent to our docents after a visit to a local school. Docent Marlene McDonald tells a very heart-touching story of survival on the Oregon Trail and a little girl named Patty Reed. This student was paying attention!

Compact Art Storage

Mary Gallagher and her dedicated legion of volunteers are preparing art for storage in our new rolling compact storage unit. They are starting with national treasures made by Oregon artists through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) New Deal program. Darrel Austin's "Machine" is currently exhibited in our 30th anniversary exhibition (http://www.bentoncountymuseum.org/exhibitions/30). The rest of the WPA art is moving into comfortable new surroundings in the climate controlled Peter & Rosalie Johnson Collections Center.

Volunteer luncheon & statistics

This week we held our annual volunteer luncheon to thank our dedicated museum volunteer staff. The camaraderie was much appreciated, as was the catered lunch.

Fifty-nine active volunteers donate over 4,000 hours yearly to the programs and activities of the Benton County Historical Society, almost double the state average of 33 volunteers donating just under 2,000 hours*!

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

*Oregon Heritage Commission survey results 2010.

Museums Advocacy Day videos from American Association of Museums

Video clips of Members of Congress speaking about the value of museums during Museums Advocacy Day (March 22-23, 2010) are now available on the American Association of Museums advocacy website – www.speakupformuseums.org – and directly at: http://www.speakupformuseums.org/voices_for_museums.htm.