PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT By: Lance James, Development Director Bill Nelson, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum (CSPM) Board President, enthusiastically welcomed more than 525 people to the Antlers Hotel ball room on Wednesday, August 23rd for the Gift of History breakfast – a crowd that equaled last year’s record attendance. Before breakfast was served, those in attendance watched Mayor John Suthers welcome everyone in a video and congratulate the museum on another successful year. Following breakfast, Jill Gaebler, Colorado Springs City Council President Pro-tem, took the stage for the second consecutive year. Gaebler acknowledged that CSPM is the keeper of the collective memory of our community and explained, as an elected leader, she treasures the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum for its responsibility in helping us remember yesterday, understand how that impacts today and where we may go tomorrow. Dirk Draper, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC CEO, Dave Munger, Council of Neighbors and Organizations Executive Director and Leah Davis Witherow, CSPM’s Curator of History were featured in a video discussing the impact and potential applications of The Story of Us exhibit both within and beyond the museum’s walls. Draper commented, “It (The Story of Us) is important for us to understand the historic roots of our community. For example, the industries we focus on today – military, aviation and specialty manufacturing, professional technical and financial services, healthcare and sports medicine all have historical roots in Colorado Springs.” Building community connections is an essential piece of CSPM’s mission. Witherow explained the many ways people connect to the museum and how the museum connects people – connections through history, exhibits, storytelling and objects. Witherow introduced the League of Wives exhibit, which opens in 2018. It will include the story of Helene Knapp who received a standing ovation for her advocacy for POW/MIAs and their families. She then introduced members of Sankofa to announce a partnership to preserve and promote cultural awareness of the African diaspora in the Rocky Mountain region. Finally, the letter “Y” = You in The Story of Us was introduced through the story of Enzo and his friends who learned they could become a part of The Story of Us by uploading their own content through the online portal www.cspmstoryofus.com. Please enjoy the exploring the portal by clicking the link! Matt Mayberry, Museum Director, highlighted the museum’s upward trajectory. Since 2010, the museum has opened major exhibits, boosted youth program offerings, increased attendance by 62%, made more than $287,000 in strategic investments towards collections management, launched the Clock Tower Society and continues planning towards the city’s 150th anniversary in 2021. As much as CSPM is proud of its accomplishments during the past few years, there is much that the museum still hopes to achieve. Carrie Kelly concluded by sharing the experiences of Annelise, her daughter, in CSPM’s summer long Junior Docent program. Kelly talked of how her family has been a “museum family” since her mother served as a docent at Denver’s Museum of Nature & Science, and they were treated to tours of the “dead zoo.” She marveled as she watched Annelise grow professionally and personally as she showed up to work throughout the summer. Kelly concluded by saying, “I love museum culture. I love that Annelise has, in a very personal way, taken ownership of her little piece of adult world and museum culture.” Many thanks to all who attended the 7th annual Gift of History breakfast and to those who could only be there in spirit. Special recognition for our generous corporate partners Ent Credit Union, Merrill Lynch, the Tiemens Foundation, Wells Fargo Private Bank and the 365 Grand Club, as well as Barbara Bates and the Alpha Delta Pi alumni sorority for providing the beautiful centerpieces. As the museum’s largest annual fundraising event, CSPM relies on the support of our generous donors, volunteers, members and stakeholders. If you were unable to attend the breakfast but would like to contribute, visit www.cspm.org/support/waystogive to learn more. THANK YOU! MUSELETTER OCTOBER 2017 | PG 2
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