Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

Here it is, Mother’s Day already! Being a mother is full of treasured moments. When our children are small we want to protect them, keep them safe and make all their hurts better. As a mother I don’t think that ever changes, we just realize that we must let our children young or old find their own way in the world. My mother has been gone now for over four years and I still sometimes find myself thinking I should call mom and tell her about something and then realize that she’s gone, but her memory is alive in my heart and mind.

We’ve had a busy spring at the museum with our “Preserving Our Hometown Photos” project, our Brown Bag Lunch Genealogical Lecture Series, a group of area students had pre-prom photos taken at the museum and area fifth-graders enjoyed Discover History Days. Thank you to all the mentors and other volunteers who helped to make the 14th year of Discover History Days a success.

This week we have a defensive driving class scheduled for Tuesday and also begin our spring school tours on that date.

Attention all members: Join us next Sunday, May 15, at 2 p.m. for the FCHS Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held in the lower level of the museum. Receive a copy of our annual report and hear a review of 2010 accomplishments and plans for 2011. This is also a great opportunity for you to see the changes made inside the museum during the last year and ask questions regarding the plans for the building expansion. Please join us for an informative afternoon.

International Museum Day is May 18 and admission will be reduced to $2 per person in honor of the day. This is a great opportunity for you to make a visit to the museum if you have not been here for awhile. Bring a friend and spend the afternoon checking out what is new since you visited last!

The Museum Village is officially open, the same hours as the museum, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We have a four-hour defensive driving refresher class scheduled for June 7 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $19, and you must pre-register for the class.

The museum will again this year be hosting summer day camps. We will have a two-day session from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 7 and June 9 for those students that have completed fourth, fifth or sixth grades. The cost is $10 per student for members and $15 for non members. Pre-registration is required by May 31. We will also have a one-day session for children that have completed first, second or third grade on June 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $5 for members and $7.50 for non members. Pre-registration is required by June 7. The day camps will be full of activities and hands on projects.

The museum has scheduled another genealogical research trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. The trip is scheduled to leave Albert Lea on Oct. 3 and return on Oct. 9. Please call or stop by the museum for details. Registration deadline for this trip is June 1 so don’t delay, this is a trip you won’t want to miss.

Remember, what happens today is history tomorrow, so don’t forget to call or see your mother today!

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.