In this week’s update: Harvest of Giving year-end fundraising campaign, $1,115.75 from Pavilion structural repair funds, Academy Building roof, 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 November 18-24, 2024:
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- We are pleased to announce our 2024 year-end “Harvest of Giving” Fundraising Campaign. This campaign presents multiple great ways to support the museum as the year draws to a close, including… The Smoky Valley Community Foundation Endowment Match (Ends on Giving Tuesday – December 3); a $5,000 Museum Match (doubles all new and renewing memberships as well as one-time donations made between now and the end of the year); donating to the Save the Pavilion campaign; and Millfest Sponsorships. Please take a moment to learn more about each of these options and to decide what ways of supporting the museum are right for you!
- Our campaign to save the Swedish Pavilion under the Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credits through the Kansas Department of Commerce is progressing well and just INCHES from accomplishing an important milestone!
With 42 individuals, families, and businesses committed to contribute to the project, we have now used 63% of the grant, at $150,384.25 secured. This means we just need $1,115.75 before the funding for the essential structural repair is in the bank! Will YOU be the one to put us over the top on this important goal?
This is a great time of year to consider making a donation under the program as the end of the calendar tax year approaches!
Read about all the latest here and let us know how much you are interested in contributing: www.oldmillmillmuseum.org/save-the-pavilion!
Any Kansas resident (or out-of-state resident who files a Kansas income tax return) can qualify to receive back a 70% fully refundable tax credit on their Kansas return with a donation of $250 or more to the project! The available tax credits will be used to enhance fundraising efforts for the Pavilion Restoration & Improvement Project. The credits are expected to raise $238,000 total in donations, which will fully cover critical stabilization repairs to prevent collapse of the historic structure and will partially cover installation of a new, more historically accurate roof (so even after we pass the milestone of having the money for Pavilion repairs, we will still have a ways to go to fully take advantage of the tax credits program.)
- We are pleased to announce our 2024 year-end “Harvest of Giving” Fundraising Campaign. This campaign presents multiple great ways to support the museum as the year draws to a close, including… The Smoky Valley Community Foundation Endowment Match (Ends on Giving Tuesday – December 3); a $5,000 Museum Match (doubles all new and renewing memberships as well as one-time donations made between now and the end of the year); donating to the Save the Pavilion campaign; and Millfest Sponsorships. Please take a moment to learn more about each of these options and to decide what ways of supporting the museum are right for you!
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- Last week repairs were completed on the roof of the museum’s Academy Building – the first public school building in the county! It looks great! This is just one of the many important projects we were able to pursue thanks to a $250,000 SPRINT Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce.
- SAVE THE DATE! Heritage Christmas 2024 will be 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14!
- Registration has opened today for the next Swedish Genealogy workshop on February 15 next year! We’re very excited to have a new addition this time to the featured speakers – Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective!
- We have started to take reservations for Millfest for Kids on Friday, May 2! Get in touch if your school or homeschool group would like to participate.
- Aubrey met with the designer of a potential new custom metal fence for the outside of the Old Mill courtyard.
- Staff met with members of the community to brainstorm potential vendors for Millfest on May 3. If you’re interested in being a vendor yourself, please CONTACT US.
- Aubrey is working on a 2025 community workshop on developing sensory-friendly spaces. She’s also in the beginning stages of developing a new 2025 mini-exhibit.
- Aubrey handed out Millfest sponsorship flyers and Heritage Christmas flyers to area businesses.
- Aubrey worked on a Legacy Grant application.
- Adam processed three renewing memberships. Total current active membership is 166. You can become a member today at www.oldmillmuseum.org/members. (And right now through the end of the year, that contribution can be doubled thanks to an anonymous donor!) Adam also prepared and sent out membership renewal letters for memberships expiring in December – check your mailboxes!
- Adam designed a Christmas postcard to send out to museum supporters.
- Adam designed and purchased Heritage Christmas print advertising in several papers.
- Lenora researched a downtown historic walking tour in Seneca.
- Lenora processed a large number of donated photos and slides that will be added to the digital Historic Image Database.
- Our contract employee, Tyler, went to the Sandzén Gallery to scan Svensk Hyllningsfest-related materials in their collection and added photos to the Historic Image Database.
- The Red Barn volunteer completed his work using museum equipment to scan historic photos from their collection.
- NOW OPEN: “Skeleton-Of-Dog… Selected Geology & Natural History Artifacts from the Bethany College Collection Archives” is a temporary mini-exhibit at the museum featuring some unique artifacts not seen in public for decades!
- Last week repairs were completed on the roof of the museum’s Academy Building – the first public school building in the county! It looks great! This is just one of the many important projects we were able to pursue thanks to a $250,000 SPRINT Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Thank you to our museum volunteers!
In particular last week, we had help from Jerry Hammerton, Mike Koch, Karmon Almquist, Julie Ann Neywick, Cathy Ahlstedt, and Betty Amos.