Historically speaking

As mentioned yesterday, next year is Bonner County's 100th birthday. In 2009, the Northwest region will be recognizing the Bicentennial of British mapmaker and explorer David Thompson's arrival in North Idaho. In 1809, Thompson, along with his clerk Finan McDonald, came south from Canada to the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and set up a fur trading post for the Northwest Company near Hope. They called their structure the Kullyspell House.

The mere mention of either event often inspires lively discussion and a yearning for better awareness of our past history, which is exactly the intent of the two celebrations. Obviously, we all know that we didn't just accidentally show up here in North Idaho, and Bonner County didn't just happen. There are fascinating stories to go along with each of these significant events, and it takes dedicated people to record, preserve and share those stories.

That's where the works of the Bonner County Historical Society and its museum come in to the picture. Both entities will be playing a major role in carrying off each of these events, which will last over extended periods of time, focusing on several dimensions of the respective stories and occurring in a variety of venues. When they're over, the hope is that our residents and visitors will have a greater understanding and appreciation of who we are, why we're here and who impacted the events leading to our present-day community.

With that in mind, I'd like to use my blog today to launch an appeal. I'm passionately appealing to readers to join the Bonner County Historical Society. It's relatively inexpensive. In most cases, it involves no more than supporting the museum and its activities through your annual dues. In many cases, this move leads to an increased interest and desire to participate as a volunteer or simply to take part in the many museum offerings or programs that occur each year.

As a member of the museum's Board of Directors, I can tell you that I'm truly amazed at how well the museum does on its limited operating budget. Incoming funds for keeping the museum afloat vary from year to year and often depend on individual fundraisers or donations.

For the services and knowledge it offers the residents of Bonner County, the museum basically operates on a shoestring. I can also tell you that the curator works long, long hours for low pay and no fringe benefits. Ann Ferguson is a talented, knowledgeable and dedicated treasure. I call her a treasure because of what she gives to Bonner County's history in comparison to what is given to her to do her job. She's never complaining, always accommodating, always professional.

It seems to me that if we want our history to be preserved, we need to invest in that preservation. I also believe that if more people were aware of what goes on at the museum rather than passively accepting that it's simply there, they would be just as amazed as I am with the abundance of fascinating knowledge its programs and its collections provide. Much of this continues to happen because of volunteer efforts. And, those efforts will continue because of the folks who love to devote their time to the myriad of museum needs.

Nonetheless, if we could entice many more people to join or support the Historical Society----whether they live in Bonner County or if they reside anywhere else but still have ties to Bonner County---the museum and its staff could stay afloat financially and possibly even begin to thrive.

At times like this, I think of the old hymn, "If Everyone Lit Just One Little Candle, What a Bright World This Would Be." A grass roots effort to financially support the museum could certainly brighten the museum's future and provide a little more job security for the lady who so marvelously represents and drives the activities of our history center.

Here are the facts if you want to join or even donate: Membership dues and contributions are nice tax deductions. The annual dues include the following: Senior/student--$10; Individual--$15; Family---$25; Supporting---$30---Contributing---$50; Associate---$100; Sponsor---$250; Patron--$500.

Other possibilities include memorials sent to the museum in the name of a loved one or friend who has passed away. Or, just an out-and-out donation would be appreciated at any time. Checks should be made out to: Bonner County Historical Society. The address is 611 South Ella Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.

If you wish to ask questions about membership or anything dealing with the museum, you can send email to bchsmuseum@imbris.net. You can learn more about the place by visiting the website at (www.bonnercountyhistory.org).

We have some major events of historical significance to celebrate in this area over the next three years. But, it's an understatement to say history is unfolding day by day and probably even more of an understatement to say that it takes time and effort to record those happenings. Let's help our local folks who dedicate so much of their time to preserving the history of our families, schools, businesses and organizations.

Join the Bonner County Historical Society, and tell 'em Marianne sent you. Every time I hear that a new member joined the Society because of this blog posting, I promise to contact you personally and extend my sincere thanks. I believe in the cause that much.

Thanks for your consideration of this appeal.