Dear Friend of the Museum –

Things are beginning to change, just a little. It feels so positive to report that we are making progress with construction of the Industrial History Center. In addition we will launch a series of online programs starting in a little more than a week.

As you know, we have been severely impacted by COVID and uncertainty and challenges continue. At the same time, we find confidence in our mission and validation through the enthusiasm for the stories we share and the opportunities ahead.

Our organization continues to evolve. In the midst of all that is happening, we have added two new Board members and created a part-time staff position to manage a new approach to programs with online offerings.

We are keeping our focus on our mission and on our commitment to serve the community. This is who we are and this is what keeps us going!

Thank you for your interest and for your support. Please reach out with your thoughts and questions.

John Mayer
Executive Director
jmayer@amesburycarriagemuseum.com

New Board Members. Two museum volunteers have recently joined the Board of Directors. Tom Murphy, a retired English professor, is a member of the Finance Committee and Industrial Survey Group, and Janice Valverde, a nonprofit consultant, is a member of our Development Committee. We are delighted to welcome Tom and Janice to our leadership team.

You can see our entire roster of Board and staff members here. The Board meets monthly, and Board members serve on our various standing committees (we have 10 committees!). It is an active and dedicated group.

The Curator of Online Programs. We have created a new part-time position with a focus on presenting online programs for the community. Meryl Goldsmith, a deeply experienced media expert, joins our staff and will focus on managing a new type of programming - all online. We look forward to the day when we can combine this new type of program with traditional in-person events.

Upcoming Programs. Our first completely online program will be a Family Stories event on Wednesday, August 19 at 4pm. The program will feature Bob Grodzicki, a community historian who has an incredible passion for all things Amesbury.

Our Annual Meeting has moved to an online format as well, and will be held on Monday, September 14 beginning at 5:30 pm. We are fortunate to have a special guest - Dan Yaeger, Executive Director of the New England Museum Association. Dan will share his perspective on the state and future of museums in New England.

Details about these and other events are posted on our Calendar page and will be shared soon. I hope you will join us!

Historical Research. Cataloging Collections. There are other initiatives underway - each building a base for the museum and our future. Our Early Industries of Amesbury project presents new research opportunities for the earliest period of European settlement when the first water-powered mills appeared on the Powow River in the 1600s. And our collection volunteers have begun to use PastPerfect to catalog our objects. This is a standard, history-museum program that will greatly improve how we care for Amesbury artifacts!

As always, we welcome your membership and your support of the work of the museum. Thank you!