Last week’s Musings focused on the past year and previewed the year to come. I’ve had some trouble coming up with a topic for today, but as I thought about last week’s post, I was reminded of all of the people that make all that the museum does possible. To say it is a team effort would truly be an understatement.

There’s Jim, our board president, who always makes sure our monthly meetings run on time and in an organized fashion. Lynn, our vice-president, can be found at the museum most mornings organizing the basement or fixing or putting wheels on something. Carolyn, the board secretary, helps keep the docents organized and informed and is always up for a trip to Sam’s if there is anything we need. Carol, our treasurer, not only makes sure all the bills are paid but also maintains the gift shop and helps fill me in on all the people and things I’m still trying to figure out.

Of course you know Warren, our blogger extraordinaire. He keeps us entertained and informed as he tells the stories of the people who have made East Perry County what it is today. If you have ever visited the museum, you know that Gerard is a wealth of information about just about anything and anyone from the area and is always good for a story or two (or three). Warren and Gerard make a good team as they lead most of the scheduled tours of the museum, Trinity Church and the Log Cabin College. Fred is usually my first contact if someone calls or emails for information about someone that Gerard doesn’t know.

We would definitely not be able to do what we do without all of our wonderful docents. I won’t attempt to name them all for fear of missing some, but we have over 30 volunteers who not only man the museum on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but also step up at other times assisting where needed (thanks, Sandi, for your help with my cataloging project and Joyce for all of the cleaning you did yesterday after the trees were taken down!). As well as those who commit to helping throughout the year, we also have many who help specifically with the Annual Christmas Tree Display. Some take responsibility for setting up and taking down one specific tree while others come and join the fun with all the rest. The kids even get involved there, as the 7th & 8th graders at Altenburg Public School come each November and January to carry all of the totes and trees to and from the basement. They have gotten so efficient that they had everything carried down yesterday in less than an hour!

I’m just now getting a feel for all of the people it will take to organize the conference later this year!

We also have people who help organize some of our rotating displays. I’m currently working with Fran on the upcoming needlework exhibit. Martha and Ann are almost always up for loaning us something for an exhibit. Martha taught a German Bell Workshop; Hope will be teaching a Putz House Class.

As you can see, lots of people working together make the museum the great place that it is. Thank you to everyone that makes it possible! If you would like to join in on the fun, give us a call. We are always looking for more docents to help keep the museum open on weekends as well as other volunteers to help complete the tasks that need to be done to keep things running.