MARCH - APRIL
2008
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From the
Editor’s Desk
It’s a busy time around the village. With all the great publicity, visitors and residents are flocking to our historical "jewel." The Quilt Show and the exhibit on Black History are drawing "kudos" from visitors. Gayle Pence, Alex Werner, Dennis Simon and all our docents continue to work enthusiastically to improve our museum. I will be turning over the bulletin to Ray Buck. He’s doing a great job with publicity for the island papers, so I leave the bulletin in very capable hands. I will continue editing the website, and I thank all for your contributions. Don’t forget to check our website : www.sanibelmuseum.orgfor current photos of the museum. If you have any to add, please send them to me. jerimagg@comcast.net. mailto:mehttp://www.sanibelmuseum.orgSee you around the village. Jeri Magg
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Thank you all for your support in words and efforts in truly making our Corporation successful with managing the Museum and Village these first four months. Our admissions have been close to 3,000 visitors, walk-ins as well as special tours. Thanks to Gayle Pence and her team, our membership drive has started successfully. We need your help with operating our Museum. Please become a member. Every penny goes back into the Museum not the City. This first year is directed at getting us on our feet, meeting all problems and solving them, and keeping you, our volunteers, happy and comfortable with us and our paid staff. Our Board of Directors look forward to seeing you at our Luncheon on Tuesday, March 18th at the Island Inn .Alex |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 15th Antique Car Show 10-3...museum campus
March 18th Docent Recognition Island Inn - 11:30
March 22nd Quilt Show Ends
Quilt Raffle: April 10th May - Museum Open Half days.
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NOTES FROM GAYLE PENCE MEMBERSHIP FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN : Update.Our membership fundraiser drive is well under way. As of this week, over 350 appeal letters have been addressed and mailed for family memberships. Our corporate membership drive will follow in the next few weeks. You should have received your membership opportunity in the mail – all docents are encouraged to become members of the Museum. A special thanks to Jan Halliday, Elise Hall, Jackie Rauschart, Marianne Jardine, Joan Leffel and Gayle Pence for stuffing envelopes and helping with the mailing. Kudos to Marianne Jardine and Adele Cramer for dressing in period costume and selling memberships to residents and visitors at Bailey’s Store last week. Marianne came up with this creative idea and several days are planned in March to publicize the museum in this manner. Our overall goal for the membership fundraiser this year is $50,000. Please help us by asking your neighbors and friends to become members! Farewell to a dear friend .Julia Dickey Scott, granddaughter of Dr & Mrs. John R. Dickey, first winter residents of Captiva Island, passed away on February 1st after a short illness. Julia and her daughter Svea were docents at the museum for over 20 years. A memorial service will be held later in the year. |
. DOCENT RECOGNITION LUNCHEON ISLAND INN MARCH 18, TUESDAY 11:30 am – SOCIAL HOUR Jody Brown and the "Founding Mothers" will perform their new show at the luncheon. MENU: New England Clam Chowder Grilled Chicken Breast over Caesar Salad Strawberry Shortcake Iced Tea, Coffee, Tea All reservations must be in by March 11. Either sign up at the Museum or call Elise Hall-472-6854 or Judy Yenkole-395-7674 ********* QUILT SHOW - raffle April 10th If you haven't bought your tickets for the Quilt Raffle, please buy them now. We have less than a month to reach our goal of selling a minimum of 800 tickets. If each Docent buys at least three or more , that will be the boost we need to reach our goal. Remember, all the profits from the raffle benefit the Historic Village and Museum. |
SHOP AT THE STORE Sue Downey, Peggy Henwood, Mia Burns, Marianne Jardine, and Jan Halliday are putting together wonderful ideas to implement our Museum store. Thanks to Sue, we have a fantastic new tee shirt and tote bag depicting an historic map of Sanibel/Captiva that we'll all be proud to wear and carry. There are many other new items that will only be sold at our Museum store. Please try to sell a remembrance item to all of our visitors. Our store is included in our business plan, so an increase in sales is necessary to meet our financial goals. Remember all docents receive a 20% discount at the Museum store .Artist in Residence Randon T. Eddy will be at the museum every Wednesday morning for six weeks from 9:00 a.m. to noon.. ANTIQUE CAR SHOW Saturday - March 15th 10-3. Manfred Strobel and Jody Brown have organized another great car show to benefit the museum. This year the elusive "silver ghost"--a 1926 Rolls-Royce -- will appear along with more than a dozen vintage cars . |
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From the Editor’s Desk: Happy New Year to all — can you believe it’s 2008! Gayle, Alex, Dennis and the Board have worked extremely hard to make this coming year one of our best. Volunteers, please remember to check your schedule. There’s been a number of days when only one docent was on site at the museum...and Dennis had to help out. We all forget, but it’s important to be at the museum on the scheduled day, or at least, call Dennis. I hope you enjoyed all the teddy bears and decorations at the museum. Visitors seem fascinated with the teddy bear tree and the Alice Roosevelt depiction in Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room. Don’t forget to check our website www.sanibelmuseum.orgfor current photos of the museum. If you have any to add, please send them to me. jerimagg@comcast.net.See you around the village. Jeri
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All of your hard work has resulted in an average of 35 visitors per day since we opened on November 7th — this figure is sure to rise during the season. We are also averaging $180 per day in admissions and $20 per day in sales in the store(special tours and island book sales are not included in this figure.) Dennis Simon, your coordinator, has received high marks from all of you. This month he will begin to enter data for grants as well as our membership campaign—so please do your scheduled time. We, your Board of Directors are committed to being there when you need help or attention, but we must run the museum efficiently. The museum is now a fully functioning 501 © 3 nonprofit with IRS tax exemption AND State sales tax exemption. The museum is also registered with the State for Solicitation of Funds. These are the reasons why we are now requiring admission fees. Bob Vartdal has joined the Board as Treasurer replacing John Bralove who switched to Business Manager and is paid on contract under Bob’s supervision. Your help and efforts over the years have given the Board the energy to succeed. We will do that and take the museum to a higher level. Alex |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
January 8hDocent Training. January 14th - Docent Gathering- Membership Kickoff Campaign at Gayle Pence’s house. January 16th -Opening of Quilt Show. February 14th - Valentines Program. March - Docent Recognition and Annual Meeting - Antique Car Show .April - Easter Party May - Museum Open Half days.
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NOTES FROM GAYLE PENCE MEMBERSHIP FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN : Our first annual Sanibel Historical Museum & Village fundraiser kickoff begins at our Docent Gathering on January 14th. With the funds generated from this campaign, we can PRESERVE, RESTORE, SHARE and CELEBRATE the historical heritage of Sanibel. Brochures for the campaign will be mailed out on the 16th with major publicity appearing in the local papers the weekend of the 18th. We need the support of all of our docents to share with neighbors, friends and family that we must "Preserve Our Island Heritage Treasure." Thank you for your support.******** DOCENT GATHERING: "CELEBRATION " Gayle Pence’s house - 1150 Sabal Street on East end of the Island. Wine and soft drinks provided —please bring a small hors d’oeuvre. Contact Dennis Simon to RSVP.******** DOCENT TRAINING:Jan. 8th - 9:30 a.m. at the Schoolhouse. New and seasoned docents are all welcome. Please bring docent handbooks – additional ones will be available. Contact Dennis at calusa1513@embarqmail.com or call him at 472-4648 if you plan to attend. |
New Docents Tom Giles, Diane Schneiger, Sue Downey, Libby Evans, Joan Silberman, Joan Emilius, Anna Bralove, Margo Cutler, Ray Buck, Pat and Ted Hoesel, Isabella Rasi, Kevin O’Donnell Carol Kreml, Bonnie Reese, Gerry Verblaauw, Leonard Libster, Priscilla Grayson, Mia Burns,Bill Bachman, Ann Heyman . *******NEW SANIBEL FOUNDING MOTHER’S PLAY : Contact Jody Brown - 472-9570 or fg_brown@hotmail.com if you’d like to express your thespian talents. It will be performed some Tuesday morning in February.********
Show will open on Jan 16th... Any antique quilts...1940s or earlier—that you’d like to display, call Mardi Ponader at 395-1140 before Sunday, Jan. 13th. Sanibel theme quilts are also needed. Those willing to help hang the quilts on Monday and Tuesday, Jan 14-15, call Stephanie Rahe at 395-2147. A new Amish quilt will be raffled. Tickets are $4 for one, $10 for three .
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February is Black History Month. The Museum has entered into an informal agreement with the Black History Museum in Ft. Myers and the Sanibel Library to display information regarding Black American families on Sanibel. Did you know Isaiah Gavin and his family were the first Blacks American farmers on Sanibel in 1920? Elinore Dormer’s family used Black American workers to clear the property for Shorehaven and kept Black workers on the payroll through WWII. Frances Bailey had a Black Nanny and the Schoolhouse for Colored Children is the Lilly Jewelry store, a building on the National Historical registry. Finally, the Sanibel School in 1964-65 became the first integrated school in Lee County, if not Florida. These are all great reasons for a solid display. Alex |
MUSEUM/VILLAGE FIVE-YEAR REVENUE PLAN
: The following plan was presented and accepted by the Sanibel City Council. It will generate monies allowing the museum to be self-sufficient by August of 2012.2007/2008 - $60,000--- Memberships, lecture series, admissions/donations, group tours,store.
2008/2009 - $70,000— Added to above, grade level student programs, historic trolley tours.
2009/2010 - $100,000–Added to above, Evening Gala.
2010/2011 - $120,000–Added to above, In-home dinner parties,
2011/2012 -$140,000–Same as above. Please review and let Gayle Pence know via e-mail which projects you’d like to help implement.
Gaylepence@msn.com*******
Kudos to Our Volunteers
! These are some of the people who help make our museum great.|
M/M Alteri, Libby Magnus, Karl & Ann Rodman - sub for Docents whenever needed. Jody Brown - super work in the garden Sally Gillett - chairing Christmas Show Tom Giles - solved office computer problems Dottie Miller, Jean Turney - wine/cheese party for Prospective docents. Adele Cramer, Deb Gleason, Jan Halliday, Jeri Magg, Hal Theiss, John Bralove, Gayle Pence - editing new Membership tri-fold. Ray Buck - chairing publicity for membership kickoff Libby Evans - co-author historical museums "grant" |
Sue Downey - new merchandising plan for store Gayle Pence - facilitating new docent training Alex Werner - leading Elderhostel Tours Christmas Show Committee Jeri Magg - quarterly newsletter, website, chairing Publicity Deb Gleason, Mary McLaughlin, Paula Newton Implementing informative museum displays |
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2007
| From the Editor’s Desk:
Our Museum opens on Nov. 7th! Welcome back to all–it’s going to be a great year. Because of the tireless efforts of our volunteers, our "little village" looks terrific! Each of the historical sites has new signage giving a brief history of the buildings. Deb Gleason and Mary McLoughlin are busy preparing some new exhibits...and we have a new full-time coordinator. Kudos to Alex Werner and Gayle Pence for all the prep work so that our village is now incorporated and soon to be designated nonprofit. We are "family" at the museum...come on over and say hello...we’re glad to have our volunteers back home again! Jeri
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 The Museum and Village are now a Florida nonprofit Corporation as of July 5, 2007–and is pending a 501-AC-3 designation as of Oct.18th with the IRS. Translation: As of Oct. 1st, the City of Sanibel and the Corporation split the operating costs of running the museum. However, all donations, contributions, memberships, and door proceeds, as well as store receipts, go to help operate the museum and fund educational programs for residents, visitors, schools and other organizations. The Corp. has seven Board of Directors: President -Alex Werner, Vice-President - Gayle Pence, Secretary - Hal Theiss, Treasurer - John Bralove, and Directors - Adele Cramer, Mary McLoughlin, and Debbie Staley. Museum procedures remain the same as new coordinator, Dennis Simon, takes charge. He will open and close every day and be on the grounds in the Bailey Store to assist docents as well as do tasks assigned by the Board. We are streamlining to make our operations more efficient. We need YOUR help, so please volunteer to become a member. All monies go back to the museum–not the City of Sanibel. Any questions—call me at 472-8871. ALEX
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Nov. 7th - Museum opens December - Christmas Toy Show. January - Antique Car Show - Quilt Show February 14th - Valentines Program March - Annual Board Meeting April - Docent Appreciation Lunch - Drawing for Raffle Quilt May - Museum open half-days 10-1.
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 MEET NEW MUSEUM COORDINATOR - DENNIS SIMON Dennis Simon is a welcome addition to our village family. A former member of the Lee County and City of Sanibel Planning Departments, he is more than familiar with working with people and handling important issues.
With a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Ohio State University, Dennis has already identified some of the ways he hopes to improve the operation of the village and enhance it’s appearance. He is exploring the possibility of participating in "Ding Darling Days," and searching for historical preservation grants as well as developing educational programs for the Sanibel School and FGCU Renaissance Academy. And if that’s not enough, he checking out the viability of borrowing and sharing historical collections with other museums. He seems ready and able for the task at hand. Dennis, a proclaimed history buff, is fascinated with the historical period between 1900-1950. "This job is the one I’ve been waiting for all my life," he states. His enthusiasm for "all things historical" is contagious and should lift the spirits of all around him. Welcome to the museum, Dennis. We’re glad you’re here!
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The life of Laetitia Nutt is showcased this year in an exhibit in the Rutland House. Laetitia was a Civil War widow who followed her husband from battle to battle during the war. Her account of her almost two year trek, "Courageous Journey" offers very personal insights into the war and the condition of the countryside. There is a copy of this journal available at the museum. The life of Laetitia Nutt is showcased this year in an exhibit in the Rutland House. Laetitia was a Civil War widow who followed her husband from battle to battle during the war. Her account of her almost two year trek, "Courageous Journey" offers very personal insights into the war and the condition of the countryside. There is a copy of this journal available at the museum In 1882 Laetitia’s beloved husband succumbed to cholera, and a fire a few years later destroyed her home and most of her possessions. Faced with financial ruin, she and her three daughters became truck farmers and headed south to homestead on Sanibel—109 acres along the gulf beach—where they built a house called "Gray Gables." Ten acres was all that she could manage, so she sold off a portion for $10 to $25 an acre. She started the Sanibel Home School in 1885. In 1889, Laetitia was appointed the first postmistress on Sanibel. She died in 1914 and is buried in the cemetery behind her house along with her brother and mother-in-law. Her daughters, Cordie, Lettie, and Nannie helped organize the Ft. Myers chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in her name.
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