Gala 2016

You Are Invited To Help Make History Happen

 

Click on image to enlarge and right click to save or print

    Monday, September 12th, 2016, the Dorcheat Historical Museum will be hosting its 8th fundraising event since the 2008 opening of the parish museum. Last year the fundraiser was a huge success, and raised over $30,000 and was attended by over 150 guests.

Click on image to enlarge and right click to save or print

 

    Becky Marvin, Janice Mourad, Cora Lou Robinson, Louise Snook, and Kay Elzen, Janet LaBruyere, Ann Harlan, Charlotte Martin, Dianne McGuire, Jo McCullough, Charlotte Jones and Mary Ann Hamilton are all board members and the female driving force behind the gala.  Not to be forgotten, for all their hard word to make everything run smoothly are fellow board members; Marcel Vandenoord, Richard Campbell, John Agan, Dr. Roy Phillips, Carleton Prothro, and Ben Baldwin.  These event organizers report that the 2016 fundraiser promises to be as exceptional as the past museum events, with the "History In The Making" theme set for this year.

    Guest will be thrilled with the variety of silent auction items and the great variety of wonderful cuisine. "We are so fortunate to have the support of so many people from far and wide. We are pleased with our progress and we know we couldn't do any of it without so many generous friends and supporters of the museum." stated museum director; Schelley Brown Francis.

     Folk artist, Cora Lou Robinson, is in the process of painting yet another new original painting for this event. Robinson's paintings have been a highlight at the past auctions bringing in thousands of dollars each year for the museum. Everyone is looking forward to seeing her new 2016 piece. This year the painting will highlight what a wonderful place Minden is.  Other artists have also contacted museum board members about donating original works; and museum members are thrilled with the response to help.

    Museum board members commented, “We can’t have a successful event or a successful museum without the help from so many local businesses and individuals.”  If you would like to attend or donate a service or item for the 2016 Gala event contact Schelley Francis at the Dorcheat Museum  318-377-3002 or visit at 116 Pearl Street.  Cost to attend is $25 per person.  Please mail in response by September 1^st, 2016.

Click on image to enlarge and right click to save or print

    Museum director Schelley Francis had the following comments to share, “The museum has had hundreds of visitors this past year from all over the country and overseas as well. The Dorcheat Historical Museum is a showplace for our area and has received quite a bit of notice from the Shreveport area on local TV stations, magazines and newspapers. People are seeing our museum commercials on TV, large billboards and ads in area publications.  The museum has even been a place for other museum officials to gather advice and knowledge for their own museums.  Genealogy research has been a big part of what we have assisted with this year. 

 

     We have realized over the past few years that we needed to take a conservative stance on our spending to insure that the Dorcheat Museum will continue for many, many years into the future.    It took many years of hard work and perseverance to get to where we are today, we will never jeopardize that accomplishment.  Holding on to what we have built up since 2007 is the most important thing. We have had many people to be thankful for in this process.

      A museum is a living thing.  There will always be new and better ways to improve what we have now.  There will always be new items and history to unveil.  Every day more and more people are finding out about us.

      We still have many dreams for the future.  We are confident that our expansion project is something that will take place one day.  Money was raised to purchase the building in 2013.  A new roof and front were completed, as well as some items on the inside of this newest building.  We will treat this project as we did our original building project.  “We pay as we go” has always been our motto.  Plans for any renovations and upgrading of this building will take place as money is specifically raised for this long-term project. 

   When the Media/Theater room opened several years ago, it gave the museum an extra advantage of being able to offer the facility to others. We can now rent this part of the museum out for meetings, reunions and parties, plus we have the added benefit of the theater system for Power Point or video presentations."

    To sign up for updates visit the website at www.museuminminden.blogspot.com  you can also find us on our Facebook group and page.