Volunteer Connection

 

 

Volunteer Connection

June 12, 2010

 

 

Greetings, Friends!

 

29^th Annual Classic Boat Show and Small Craft Festival at the Maritime Museum on June 19…

Mark your calendars for the Classic Boat Show, Saturday, June 19 on the Museum Campus. We need your help to staff the museum information table, help unload boats, sell water and soda, assist exhibitors in setting up and direct visitors. This year promises to be well represented in traditional small craft - canoes, rowing boats and sailing craft - as well as the beautiful wooden motor and sailing boats from past years. A special feature will be a presentation on the "Evolution of the Cat Boat" by Peter Vermilya, retired curator at Mystic Seaport.

 

Volunteers are needed at the following times/positions: Exhibitor set-up 7:30-10 AM, Take Down 4:00-5:00 PM, Museum Information Table 10 AM-1 PM,  Museum Information Table 1-4 PM, Beverage Sales 10 AM-1 PM,  Beverage Sales 1-4 PM,  Knot-Tying Demonstration Table  10 AM-1 PM, Knot-Tying Demonstration Table  1-4 PM.  Please email mstephens@michiganmaritimemuseum.org to sign up.

 

From the Education/Volunteer Coordinator…

I beg your pardon for the neglecting to send out this edition of the Volunteer Connection sooner. Due to the number of educational school tours, office time has been in short supply. I am very sorry for the lack of communication these past few weeks and hope this edition helps you feel more connected to all that going on at the Museum. This is a busy time and we need your help more than ever! ~ submitted by Mary Stephens

 

Educational Tours Start the Season with a Splash…

Since beginning our educational tour season on May 10, several hundred children have had the opportunity to experience a unique maritime educational adventure at the Michigan Maritime Museum this season. Children have learned about the Great Lakes fishermen know as “iron men in wooden boats” and heard stories of the courageous surfman of the Life Saving Service who “went out but didn’t have to come back.” They have experienced their own adventures sailing aboard Friends Good Will, as their lives have been enriched learning the history and culture of their Great Lakes. A special thank you goes to Museum Interns Katie Bleil, from Central Michigan University and Patrick Rodkey, from Ball Sate University for all of their assistance with the educational programming this year, and to all of our wonderful docents--Frank James, Toni Carroll, Marilyn Miller, Marilyn Powell, Larry Hollenbeck, Walt Pascal, Susan Ryan, Dick Brunvand, and Stephanie Petter--who allow the Museum to fulfill our mission of providing a maritime education.  ~ submitted by Mary Stephens

 

Everybody Loves a Potluck…

Don’t miss this month’s Volunteer Potluck on June 29! Bring a dish to pass and get to know your fellow volunteers! We had a blast in May sharing food and fellowship. From 6-8 PM on the following Tuesdays: June 29, July 27, August 31, and September 28.

 

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY…

"Now Hear This" all you wooden boat enthusiasts out there. The Documentation Committee, a subcommittee of the Museum's Collection Committee at Michigan Maritime Museum is attempting to sponsor a class on Surveying Wooden Boats to be held at the museum in September. This class would be put on by the WoodenBoat School of Brooklin, ME, and the Museum. It is a week long class taught by a professional Marine Surveyor with years of experience in surveying wooden boats. The class will be divided roughly 50/50 between class room study (in the Padnos) and field work actually surveying several wooden boats, starting with our own Evelyn S. and Jim Schnieder's Frigate Bird. The cost for the class will be between $650.00 and $700.00 and will result in a certificate from WoodenBoat School at it's completion. Student limit is 12 students maximum, we currently have room for up to six Students in this class. If you're interested please contact Pete Mathews at 269-628-2339, or leave a message at the Museum with your contact information. ~ submitted by Pete Mathews

 

Ship’s Company Crew Sign-ups…

Thank you to all crew who have already signed up! Please sign up today if you haven’t yet done so.

Requirements to crew aboard FGW on the public day sails: Completion of all 3 Basic Seamanship classes, Museum membership, taken the pre-employment drug test, joined the Michigan Charter Boat Association, and a copy of your current MCBA card on file at the Museum office.

Sign-up process:

1. Look over the 2010 Public Sailing Calendar at http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=bar79gq7ajag87kjckjuhv0p7s%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York

2. Select which dates you can commit to crewing aboard FGW (we presently are most in need of crew for all the Saturday sails)

3. Email the dates to mstephens@michiganmaritimemuseum.org

4. You should receive a confirmation in a timely manner (especially now that I am caught up)

5. In order for us to commit to our sailing schedule, we need the crew to commit to working their sails. If you are not able to crew on a sail you have signed up for, please find a replacement and notify the office.

 

We will be updating and distributing the Ship’s Company Directory very soon and emailing it to all Ship’s Company Members, so you will be able to contact a replacement, if needed.

 

Crewing uniforms: many people have inquired about the 1812 period crew uniforms. Crew have a few options regarding clothing: purchase from Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc.  at http://www.jas-townsend.com/index.php; contact Ship’s Company seamstress Jen Cohen at southhavenjen@gmail.com about purchasing a period crew shirt at cost ($10) since Jen volunteers her time sewing; or borrow a pattern from the Maritime Museum to sew your own period costume by contacting mstephens@michiganmaritimemuseum.org (there is currently a waiting list on patterns).

 

If you do not have a period costume yet, we would still like you to sign up to crew, while you are working on obtaining one.

 

The Grass is would be greener with your help…

The Museum is currently seeking someone to assist with mowing the Museum lawn using a ride-on John Deer mower on a weekly basis.  If you can help, please email mstephens@michiganmaritimemuseum.org

 

 

Calling all Pirates!!!

The Museum is currently in need of Pirate Boats to chase and attack during our Pirate Chaser Adventure Sails. We would like to schedule pirates for specific dates. Can you take a sail? If you would like to join in the fun and excitement, please email captain@michiganmaritimemuseum.org Pirate Chaser Adventure Sails are very popular sails and a full sail really helps our bottom line.

 

 

Upcoming Activities at the Museum:  

Date:                                                                                        Event:

 

Saturday, June 19, 10 AM-4 PM                                              29^th Annual Classic Boat Show and Small Craft  

Monday, June 14, 9 AM-5 PM                                                 Rigging Work Day on FGW

Tuesday, June 27, 6-8 PM                                                       Volunteer Potluck Dinner

 

For the good of the cause,

 

Mary Stephens

Education & Volunteer Coordinator

Michigan Maritime Museum

260 Dyckman Avenue

South Haven, Michigan 49090

voice: 269.637.8078

fax: 269.637.1594

www.MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org