The Friends of the Museum was doubly hit in 2020. The effect of the pandemic was already taking a toll on membership development and fundraising, when its long-time board chair, Bob Mishler, passed away in June.
“Bob’s passing has had a greater impact than the pandemic,” said Annette Garcia, current board chair. “We are still working to compensate for his leadership, but we are making positive strides.”
For more than 20 years, the Friends of the Museum has carried out its mission to enhance the museum’s obligation to the collection entrusted to it. Its leaders do so by bringing human and financial resources together for the care of the collection, for scholarly research, and for education exhibits and public programs.
The Friends organization has funded or sponsored one-time events, such as research activities and guest speakers. “Repeating events will return when it is safe to gather in public,” Garcia said. “Everything we do is in collaboration with museum director, Cabrini Martinez, and her staff. Based on need, our current goal is to raise $50,000 to upgrade the Teddy Roosevelt gallery.”
Martinez is grateful for the organization and its wide-ranging help.
“As the museum is an entity of local government, we have a limited budget to work with,” Martinez said. “The Friends have provided us with the fiscal support when needed to develop exhibits, outreach programs and community events. I think if we didn’t have the Friends, the museum wouldn’t have progressed as much as it has in the past five years. The museum is constantly changing and growing.”
Board chair Garcia said despite the pandemic, plans are being made and work is being done. “Fund raising and membership development has been interrupted but not stopped,” she said, pointing to the Friends’ publication, Las Vegas 1835-1935, as one way of gaining new Friends while raising money for ongoing projects. A $100 donation to the Friends of the Museum includes a one-year membership and the book.
While the book is a great asset to the organization, board member John Liddle emphasized the critical roll members play in the organization’s effectiveness.
“Ninety percent of our funding comes from memberships and donations. We do apply for grants, which amounts to about 10 percent of our income,” he said. “But we also need volunteers willing to help implement current plans and come up with new ways to support the museum.”
What draws people to the Friends of the Museum? Perhaps it’s a heart for history and inquisitive mind. Garcia said history, culture and the people form the past all had a role in shaping the community.
“Let’s not forget the risks, sacrifices and failures, and accomplishments of those people. Support for the museum assures that our past will not be forgotten,” she said.
Martinez said history is honored and remembered in a variety of ways at the Las Vegas City Museum and Rough Rider Memorial.
“Thanks to the Friends, the museum received a PNM grant for landscaping improvement that added three outdoor exhibits everyone can enjoy. The Friends’ financial support brought several new exhibits, the ‘Phantoms of a Rail Town’ exhibit as an example. They have helped with outreach programming, bringing different presentations to the museum and the Las Vegas community. We are very grateful to have our Friends group,” Martinez said.
A short list of other museum initiatives the organization has sponsored and/or funded over the years includes an Historic Halloween, educational speakers to present at local schools, historical reenactors, musicians and the New Mexico Territorial Band during Heritage Week, assisted with exhibit research and preparation of the newly renovated Fire House museum on Bridge Street, the West Las Vegas Choir December concert to raise funds for its annual statewide competition, and the Easter Egg Hunt at Carnegie Park.
“The board of directors also initiated the Bob Mishler Endowment Fund to assist the city museum with infrastructure and exhibit support,” said treasurer Patrick Alarid. “This is one of two Friends’ endowments dedicated to museum use. The first was established several years ago through the New Mexico Foundation, under the leadership of Bob, who saw the value of long-term planning for sustainable income.”
The Friends also publish a history-based newsletter three times a year and has published several Las Vegas-related history books, including Las Vegas 1835-1935. The books are available through the museum gift shop.
“Las Vegas is moving forward with community investment, which has led to the restoration of many buildings in our community,” Alarid said. “We as an organization applaud and are supportive of the revitalization of our community. As we grow, we must honor our rich history, culture and people of our past. That’s how the Friends continue to make a difference, by supporting the museum in preserving and making available to the public its abundant storehouse of Las Vegas memories.”
Because of the pandemic, the museum is closed to the public until further notice, but the work continues. For more information about Friends of the Museum and how you may become involved, email friends.clvm@gmail.com, or call 505 426-3205. To reach the museum email museum@lasvegasnm.gov, or check out the museum Facebook page at www.facebook.com/roughridermuseum.