Hello Members and Friends of Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum,
I am humbled and proud that you have selected me to lead your organization into 2023. We have made some significant progress towards making the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum a sustainable operation in the last year; but, we still have a substantial distance to travel. With the completed construction of the Gazebo on the deWitt property, we are in a very good position to book many events as Spring approaches. Our gift shop does a very brisk business in the summer season and our signature events (oyster roast, cocktail party, and Beer and Bourbon at the Brickhouse) raise substantial and much needed revenue. Where we struggle as an organization is with our membership; it is dwindling away. We need your individual help to grow our organization by reaching out to your friends and family to encourage them to join. The deWitt Cottage is a very special and unique place physically and historically. We should be proud to ask others to join our organization. I firmly believe the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum is sustainable with just a little bit of work on the part of all of our members.
I see so much more potential in our future operation. I want to build some educational programs for youth and veterans. There is great opportunity to teach both groups how to carve and paint. We have a beautiful garden and a very active garden club. We should be using these resources to educate people about conservation and the unique variety of native plants we have growing right here at deWitt. By giving back to our community in this way, we will substantiality raise awareness of the museum and the deWitt Cottage. I have three daughters, who have grown up working alongside of me and share my same passions. I take care of my elderly mother, who you will see here and there at some of our events. I promise that I will work tirelessly to support and improve the work and mission of the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum.
We have our first general membership on March 7, 2023 here at deWitt Cottage with a very special guest speaker. Cameron Evans from the Tangier Island, VA. He is a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan University and the Vice-Mayor of Tangier Island. He is also an accomplished photographer, wildfowler, and waterman all at the age of 23 years old. He has a positive outlook for the future of Tangier Island despite all of the doomsday forecasts about Tangier one day disappearing into Chesapeake Bay. If you would like more information about Cameron, you can follow him on Facebook at: (20+) Cameron Evans Photography | Facebook or on Instagram at: Cameron Evans (@cameronevans242) • Instagram photos and videos. I look forward to meeting all of you on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the general membership meeting social at 6:00pm.
Sincerely,
Aimee Rhodes President
