http://www.agsem.com/200808-groenewoldr.html

HI Folks: We are half-way through another great year. Lots of help and lots of activity to keep us busy. The June Show was one of our best ever in many respects: We had great exhibits (and exhibitors), many of them here for the first time. Our "Museum Movie Stars" exhibits were a big hit thanks to a lot of help and was a great opportunity to show off museum pieces. We had another safe show for volunteers and visitors, our new kitchen passed the test and we were over the top on donations.

Once again M&W (Mike and Jeanette Stevens) sponsored the hotdogs and ice cream dinners on Friday. Member Randy Carr donated all of the printing for the shows including the color show programs.

On the down side: We can't control the weather. Although we put on a great show with your help, it was obvious to all that the first weekend was pretty light on visitors. Financially we ended up with about two-thirds of a show. While we had hoped to do better there is no cause for despair, budget-wise we are just fine. Your Board has continued to approve a conservative budget that leaves us plenty of wiggle room.

Several events, the Flower Fields for example, have exceeded budget expectations. In addition, we've been successful in picking up new events including a gem and mineral show, a possible December event and quite a few party and meeting rentals for our new Assembly Building. At this point I would conjecture that we are on track to exceed our overall budgeted income projections. The bottom line is that your hard work and generosity continue to pay off, Thank You!

By the time this issue reaches you, if you missed the July Auction then you really missed out. As I write this, we're in the process of lining up consigned items including an International Titan, over a dozen hit and miss engines and literally tons of antiques and collectables.

We are considering another format for our November 9th Auction that would allow us to put together an auction catalog to better promote some of the bigger items like restored tractors and vehicles but we need your help. To accomplish this we would have to set a deadline for catalog inclusions meaning consigners would need to commit early.

The August Summergrass event is also coming together and looks to be bigger and better than ever. Remember, if you plan to volunteer and participate in this event, you need to call in and get on the gate list.

Collections have been doing well so far this year too. Robert Richardson made a friend at Tulare and got a Case 12 inch thresher and a complete early sawmill to set up here on our grounds. Chuck Cambis donated an early Best Tractor advertising mailer to our archives. Chuck Goebel donated his stationary steam engine and tools for use on the grounds. Ernie Walker's family donated much of his estate to the museum including his Allis-Chalmers Model G which is already adopted and back in running order.

M&W Construction and member Dave Denny chipped in with funds and labor for ongoing Steam Engine Row improvements. The steam crew has one section of concrete in and forming up the second. Our other steam team is busy as well, Al Rhynard has committed funds to speed up completion of the Buffalo-Pitts roller and the Case traction engine under restoration. In addition, we picked up better and more than average donations for the auction as a fundraiser.

Looks like the year is going to finish out as busy as it started. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event! Sincerely;

NOTICE>>> A Friendly Reminder If you have personal equipment stored on the grounds, you must file a Museum Loan application. Unmarked and/or undocumented equipment may legally be considered abandoned property and used or disposed of per the museum's collections guidelines. You may remember what's yours and where it came from but if it isn't signed in then nobody else does. We need your help to insure that everyone's property is accounted for and protected.

Return to August 2008 Table of Contents