I'm excited to announce Chippewa Valley Museums has joined the Museums for All network. Museums for All is about accessibility and inclusiveness for all visitors. Participants in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called FoodShare in Wisconsin), WIC, and Medicaid programs can now visit Chippewa Valley Museums at the discounted rate of $2 per person. All they need to do is say they would like the Museums for All admission price.

Your help is needed to make this program a success. Your gift will subsidize admission for those with fewer financial resources so that they can experience all the fun and education to be had at the Chippewa Valley Museums.

Last Chance for October Events

Halloween Escape Room 

Through November 1

Gather up to 16 friends and/or colleagues to solve puzzles and vanquish Krampus in 60 minutes or less. The whole challenge takes place in the Schlegelmilch House basement. Minimum group size: 6. 

For information about admission, reservations, and hours, visit tacticalescape101.com and select "Schlegelmilch CVM-Fundraiser"

Heritage Germans Across Generations in Eau Claire

Special Wednesday Program, October 25, 6:30 - 7:30 pm 

Using Schlegelmilch family letters and documents, Luca Ciletti will explore how the German language evolved in Wisconsin’s heritage German communities.The museum will remain open through the conclusion of the program, with admission to CVM’s exhibits included in the registration fee.

Preregistration is encouraged, with walk-up admissions available as space allows. The cost of admission, which includes the program, is $12 per adult, $10 per senior, and $5 per Student or Youth, ages 5-17. Members can attend the evening for no cost. 

Contact Angela at a.allred@cvmuseum.com or 715-834-7871 with questions.

Coming in November

Membership Annual Meeting

Monday, November 6, 4:30 - 6:30

Members are invited to the Chippewa Valley Museums' annual meeting to socialize, learn about museum finances, hear about successes and challenges, and vote on the Board of Directors. 

Schedule

• 4:30: Happy Hour with complimentary beverages and appetizers

• 5:30 Annual Meeting 

  • Year in Review with Director and guest presenters

    • Merger: Wisconsin Logging Museum history, Tom Mihaljov

    • Partnerships: Eau Claire K-Kids, 5th grade K-Kids officers and K-Kids advisors

    • Museum Collections: Story Map & LG Arnold Collection, Archival intern Sarah Bautch

    • Programs and Education: Behind the Scenes of the Object Theater, Olaf Lind

  • Museum financial health

  • CVM Foundation financial health

  • Board of Directors election

RSVP by November 2 by registering online or calling museum -- 715-834-7871

Book Talk

From Binghamton to the Battlefield: Civil War Letters of Rollin B. Truesdel

Tuesday, November 7, 4:30 - 6:30

Amy Truesdell will present her recently released book at 6:30 pm on November 7. A few copies will be available for in-person purchase. It is also available through online retailers. This program is included with regular museum admission -- $12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 youth/students, FREE CVM members. Pre-registration is available by selecting the button below.

About the book: Truesdell traces the experiences of her great-great-grandfather from the time he rushed to answer President Lincoln’s first call for volunteers, until he mustered out of the Union Army.  She used the 100+ letters Rollin penned for his family,to cover Rollin’s experience as he transformed from eager raw recruit to war-weary, battle-tested veteran..

Movie Showing

The War to End All Wars

Saturday, November 11, 3:00 and 6:00 pm

Swedish heavy metal band, Sabaton, has launched a worldwide museum project entitled “History Rocks.” At the center of this project stands the band’s new animated film, The War To End All Wars-The Movie, which will be screened by participating museums worldwide between November 4 - 19.

Developed in partnership with Yarnhub Animation Studios, The War To End All Wars – The Movie features songs from Sabaton’s 10th studio album, The War To End All Wars, released on March 4, 2022. The film tells stories of World War I, granting viewers a better understanding of what the songs on the album are about. It is a musical and historical adventure telling epic tales of various heroes.

Chippewa Valley Museums will show the film on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11 at 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Purchase your ticket with the links below. Learn more.

Tickets 

$12.00 per Adult
$8.00 per Senior (62+)
$5.00 per Student

All of the programs and activities in this newsletter are the result of somebody saying "you/we should do this." I'm glad the museum is able to implement some of these good ideas.

Peace,

Carrie Ronnander
Chippewa Valley Museums Executive Director

P.S. A number of museum staff are in La Crosse attending Wisconsin Historical Society's annual Local History and Historical Preservation Conference. They are gathering ideas, networking, and learning how to make the Chippewa Valley Museums a more vibrant and sustainable community organization. 

Staff will return with ideas to help the museum move forward. Thanks to a filing project, I've been looking backward at good ideas the museums once had. Below are some retired annual programs (and yes, I'm fully aware I'm risking the call to revive one or more of these programs). 

• Silver Tea, a formal tea event, mid-1970s

• Fashion Shows using clothing from museum collections, 1970s-early 1980s (this one always makes me squirm)

• Teddy Bear Picnic, Schlegelmilch House, 1990s

• Gingerbread House Workshop, mid-1990s to early 2000s

• Springtime Baby Chicks, 1990s-2018

• Holiday Toy Trains, 2015-2019

Gingerbread House Workshop, 1994

Our longest running programs are so much a part of the museum's mission we tend to not think of them as programs -- school field trips and the volunteer program. A cursory glance at old records show the Wisconsin Logging Museum and Chippewa Valley Museum have been hosting annual field trips since at least the 1970s. It's likely longer, but I didn't do a deep dive into the records. Volunteers started the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum in 1934 and the Chippewa Valley Museum in 1965. Volunteers are as vital today as they were in the beginning.

Other ongoing programs:

• Kaleidscope (summer classes for kids), now called Time Travelers, 1980s-

• Teen Guides, 2004-

• Folk Arts Festival, 2010-

• Adventures in History Book Club, 2016- 

• Biking and Walking Into History Tours, 2017-

• Outdoor Music Series, 2021-

Book talks, lectures, and vintage skills workshops have also been around for decades. 

The end of a museum program is the result of changes in community interests and concerns, funding, and/or program leadership. "We have always done this" is never a good reason to keep a program. Likewise, "we have never done this" is a poor argument for refusing to try something new. All programs must constantly be re-evaluated to ensure they are financially viable and reflect the interests of the community.

If you have an idea, share it with me or other staff, especially if you can support it with time, talent, or treasure. Thank you for being a part of the Chippewa Valley Museums!??