Is there a county historical society that recently completed a business plan or strategic planning using a consultant? Are there any consultants out there for helping county historical society weathering the current economic downturn? We are looking for someone to facilitate a Board Retreat focusing on meeting tomorrow’ s needs (which need a bit of defining) with adequate funding (sources/plan to be developed). In an effort to keep this blog free of advertising, please contact me off list with names or other specifics. Otherwise, do respond online with your experiences.

Sherry Stirling, Executive Director
Chisago County Historical Society

Related to the History Museums as a Gathering Place discussion, there are always lots of events at historic sites toward the end of October to mark Halloween. Some are labeled as spooky or scary; some as for the family; and some are clearly educational, such as the many cemetery walks that local historical organizations present. History seems to lend itself well to Halloween. What issues should historical organizations consider, in addition to standard considerations, when presenting a program aimed at capturing Halloween attendance? If you have presented a Halloween program, what do patrons tell you is the reason that they came?

The October issue of the Fridley Historical Society’s newsletter, the Record, has some interesting comments from past president Robert Christenson.

After visitors to the Fridley History Center who had just attended a Hayes Elementary School event, Robert marveled how blessed Fridley was to have a community history museum. “But are we really using this valuable asset to it highest and best potential?” he asked. The museum is used for storing the archives, creating exhibits, holding 36 special events, 12 board meetings, annual planning meeting, and occasionally is used by other local nonprofits for their events and meetings. But, the Fridley History Center also has lots of amenities like an elevator, a meeting room that can accommodate about 60 people, a kitchen (no stove), three restrooms, two floors of exhibits, and private parking for events. Robert concluded, the building could be more fully used because it “is in marvelous condition and has a large outdoor lawn area surrounding the building.”

That prompts the question: how well do people in the community use your facility as a gathering place? What are some other ways that the public might use your space? In what ways does the public currently use your facility?

Donations of large photo collections, particularly those from studio photographers, often come with only a smattering of images identified. What does your organization do to get unidentified photographs identified?