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Annual
Fund Raising Campaign
Dear Friends: October 2008
In the Cowlitz County Historical Museum's ongoing work to preserve our
regional heritage for public enjoyment and education, now and for the
future, we experienced a successful spring and summer.
Highlights have been:
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Welcoming visitors from many states and countries.
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Exhibiting Rivers on the Rampage: The Great Flood of 1933.
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Collaborating with the Tumwater Heritage Association to recreate the
historic stagecoach mail run between the towns of Monticello (present-day
Longview) and Tumwater for a second successful year.
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Opening the Bush family log cabin for thousands of visitors at the Cowlitz
County Fair. The fair theme was Celebrate in 2008 and our focus was on
community celebrations. Favorites for children, as always, were the pie
eating contest and learning to walk on stilts.
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Adding new items to the
museum's artifact collections including
photographs, documents and objects. Wood product samples from the Long Bell
Lumber Company, a souvenir program from the opening of the Columbia Theatre
and a collection of bottle caps from county dairies are some of these newly
acquired items.
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Publishing articles in the Cowlitz Historical Quarterly on topics ranging
from life in lookout towers, logging railroad history and steamboats on the
Columbia River. The Quarterly celebrates its 50th year in 2008!
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Hosting tour groups from schools, service clubs, and school reunions.
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Assisting researchers to access the
museum's resources to investigate such
topics as land use, historic preservation, and genealogy.
These accomplishments have been made possible in part by the success of the
museum's annual fund drive campaigns. Thus far, 115 donors have contributed
almost $15,000. Won't you join with them by mailing in your donation today?
Please help the museum continue to offer educational and public programs,
and preserve our regional heritage.
Sincerely,
Dave Freece
Director
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Contributions Add to
Endowment Fund |
Donations to the Endowment Fund do not have to be large (although that is
certainly welcomed!). A contribution to the Endowment Fund can be an
appreciative way in which to "honor" someone for a birthday, as a Christmas
gift (for the person "who has everything") or to give in memory of a
deceased friend.
The Board of Directors views the Endowment Fund as an important part of the
funding of the museum. The investment committee works with an advisor to see
that it is carefully managed. In order to better assist those interested in
making planned gifts, the historical society has entered into an agreement
with the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington. The foundation has
the expertise and is licensed to handle various planned gifts (such as gift
annuities) on behalf of the society. Anyone interested in learning more
about planned gift opportunities should contact museum director Dave Freece
at 360-577-3119 or
freeced@co.cowlitz.wa.us. |
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Add Your Name to the Donor Wall |
A new feature of the expanded museum building in 2003 was the installation
of a Donor Wall to thank financial supporters of the building project, which
is prominently displayed in the museum's front lobby area. Adjacent to the
list of names of donors, is a handsome Douglas fir plank with the title
engraved: Stewards of Our Heritage. Underneath it, the plaque reads:
"In
grateful recognition to donors who have assisted with our capital needs."
Since 2003, the Donor Wall has also been used to thank contributors to the
museum's endowment fund and a growing number of donations have been received
and recognized. There are different categories of recognition, beginning at
the level of $500:
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Friend |
$500 |
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Associate |
$1,000 |
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Supporter |
$2,500 |
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Sponsor |
$5,000 |
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Leader |
$10,000 |
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Benefactor |
$25,000 |
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Patron |
$50,000 |
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Visionary |
$100,000 |
Contributions have come from individuals, businesses, as well as estates. A
designated gift amount may also be spread out over several years. A donor
making a contribution pledge will be recognized on our Donor Wall at the
time of the initial pledge (rather than being postponed until final
payment). For more information about the museum's Donor Wall please contact
Museum Director Dave Freece at 360-577-3119 or
freeced@co.cowlitz.wa.us.
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Research
Requests |
We could use your help...
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Information on Hydroplanes
and Auto Camps Sought |
For
forthcoming articles in the historical society's Cowlitz
Historical Quarterly publication, information is being sought on
a couple of topics:
Did you participate or watch hydroplanes race on the Cowlitz
River? Do you have any photographs or other memorabilia related
to this popular activity from a few decades ago?
Did you ever stay in an auto camp in Cowlitz County? The Oaks in
Longview from the 1920s is probably the best known local example
of an auto camp, also known as a tourist camp. We're
particularly interested in personal accounts, especially if they
are enhanced with photographs.
Please let museum
director Dave Freece know if you have information on either of
these topics by calling 360-577-3119 or e-mailing
freeced@co.cowlitz.wa.us.
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New Acquisitions
Several newly acquired gifts deal with more recent history. From Dan
Crandall, a former director of the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, came a
small collection of photo slides recording the construction and remodeling
of the museum's current home on Allen Street from 1977-1980. Jerry Kelly
brought in a collection of Columbia Theatre programs from the late 1980s
through the 1990s. Joe Ray, a former LCC photography student, has donated a
collection of photographic negatives recording the closing and dismantling
of Reynolds Metals (Longview Aluminum) from 1996 through 2005. Several
people have given us material from events of this past year, from Highlander
Festival material, to last fall�s stagecoach run, to campaign material from
the 2008 election. |
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