Upper Swan Valley Historical Society Informational Presentation - June 2015

1. 1
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site
Mission:
“Preserving and promoting the
cultural heritage of the Swan Valley”
Vision:
“To inspire a sense of place and
history by discovering, preserving,
and interpreting the Swan Valley
historical and cultural heritage”

2. • Introductions
• Accomplishments to date (Structures, Financial, People)
• Open items from 2012 Community meeting
• Challenges going forward
• “Thank you” to volunteers, members & donors
• Projects in work
• Future activities
• Upcoming 2015 events, website & pamphlet.
• Question & Answers Open forum
• Wrap up
2
Agenda
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

3. Major Accomplishments
3
• Vision & Mission Statements created
• July 4th 2013 Grand opening of Museum & Heritage Site
• Published “Montana: Voices of the Swan”
•Published “As Time Goes By: A Chronology of Swan Valley”
• Wranglers, Dudes and Homesteaders Video (part 1 released)
• Developed & launch USVHS website
• Filled the Museum with generous donations!
• Created “Donor recognition” plaques
• Created and displayed numerous Exhibits (wedding, logging,
military, Christmas, school house, Family tree display….)
• Hosted successful Events (Spring Fling, 4th of July, Used book sale,
Fiddlers & Poetry Festival, Film Premieres, Community Appreciation
Day, Frostbite Festival, Tour of the Homes)
• Continued USVHS Quarterly Newsletters
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

4. 4
• Permits acquired
(septic, building, parking..)
• Roof, bathroom, electrical renewed
• Stairway was rerouted and built
• Interior exhibit space created
• USVHS Signs created
• ADA Parking identified and
assigned
• Tavern was moved and restored
• Sawmill exhibition completed
• Security system for main installed
• Structure built over homestead
wagon
Building Structure Accomplishments
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

5. 5
• Successful fundraising to buy building and land!
• Liability Insurance obtained for the Museum
• Grants have been received for matching USVHS funds
and volunteer time for Programs, Printing Newsletters
and Publications, Outdoor Exhibits, Building
Improvements, and Part-time Program Coordinators’
Salaries.
• Funding support received from our local businesses
• Operational costs all covered to date
• Free admission for all visitors (donations appreciated)
Financial Accomplishments
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

6. 6
• 2 part time positions created
• Safety plan and in-house audit in
place
• Training packages completed
• Processes documented
• Over 1,000 historical items, 200+
books and many photos
• Several School tours conducted
• Over 200 USVHS members have
joined to date
• 140 Volunteers actively engaged
• Oral history - June ‘15 First Friday
event with Neil Meyer (logging)
People
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

7. Open Items
from February 24th, 2012 community meeting
7
• Landscaping improvements
• Maintenance plan in place
• Creation of a detailed fact sheet with recommended tour path
• Plan to ensure future funding and sustainability
• Plan to ensure future community involvement (volunteer,
donation, historical items)
• Ideas for “How do we get tourists to stop?”
• Develop relationship with Glacier Country & Travel Montana
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

8. 8
Challenges going forward
What does it take to run this Non Profit organization?
Income:
Grants, Donations, Pledges, Programs & Events, Memberships, Merchandise Sales,
Raffles and Other Fundraisers
Total Income: 2012 - $72,966 2013 - $52,378 2014 - $46,773
Generous Donation – 2013 - $150,000 applied to mortgage, roof, etc.
Expenses:
Operational Costs - heat, electricity, telephone, repairs, liability insurance, property
taxes, security system, etc.; Publications & Promotional Materials - newsletters,
flyers, brochures, books, etc.; Exhibits; Program Expenses; Salaries; Fundraising
Costs
Total Expenses: 2012 - $35,998 2013 - $44,932 2014 - $51,545
Specific Expenses – 2012 and 2013 - $196,998 - Mortgage, roof, etc.
Observations:
We are generally breaking even, but last year had to dip into our reserves.
“Fundraising” demands a large amount of time at the expense of historical
research.
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

9. 9
Thank You!!!!
Volunteer hours:
2012 – 3,816 hours
2013 – 5,279 hours
2014 – 6,141 hours
To our 200 Members, 100+ Donors and 140 Volunteers.
You have made this all possible!
We
REALLY
appreciate you!
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site
Largest donation:
$150,000
Average donation:
$88/person

10. 10
• Secure funds to continue to sustain
and share our community Heritage site
– key fundraising activity!
• “The Huck Book: Swan Valley’s Berried Stories, History and Recipes”
(July 2015)
• “Wranglers, Dudes & Homesteaders” Videos (part 2 & 3)
• Smith Creek School rebuild and addition to outdoor exhibit
• Outdoor exhibit kiosk and signs design and fabrication
• Trapper cabin renovation
• Expanded school education program
• Computer program to manage all collection items
Projects in work
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

11. 11
• Improved security for Outdoor exhibits
• Expand “Homestead family” exhibits
• Military exhibit expansion
• Native American exhibit
• Add 2 room homestead log cabin with
sauna
• Storage shed
• Acquire “right-sized” insurance for all
collectables
• Expand volunteer training
• Integrate into overall Community plan
• Add future “Look out” to the Heritage Site
• Collaborate with Ovando, Seeley Lake and
Bigfork Historical museums
Future projects
A pot of gold…
…yes, because
History Lives Here!
….which is the foundation
for our continued success.
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

12. 12
2015 Events
JUN 5– First Friday, 7pm @ the Museum
Join Neil Meyer and friends for a historical overview of
logging in the Valley.
JUN 12 – History Lives in the Swan Information Session, 7pm
@ Swan Valley Community Hall
JUL 4 - Displays @ the Museum and Swan Valley
Community Hall, Huckleberry Ice Cream @ Swan Valley
Community Hall
AUG 1 –Film, Fiddlers and Fun! 5-8 PM @ the Museum.
Tickets available now. $10 for adults. Children 12 and under
free.
OCT 10-11 – Museum open during the Fall Tour of the Arts
Weekend
OCT – School Tours @ the Museum
OCT– Annual USVHS Meeting and Raffle
DEC 5 – Frostbite Festival: Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale @
Swan Valley School; Open House @ Swan Valley Museum
Website
Updated brochure
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

13. 13
Questions
&
Answers
What Questions do you have for us?
What Suggestions do you have?
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site

14. 14
Thanks for coming
&
Participating!
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc.
Museum and Heritage Site