May 2008 President’s Report

By Ira Pollack

This month, as always, will update you on some of the things going on at the DRM.

To start with, our Tuesday night crew has been helping increase the size of our exhibit area. They have added panels to the existing sections, thereby adding more wall space to this area. If you do not know by now, the Museum will be presenting an art exhibit featuring the works of John Fleming Gould, noted illustrator and graphic artist. Our exhibit will be running from May 10^th through December 29^th, so please make an effort to view this prolific artist’s work of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Our yard work continues with our crews replacing ties on the 34 Track with a possible option of rebuilding the 32 switch and track for additional storage for our equipment. As you well know, the trackwork is an ongoing project at the Museum. There is certainly enough of it to go around for everyone here. We have definitely made progress, but there is a long way to go. For the most part, we try to meet and work on Saturday mornings, weather permitting.

Several weeks ago, our yard crew began, let’s call it a beautification project, at our yard entrance. We planted about 20 of the shrubs that were donated to us by Paul Busse from the New York Botanical Garden’s winter show. Our work has made a big difference in this pathway into the yard. I feel very strongly about having a people-friendly environment, while experiencing our yard and collection. Please feel free to water these plants if you can when you visit. Once again, I must tell you there are many good things happening at the Museum. Many of the plans within our 1-5-10 year plan are slowly coming to pass. It does take time though, which is frustrating to me on a regular basis. I would tell you more if I could, but I do not want to be overanxious and certainly would not want to disappoint you. I feel that we are making progress though in every direction that we head in, and there are a lot of them!

Your help is always appreciated, and forever needed to keep our Museum what it is today, and what it can and will be tomorrow.

In closing this report, I hope that you approve of where we are going and hope that you will continue to be part of our growth and success. As always, I look forward to meeting and working with you as a volunteer.