Volunteer Afternoons Continued Success

We had another successful volunteer afternoon yesterday with another good turnout and even a couple of new volunteers. The afternoon was taken up with continuing to dry-mount the labels for the display cases, searching for items for the High Street History Display at Forres Library beginning on 18th February, working on the large High Street plan and producing more packs of notelets. Thankfully new member Marjorie found an error in the cards before it was too late and then she also found out that the cellophane bags I'd bought for them were the wrong size. This was despite me being told by the shop keeper they would do the job! Looks like I'll be back to shopping from the internet.
Alasdair, Senior Museums Officer, came along to offer support if needed, and to do some work but he ended up perched in a corner of the old office as there were so many of us there was little free space!
Those who braved a rummage in the store with me enjoyed the experience and we managed to find some great objects for use in the High Street History Display. If you want to see them for yourself you'll have to come along to the library from 18th February to 3rd March. Teatime was a bit easier this week as we got more mugs (the drinking from kind) but unfortunately no home baking this week.
Next week should hopefully see us finish up work on the display and dry-mounting the labels so after that I'll need to find some new things to keep us occupied. Shouldn't be difficult as I've got quite a list!
Chris

We're Open

After 15 months in the hands of building crews, architects, designers and electricians, the Falconer has now re-opened.  There will be an "official" opening ceremony on Friday but meanwhile the public have been getting a first hand look at the new layout.  One good thing about opening in the quiet winter period is that it gives time to get any wee teething problems sorted out.  

Next week our 2007 Christmas Exhibition - Christmas Spice - will be launched with a preview evening for Friends members and invited guests on 7th December.  

Newsletter

We have just published our latest newsletter in a new 12 page format to fit into the welcome pack given to every new member. You can view the newsletter on-line from here or from the publications' page on our website. Thanks to Jean, Joan, Vallie, Wynne for helping me fold, punch and post out the newsletters on Tuesday afternoon. We are going to continue Tuesday afternoon meetings - in Mark's tidy office - to carry out lots of different volunteering jobs.

Some of the jobs we need to do are:-

• Indexing Oral History, and the Generations Project
• New Oral History Recording
• Research and editingGazette Articles
• Creating a Display Stand for the Friends
• Recording introductions for Podcasts
• Planning and designing the Christmas Exhibition
• Planning and organising a talk on Alexander Falconer and the conservation of his portrait.
• Training for Eco Bin game before going "on tour" in local libraries
• Victorian Loan Box object research and photography

Any and all volunteers are welcome to join us

Easter at Forres House

Last wednesday Mark Macleod, our Project Development Officer, Joan and myself rolled up at Forres House, the local community centre to take part in an easter event for children organised by the staff at Forres House.

We took some objects with us which were (loosely) related to Easter - A Tawny Owl, Pheasant, Pipistrelle Bat, Stoat, Dog Whelk Eggs and an object that goes everywhere Mark goes - a fossilised elephant's tooth found by Hugh Falconer.

We had a competition to guess the mystery object (the elephant's tooth) with the prize of an easter egg going to the winner.

We also gave out some Friends' bookmarks which the kids snapped up. The picture shows Joan with some of the visitors to our stall. (Chris)