Friends of the AWHM,
Well….this has been fun. July 1st, for many, signifies summertime. Days and nights filled with beach time, concerts and festivals, backyard BBQ’s, and plenty of relaxation. That would be nice. Now July 1st signifies Virginia entering Phase 3 of the reconstitution plan towards a new normal.
Our beloved museum is open and accepting locals and visitors. We are following guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, WHO, and State that allow us to operate while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. I use the word minimizing as we cannot guarantee safety. All of us must commit to a new culture of greater personal responsibility and compliance to slow the spread. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will make adjustments as necessary.
Our museum and guild have weathered the storm thus far and are in a stable position, strategically and financially, as we look to regain the ground we have lost over the last several months. We will continue to operate very cautiously. Things remain uncertain but we are pushing forward in our planning efforts for the future.
This year signifies the 125th anniversary of the de Witt cottage and 25th anniversary of our guild. We plan to celebrate these milestones at our annual oyster roast in October. I look forward to our museum and its grounds again filled with activity and fellowship.
I am happy to report that our grant funding from the City of Virginia Beach has been restored to its full capacity for this upcoming year. Yes….FULL funding. This grant is vital to our operations. I appreciate the leadership and support from our City officials in this time of trouble. They remain committed to our community, and they appreciate the value our organizations adds to Virginia Beach.
As always, I value each and every one of you. We are all in this together. I welcome your questions, feedback, and comments. Should you wish to connect, my email is hudsonoutdoors@gmail.com.
Until we are together again, cheers!
Jason Seward (hudsonoutdoors@gmail.com)
President
