Meeting at the HOMESTEAD March 30th at 7 pm

JOIN US for a full membership meeting tonight, and key votes on the future of the Van Alstyne Homestead Society.

notes from a 3/16/09 meeting

VAHS Suggestions and Ideas
A “first round” for the future? …
notes from a 3/16/09 meeting

A diverse group of 30 local citizens met on 3/16 for a broad-based discussion of the future potential of the Van Alstyne Homestead Society.


In no particular order (though repeated ideas seem to indicate strong recognition of clear interest or need), a sampling of suggestions that came out of the 3/16 meeting is transcribed below – and, we hope some of these ideas will interest YOU!

Establish a real, interactive web site

Different levels of membership – much lower general and family memberships

Insert publicity in local papers (not ads, but articles)

Consider lecture series
Newsletter for members?

Return to volunteer docents, if enough people & interest

Have a clean-up day
& a Garden Day – involve the Garden Club? Scouts – tie into badges, traditions

Mohawk Valley Museums Consortium – explore shared services; headquartering

Digitalize all historic documents housed in the homestead. Protection of collections.

Needs:

Rental fee re-structuring
Grant writers
Fund raisers
New by-laws & dues structure

Tours – work with groups, bus tour companies, etc.

A useable/renovated kitchen would help rent the bldg.

1) expand user groups/and charge FEES for regular meetings: Fort Renss Club, Colonial Club, Tryon County Militia
2) Banks? Other private / corporate entities??
3) Open house – eg, with community house tours,
Christmas vendors (in conjunction with Arkell?)
In summer, coordinate with Tourist booth, staffed with knowledgeable retired volunteers, esp during the weekends
4) Have Spring/Fall maintenance & cleaning member weekends
5) Have Annual (Fall?) family/colonial weekend with Tryon Militia, Mohawk community, wood fire, cider, doughnuts etc, & advertise/charge small admission
6) Merchandise: Mugs, t-shirts, repro maps, etc.
sell to members, visitors, locally, other sites, online
7) Better signage – who to contact for info, access, etc.






Suggested rates : -- per Sue Everett
Students $ 5
Family $25
Senior $20
People volunteer time and talent for dues?

Set rate to rent facility for monthly meetings

Programs for community at low or no cost – Sell refreshments, and books, gifts

Partner with local schools –
Have classes meet at VAH
Teen organization
Invite Social Studies Teachers in Valley to meeting –
Ask, How can they utilize bldg??

Invite students to interview those who know history & use for school credit.


Have more meetings, various historical programs, etc, held in the building to encourage interest in it.
Educational programs – for schools and adults

Colonial history for kids, lectures,
Demonstrations and workshops in Colonial arts & crafts

Fundraising – antique appraisal day, Victorian Christmas party, auctions

Spring-cleaning day

Send out business plan

Merge with other organizations

Get schools involved – tour homesteadd, history classes, include other schools, get a real website

Need to be in compliance w NYS Pres & Hist (SPHO)

Schools – get involved with running historical games

Holiday celebrations (Carolling)

Family Gatherings for Arkell residents Hosted in VAH

THE 1740’s VAN ALSTYNE HOMESTEAD

Renowned First Local History Museum In The Mohawk Valley

The Van Alstyne Homestead Society

A MEMBERSHIP Meeting

MARCH 30^th 2009

at the Van Alstyne Homestead

Moyer Street, Canajoharie NY

At 7:00 PM

An important meeting NOT to be missed!!

Discussion topics include: Forming a nominating committee,

Officer’s positions open for June annual meeting/election,

Revision of the BYLAWS,

Transfer of valuable items in collection to safe location,

Repairs to roof,

Membership drive strategy, and much more.

New members: submit 1/2 dues prior to meeting to be able to vote!

For more information

call 673-4437

This blog just went up today, March 11th, 2009 -- thank you for visiting!

much more ahead,
so please keep an eye out,
an open ear and mind,
and post comments, ideas, memories, suggestions,
& send your good wishes and thoughts via this site's comment box.

"Challenging times require change,
change requires and inspires new energy,
new energy (like spring) warms it all up all over again."

Thanks, the Van Alstyne Homestead Society volunteers

THE 1740s VAN ALSTYNE HOMESTEAD
in Canajoharie, New York

between circa 1884, TOP, and 50 years later, circa 1934
- a Renaissance took place in our Community -

CREATING a HOME for the FIRST LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM
in the MOHAWK VALLEY (1888)
and for the 1898 Fort Rensselaer Club, its Stewards throughout the 20th Century

ANOTHER RENAISSANCE HAS BEGUN
NOW IN THE HISTORIC MOHAWK VALLEY
&
THE VAN ALSTYNE
HOMESTEAD SOCIETY*
NEEDS YOU TO HELP
MAKE IT HAPPEN!

COME TAKE PART IN RE-SHAPING THE FUTURE
OF THIS HISTORIC TREASURE
AT A
MARCH 16th
MEMBERSHIP-DRIVE PLANNING MEETING

JOIN US AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM,
CANAJOHARIE HIGH SCHOOL AT 7 PM

"Our Most Fascinating Past is Our Most Exciting Future"

For more information, contact 673-4437
or KEEP UP online via subscription to this blog for updates -- vahsnews.blogspot.com


* The VAN ALSTYNE HOMESTEAD SOCIETY is a 501 (c)-3 not-for-profit corporation,
operated under Absolute Charter by the New York State Board of Regents