On Saturday, February 22, it was my pleasure to represent WCG at a community outreach event. I am the first to admit that I am naturally lazy and I love my morning coffee. Normally I would rather spend a wintery Saturday morning in my pajamas and hanging out with my family. Instead I got dressed and headed out to metro.
I was not at all surprised by how much I enjoyed myself. I spent the day with colleagues I respect but don’t normally see during the week. I was delighted to meet conservators who were new to me. I got to experience an inside look at a wonderful small museum and to feel like I was giving support that was useful and appreciated.
I’m speaking about our recent Community Partnership Project (formerly known as “Angels”). WCG is doing something a bit different this time around. Instead of parachuting into a collection with supplies and bodies and spending the day rehousing, we decided to take a more comprehensive approach.
Our CPP with the African American Civil War Museum will be a two year project which fits better with their needs as they prepare to move into a new space. The team of museum staff and volunteers are small but mighty. They have a dedication and vision for their institution that is inspiring. This collaboration makes me happy.
Last Saturday, a small crew of textile, objects and paper specialists spent half a day walking through the collections and exhibits with staff. Textile conservators worked with staff and volunteers vacuuming and rehousing historic costumes.
Our next step will be to create a report with suggestions for the museum as they complete their plans for storage and use of the new gallery spaces. We are also devising a plan for a larger rehousing project that we will put into action a year from now, using a larger crew of volunteers. I hope many of you will participate.
Special thanks and recognition go to Nancy Pollak; Katie Mullen; Rachel Greenberg (and her mom!); Valinda Carroll; Julia Brennan; Katie Sabo; and Kaitlyn Munro. I’d also like to thank Holliger for donating supplies.
Don’t miss the opportunity to volunteer in a couple months. On May 2, WCG is partnering with the Fairfax County Public Library for a day long family event at the George Mason Library to celebrate Preservation Week.
We already have a great team of volunteers in place to run demonstration tables, kid’s activities, a conservation clinic and a talk on conservation but we still have room for you! Check out our website for more information on how to volunteer and check your inbox in case you missed earlier email announcements. I look forward to seeing your bright and shining faces!
Our own Gwen Manthey is organizing a Materials Swap on April 4th and further details will be going out to the membership in the coming weeks. This is another new type of event for WCG and we hope it will not only be a great venue for unloading unwanted or excess conservation supplies but also a chance to get to know colleagues a bit better.
Keep an eye out for changes in WCG’s presence on social media. It is a new frontier for us and we have a dedicated committee of folks who are behind this new push. If you aren’t already following us on Twitter or Instagram, check us out.
I would also like to note that our Nominating Committee is kicking into gear. There will be vacancies on the WCG Board to be filled at the May Business Meeting.
If you would like to serve in an official capacity with WCG, please send an email to the head of the Nominating Committee, Diana Galente at nominating@washingtonconservationguild.org
This has been an exciting year so far. Hard to believe there are only three more meetings before we end the year. Hope to see all of you at the Intern Talks next week.
Jayne
President, WCG
