thronateeska Archive

1

Sat. November 14, 2009 Thronateeska Christmas Bazaar

– October 27, 2009Posted in: Events

Thronateeska Heritage Center Prepares to Ring in the Christmas Season with Santa’s Christmas Bazaar and the opening of the 5th Annual Santa Claus Exhibit

The excitement of Christmas comes but once a year and Thronateeska Heritage Center is preparing for all of the early shoppers. On Saturday, November 14, 2009, Thronateeska will host the first Santa’s Christmas Bazaar. Local arts and crafts vendors will be on hand with unique gift items. The event will be open to the public form 9:00am – 4:00pm.

In addition to the arts and crafts, the History Museum will also open the fifth annual Santa Claus Exhibit. This yearly favorite will bring cheer to young and old alike. The exhibit features Don Fisher’s collection of over 2,500 figurines, sculptures, paintings and crafted forms of Kris Kringle. Even Santa himself will be taking a break from his work at the North Pole to talk to the children. Bring your Christmas wish list and camera from 2:00 to 4:00pm in the History Museum.

Artisans interested in selling their own unique creations are welcomed to join this year’s event. Booth space will be available along Roosevelt Avenue in the historic Heritage Plaza. The cost for each space is $35 for vendors and $25 for nonprofit organizations. Vendors are encouraged to bring original, hand-made arts and crafts. Set up for vendors will begin at 7:00am. Vendors must bring their own tables and displays. In case of rain, indoor and covered areas will be available.

Visitors to Santa’s Christmas Bazaar can bring the whole family and enjoy great food and all of Thronateeska’s museums. Locos Grill will be set up selling hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, drinks and other items. The Science Museum, History Museum, Model Railroad Exhibit and Wetherbee Planetarium will be open. There is no admission cost for the bazaar. For more information on the event or signing up as a vendor call 229-432-6955 and ask for Cheryl or Cathy.

Thronateeska Heritage Center is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire wonder and stimulate exploration of science and South Georgia’s history by providing a dynamic learning experience through an interactive science center and museum. Facilities include the History Museum, Science Museum and Wetherbee Planetarium. Admission is free to the History and Science Museums. Planetarium show tickets are $3.50 per person. Annual memberships are available. For more information and group tour reservations contact the Thronateeska Heritage Center office at (229) 432-6955.

[amazon-carrousel height="200" tracking_id="flintricom-20" width="600"]5c3966e9-1c6c-4541-bc44-d0e92065c6a6[/amazon-carrousel]

Tags: Events, thronateeska
0

Downtown Merger: Non-profit fusion – A Brilliant Necessity

– October 16, 2009Posted in: Headlines, Outlook

Sometimes, the easiest of tasks can be so hard. Like merging Albany nonprofits, for example.

Sometimes, the easiest of tasks can be so hard.

Like merging Albany nonprofits, for example.

Earlier in this decade, there was an intricate, behind-the-scenes effort put forth to combine Thronateeska Heritage Center and the Albany Museum of Art. The Albany Civil Rights Museum also was invited into the mix.

At stake, in addition to the nonprofits’ survivability, was millions of dollars of sales tax proceeds to fund the organizations’ expansions. The idea was that combining resources could make the organizations more efficient and give them more pull in public and private funding. Stunningly, instead of merging their efforts, all three organizations received millions of dollars in sales tax revenues. It was a coup for the organizations, but certainly not for those who pay sales tax in the county. A lot more good could have been done for less money.

Now, with fabulous facilities in place (and, in the case of the Museum of Art, in the works), the Flint RiverQuarium and Thronateeska Heritage Center boards of directors have formed an operating partnership with the stated purpose of enhancing mission fulfillment and improving administrative functions of the two organizations.

We think this was an obvious, yet brilliant thing for the organizations to do. And we know it wasn’t easy. Some territorial rights – real and perceived – certainly had to be conceded by the two organizations’ boards of directors and administrators to come to agreeable terms on an operating partnership.

Already, the two entities have a history of successfully collaborating programming efforts. The new partnership goes further by blending the organizations’ accounting, education and maintenance functions to improve efficiency while maximizing their combined resources. Shouldn’t all public and private sector agencies be doing this?

It is important to note that Thronateeska and the RiverQuarium haven’t merged – yet. For now, at least, there is no co-mingling of operating, capital and endowment assets. That could come down the road – if economic conditions or the community’s concerns necessitate it. And for that to happen, this first step certainly has made it easier.

We commend and congratulate the RiverQuarium and Thronateeska boards of directors and administrators for unselfish, visionary, cost-containing decision on behalf of the organizations’ patrons and financial supporters, including Dougherty County taxpayers.

Tags: riverquarium, thronateeska
0

Restoring Our Story; Thronateeska’s Newest Addition Reveals Our Past

– August 27, 2009Posted in: Lifestyle

Thronateeska Heritage Center has a new addition. It’s not a new display or artifact, it’s a person — Cathy Flohre — and she is embarking on a complex and detailed exploration into Albany’s past.

Flohre recently joined the Thronateeska staff as archivist collections manager, and she is already busy at work, classifying and organizing the wide array of journals, documents, books, photographs, and artifacts that have been warehoused and waiting to share their story.

For the last 35 years, the local history museum has taken in donations of all kinds from individuals, groups, and businesses that tell how our city came to be, and how it developed over the centuries. One of the region’s most interesting and educational facilities of its kind, Thronateeska is comprised of the History Museum, Science Center, and the Wetherbee Planetarium. The three unique offerings are located in the old railroad depot on Roosevelt Street in downtown Albany.

The upgrade and move of the Planetarium from its previous building into its new, state-of-the-art facility last year cleared the way for this project. Thronateeska’s Executive Director, Tommy Gregors says the space that once housed the old Planetarium will be converted into a historical records facility that will be available to educators and researchers, interested in learning about Albany and the surrounding area.

“Having enough space for all the items has always been a challenge,” Gregors said. “The addition of Cathy to our staff gives us someone totally devoted to the process of sorting through everything.”

Flohre comes to Albany from Dayton, Ohio, where she worked the last 28 years for Lexus Nexus as an analyst and project manager. Part of her new job with Thronateeska will be to get written records converted into data files.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to locate the records we have,” said Flohre. Having been on the job for just a few weeks, Flohre says she is up to the challenge and finds the process to be very exciting.

There will be some documents and artifacts that may not fit well in the overall presentation of Albany’s history. Sorting through those items and determining what to do with them will also be a part of the process. Gregors says that some things may very well be of more value to museums in other parts of the state. Likewise, other museums may have things that we would want, and there could be the opportunity to exchange items.

Such things as old display cases and magazines that folks donated instead of trashing may be sold or auctioned online. It will certainly be an interesting journey. This new project comes along just in time for Georgia Archives Month this October. The Society of Georgia Archivists, the group behind the month-long awareness campaign, represents nearly 200 individuals and repositories that care for historical records around the state. Through their efforts, like those underway at Thronateeska Heritage Center, the past is preserved for the future.

In no time at all, the Ohio native may know more about Albany and its history than most natives. But when she’s done, it will be easier to play catch up.

Written by Lon McNeil.  Mr. McNeil is an Albany independent marketing consultant.  Find him online at AlbanyOnPoint.

Tags: thronateeska