Museum
Tidings
Winter Issue
2002
The official quarterly newsletter of the Tehama
County Museum
(WebPage edition)
TO THINK ABOUT
"The past is a source of knowledge, and the
future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies
faith in the future." Reader's Digest 9/01
21st ANNUAL JUBILEE HAD A FEW NEW TWISTS
A lot has been
happening at the Tehama County Museum since our
last newsletter. The most important event was the
21st Annual Jubilee. It was a wonderfully full one
day affair this year, and if you were fortunate
enough to have attended, you understand when I say
that conditions couldn't have been better. Unlike
most years in early September, we had perfect weather.
It was beautiful with lots of sun, a cool breeze
and temperatures in the mid 70's. It hardly seemed
like Tehama County in the summertime. There was
good food available all day long, non-stop entertainment
on the outdoor stage, booths in the park, and our
special feature in the new Annex - antique appraisals.
This was organized by Sam Kissee and involved a
group of appraisers drawn from all over the north
state. If you missed the opportunity to have YOUR
antiques appraised this year, bring them to the
Jubilee next year.
This event could not have happened had it not been
for the tremendous support of volunteers.
The Museum Foundation Board of Directors would like
to acknowledge that support and say a couple of
big THANK YOUs to all of the people who gave of
their time and talent to make this event such a
success.
The first big "thank you" goes to all
of the generous members and friends of the Museum
Foundation who either sold or bought their drawing
tickets and sent in the donations - sometimes with
a much appreciated extra amount in support of the
event.
The second big "thank you" goes to all
of the talented people who provided entertainment
for the crowd - always with a smile.
The third big "thank you" goes to all
of the members and friends of the Museum Foundation
and members of the community who pitched in and
helped organize and put on this event - to Dick
Ochs and his Kiwanis crew for turning out a wonderful
breakfast - and lunch - and supper; and to Ruth
Britt, Marty Graffell and Paul Quinn for handling
the kitchen end of all that food. To Jeanine Vadney
and her CDF crew for organizing and running the
children's parade. To all of the members of 4-H
groups in the county who baked so many tasty cakes
for the cake walks. To Ross Turner and the Boy Scouts
for providing the color guard in the parade and
the flag raising. To Sgt. Rod Daugherty and the
Sheriff Dept. for providing so much good information
for the kids about public and personal safety. To
Laurie Dana and to Jerome Crow and the Red Bluff
Daily News for all of the fine publicity. To Sam
Kissee and his crew of appraisers for their insights
and for making us feel rich in a number of ways.
To Shelly Reno, our Intern volunteer for arranging
for and scheduling all of the day's entertainment.
To Ann Bianchi and her sidekick husband Ray for
handling all of the kids games. To all of you -
Thank You so much.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Holiday Greetings to everyone!
As the year draws
to a close I would like to take this opportunity
to thank all those kind individuals who helped make
this an exceptional year at the Museum, especially
the Board of Directors for the great effort in keeping
the dream alive! I am always in awe of the dedication
of these individuals who unselfishly give of their
time, talents and money, while expecting nothing
in return. You have my utmost respect and admiration
for a job well done! I would also like to thank
Ruth Britt and her crew of docent volunteers,
because without docents, we would not have been
able to keep the doors open. I can't say enough
about the Kiwanis and the VFW for their financial
and manpower support of the museum. Both of these
groups are jewels in our community. I would also
like to thank all those individuals and groups who
helped in any way to make this organization an important
part of the community!
This year started off with a very successful Quilt
Show in February. We were able to use the Annex
building, which provided the much-needed room to
display the quilts properly. However, it was a little
chilly because the heating has not been installed
yet. In March we held our annual Corned Beef Dinner
at the Los Molinos Elementary School. It was very
well attended and we also received help from the
Walmart associates and an additional financial contribution
from Walmart as well. May brought the Second Annual
Blues by the Tracks, held in Habert Park in the
city of Tehama. The evening of May 20th our annual
archaeology week program took place in the Annex
building. We hosted two archaeologists who talked
about recent work done by CalTrans. For July, the
Museum presented "Music by the Tracks,"
a free concert showcasing local bands from Tehama
and Shasta Counties at Habert Park. In September,
of course, we had a very successful 21st Annual
Jubilee. This was the first year we had our version
of PBS's "Antiques Road Show." This event
included six appraisers who viewed a variety of
items brought in by a very enthusiastic crowd. It
was very well attended and will definitely be repeated
next year. In October, we participated in Museum
Day as promoted by the Tehama County History Consortium,
and in the Dairyville Orchard Festival. We sold
"36-Lady Prune Cakes" made by Museum members
and we sold coffee donated by the new Starbucks
in Red Bluff.
Well, this has brought us full circle to our annual
Christmas party in December. With this fun event,
we would like to acknowledge and thank the docents
and many volunteers that have kept us up and running
throughout the years. It has been a very busy year
around here! It seems like we spend all our time
trying to raise money just to keep the doors open!
Our operating expenses are going up just like at
home, with insurance at about $5,200 and utilities
at about $2,000 annually. We are very dependent
on your membership renewals for support and appreciate
them very much.
The following is an excerpt from a speech that I
gave at a Kiwanis meeting. It relates to our future
plans for the museum and some questions to which
I asked the audience to respond. I share them with
you now and encourage you to respond with constructive
ideas and suggestions to me or to any of our board
members.
Some of the questions we might
ask ourselves:
1) What place should a (your) museum occupy in education,
and more particularly in relation to preschools,
schools, colleges, and universities?
2) What role should a (your) museum play as a space
for interpersonal and social exchange and as a center
of community life where people meet and socialize?
3) What role should a (your) museum play as a place
for celebrating a community's history, heritage,
and accomplishments and for building a sense of
community pride?
4) What role should a (your) museum play in building
skills and in transmitting basic concepts (especially
for young people) in science, history, or art?
Our hope is to
bring the community into this process in determining
our future by pulling the museums more into the
center of the communities. It requires museum trustees
moving out into the community, and by being at the
table at sometimes-unlikely gatherings and by having
conversations and exploring areas beyond our more
traditional roles as trustees.
Won't you help create that future?
In closing I would again say thank you to all.
Oh, by the way...did I ask for your membership renewals?
"As I get older, I've learned to listen to
people rather than accuse them of something."
ORCHARD FESTIVAL
Once again, your Tehama County Museum Foundation
participated in the annual Orchard Festival and
by all accounts it was a huge success. We sold books
on local history, we sold "36 Lady Prune Cakes"
by the slice and by the whole, and the new Starbucks
Coffee in Red Bluff donated two kinds of coffee
for us to sell as well. Faith Bennett, Ruth Britt,
Pat Felthouse and Linda Middlebrough baked over
110 cakes of various sizes, and they were joined
by Paul Quinn, Marty Graffell, and Hugh Mills in
running the booth. Many thanks to all for a job
well done.
**********
"Cats regard people as warm-blooded furniture."
**********
THE VALUE OF DOCENTS
"Frontier
House" on PBS showed how modern families living
under 1883 conditions would react. At the end of
their stay, young Logan said that, "it (living
in those conditions) made me use my imagination."
Three months after returning home they interviewed
him again but he was immersed in video games.
"Imagination." What a valuable gift. It
involves intellectual curiosity and leads to discovery.
All of the advances in medicine, science, astronomy,
and all of the other disciplines began with imagination.
Museums have the power of kindle the fire of curiosity
through imagination.
In any museum, it is the docents who bring history
alive and spark that imagination in the minds of
visitors. You can help the Museum give the gift
of intellectual curiosity. Please, consider volunteering
just 3 hours a month and help us open the doors
to the history of Tehama County. Who knows what
"brush fire" of imagination you could
help ignite. Keep the fire alive and meet lots of
interesting people.
Call Ruth Britt at 385-1057 or Paul at 384-1285
and ask about being a docent for the Tehama County
Museum Foundation. Thanks!!
"The early bird may get the worm, but the second
mouse gets the cheese."
"You miss 100% of the shots
you never take"
Wayne Gretzky
**********
WHAT'S COMING UP?
Dec. 15, 2002-Feb. 1, 2003 - Closed. Have a very
happy and meaningful holiday season!
Jan. 5, 2003 at
4:P.M. - Annual meeting of the membership.
"Pursuant to the bylaws of the Tehama
County Museum Foundation, there will be
called a meeting of the membership the
first Sunday in January at 4:P.M. to elect
directors. Nominaton will commence at the
at the Museum in the Bauer Gallery."
This is your opportunity
to talk with
Members of the Board of Directors and
other members and supporters of the
Museum. Bring a friend and come see
what's happening and what's planned.
Feb. 21, 22, 23,
2003 - Doll Show/Gun Show
This year the Annual Doll Show will be
combined with the Annual Gun Show, and
we promise that, all logic to the contrary,
these two events will be complementary.
If you are interested in the Doll Show, call
Pat Felthouse at 527-1805.
If you are interested in the Gun Show, call
Marty Graffell at 384-1266.
**********
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
This is the time of year when we begin to think
of membership and membership renewal. As usual,
the process has already started and we want to say
"Welcome!" and "Welcome back!"
to the following new and returning members for the
calendar year 2003: Ida Knowles, Weston and Eleanor
Briggs (Life members), Clair and Kenneth Morgan,
John and Louise Rasmussen, Judge and Mrs. Noel Watkins,
Ray and Barbara Wahl, Jones and Sons Orchards, Ron
Finch and Family, John and Andrew Brooks, L.E. and
June Morford, and Robert Weilmunster. Remember,
all new and renewal memberships taken out during
the last half of 2002 are good for all of 2003.
Feb. 21, 22, 23, 2003 - Doll
Show/Gun Show
