Greetings
from the President
January
2011
Happy
New Year!
Since my
election last fall, I have been working with our Board of Directors to
assure that all governance issues surrounding the Society’s
operations and administration are in order. I
have been active building alliances with local community groups and
historical societies around the city and the Commonwealth to learn best
practices and enhance our programming. And,
working with our membership, I have identified several key projects
that will build our organization, help us deliver on our mission, and
let us have some fun over the next year.
I’m
excited to announce that the following initiatives are underway, and
invite you to participate, volunteer, and share in the rich history
that makes Charlestown an important and very special neighborhood.
- The
Society’s office (Clubhouse), located on the third floor of the
Museum, will now be open every Saturday morning from 9:30 – 12:30. Please stop by to learn about Society events
and programs, volunteer for upcoming projects, view the archives, and
socialize with others who are interested in preserving Charlestown's
history.
- A phone line, with voice mail extensions for each department (archives, membership, development, programming), and internet access is being installed in our office.
- Our
Archivist is in the process of moving our archives back to Charlestown
and cataloging them. He has purchased new
archival storage media, software, and filing systems for this purpose. We are still seeking permanent storage space
for our archives within the community. Can
you help?
- Our website
committee is currently redesigning charlestownhistoricalsociety.org to
be more functional and informative, and better address the objectives
of our organization.
- The Bunker
Hillbillies exhibit will open this February in the museum.
A Hillbilly gala is being planned to celebrate the
exhibit’s opening.
- Another
exhibition is being planned on Charlestown Business and Industry.
- The
Charlestown Neighborhood Council has awarded us a grant to create an
interactive, multimedia exhibition that will showcase our audio and
visual archives.
- ·orking with
local school teachers, we are building a curriculum that will make
Charlestown history more exciting and relevant to children around the
world.
- We are
exploring the feasibility of offering tourists a self-guided tour of
Charlestown, narrated by a virtual tour guide. The
tour will originate from the museum. Its
purpose is to generate revenue for the Society’s operations.
- Plans are
underway for a Colonial Fair. The all-day
event will include seminars on colonial life, militiareenactments, and
a picnic. The event will conclude with a
Colonial Ball, complete with a fashion show, 18th century food
and drink, and period music.
- Several
members are working on launching special projects, including the
documentation and exhibition of Charlestown Sports Heroes, Politics and
Government, Our Churches, Founders Day, the War of 1812, Maritime
History and others.
- The spring
membership drive is about to begin. As
part of our working together with other history related organizations,
we will be introducing a “Membership Swap” where our
members will gain membership and access to other organizations as part
of their CHS membership.
In addition to these ambitious plans, I would like to invite any member who has an idea for some other historicinitiative to contact me and I will do my best to gather the resources that will help you bring it to fruition.
Thank you
again for
your trust and patience in governing our Society and leading us in our
mission to preserve Charlestown’s precious history.
Please contact me at 857-205-0813 or gmorton207@comcast.net to learn
more about this year’s plans and to discuss other volunteer
opportunities.
Sincerely,
George Morton
Charlestown Historical Society • Offices, Top Floor, Bunker Hill Museum • PO Box 291776
• Email editor@charlestownhistoricalsociety.org • tel-617-241-2201
