In this week’s update: free family memberships for financial need, Nutt grant application, snowfall, and more!
In our weekly update, keep up to date on what staff and volunteers at the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum are working on to lift up the history of Lindsborg and the surrounding region. This weekly update both looks back at what happened last week and looks ahead at what’s coming.
For January 8-14, 2024:
- Reminder! We had enough one-time gifts during our year-end fundraising campaign to supply up to 650 family museum memberships for free to families in financial need. A simple application to receive one of these free at-need memberships is now online at tinyurl.com/FreeMuseumMembership.
It’s fast to complete and designed to be a very low barrier to entry. Basically it’s just giving contact information.
A printable form is also available at www.oldmillmuseum.org/members that can be mailed in to the museum or brought in person. The application deadline will be Wednesday, January 31, 2024, and will be given on a first come, first served basis. - We completed our application for the large Nutt grant on Friday through the McPherson County Community Foundation.
Be watching for news in the near future of the foundation asking for public input on the grant applications.
Voicing your support for the museum’s application during this time is an extremely important – and FREE! – way to help us in our ongoing mission of preserving the history of Lindsborg and the Smoky Valley. - We were closed last Tuesday because of the heavy snowfall as we dug out from the drifts – some up to thigh-high! Staff and our Handy Crew volunteers worked Tuesday and Wednesday last week to ensure the walkways were clear and the full museum was available for visitors!
- Do you know someone who would be great as the next Executive Director of the museum? Our search is still ongoing! Learn more about the leadership transition and how qualified candidates can apply HERE.
- We want to thank Michael Chambers and Anna Erickson for their work on the Board of Directors as their terms of service have drawn to an end. Also, a hearty “välkommen” and our thanks to three new incoming members on the Board of Directors: Betty Amos, Jerry Hammerton, and Tim Stewart!
- Registration is now open for “Millfest for Kids” on Friday, May 3, 2024. This is a “living history” event for children of all ages. Students and teachers will enjoy a variety of hands-on activities such as blacksmithing, ropemaking, spinning, quilting, music and more! Contact us at oldmillmuseum@gmail.com or call 785-227-3595 to reserve limited space. Demonstrators for the event are now being contacted and we already have 260 students registered to attend.
- Register today! We have two upcoming genealogy workshops. First, the next all-day Swedish Genealogy Workshop will be on February 3. A shorter beginner German Genealogy Workshop is scheduled for February 17. Discounts on both are available for museum members.
- We have officially kicked off our Endowment Campaign 2025 to add $1 million to our endowment in supporting our annual operational budget to make sure that not only do we preserve these historical treasures, but we can also “keep the lights on.” Read more on the flyer and giving form below, or visit to www.oldmillmuseum.org/donations to learn more!
Thank you to our museum volunteers!
Jerry Sperling, Margaret Presley, Carol Gusenius, Betty Amos, Leland Nelson, Jerry Hammerton, Kim Colby, Mike Koch