The Scoop...February 6, 2012
Posted
on Feb 06, 2012
Armstrong Air & Space Museum Director, Chris Burton, explained day-to-day operations and longterm goals.
Jerry Courtney called the Feb. 6 meeting to order. A special report on the Paul Harris program was given by Fred Seelenbinder, who said there are now 119 Paul Harris fellows in the club. Randy Cox is the newest Paul Harris scholar. Randy joined the club in 2004. His $500 donation, plus $500 in recognition points that were donated by Dr. David Steiner, set the stage for his Paul Harris scholarship. Fred urged people to donate recognition points. The program was on the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, which recently saw a group of local residents assume responsibility for day-to-day operations. Director Chris Burton said the local focus is paying dividends for the museum now as it raises funds for a pair of capital projects. “I think it's helped with our local development. Many of our local communities haven't really been asked to give money or haven't been asked to be involved with the museum until this capital campaign,” Burton said. “We're trying to get more people involved on a variety of levels, through giving, through volunteering or just been engaged in some way. We've tried to connect.”
With the local group in charge of day-to-day operations instead of the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, the group is pushing forward with a two-part capital campaign to raise more than $157,000. Burton said so far the group has raised more than $99,000.
The funds are for a lighted sign, completed in September, that faces Interstate 75 as well as a Tranquility Base Picnic Pavilion. Burton said museum officials are hoping to raise the funds this year so the project can be completed in late spring or early summer.
“It'll be a nice addition to the museum,” Burton said.
The pavilion will provide shade from the sun or cover from the rain for school groups lunching at the museum so the kids don't have to eat on their bus, Burton said.
The museum is also looking at adding new interactive exhibits to complement static displays and the 11 different interactive exhibits currently on display.
“We want to develop more new things,” Burton said. “If you haven't been out in awhile there's still going to be plenty that surprises you. We're working on building things that relate to things that are going on today.”
The museum is also working to realize an increase in the more than 25,000 visits it received last year by working with the Dayton-based Aviation Heritage Association and a number of other aviation-related sites, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton.
With the local group in charge of day-to-day operations instead of the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, the group is pushing forward with a two-part capital campaign to raise more than $157,000. Burton said so far the group has raised more than $99,000.
The funds are for a lighted sign, completed in September, that faces Interstate 75 as well as a Tranquility Base Picnic Pavilion. Burton said museum officials are hoping to raise the funds this year so the project can be completed in late spring or early summer.
“It'll be a nice addition to the museum,” Burton said.
The pavilion will provide shade from the sun or cover from the rain for school groups lunching at the museum so the kids don't have to eat on their bus, Burton said.
The museum is also looking at adding new interactive exhibits to complement static displays and the 11 different interactive exhibits currently on display.
“We want to develop more new things,” Burton said. “If you haven't been out in awhile there's still going to be plenty that surprises you. We're working on building things that relate to things that are going on today.”
The museum is also working to realize an increase in the more than 25,000 visits it received last year by working with the Dayton-based Aviation Heritage Association and a number of other aviation-related sites, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton.