Volunteer Connection

 

 

 

 

Volunteer Connection

 

August 15, 2009

Greetings, Friends!

 

Thank YOU!

A hearty thank you to all of the dozens of volunteers that assisted during last week’s tall ship event!!! Nearly 3,000 guests visited the Campus touring Niña, Pinta, Friends Good Will and the Museum galleries and exhibits. You made the event possible by doing  everything from giving dockside tours aboard Friends Good Will, to standing duty as “dock police” checking wristbands, answering the phone, working at the front desk in the Museum Store, selling admissions at the  cash table, keeping track of the number of guests, selling t-shirts and water, and answering a myriad of questions.  The Museum is extremely grateful to each and every one of you for taking time out of your schedule and contributing to the remarkable success of this event. Thank you!

 

New Library and Collections Acquisitions…

The Marialyce Canonie Great Lakes Research Library has received a new publication donated by a writer who used our collection for research.  The book documents the history of the Crisp Point Lifesaving Station and Lighthouse on eastern Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula and is titled Lifetime of Historical Service.  Only the tower and a fragment of its fog signal building remain of the Crisp Point Lighthouse.  This publication provides essential records and photographs documenting the story of Crisp Point and the brave men who served at this lonely station.  The author, Scott W. Bundschuh, credited the Museum Library for its research assistance.  We are happy to work with researchers to preserve Michigan’s rich maritime history.

 

Lay Great Lakes historian and ships in bottles builder, Joe Barr, has donated his extensive collection of maritime books, postcards of ships and lighthouses, 2 ships in bottles and thousands of photographs.  Many of the images document his detailed work and research in producing his projects.  Mr. Barr has visited most of the commercial ports on the Great Lakes to photograph ships from every angle in order to have each detail correct on his models.  No longer able to work on such detailed pieces, Joe offered the collection to the Maritime Museum.  He was thrilled to learn that its new home will be in a Lightkeeper’s dwelling.  We hope to have Mr. Barr present a program on building ships in a bottle as part of the Museum’s winter program schedule. ~ Submitted by Registrar Judy Schlaack

 

Port Washington Voyage…

Friends Good Will arrived safely in Port Washington, Wisconsin for the Maritime Heritage Festival on Thursday, August, 13 at noon local time. The crew are being kept busy doing four sails a day, in addition to dockside boardings.

 

The vessel is expected to return to South Haven this Tuesday and will resume her sailing schedule on Friday, August 21.

 

Membership cards will be coming back!

After more than a year hiatus, plans are being made to issue membership cards again.  Members have expressed their desire to have them as proof rather than just being logged into the MMM computer.  Initially, they were dropped as a cost cutting measure because we do not have a reciprocal relationship with other museums.  So, come September, once the busy season is over we will be looking into reactivating that policy and mailing them to you.  We appreciate your comments and will be acting on them.  If you have any suggestions regarding membership I would be happy to have them.  Right now our biggest issue is working with a database that is cumbersome and not user friendly.  Anyone with computer skills that would like to help us transfer data to a more efficient program would be enthusiastically welcomed!  Please let us know if you can help in September. . . or sooner once we know what we are doing! ~ Submitted by Arlene Dickerson, membership chair

 

Outboard Motor Swap Meet…

The Michigan Maritime Museum in partnership with the Wolverine Chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club is holding an Outboard Motor Swap Meet on Saturday, August 29.

 

Old motors and parts will be on display, including many motors made in Michigan, such as Clarke Troller, Lockwood, Caille, Chris Craft, Oliver, and Sweet. Visitors to the Swap Meet are encouraged to bring their old motors and/or parts for public viewing, sale, or swap.

 

The Outboard Motor Swap Meet is free to the public. The event will be held on the Maritime Museum grounds on Saturday, August 29 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

 

Outboard motor enthusiasts will want to be present to bid on the classic antique racing engine the 1951 Mercury Thunderbird KG9, the favorite outboard motor of singer and cowboy actor Roy Rogers.

 

Blue Green Gala…
West Michigan residents and visitors to the lakeshore area will have a unique opportunity to view sustainable design at its best when Cottage Home opens the doors Sunday, August 23rd to the new Monroe Beach House, 850 Monroe Boulevard, South Haven.

 

The ‘Blue Green Gala’ is being underwritten by Cottage Home as a way of demonstrating how sustainable lakefront living helps “Keep It Blue By Making It Green.” The event, which is open to the public, includes tours of two homes, sustainable design discussions, live music, with refreshments and hors d’oeuvres catered by the South Haven Yacht Club.

 

Doors will open at 4:00pm to 7:00pm Sunday. The Friends Good Will, the Maritime Museum’s replica sloop, will sail past the home around 4:30pm.

100% of the ticket proceeds will go to the Maritime Museum.  You may purchase tickets at the Museum or online at http://cottagehome.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=200773

 

Upcoming Activities at the Museum:
Date:                                                                      Event:

 

Friday, August 21, 3:00 PM                       Board of Directors Meeting (members encouraged to attend)

 

Sunday, August 23, 4-7 PM                      Blue Green Gala to Benefit the Museum

 

Saturday, August 29, 9-3                            Outboard Motor Swap Meet     

 

 

For the good of the cause,

 

Mary Stephens

Education/Volunteer Coordinator

Michigan Maritime Museum

260 Dyckman Avenue

South Haven, MI 49090

269.637.8078