November 28, 2007
Greetings from CMU! One of the most
satisfying aspects of my position as Director of the
University’s Museum of Cultural and Natural History is
the opportunity I have to connect with alumni who value
the museum. I would like to take this opportunity bring
you up-to-date on our goals and activities.
We’re working to make the museum
accessible and meaningful to every student on campus.
Thus, we have moved several exhibit cases into academic
buildings across campus to draw attention to the
museum’s programs. And we’re expanding the Web site so
students can access resources from afar. In addition, we
have begun a series of changing exhibits in order to
give everyone -- students and community residents alike
-- a reason to visit Rowe Hall time and again. The
first exhibit was a class project featuring key objects
from our collections. The second highlighted the
museum’s collection of over 400 mounted bird specimens.
Next spring the exhibit will be a student project
examining ethnic folk tales and costume using dolls from
around the world. It will feature a new acquisition:
325 dolls donated by the late Barbara Bissot, formerly a
teacher at the laboratory school once housed in Rowe
Hall.
In keeping with our goal to be an
innovative partner with the K-12 schools, we have
installed several display cases on the biology of birds
in Mt. Pleasant’s Ganiard School and created a teacher
manual, providing a long-term resource for the teachers
and students. We hope to expand this program in the
future.
Financially, the museum benefited from
the university’s investment of $75,000 in new climate
control systems for the main collection storage areas.
In addition, the museum received a conservation
assessment grant from a federal agency and an
educational materials grant from a local foundation.
Finally, the Museum Endowment has been increased by an
investment of $20,000 from the Friends of the Museum.
Additional funds from the Friends have been used to
provide conservation equipment and new signage for
exhibits.
In addition, we are working to integrate
the museum’s resources with additional academic programs
and to see the museum relocated into a larger space more
centrally located on campus by the end of this decade.
As we plan for 2008, we are committed to
seeing the museum and the museum studies program reach
their full potential by building upon the sound
foundation created by our predecessors. As the
profession and the needs of our students evolve, so will
our programs. I invite you to join us as we make a
difference for the museum and our students. Please take
a few moments to review the enclosed brochure and
consider the Museum a recipient of your year-end
charitable gift planning. Your generosity will allow us
to continue the positive direction of planning and
programming that we have been so fortunate to
experience. The enclosed Points of Progress flyer
outlines several funds to which your
tax deductible contribution to the Museum
can be directed. For
additional information,
please contact Lesa Smith, CFRE in the
College’s Development Office at (989) 774-1788 or e-mail
smith1ls@cmich.edu.
Thank you for your consideration. We
promise keep you abreast of developments and welcome
your suggestions and comments on our efforts. All my
best to you and your family in the New Year!
Sincerely,
William S. Pretzer, Director
Museum of Cultural and Natural History
