MONDAY MORNING MUSEUM UPDATE – May 22, 2023

In this week’s update: More details for use of the $250,000 from the Department of Commerce SPRINT Grant, our fall student intern, 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 May 15-21, 2023:

News:

  • Read more about how we will be using the quarter million dollar grant from the highly prestigious and competitive SPRINT program through the Kansas Department of Commerce! We were one of just 18 institutions selected for the grant out of 228! A full news release is HERE.

  • Registration is open now for the next Swedish Genealogy Workshop on June 10! Purchase your reservation through the museum gift shop HERE!

  • We’re on the City of Lindsborg council meeting agenda for June 5, to request funding support for the museum. We support and encourage anyone who would like to speak in favor of funding the museum’s work to attend.
  • The Scope of Work document for the Heritage Trust Fund grant on repairs to the Old Mill was approved. Caroline de Filippis completed an Intention to Bid document for approval; once approved we’ll start taking bids for the mill work under the grant.

All Staff

  • Attended a SPRINT Grant Zoom meeting orientation meeting on Tuesday.
  • Met with a potential service contractor.
  • Interviewed a Bethany College student for a fall internship. An offer was extended, and he accepted, so we’ve very excited to welcome Tyler Hammond to the team this fall!
  • Attended the final Fundraising Bootcamp session in Topeka on Friday.
  • Team meeting on SPRINT grant project priorities.

Lenora Lynam, Executive Director

  • Daily bookkeeping (Bank deposits, bills, recording and reconciling transactions in accounting software.)
  • Set the groundwork for a new bank account to handle receiving the SPRINT grant funds.
  • Worked on a map of the grounds showing trees that need removal.
  • Solicited updated estimates from contractors on an important part of museum building infrastructure.
  • Coordination to resolve ongoing phone issues.
  • Participated in a Facebook Live event with Hemslöjd on Thursday to talk about Swedish Genealogy research and the upcoming online workshop on June 10.

Caroline de Filippis, Community Development Director

  • Process memberships.
  • Maintenance to membership records.
  • Arrange meeting for back gallery exhibits.
  • Attend CVB Board meeting.
  • Start preparing necessary documents for SPRINT grant.
  • Coordinating with Buildings and Grounds Committee.
  • Coordinate with Kansas Abroad group coming in June.
  • Schedule next meeting of the 125th committee.
  • Reach out to potential Development Committee member.
  • Work on a presentation for June.
  • Print more guest maps.
  • Contact potential contractor for a portion of SPRINT Grant
  • Send thank you’s and feedback to Millfest demonstrators and volunteers.
  • Feedback on White’s poster and SPRINT Grant news release.

Adam Pracht, Marketing and Communications Director

  • Social media posts, responding to multiple messages and comments. Sent Facebook invites to individuals expressing interest.
  • Attended AdHoc.
  • Gave a Wednesday tour to a women’s group from Journey Mennonite Church in South Hutchinson.
  • Made adjustments to the museum’s Instagram profile bio page to be more informative.
  • Wrote SPRINT grant news release, sent to area journalists and posted to the website.
  • Updated events on website.
  • Removed incorrect genealogy research forms from county site.
  • Designed and ordered a 3′ by 4′ vinyl poster for the window of White’s Foodliner.
  • Did a physical backup of all shared server files.
  • Made contact for potential use of a small billboard.
  • Scheduled appointment with a marketing consultant at their request.
  • Attended Ad Astra Radio Open House. Completed advertisement voucher from attendance.
  • Reading on a professional development book.
  • Selected, exported, and posted 360 video of the mill in operation.

Lenora and Caroline

  • Met with the contractor who will be working on the new, more historically accurate windows for the Swedish Pavilion. The meeting also included signing a contract and making a down payment on the work.

Lenora and Adam

  • Attended a Zoom orientation for the Sunflower Summer program, which gives families with school-age children free admission to participating Kansas attractions!

Volunteers

  • Ron Wilson: Monday front desk coverage.
  • Jerry Sperling and Carol Gusenius: Monday and Friday front desk coverage.
  • Kathy Peterson: Flower beds.