Year End Report to the Membership, September 12, 2009
Each year the President reports to the Board and members on the state of the organization. We can look back on a year of accomplishment. Our volunteers are the key to our success with over 20,000 hours of labor donated to museum, park and boat building projects.
The Art & Seafood Festival chaired by Events chairman Bill Powell was our best attended with the most people fed at any park event to date.
Scary Halloween co-chaired by Don & Lynn Burnett was a fun and successful event that brought over 1500 children of all ages to the park.
Bill Powell, development director, spearheaded the donation and installation of our new floating docks.
The Lillian B., a Potomac dory donated by Dennis Pryor, was added to our in-the-water displays. Also the museum's launch was donated by Jim Thimsen.
The Iva W. was moved to the museum's docks and integrated into our public relations and community outreach. Later in the year the Iva was sold. The new owners will continue to allow her to be displayed at museum and community events.
The 2009 Activities Booklet was published and distributed throughout the community.
Jim Wright instituted a membership retention program and his efforts have been instrumental in keeping our membership at a high level during this economic downturn.
Bill Cawthorn came on the board as Park Director and later as Vice President. Bill has kept the park in excellent condition with the help of Becky Ferrell and the Gardenerds.
Sharon Patterson provided us with a fun-filled Easter Egg Hunt with over 200 kids in attendance even though it was a rainy day.
The Explorer made a number of goodwill visits including a trip to St. Mary's, Maryland, Hampton Pirate Fest, and a visit to the Patuxent River. She remains ever popular with the county residents, and members and guests never pass up an opportunity to take a ride.
The museum building and the classroom received a long overdue paint job with the help of county volunteers.
Opening Day/Working Watermen's Weekend was a great success. It included new museum displays and refurbishing the interior of the museum. The 100th Anniversary project was well received on Heritage Day and is now on permanent display at the museum. Thanks to Raynell Smith and Bob Walker for making this happen.
The Deltaville Community Association asked if we would take over the Farmers' Market and Groovin' music events. We made them our own and they have boosted our visitors to the park by upwards to 10,000 people bringing our estimated total visitors for the year from 20,000 to 30,000. Both events have turned out to be financially rewarding for the park and museum.
Holly Point Nature Park is now part of the Gateways organization and officially on the John Smith Water Trail. This will provide us with many new friends and visitors.
This year there were three interns Kelsey Robusto, Ashley Kirby and Larkin Epstein. They led seminars for the Christchurch Summer Sailing Camp participants and also developed a Facebook page and produced a series of E-newsletters to inform the public of our upcoming events. They helped keep the museum open six days a week, acting as docents when needed and giving tours of the park grounds. They helped with organization of the Farmers' Markets and Groovin' in the Park events. Each received a scholarship to their respective universities.
John Coe and his dedicated docents not only keep the museum open they also interpret our historical displays for the public. His library committee is developing an important maritime library for the community.
Our premier boatbuilding project, the F. D. Crockett, led by John England and his faithful "Crocketteers" is nearing completion with hull and deck completed, and engine and pilothouse installed. She will kept on display at the museum's docks and has many goodwill visits in her future.
Another successful Family Boatbuilding Week and Great Skiff Race were led by Kaptain Krunch and his volunteers. Afterwards there was the traditional fish fry and nautical music fest. Del. Harvey Morgan participated and built one of the 5 Wright skiffs that were added to the fleet of over 75 skiffs.
Marty's Greenhouse was generously donated by the Hawksworth family to honor Marty Hawkworth's contributions to the Park and Museum.
The museum and park hold many smaller events. It is not unusual for there to be one or two smaller events each week throughout the season. The community has started using the park to hold events.
The organization is in sound financial condition with an endowment of $100,000. and with our operating capital there is $200,000 on hand. Bob Leboeuf, our Treasurer, spends untold hours keeping track of our financial records and helps insure that we operate in a business-like manner.
The boat donation committee with Kaptain Krunch and Jon Farinholt has been successful this season setting a new high in sales with Raynell Smith's company being the primary sales agent.
The Annual Meeting & Oyster Roast promises to be an exciting new event.
Over 70 vendors will be displaying their wares at the Art & Seafood Festival this year. The Pirates will be back and the Car Show. Bill Powell expects to feed an even larger crowd this year.
The members, volunteers and board can be proud of the many accomplishments and progress made this year and look forward to an even more successful 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Kates, President