Preserving the Past by Pat Mulso

November will be a busy month at the Freeborn County Historical Museum with 13 meetings being held in our meeting rooms by various organizations, several museum committee meetings and an AARP smart driver class, as well as our regular visitors to the library to do research and other visitors to the museum itself. We also have our week-long research trip to the largest genealogical library in the world, Salt Lake City Genealogical Library. We have begun our Christmas decorating inside and out as we prepare for our Christmas gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 7.

We are in the midst of our annual membership drive and encourage you to renew your museum membership if you are a current member or become a new member.  Memberships begin at $25 for an individual or $35 for a family. Any amount above these listed are a donation and are tax deductible. You may pay your membership by check, cash or if you go online to our website you can pay by credit card. You may also donate to the building fund online from our website www.fchm.us or at GiveMN.

We would like to invite all veterans to visit the museum, as our guest, on Wednesday to show our appreciation for their service to our country and for protecting our freedom.  We have added some new military exhibits and hope veterans will take the opportunity to stop in and visit and join us for coffee and cookies. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and look forward to seeing our local veterans. Coffee is provided by Caribou Coffee/Hy-Vee and cookies by our museum volunteers.

Our last smart driver four-hour refresher class for this year will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 22. You must register for the class. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-AARP members. Our next class will be Jan. 10.

As executive director of the museum, I have been busy this month writing grants for special programs such as scanning photos from our museum collections, collaborating with other organizations to preserve their history within our community, funding for special projects such as a PA system for our meeting rooms or supplies for our children’s learning lab, and boxes for our textile collection. I have also applied for a special lecture offered through the state historical society.

We have started planning events for 2015 and look forward to bringing some new features and programs to our members this next year.

We are always looking for new ideas and new volunteers. If you have an idea or would like to volunteer at the museum, please give us a call or stop by and visit with us about your idea. You can also check us out on our website at www.fchm.us.

I remember when I was growing up the importance that was given to Thanksgiving and the founding of our country. To the pilgrims and the freedom of American customs. To traditions and family. A time for thanksgiving for all that we have. Remember to thank God for your many blessings this Thanksgiving and the importance of your family. We never know what lies ahead for us, so don’t put off things that should be attended to. You’ll feel better when you have completed projects and items that you have meant to get to, but just haven’t taken the time to do. This also includes taking time to visit with your family, maybe visit a shut-in or person that has limited access to visiting others.  Make someone smile, just because you care enough to take time out of your busy schedule to visit with them and listen to an old story or two. You’ll be glad you did, and I know the other person will be delighted. Remember, what happens today is history tomorrow!

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village, 1031 Bridge Ave.