Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch ...

An off-campus meeting today about diversity training, then a long weekend. The work continues back at Fort Walla Walla Museum, where a new season is just 19 days away. Just yesterday, Operations Manager Don landed our food vendor for the season, no small trick in a shaky economy. Collections Manager Laura continues work on the new Headquarters displays for 2009, Ops Assistant Anne continues to re-stock the Museum Store, and Building & Grounds Manager Jim gears up for the final steps in sprucing up the appearance of the place. Even Tour Coordinator Bill is busy, as we already have a number of school tours booked, a string of Columbia River cruise tours headed our way, and even a pre-season special booking by an auto-enthusiast group from Boise. Bookkeeper Carolyn keeps us on the straight and narrow ... her work has ensured seven consecutive years of finishing 'in the black' (before depreciation).

I sent off a news release to the MSM yesterday about how so much about this season is NEW. New exhibits, new Living History characters, a new building in progress, new food vendor ... it's amazing! There's never been a better year to get involved at Fort Walla Walla Museum!

If you'd like to volunteer, there's lots of great opportunities. Call Don at 509.525.7703 and join the fun!

No blog on Monday, so see y'all Tuesday. -Paul (that's me doing an interview at the Museum with CNNMoney when it named Walla Walla as the best place to retire)

Heritage Day

We still have nearly five weeks before our visitation season officially begins, but the staff is working hard to get ready for the season. One of the things we're most looking forward to is a change in the schedule for September. We moved our annual Fall Harvest Festival back a week, so that this year it will happen on Sep. 26-27. We saw an unusually cold and rainy event last year, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for fair weather in 2009.

What makes things exciting thins year is the hopeful realization of a dream. We recognize the amazing diversity in our community and are also aware of that diversity over time.

We have long thought to portray a 'heritage day,' wherein all the various components that make up the patchwork quilt of our home can come together to share that which each group feels is its own distinguishing characteristics. Whether language, faith, music, dance, or food, those things that identify us as unique are also characteristics that identify as all belonging to humanity. What a wonderful thing to share our separate perspectives with our neighbors so that our understanding and appreciation of all that makes this a great area to live, work and play can flourish and grow!

Does your group have something to offer?

Call us at 509.525.7703!