Michael Bania, president of the Friends of the Museum foundation, left, and Cyni Crary, director of The Nolan Center, are preparing for a membership drive on May 28. The event, Night at the Museum, will give attendees a chance to name the stuffed wolf shown here - and support the museum.
Since the onslaught of COVID-19 two years ago, the Friends of the Museum lost more than half its membership due to various reasons and has struggled with bringing in needed donations.
The nonprofit foundation that raises funds for the Wrangell Museum is working to increase membership through different means, including an upcoming membership drive.
"The (Friends of the Museum), when I came aboard in 2019, had 60-plus members," said foundation president Michael Bania. "In the first year of COVID, it dropped down to 23 members. Last year, we did a mailing, so now we're up to about 40 members."
According to the website for The Nolan Center, the building that houses the museum, "The Friends of the Museum supports the activities and acquisitions of the Wrangell Museum through advocacy, fundraising, special programming and activities. Foremost will be efforts to maintain the stability and preservation of Wrangell's history, secure grants, promote a volunteer program and join in the partnership with the Wrangell Museum and its staff."
This year's visiting cruise ships are expected to possibly bring up to 20,000 tourists, and Cyni Crary, director of The Nolan Center, estimates between 40 to 80 people per ship visit the museum.
"(During COVID) with the cruise ships not coming in, there wasn't any traffic coming into the museum, so we're really looking forward to a busy season coming up," Crary said. "We're trying really hard to revitalize the Friends and to get new members and get people excited again."
When staff at The Nolan Center was reduced to just one employee, which was Crary, the Friends went so far as to volunteer hours to run the site's gift shop, Bania said.
"They stepped up and really helped. It was awesome," Crary said.
Friends of the Museum also help raise funds for things like the materials used to install new shelving in the gift shop and a new centrally located audio-visual control panel that will help with displays found throughout the museum. They also aid in setting up exhibits, contributing food to functions held at the center, and coming up with fundraising ideas.
Bania said that the nonprofit is looking to diversify its membership since it has traditionally been comprised of older people.
"We want at least 100 (members) and we want a demographic change," she said. "Young families are getting more involved. There are opportunities here to have a children's art day, anything. This facility can be used for so much."
At 6 p.m. on May 28, The Nolan Center will host Night at the Museum, a membership drive for the Friends, which will include a potluck dinner open to the community. There will be speakers, doors prizes, entertainment and a chance to win Alaska Airlines tickets.
"We're going to do some educating that night so that we can try to get some younger folks coming in," Crary said.
Both Crary and Bania see The Nolan Center and museum as much more than a convention center or place to display historical artifacts. They would like it to become a community gathering place for a variety of events.
"There's so much potential here to be a community center but it requires community involvement," Bania said.
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