From the Cook County Historical Society - March 27, 2021

Meet the new board! Marja Erickson (President), Myron Bursheim (Vice President), Traci Crotteau (Secretary), and Claire Smith (Treasurer). Other board members include: Barb Backlund, Doug Bruce, Dean Farnum, Ed Hedstrom, John Jacobsen, Laurie Spry and Brian Tofte. Ann Sullivan serves as our County Liaison and both Duane Ege and Dick Gilyard serve on our Facilities committee. The board is committed to fostering the growth of the organization, working on achieving our goals, and supporting our mission.

Plans are coming together for our much needed archival storage facility; we are involved in several community projects; our landscaping improvements at the JHP gallery will start soon; storytelling programming is in the works; we hope to open the Bally Blacksmith Shop in the spring; and we are exploring ideas for further evolving our museum and JHP gallery and gift shop spaces.

Want to get involved? We’d like to invite you to join our committees and use your interest and skills to help us work towards our goals. Take part virtually and join a committee!

• Development Committee/Capital Campaign - Identify sustainable funding sources; coordinate membership drive, marketing, and outreach; help shape the campaign plan for the archival storage facility

• Facilities Committee – Address physical needs and facilities planning for all of our existing and potential buildings/historic sites  When we are able to open our sites and share them with the public safely - and people are willing – we will be looking for people to volunteer!

• Bally Blacksmith Shop Greeters – welcome people as they walk through the shop (safety protocols will be in place) and answer general questions

• Envelope Lickers – and other small but essential task-doers – helping with mailings, site prep, article clipping, special projects, etc