Local Museum Reaches Operational Crisis

Without new volunteers stepping forward, the Beautiful Plains Museum may be forced to close its doors. That’s the reality, says Past Chair Helen Drysdale.

Drysdale recently stepped down from the board after many years of service, and several of her fellow members—already a small group—are doing the same. It’s not for lack of dedication or passion, she explains, but rather the challenges of aging and health concerns. The problem is, there aren’t new volunteers stepping in to take their place.

The museum tells the story of the region’s history—long before settlers arrived, through successive waves of immigration, and into modern times. Its collection includes agricultural artifacts, military memorabilia, a log cabin replica, history books, and archives. While the museum is only open regular hours during the summer, it also welcomes school tours in the off-season and attracts visitors from around the world seeking family connections to the area.

A public meeting is scheduled for October 9 to encourage community involvement. The museum isn’t just looking for board members but for anyone interested in lending a hand in any capacity. Doors open at 6 p.m. for visitors to explore the exhibits, with the meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Also on today’s show: we stop by Girl’s Hockey Day, a one-day camp run by and for female players. The event provided mentorship and skill development from experienced athletes and drew participants from across the Westman area. “We actually had more interest than we could accommodate this year,” says organizer Karla Hackewich, who hopes the program will continue to grow in the future.

0:00 Introduction
3:35 Volunteer Crisis at the Beautiful Plains Museum
23:26 Girl’s Hockey Day