Column: Preserving the Past, by Pat Mulso

The Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library & Village would like to thank our retiring board members: Bob Bailey, Phil Hintermeister, Larry Hopkey, Sonja Johnson, Bruce Olson and Jennifer Vogt-Erickson, for their many years of service as board and committee members and their continued support as members and volunteers to the museum. We welcome our new board members: Debbie Beighley, Mark Light, Jerry Monson, Diane Olson and Gary Schindler. Continuing board members are: Paul Anderson, Karen Callahan, Brent Erickson, Keith Fligge, Mona Hobbiebrunken, Dean Johnson, Jennifer Levisen, Dick Nelson, Angela Sammon and Claire Vermedahl.  Thank you to all for your dedication to the museum and our projects.

Our 2014 board officers are Dean Johnson, president, Dick Nelson, vice president, and Mona Hobbiebrunken, secretary and treasurer. We look forward to a very busy year in our new facility as we continue to settle into our surroundings and find permanent homes for new and old exhibits.

Our new schedule began on Jan. 8. We are now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays year round. We had visitors from Kansas and Wisconsin and local residents on Jan. 18, so we think that our change will be a good move to attract more visitors.

We have set dates for our annual events for 2014:

• Discover History Days: May 7 and May 8

• Eddie Cochran Weekend: June 13 and 14

• Vintage Style Show: a date to be announced in June

• Echoes from the Past: A Journey into History:  Aug. 20

• Autumn in the Village: Sept. 21

• Christmas gathering: Dec. 7

We have also scheduled our AARP defensive driving four-hour refresher classes for 2014. The dates and times are:

• Feb. 8: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• March 8: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• March 17: noon to 4 p.m.

• April 17: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• May 20: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• June 9: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• June 26: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• July 17: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• Sept. 6: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Sept. 25: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• Oct. 25: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Nov. 10: noon to 4 p.m.

These classes are the refresher course that you need every three years after you have taken the initial eight-hour course to continue receiving a discount on your auto insurance.

The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers. This includes the cost of the course materials and an administrative fee. You must register for the classes. You will receive your certificate at the completion of the class. Please call or stop by the museum to register for the classes.

We are also planning a couple of bus trips, a Swiss steak fundraiser and other new events. I will keep you updated as more specific information becomes available.

Remember to renew or become a member of the museum, library and village is just $25 per household. Any donation above that is tax deductible. Please purchase your membership now and enjoy the benefits throughout the year. Hope to see you often during 2014, and remember what happens today is history tomorrow.

 

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