There was plenty of ice cream served during the Churchill County Museum’s annual meeting Saturday afternoon, but the biggest takeaway wasn’t dessert.
It was momentum.
Museum members, volunteers, county leaders, and supporters gathered for the annual ice cream social and membership meeting on Saturday, June 27, where Museum Director Mel Glover reflected on four years of growth and outlined an ambitious vision for the future.
“I’ve loved it,” Glover told the crowd. “I ain’t leaving anytime soon. We’ve got bigger, better plans.”
The annual meeting highlighted just how much has changed since Glover took over leadership of the museum.
When he arrived four years ago, he said he was immediately struck by the professionalism and passion of the museum staff and volunteers.
“The people behind the scenes — the people we don’t think about all that much — it was amazing,” he said. “I’ve been able to stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Among those recognized were museum board members, including Karen Goings, Churchill County Commissioner Eric Blakey, and the museum’s newest board member, Steve Endacott, whom Glover thanked for providing unwavering support.
“If there’s anything I need, I’ve got it now,” he said. “The level of support I’ve got from the board is fantastic.”
The numbers presented in the Museum Strategic Plan report tell much of the story of the progress the museum has made in the past four years.
Museum visitation has increased every year under Glover's leadership, with attendance continuing to climb again this year.
Membership has also grown following a recent membership campaign, while volunteer participation and community partnerships have expanded significantly.
The museum’s social media reach has nearly doubled over the past year through regular posts, short videos, and increased online engagement.
“Our social media outreach has darn near doubled in a year,” Glover said.
Another milestone has been the return of “In Focus,” the museum’s long-running local history publication.
After former registrar Donna Cossette encouraged him to revive the publication, Glover said he worked with longtime contributor Michon Mackedon to bring it back into production.
The newest edition debuted during the meeting and is available for free to museum members; it will also be on sale in the museum bookstore.
“We’re very, very proud we could get this back up and running,” he said.
One of the loudest rounds of applause during the social came when Glover recognized archivist Scott Gambino for his success securing grant funding.
When Scott joined the museum, Glover challenged him to bring in $25,000 in grants during his first year.
So far this year, he has secured more than $54,000.
The funding is already being used for improvements at the historic Woodliff Building and other museum projects.
“I think you’ve earned your salary,” Glover joked.
The museum staff also unveiled the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which outlines goals ranging from improving collections and exhibits to expanding educational programming, increasing attendance, and strengthening community partnerships.
Future priorities include continued restoration work at the Woodliff Building, expanded traveling exhibits, additional grants, increased memberships, and improvements to museum facilities.
Glover also highlighted the museum’s popular Discovery Room for children, expanded lecture series, new educational programming, and partnerships with organizations, including NAS Fallon.
Visitors were encouraged to explore displays commemorating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, including historical artifacts, military memorabilia, and conceptual artwork for the museum’s iconic exterior mosaic mural.
Throughout the event, Glover repeatedly emphasized that the museum’s success is the result of teamwork.
He thanked the museum staff, volunteers, board members, Churchill County Commissioners and the Churchill County Museum Association for helping transform the museum into one of the community’s most active cultural institutions.
“We couldn’t do any of this without my staff, without the board, without the county, and the way they help us,” he said.
The meeting concluded with members enjoying ice cream, winning raffle prizes, and viewing new displays while discussing future projects.
Comment
Comments