AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 2, Issue 10

Volume 2, Issue 10 - August, 2015
brought to you by Joe Harold, Appalachian Trail Museum Manager

I haven't been to the museum in over two weeks and I really miss it.  My vacation to New York and New Jersey went great.  I got to see some really beautiful country up in the Adirondack Mountains and even get a nice hike in, climbing DeBar Mountain.

____________________________________________

Excavation for the Ramp

Ever since the ramp started getting built, we have been trying to figure out how to get the rain water that falls abundantly in the valley to not seep into our beautiful Grist Mill, but to flow around it and continue its journey to Mountain Creek and beyond without taking a trip through the utility side of the basement or more importantly, our new, developing Children's section.  Jack Adams, leader of the ramp building crew, helped us out some with some digging, soil movement and drainage installment last week.  

Where the ramp will come in

PhysEd moves the dirt to its new home

We had one major rain incident this summer, that brought in some water along with sand through the north walls of the building.  Although, the water wash hasn't repeated itself since that one time, even though we have had several heavy downpours, we are still concerned that exhibits we install down there may be damaged by a possible repeat flooding.  

Pipe to help drain the water around the building

Buried pipe

This excavating is part of the project.  We are hoping that these steps, along with others will keep the water out of the basement and our exhibits safe.

Jack inspects the work

____________________________________________

A Children's Bookcase

Linda Patton, one of the Museum's benefactors, has donated over twenty books to start our new Book Nook area that will be in the corner of the basement Children's Area.  The selections have been coming in over the last week or so and the titles are very interesting and inspiring for our future young visitors.  

A nice selection

____________________________________________

PayPal Comes to the Docent Desk

I know everyone loves using the Tablet software to run the sales of the Museum Gift Shop, but we also find ourselves hating the software every once and a while.  The current program we use has definitely been a boon for the Museum and has helped to increase our retail sales and thus bringing in much needed funds for the Museum Renovations, but sometimes it can be a little temperamental.

I have been looking into finding an easier program to help with recording our sales and I have found it in the PayPal Here Application.  The good thing about this program is that it is directly connected to the Museum's PayPal account and the funds flow is easier to track and report on for transfer into our other business software.  

I have found that this application works so much better than our current one.  Not as sensitive and easier to find things, delete any miscues if the do happen and complete the sale.  For the tech types you can even have a visitor basically check themselves out using their phone and PayPal account.  I truly geeked out on that function.  

So, I will be playing with it the rest of the season and seeing how it works before we commit and anyone who whats to help with the "beta" test, is welcome to start using it during their next shift.  
____________________________________________

Boy Scouts about the Museum Grounds

Anyone volunteering or visiting the Museum lately might have seen a crew of young men working around the stone fire pit down the hill from the Museum.  This is Ali and his crew.

The job started

Ali is a Boy Scout from Shippensburg going for Eagle, who needed a project to do and we are happy to welcome him to the museum as he rebuilds the fire pit and constructs some tables for the nice shady area around the pit.  

Keyhole shaped fire pit, with a cooking area

If you see him and his crew down there, stop by to ask him questions about his project and see how it is going.  

Progress continues

____________________________________________

Things Coming Down the Trail

August 16th, 2015 - 2:00 pm - Public Program - Wild Edibles

August 22nd, 2015 - 10:00 am - Basement Committee Meeting

August 23rd, 2015 - 2:00 pm - Public Program - Senior Citizen Thru Hike Story

September 7th, 2015 - Road Scholar Hike

September 18th to 20th, 2015 - Trail's End Festival - Millinocket, ME

September 18th, 2015 - Road Scholar Hike

October 9th to 11th, 2015 - ALDHA Gathering - Shippensburg, PA
October 12th, 2015 - Road Scholar Hike
November 1st, 2015 - AT Museum closes for the 2015 season
November 2nd, 2015 - Last Road Scholar Hike of the season
November ?, 2015 - Volunteer Recognition Dinner

Take care,

EarthTone