Heather Latter
Set amidst the memories and memorabilia of two world wars, the third-annual wine-and-cheese fundraiser gala held last Thursday evening at the Fort Frances Museum was an impressive event.
“The gala was an absolute success. It was our best one yet,” enthused Duane Hicks, president of the “Friends of the Museum,” which once again hosted the event.
Museum curator Sherry George noted the public response was “incredible,” and that the event offered great exposure for the museum.
“I would say the museum has finally arrived,” said George, noting that having achieved this kind of success, “the following years will be sold-out for sure.”
“I am very happy with the results and so appreciative of everyone’s incredible support,” she added.
Entitled “An Evening at the Officers’ Club,” the event centered around the “We Remember Them” exhibit recognizing the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI and the 75th anniversary of WWII.
“The theme was undoubtedly at least partially responsible for the success of the event,” conceded Hicks.
“Many of the people there had relatives who are a part of the ‘We Remember Them’ exhibit,” he noted.
“It’s hard to look at any part of the exhibit and not see a last name you recognize.”
The event featured delicious cheese and hors d’oeuvres, prepared by local chef Mark Nagant, as well as dessert, coffee/tea, wine, and a non-alcoholic punch.
“The food was delicious, we had wonderful items for our silent auction, and people enjoyed themselves,” said Hicks.
“We even went through more wine than previous years,” he added, noting people also enjoyed the entertainment provided by the Rainy Lake Community Orchestra.
“The Rainy Lake Community Orchestra deserves a special mention,” Hicks stressed.
“This is the third time they’ve performed for us, and I swear they get better each year.
“This time, they performed some wartime-era tunes that got people’s toes tapping and, for some, took them down memory lane,” he added.
“A few people even got up and danced.”
But Hicks noted the evening of music began before the attendees even entered the museum, which was a bit of a surprise to some of the organizers.
“We had asked Jim Avis if could round up the Rainy Lake Highlanders to pipe guests in, but he wasn’t sure exactly how many of them there would be,” he explained.
“It was cold out and that [museum] courtyard can be drafty when you’re wearing a kilt.
“But right at 6:30 p.m., I heard the pipes and drums and went outside to see that seven of them had come to play and welcome guests, many of whom were dressed to the nines, as they made their way up the front steps and through the museum’s entrance,” Hicks remarked.
“Very classy.”
Hicks added the evening went without a hitch.
“We had a really good mix of patrons for the event, ranging from mayor and council to local professionals to Legion members and people who were interested in the exhibit and wanted to support their local museum,” he said.
More than 70 tickets were sold for the event, with even more in attendance, including volunteers and musicians.
Although organizers still were crunching numbers, the event grossed more than $3,000.
“Overall, I was really happy how the evening went,” said “Friends” member Mandy Lahti.
“One of our main goals is to get people into the museum and get them to keep coming back,” she noted.
“Sherry [George] did an amazing job with the exhibit this year, so we decided to centre our theme around the exhibit and I think it brought the whole evening together.
“I can’t wait for next year.”
“I am so excited about the continuous success of our annual gala,” echoed fellow “Friend” Samantha Manty.
“We would not be able to do it without the amazing support from the community,” she stressed.
“This year, it was also great to see a couple new faces out enjoying an evening in support of the museum.
“It was a really fun evening,” Manty reiterated. “I personally am already looking forward to next year’s.”
The “Friends of the Museum” also include Caron Cridland, Debbie Ballard, Judy Kielczewski, Pat Basaraba, Sue Fletcher, Robert Schulz, Sarah Marusyk, and George, with special assistance from Maxine Hayes.
Hicks explained a fundraising event such as the gala is necessary so the group can provide cultural programming for the museum, as well as undertake projects to promote the museum and enhance its profile as a community resource.
“Not only does the money help, but the gala gets new people through the door to come and experience the museum for themselves,” he reasoned.
“Hopefully, they tell their friends and family, and more people get into the habit of visiting the museum more often.”
Hicks added that given the success of the evening this year, it’s inevitable the group will host another one next year.
Looking ahead to the near future, the “Friends of the Museum” will be selling cookies and hot chocolate in front of the museum on Saturday, Nov. 29 as part the “Festival of Frost” celebration.
The group also is lining up more than one choir to fill the air with the sounds of Christmas that day.
“As for the new year, who knows?” Hicks said about any other future plans.
“It’s quite possible we’ll be putting on another family fun day—‘Snoasis 3’—in late winter,” he noted.
“We’re always open to new ideas for community workshops and the like.”
If anyone has any good ideas, drop by the museum, call 274-7891, or e-mail ffmuseum@fort-frances.com
