Board – Page 5 – Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

This Report is Talking about Us

March 4, 2023March 10, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Saskatchewan leads the way in volunteer participation, and has for many years, with numbers consistently higher than elsewhere in Canada. Volunteers from the Town of Cut Knife, the R.M. of Cut Knife and the surrounding First Nations’ communities fundraised for years to have the World’s Largest Tomahawk and the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum established in Tomahawk Park. Since 1971, the CMMM has drawn in tourists, hosted community celebrations, provided summer employment for local teens, and been a 3-season park for the rest of us. The CMMM and Archives are volunteer-run.

In December 2022, the Saskatchewan Nonprofit Partnership published a report entitled “Volunteerism in Saskatchewan and the Impacts of COVID-19.” The CMMM contributed to that survey. The report concluded that volunteer participation had decreased during 2020, as expected, but had returned to pre-pandemic levels by the spring of 2022. However, the report emphasized that, in the 5 years prior to Covid-19, volunteer participation had dropped across Canada by approximately 35%.

Challenges are being experienced by the nonprofit sector across the country… with 67% reporting a shortage of new volunteers and 42% reporting that volunteers aren’t able to commit long term.
Volunteerism in Saskatchewan and the Impacts of Covid-19, Sask Nonprofit

For the CMMM, a long term volunteer commitment would be a Board Trustee who is elected for a 2 year term. The museum is governed by a set of bylaws that mandate the Board of Trustees as the governing body. The Board table handles much of the administrative decision-making for the museum and archives, and is ultimately responsible for the care and preservation of the artifacts and archival items in its possession. Also, when there’s a full complement of members, we can break out into committees and take on specific projects i.e. event planning.

The current Board has about 3 weeks to find a few more people interested in joining us as a Trustee. If you have any questions, or would like more information, see below.

CLICK THROUGH FOR INFO ABOUT THE CMMM BOARD
1. This Report is Talking about Us
2. With or Without Makes a Difference
3. Why We Do It

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Sunday, March 26 at 3pm at the Cut Knife Community Centre, 205 Orton Street. In addition to reviewing the Annual Report and Financial Report, the CMMM will be electing Board Trustees.

Trustee terms are 2 years
Meetings once a month on the 4th Monday evening

It is essential we have a full slate of Board Members so we can maintain seasonal museum operations, initiate and complete new projects, and so much more. Each person brings something different to the table including their personal skill set, their interests and experience. Without a full Board, the museum is merely existing. If you’d like to find out a bit more, visit the Volunteer page here and/or email us at cmmmcutknife@gmail.com.

The CMMM celebrated its 50th Anniversary a few years ago. Let’s all work to insure its success for another 50 years.

~ Debbie M.

Board, Events

2023 AGM Coming Right Up

March 1, 2023March 10, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

WHEN: 3 pm | Sunday, March 26, 2023
WHERE: CK Community Centre | 205 Orton Street

Business will include a review of the Annual Report and Financial Statement, and the Election of Trustees.
For more info on joining the Museum’s Board of Trustees, please contact the museum at cmmmcutknife@gmail.com.

CLICK THROUGH FOR INFO ABOUT THE CMMM BOARD
1. This Report is Talking about Us
2. With or Without Makes a Difference
3. Why We Do It

everett baker award for lucille bullerwell

Archives, Board, Events, Museum

Lucille Receives Baker Award

September 12, 2022November 15, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

On Saturday, September 10, the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society (SHFS) recognized Lucille Bullerwell’s longtime commitment to the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum by awarding her the 2022 Everett Baker Award for Saskatchewan Heritage.

Everett Baker, the SHFS’ first President, was a firm believer in promoting the past to build a better future, and worked tirelessly to preserve local history. In that spirit, the Baker Award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations who have gone “above and beyond” to preserve and promote Saskatchewan heritage.

From the SHFS:

It is our very great pleasure to announce that the winner of the 2022 Everett Baker Award for Saskatchewan Heritage is Lucille Bullerwell!

Lucille has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to growing and maintaining the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum and Archives to preserve the history of the Cut Knife area.

After assisting Elizabeth McLain, the museum’s original Volunteer Curator, for approximately 8 years, Lucille took on the role of Volunteer Curator in 2003. Lucille held the position of Volunteer Curator from 2003 to 2013. At that time, she retired as Curator but stayed as a Board Trustee. In 2014, she left the Board and now continues to volunteer, oversee curatorial tasks, and mentor the CMMM’s seasonal Museum Manager (hired in 2016).

Lucille’s contributions to the success of the museum have been substantial. Her role included all aspects of collections management (development, storage, and preservation of artifacts and archival materials) and exhibit management (designing, budgeting, constructing, and staging exhibits).

She has ensured the preservation of the collections, displays, and exhibits by proactively developing policy and practices to incorporate and adhere to museum and archives industry standards. She established the CMMM Archives in 2009 under the guidance of the Saskatchewan Council of Archives and Archivists (SCAA), bringing all archival materials under one roof and one set of policies.

Lucille created a First Nations Elders Advisory Board to ensure proper care and handling of First Nations’ artifacts, and to facilitate the repatriation process of these artifacts, as requested.

She established the museum’s online presence with a website, expanded the website’s reach via social media, and made the website an online resource through digital exhibits. She has increased the museum’s exposure to new audiences through tourism initiatives, networking opportunities, and community partnerships.

Lucille’s long-time volunteer commitment to preserving and promoting heritage at the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum is truly “above and beyond.”

Congratulations, Lucille!
Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society

Lucille was honoured to receive the award. She insisted that “no one does this alone” and acknowledged all of the support, assistance and encouragement she’d received over the years from the Cut Knife community, the Town and R.M. of Cut Knife, CMMM staff and volunteers, Elder Advisors, Wendy Fitch and the Museum’s Association of Saskatchewan, and Sask Culture.

Lucille’s nomination package was submitted by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum and Archives’ Board of Trustees.

~ Debbie M.

Archives, Board

Just a Peek…

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Away back, in early June, you heard about this: The MAAC is moving… but not yet.

Today, Randy was patching the floor in the new building, and Jean and I were sweeping and vacuuming up the construction debris, all in preparation for the new flooring to be installed on Tuesday.

Of course, I took a few photos of Jean and Randy working. With luck, though, I also caught a few features of what’s coming to the new space.

Randy patching the floor — Randy’s plugging wood cutouts into holes in the floor. Behind him, are the CK Library’s new paint colours. They’re beautiful!

Here’s a sense of how large the main Library space is. Between Jean and the former stage will be aisles of library books AND display cases for rotating exhibits of museum artifacts and archival materials. We’re REALLY excited about that.

Along the far wall in front of Jean is the former stage, which will be transformed into the children’s corner with kid’s size furniture, etc.

Be forewarned: Moving Days for the Library and the Museum are approaching. Volunteers will be greatly appreciated.

~ Debbie M.

Board, Fundraiser

Friends of Tomahawk Park 2022

August 28, 2022May 18, 2023 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Let’s get the bricks inscribed before the snow flies!

In 2012, as part of the Town of Cut Knife’s Centennial, the Friends of Tomahawk Park fundraising initiative was created. This is a landscaped spot along the walking path, which has at its centre, a large area paved with grey granite bricks. Many bricks have already been inscribed with the names of supporters, and many still remain blank.

The cost to have your name, and a partner’s or additional family member’s name, put on a brick is $100, with a portion of that going towards the cost of inscribing the brick on site by Rose City Memorials. To maximize the donation portion of the purchase, we wait until 10 to 12 bricks are ready to be sandblasted. Currently, 3 supporters have been waiting for a while to see their names added to Friends of Tomahawk Park. Who else is interested in a brick? Let’s get a dozen inscribed before the snow flies!

Take a walk through Tomahawk Park and the Museum grounds on the next nice day. It’s a beautiful spot and well worth maintaining. The CMMM celebrated its 50th Anniversary last year. Its longevity is directly linked to the support we receive from individuals and families with a link to this area.

To purchase an inscription, please email cmmmcutknife@gmail.com, or speak with Lyle Cronk, Town Council Representative on the Museum Board, who is overseeing this. The purchaser will receive a tax donation receipt for $50.

bricks at tomahawk park — Early Spring 2022

~ Debbie M.