Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:04:13 -0600 Subject: Mukwonago Museum anniversary ideas? Tips? From: Andy Frank <andyfrank@wi.rr.com> Message-ID: <C789D0BD.DF2E%andyfrank@wi.rr.com>
This year the Mukwonago Historical Society's Red Brick House Museum is
looking for ways to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the grand opening of
our museum. The museum was created through the generosity of Arthur D.
Grutzmacher, a Mukwonago resident, whose estate provided the funds to
purchase the oldest brick residence in Waukesha County. This building is
now known as the "Red Brick House Museum", and a large room there is
dedicated to housing Grutzmacher's substantial collection of Native American
stone artifacts. Additional Native American artifacts from other donors
have also been added to the room through the years, with a particular focus
on Potawatomi and plains Indian tribes. I joyfully have been the primary
volunteer caretaker of the museum's Native American collections for the past
year and a half.
I am just beginning the process of planning some Native American themed
events which would kick off with our museum's summer season, which begins
June 1. I hope to have some other volunteers at the museum working with me
to plan and execute this. Thankfully, I do have considerable experience
from my past professional life in writing press releases, creating media
events, forming media relations, organizing educational programs, etc. so
that part of the plan isn't intimidating to me. I also have some contacts
with and friendships in the Native American community.
I am wondering if any of you have any experience organizing an anniversary
year celebration? Do you have any special tips about doing so? What has
worked well or bombed with you in the past? What would you differently if
you were going to do it again? Do you have any thoughts regarding possible
general or specific anniversary activities or programs as my fellow
volunteers and I begin to brainstorm possibilities?
Thanks for your insights and input.
Andrea Frank
Mukwonago Historical Society
Red Brick House Museum