September 25th THE SIGNATURE

I wanted the opportunity to thank the 15 folks, representing seven Huerfano County nonprofits, that came to the nonprofit giving forum, on Sept. 3^rd. We enjoyed helpful information by our speaker, good networking with one another, and the shared conclusion that we MUST do this again. For those wondering, though the museum itself is not a nonprofit, because it is a town entity used solely for community purposes, it shares most benefits and characteristics of a traditional 501 c3. Additionally, it coordinates regularly with two involved nonprofits - Friends of the Francisco Fort Museum, and the Huerfano County Historical Society. There is a lot of research, current and emerging, to suggest that museums are and can be a powerful catalyst for social change, and I am excited as the Director to see our museum working towards that, by coordinating efforts with other county organizations, aimed at improving our community.

Let me share a few key points with you from a handout our speaker was gracious enough to have prepared. This is wonderful information for anyone considering a contribution to the Town of La Veta, for the museum. If you would like a copy of the complete presentation, let me know.

What I Need to Know About Museum Donations (always consult first with your CPA or attorney)

• Cash, property, and in-kind donations to the Francisco Fort Museum are tax-deductible.

•The fair market value of your donated materials is generally tax deductible. To take advantage of your deduction, you must file tax form 1040 and, depending on the value of your donation, tax form 8283.

•To ensure that you receive the maximum tax benefit, it is recommended that you consult with your own accountant, attorney, and/or the Internal Revenue Service. You may also consult Internal Revenue Service Publication No. 526, Charitable Contributions, and Publication No. 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property.

•Museums provide donors with a written record of their donation.

•The most useful donation you can make is an unrestricted donation.

• Once donated, the Museum assumes responsibility for the care and display of collection items.

September 8th THE SIGNATURE

Summer is Over?

Bummer! It has been years since an approaching fall season meant going back to school, but I STILL get a little teary-eyed when I think about putting away my swimsuits and flip-flops, and trading them for jeans and sweaters. Fall is fast approaching, and here at the museum, that means our busy season has closed. What I want to let all of you know is that while tourism might be nearing an end, there are still LOTS of opportunities for locals to be involved at Francisco Fort Museum.

During September, please note that while we do not have our regular weekday hours, the museum is still open on weekends (F&S 10-4 SUN 1-4). Additionally, my office will still be open W, TR, F, from 10-4. Please come by, as the museum’s slow season is the Director’s busy season, and I will be working on new ideas and projects for 2012! To give you a preview, on tap for 2012 is a revamped reading room, which we hope will be open one afternoon a week for your research needs! I will also be working on setting up a brand new inventory system, as well as computerizing many of the museum’s files, and reviewing 2011 numbers to adjust for next year.

Besides stopping by during the week to say, “hi”, or touring on the weekend, September will also host special activities for National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15^th-Oct. 15^th). Be prepared for special presentations, exhibits, celebrations, and … DRUMROLL PLEASE … the unveiling of the 2012 Francisco Fort Museum theme, with information about what to expect for 2012 exhibits and activities.

In October, plan on attending our GHOST TOUR, to be held Oct. 15^th, from 7-8:30pm. Ghost stories by Dick Anderson, a haunted house, and hot cocoa – all for $3 a person! We hope this will be a “sell-out” event, and will draw folks from around the region for a good time!

I am also available through November for school presentations, and hope to see your kiddos soon! It’s going to be an exciting fall season, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

August 25th THE SIGNATURE

A 15 year pageant-veteran, I know pomp and circumstance. I’ve prepped, I’ve postured, and Lord knows, I’ve held a smile through more than most could bear. And what’s worse, I have a background in politics, too. My goodness, the times I’d whisper quickly in a senator’s ear, “That’s Mrs. So and So and she donated $10,000 to your campaign, sir”. Ah, and then the dance of handshakes, niceties, and obligatory loyalty. I get what ceremony is all about.

This past Saturday, I began preparing for the staging of a dedication ceremony for the Claudia Capps memorial plaque. Newspaper invite, check. Coffee and pastries, check. Chairs set up, check. Plaque nicely displayed, check. Doors open, check. Table arrangements, check. Then, a funny thing happened, I shared a little from my heart, Eugene Vories shared a little bit from his heart, and then all those gathered began to chime in.  Some had their own stories to add, and others wanted to know a little bit more about this tale or that. Eugene’s 94 year-old sister was even there to correct Gene when she needed to!

Folks, you can decorate any gathering to your heart’s desire, but true connection with other human beings cannot be reproduced. You either got it, or you don’t. I am so happy to be living in a community that has “it”. What a good reminder as I look at changes and adjustments for the museum in 2012. There is certainly room for updates and fresh perspectives, but in the end what we really have at Francisco Fort Museum is community, and no display or fancy brochure will ever replicate our genuine relationships. Thanks again to all those who attended on Saturday; you made a difference.

August 18th THE SIGNATURE

Exciting Events Coming Up

As we look towards the end of the 2011 season, I am excited to announce two important events worth marking on your calendar. This Saturday, the 20^th, the museum will host a dedication ceremony. Claudia Capps, an icon of La Veta, will be remembered as we gather at 9am for a ceremony in her honor. The event will take place at Ritter Schoolhouse, on the plaza grounds. Eugene Vories, cousin of Claudia (and sure evidence that Claudia must have been a spitfire, too), will be sharing a few words, and then we will celebrate with coffee and some Ryus Avenue Bakery goodies. All attendees are welcome into the museum for a free tour. Please make an effort to make it; a community that honors legacies is a healthy one. 

Then, on Saturday, September 3^rd, the museum will be hosting a Nonprofit Giving Forum, open to the public. This is a great time for anyone who volunteers for, gives to, or has an interest in the nonprofit community to brush up on information, while networking with other community-minded individuals. While there will be some museum-specific information (how the town interacts with the nonprofits connected to the Fort, etc.), I want to stress that this event will provide a broad base of information and will benefit anyone who attends. Special guest David Dye, Chief Operating Officer of Colorado Uplift, will be joining us. The event is from 3-5pm.

Hope you’re enjoying those last moments of summer, and that the museum will be part of it one way or another! As always, you are appreciated as a community member and I hope to see you soon.

August 11th THE SIGNATURE

Top Ten Ways to Support Your Museum

10. Take a tour.

9. Remember us when you have visitors in town.

8. Post our website on your facebook or twitter account: www.franciscofortmuseum.com

9. Cut out a museum article you think friends might enjoy; mail it to them.

7. Write your town board trustees to thank them for their support of the museum.

6. VOLUNTEER.

5. Make a purchase in the museum gift shop.

4. Decide that if you can’t say anything nice, maybe you shouldn’t say anything at all.

3. Submit an idea for an exhibit to Jen@franciscofortmuseum.com

2. Write a check for $10 to Francisco Fort Museum and send it to: PO Box 263; it won’t hurt you, and it will help us.

1. Forward this link to your email list, so that your friends and family around the globe can see the museum’s recent appearance on television: http://denver.cbslocal.com/colorado-getaways-july-16-2011/

August 4th THE SIGNATURE

While recently visiting with Nancy Joroff, I was struck by a story she told, of a presenter asking the question, “What is history?”, and a wise child recognizing that the very presentation they were partaking in was, in fact, history as of the next moment. Ah, from the mouths of babes!

This idea can be stretched in a number of directions, leading us to several conclusions and causing us to ask a number of questions. As I personally considered the implications, I thought about how advanced and sophisticated we get to feeling, with our technology and new information. We walk through Francisco Fort Museum, look at what seem to be archaic agricultural methods and old-fashioned medical methods (Lord, have mercy!) and with a scoff say, “Can you imagine?” And yet, as pointed out by a child, we will soon be pushed into the same category, “the past” – and in a matter of time 2011 will be clustered into a university course titled “1880s-2020s”, and folks will hardly flinch in assuming we knew little more than those 150 years before us. We will be nothing more, to some, than “Answer B” on a mid-term.

This changes things. Yes, it humbles us. Yes, it causes us to question how we will be remembered. Yes, it makes us value things of before. What is also does, I hope, is push us to realize that we cannot be separated from our history; we are simply the continuation of another man’s story. And, as such, we should recognize a grave responsibility.

Take for a moment the labor disputes depicted so clearly (and, often, violently) in our mining exhibits. We have two choices as observers: to exhale in relief that we are no longer gunned down for picketing unfair corporations and establishments, or to ask if we have finished the job. Surely, we still face unfair employee treatment, and live in a global society still fighting the basics. Tomorrow, my story will have melded with those of the men whose bullets, now displayed in our museum, were pulled from their dedicated dead bodies. Will my efforts flow in our common chapter?

If you’re looking for a reason to visit or revisit our community’s museum, you don’t have to do it to support the new director. You don’t have to do it to cherish your lineage’s preservation, and you don’t even have to view it as fiscal support. Realize that a visit to our museum is an opportunity to read your own prologue, and to think contemplatively about how you will complete your chapter in La Veta’s rich story.

July 28th THE SIGNATURE

I remember after my interview, Peggy Hoobler and Gary Bailey gave me a tour of the museum, and explained the collection was owned by the Huerfano County Historical Society, but that the buildings and operations were owned by the town … oh, and the Town Board appointed them … the museum board. But, most of the fundraising is handled by the Friends of the Francisco Fort Museum. Ah-hem, “So … wait, who’s on first?” I wanted to say. I “get it” now, and think the conclusion of a fabulous Francisco Day, put on by Friends of the Francisco Fort Museum, is a great time to assist in clarifying exactly, “What’s on third” ….

There are three main entities involved with the museum: the Town of La Veta, Friends of the Francisco Fort Museum, and the Huerfano County Historical Society. Within three organizations lie four boards, because the Town appointed the Francisco Fort Museum Board to act as a liaison, responsible for handling museum issues. Ultimately, museum decisions are left to the discretion of the Town Board Trustees, but with the advisement of the Museum Board. The Town cooperates with the Huerfano County Historical Society on matters regarding the collections, and fundraising matters are the concern of the Friends Board, which exists as an independent of the Town.

Our governance structure has significant impact on a number of matters, one of which I will do my best to cover in this article: how does this affect donor relations?

First, fiscal donations may be taken by any of the bodies involved. If you would like to make a general-purpose donation of, say, $50 – that check can be written to the Francisco Fort Museum, at which point the Town of La Veta will earmark the funds, and the $50 will be worked into the following year’s operation budget; the donation is tax deductible under the IRS code 170. If you’d rather, you can make the check to Friends, and the money will be placed into their account – which is used to support special events for the museum (such as Museum Music or Francisco Fort Day), and is available to the museum through proposal. Friends is legally bound to support the museum with their assets, and has a little more freedom is taking out funds for immediate use. Donations to Friends are tax deductible under IRS code 501. Finally, you can write a check to the Historical Society, with notation of your desire for it to be used for the museum, and they will set it aside to assist as they see fit. They are also a 501 organization, and donations to them are tax deductible.

On to donation of artifacts … If you want to donate an item, you must first make an appointment with me – and I will work with a team to consider whether or not the museum is in need or want of the item. Then, you can choose whether you’d like the item to be assigned to the Town of La Veta, or to the Historical Society. Either is tax deductible.

And, finally – I’d like to address the reality that there is very real frustration and mistrust that exists because of the way our system is currently set up. There have, indeed, been unfortunate power-struggles and various squabbles as we’ve maneuvered out way through a complex governance system. What I want to make very clear is this: there are good people on all these boards, and they are all working towards a common goal. Dissent is inevitable, but we are doing this together and I am proud to say things are coming together. As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.

July 21st THE SIGNATURE

This weekend is going to be an exciting one for the community of La Veta. Many towns gather together in summer months to celebrate through parades, festivals, and fairs. We are unique however, in that we gather not for a holiday shared with the rest of the world, not in honor one of person, and not even to share wares; we have the opportunity to gather this Saturday in celebration of our common heritage, and it is a true privilege.

Come on out this Saturday for a pancake breakfast, music, a parade, and free tours of the museum, a kid’s booth – and more. But more importantly, feel proud of La Veta this Francisco Fort Day, as we gather to recognize that our shared history can represent a shared future. 

July 14th Article THE SIGNATURE

The Bigger Picture

One of the important roles of Francisco Fort Museum is to foster community pride, and preserve local history. What is perhaps lost to some is that this is not the ONLY role of the Francisco Fort Museum. Our mission statement emphasizes our desire, as an organization, to communicate this history and educate the public.  La Veta, simply put, has more to offer the greater society than a grandfather’s watch or a cousin’s petticoat.  What we have to offer is the story behind our artifacts, and significance of our heritage’s unique perspective on state and national history.

Take for example, the timing of John Francisco’s involvement in Colorado history. His initial presence in the Cucharas Valley is prior to Colorado’s existence as a territory (it was part of the New Mexico Territory until 1861). Francisco and Daigre begin building Francisco Plaza parallel with the recognition of Colorado as its own territory. Later, Francisco becomes one of our first Town Board Trustees, in 1876, with La Veta becoming a town as Colorado becomes a state of the Union, admitted by none other than Ulysses Grant.

As we all know, our museum holds more than the story of John Francisco and his heirs. We tell beautiful stories each day to the public through pictures, artifacts, and information – of the United States as a Melting Pot. Students learn each year of Ellis Island, but they needn’t go further than our very own Francisco Fort Museum to see firsthand the myriad of ancestry our community boasts. Polish history, Mexican history, French history … the list goes on and on, and we have access to this knowledge at our fingertips.

So, yes – come on by when your family’s in town to see your grandmother’s baking mitt; we welcome you. Remember, however, that when operations and governance decisions are made, they are made in accordance to a grander obligation: local heritage, global perspective.

July 7th Article THE SIGNATURE

A Celebrity Visit

Miss Teen Colorado-World will be joining the town of La Veta to celebrate Francisco Fort Day, on July 23^rd. Victoria Korthius, of Highland’s Ranch, was crowned on the evening of April 30^th, 2011 and began a year-long journey of appearances, charity work, and preparation for the national pageant (Miss Teen United States World). A senior in high school this fall, Korthius is working hard to use this experience to prepare her for a career in the modeling industry.

While not required, Korthius has chosen to commit herself to a specific cause during her reign, “bullying awareness and prevention”. Once a victim of bullying herself, Korthius transferred high schools to avoid negativity, and is thankful now for the experiences that brought her to stand up for others and encourage other young people as they face similar struggles.

Miss Teen Colorado-World’s visit to La Veta will include a ride in the Francisco Fort Day parade, a visit to the museum, and an afternoon of “meet and greet”, where she will offer autographed photos.  Korthius’ day will be featured on her popular blog, where others can learn about La Veta and Francisco Fort Museum. A recent letter to the Town of La Veta from Korthius states, “I look forward to meeting all of you at the Francisco Fort Days celebration on July 23rd and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of La Veta!” For more information on Francisco Fort Day, call 719-742-5501.

June 30th Article THE SIGNATURE

For June 30th

Plans are underway for an outstanding 2012 Francisco Fort Day, and I am so pleased with what Friends of the Francisco Fort Museum has in store for you and your family! It has been such a joy to hear of past festivals, and the memories so many have about this exciting day!

There are lots of volunteers, vendors, and community members gearing up for a great day, but there’s still a little job I have for you, as La Veta citizens. Get. On. The. Phone!!! You can make an incredible difference in the success of Francisco Fort Day, and the fundraising efforts of Friends, by simply committing to inviting three people. We want this to be the BIGGEST and BEST Francisco Fort Day EVER!

Until then, come by and see what the museum is up to! Mention this article, and see the museum for $3! We desperately want local citizens to come and see what it new, as well as to enjoy all the memories we know you have from the times you have visited before. It is so exciting to meet people from Switzerland, England, and Israel (yes, we draw a diverse crowd!), but we also love seeing and chatting with the folks that live right around the corner. This is YOUR museum, come and experience it!

June 23rd Article THE SIGNATURE

For June 23rd

Hold on to your seats – I have some crazy news! I am currently working on plans for the … 2012 season! Yikes Stripes! As I continue to tinker with the 2011 season, I am learning every day what works, what doesn’t work, and what I still need help with. Our 2012 budget is taking shape, as well as ideas for tours, marketing campaigns, and museum displays.

For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to come by and check our Francisco Fort Museum this summer, we have up a number of new exhibits. The idea is to rotate new exhibits, so that each season there is something new to see, but that we are able to keep up with the process. For example, the exhibits that were opened this year will remain until the portion of the West Wing they reside in cycle through again (probably around four to six years from now).

The new exhibits went through a number of ideas before becoming what they are. A few months of planning resulted in some great ideas and results, and I can’t wait to see what a year’s worth of planning yields for La Veta in 2012. This is where I need YOUR help. During the month of July, I am going to hold a “Collections Collaboration Contest”.

Please call me at 742-5501 or email me at Jen@franciscofortmuseum.com and set an appointment to be part of this exciting adventure. If you’re interested, you will be invited to visit the museum at no charge to gather information and ideas. Do some research, sketch some ideas, and then turn in your favorite exhibit ideas for 2012. Submissions will be taken from now until July 20^th, and winners will be announced at Francisco Fort Day (July 23^rd). If chosen, your exhibit will be named after YOU and the Francisco Fort staff and board will be working alongside you to make your ideas a reality.

Looking forward to working with all your ideas! Remember, this is not just for adults, any kids and teenagers who want to enter are welcome to!

June 16th Article THE SIGNATURE

One of my favorite quotes is St. Augustine, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity”. In fact, if you’ve ever been bored enough to read my blog, you’ll recognize it as a key component to a piece I wrote about “red rules” and “blue rules”. Red rules, I assert, include not stepping out in front of moving traffic or smoking in front of an oxygen tank. Blue rules include making sure your whites are washed separately from your darks, and that your oil is changed every 3,000 miles or three months. If you’re having trouble distinguishing the two, ask this simple question, “If I break this rule, will someone die, go to prison, suffer dismemberment …?” If the answer is, “no”, you’ve got yourself a blue rule.

While this is a simple enough concept, the complexity comes in determining whose version of dangerous and red is acceptable and should act as the litmus test. For example, red with my daughter includes anything that would harm another child, be it emotional or physical. For another parent, red might only include something that would cause a broken bone. And thus, two parents who are both willing to let go of the “little things” find themselves squabbling over what is or isn’t little in the first place.

As a museum director, I am charged with setting the boundaries for what must be looked at, what can be looked at later, and what can be ignored when it comes to the operation of our organization. Drawing these boundaries requires a great deal of erasing, retracing, and being confident enough to say, “Yes, that is my final answer”. And while I am absolutely from here, appreciative of my roots, and respectful of the small-town way of life, there are times when tradition must be replaced with logic and law. The endlessness of redoing and adjusting for personal loyalties is overwhelming and hard to conceptualize, and I therefore MUST create a system based on objective, proven, and ethical standards when establishing guidelines for Francisco Fort Museum.

This said, there are few processes that will look different at the museum in the coming weeks, months, and years. No, they will not all be comfortable to those of you who remember “the way things were”. But know this, any rules and regulations that you find suddenly in place are not to hinder you, to hurt you, or even to bum you out; they are for your protection, and for the protection of your community’s heritage.

If you want to donate something, you cannot simply drop it off at my office – it causes too many legal questions down the road when your cousin wants it back and we have no legal documentation of the initial exchange. It is also possible that we do not have storage space or need for the item. If you donated something thirty years ago, then you did just that - you donated it, and nonprofit law says it is now the property of the museum, to be used as we see fit, in a way that honors our mission. You may make suggestions, you may come by and take a look – but you simply cannot demand that I display it to your exact liking (assume for a moment I were to try meet the demands of every single donor?!).

Most importantly, if you begin to feel that your “red” is different than mine and the board’s, please discuss it with me or come to a Francisco Fort Board Meeting. But, remember that I am new and learning and working A LOT of hours, and will love you forever if you error on the side of grace.

June 9th Article THE SIGNATURE

Kids at the Fort!

We’ve all had it, that gut-wrenching, heart-pumping feeling as you wake up in the middle of the night terrified. It’s the … history nightmare! The dates! The useless information! The stories from a teacher with a bun and a ruler! AAAACKKKK!!!

Yes, it’s true. History tends to be passed over for the “cool award”. Let’s just say the history-major parties in college weren’t that happening (as in … they weren’t happening … at all). The truth is, however, history, especially for kids, is pertinent to their understanding of everything that IS cool to them.

Do your girls love sports? Great; do they understand the history of Title IX? Or maybe your son is a jazz connoisseur; I bet he’ll listen with new appreciation when he ties it to black history in America. What about your little ones? I bet they’ll think it’s really “neat” that grandma didn’t always have a cell phone! Gasp!

Francisco Fort Museum is dedicated to insuring that local youth are welcome at the museum, and that they connect to local history in a meaningful way. We have recently set up children’s activity booths; we offer fun old time photos, and ALL LOCAL STUDENTS ARE FREE, with the admission of a parent or guardian.

So, here’s to the dates, to the multiple choice questions, to the Mrs. Bleighs of the world (my very own 11^th grade history teacher!), and to the geeky folks like me with history degrees …  may all the cool things become even cooler with a story behind them.

MAY 19th Article from THE SIGNATURE

Learning About Legacies

I had a professor once who rolled his eyes each time someone suggested the reason we study history is to “learn from our mistakes”. If this were true, he suggested, wouldn’t we have overcome war and famine by now? The quest to find the “whys” of a particular subject’s importance is a difficult one, and one that is often answered by those who don’t need an answer. Enthusiasts of any subject can rattle off statistics, opinions, and other evidences of the inherent value of their arena. And yet, the continued existence and protection of a given study is often dependent upon the acceptance of its significance among the general population.

The question for me then, as a museum director, is, “Who cares?” Who cares about old stuff, about past memories, and about trinkets of lost generations?  The burden of adequately, efficiently, and appropriately communicating the vast significance of our community’s history is not a light one.  And though I know I have the continuous backing of incredibly devoted individuals who need no explanation for what history does for us as a people, it is perhaps those who do not understand I am obligated to dedicate myself to.

New exhibits, gimmicks, advertising … yes, all of these tools can be incredibly effective methods for making Francisco Fort Museum accessible to the general public. A fellow completely uninterested in general history may want to visit to see a new exhibit on technology … maybe a mother of young children will stop by to take a few old time photos … and a passer-by may take a detour when she sees a sign out on 160. But … then what? If people leave our community’s museum no more aware of their mortality, no more aware of the story they are living, no more attentive to the tales told by a grandmother over Thanksgiving … have I failed?

My heart-filled prayer is this: not that I might find the answers to these questions, but simply that I never stop asking them. Yes, my position is many days about policy and procedure, budgets, board meetings, and exhibit design. Ultimately, though, I am in the business of legacies. Learn alongside with me, dare to ask yourself why anything matters at all, and commit yourself to the support of organizations just like Francisco Fort Museum ... places that push us to ask, “Who cares?”

Interested in diving in deeper? Visit the museum this Saturday, May 21^st, for a FREE Open House to see new exhibits. Then, join us for a celebratory reception at The Parkside, from 6-8pm. The requested donation for admission to the reception is $25. Join us, however, with a donation of any amount. Here’s to the legacies we will make as we join together as a community to rejoice over our shared story! See you there.

May 12 Article/The SIGNATURE

 It is true that our futures mean nothing without our histories, but I also believe our histories mean little without our futures. In that regard, I have very good news for you: our future is looking bright. On May 9^th, Irene Heikes and Marie Ortivez brought La Veta’s 5^th and 6^th graders to help clean up the grounds of the museum, and oh what a day we had! What an OUTSTANDING group of kids, three of them even called home and asked permission to stay after school to help finish the job … and they brought a little brother, too! In addition to working on the grounds, the kids got to “test out” the Old Time Photo studio, and what a bunch of hams! A special salute to Mrs. Ortivez who is obviously respected by the kids; she managed them beautifully.

As long as we’re talking futures, I’ve got more good news! I am pleased to announce Francisco Fort Museum will feature four new exhibits for the 2011 season. Additionally, there will be an extended and reorganized Ranching exhibit.  I would like to invite each of you to visit these exhibits on May 21^st from 3-5pm for FREE. Please note: the new exhibits only will be open for admission this day, with the rest of the museum opening for the season Memorial Day weekend. Please join us to celebrate the beginning of our best season yet!

Then, from 6-8pm the same day, join the museum staff and board for an evening of “Museum Music”, at The Parkside. Special guests will perform music, drinks and appetizers will be served, and merry toasts for La Veta’s legacy will made! Tickets are $25 in advance (cash, check, or credit) or $30 at the door (cash or checks only). Please call 742-5501 for more information, or to RSVP.  Proceeds will benefit the museum.

I cannot wait to meet with all of you as we honor our community’s history.

MAY 5th Article, as seen in THE SIGNATURE

From the Director’s Desk …

I am two months in and still lovin’ it! There is so much to be done for opening weekend at Francisco Fort Museum, and it keeps me excited and always offers something new. Plus, who doesn’t love waking up each morning and driving into such a scenic area? I am spoiled!

As easy as it would be to fill up an entire newspaper with all that is going on, I will be doing my best to choose something each week that I think it particularly news-worthy. This week, I wanted to spend some time pointing out the changes that are almost all in place for the 2011 gift shop.

The aim for this season was to insure a focused and organized gift shop area. The merchandise this year has been scaled down to allow for an easy, organized shopping experience. There will be five main offerings for our visitors: an old time photo studio and old time candy shop, custom mugs, a children’s corner, and apparel.  The wonderful thing about this approach is that the shop will offer something for La Veta citizens all summer long. Even the resident that has already been through the museum can still come down for quality snacks or invite a house guest to pose for a fun keepsake photo at our studio.

Of particular note is our brand new apparel line, Declaration Clothing Company. Declaration Clothing Company is based out of Denver, and has been a web-based company until recent agreements with Francisco Fort Museum. I am very excited to announce we are the first retail location for this line, and will receive the added benefits of being listed as such on all Declaration Clothing Company web efforts. Owner Douglas Reilly, “The decision to name Francisco Fort Museum Gift Shop as Declaration’s first retail outlet just made sense; our clothing is about Colorado pride, and locals as well as visitors will be appreciating just that as they explore Colorado history”.

I am officially inviting all of you to CHECK IT OUT!  Be watching for information regarding a La Veta Open House, May 21^st. Come get your picture taken in a wacky cowboy hat, fill up a paper bag with good old-fashioned candy, and sport your Colorado pride with one of Declaration Clothing Company’s great logos!

Jennifer Nackerud

Get Info

Hello! Please check out www.franciscofortmuseum.com for our newly post summer hours and information! And check back tomorrow for the first edition of "From the Director's Desk", published weekly in The Signature, and now on our blog! :)

The Director's Diary

Hello Folks, my name is Jennifer Nackerud, and I am Francisco Fort Museum's new director. My aim is to insure that our museum maintains its historical and local significance, while serving as a great spot for tourists and families from all over the world. In the upcoming months and years, this blog will serve as a resource for the "latest and greatest" at our wonderful museum.

- JNACK