It looks like summer is here AWHM Friends!
Happy post Memorial Day to everyone, I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend and that you took a moment to reflect and remember those service members who gave all and did not return home. I also want to wish everyone a happy Father’s Day. I am enjoying my venture into fatherhood with my new son. I am enjoying all of the extra hours of sleep, the relaxing hours by the pool, and not a single care or worry in the world. NOT! “I have learned that raising children is the single most difficult thing in the world to do. It takes hard work, love, luck, and a lot of energy, and it is the most rewarding experience that you can ever have.” —Janet Reno
Our new gift shop is up and running with a collection of consignment items from local artist, photographers, and woodcarvers. We have been seeing above average attendance and gift shop sales since we reopened on April 1st. This is a big improvement over the past year where we were closed eight of the last twelve months. Thank goodness we are finally able to open to our community. We are praying for a much better summer.
Our financial status and outlook remain good. Through a series of Paycheck Protection Loans, SBA loans, and a series of grants we have been able to survive the pandemic.
Martha Davenport, our volunteer events coordinator, has done a great job booking a number of events this summer and into the fall. It appears that we have about a dozen events before Christmas. This has created a new revenue stream for the museum and we are grateful for Martha’s hard work. We are adding two new restrooms to the museum to make our venue more attractive. 5. In the fall we hope to start construction on a brand new gazebo similar to the gazebo the deWitt’s had on the property in the 1920s. The gazebo will also make our venue more attractive and allow us to conduct a number of outside events all year long.
We have much to celebrate but also still face some challenges. As always, I thank each of you for your continued support of the AWHM and the Back Bay Wildfowl Guild. If you would like to become more involved, we always welcome volunteers at the museum. If you can’t give of your time, we greatly appreciate any financial gift you feel so moved to pledge to the museum. All gifts are tax deductible. Please contact Lynn for more information. All for now. As a reminder, I welcome your feedback, questions, or comments and look forward to seeing you later in the year at our next Guild meeting.
Cheers.
Jason Seward
President
