by Connie Tabbert
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS — 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the Whitewater Historical Society, formerly known as the Ross Museum Historical Society. There is a great concern it could be the final year for this society if volunteers don’t step forward.
The annual general meeting of the society was held Saturday at the Foresters Falls Fire Hall. Less than 20 people attended the event.
As well, it was noted the secretary, treasurer and a director handed in their resignations — and no one stepped in to fill the positions.
A committee was formed of Muriel Buttle, Hazel Hawthorn and Clare Stoppa to see if they could find people to fill the positions.
“Our group is getting small,” noted president Mac Coughlin. “The secretary has resigned. The treasurer has resigned. And Lawrie (Barton) has resigned as a director.”
In her resignation letter, Ms. Barton noted she has been a member since the society began in 1985.
Looking back through the years, Mr. Coughlin noted, “Twenty years ago, we had a large membership.”
However, many of those families who were involved have left the area, he said.
As well, the younger people in the area don’t seem to care about their heritage or history, Mr. Coughlin added.
“Years ago, there was so much help with everything,” he said. “Now, help is scarce.”
It was discouraging last year when a call went out for help to shingle the Ross Museum roof and no one offered to help, Mr. Coughlin said.
However, when the plea went out that money was required to purchase the shingles, there were all kinds of people who donated, he added.
This year, the roof on the Ross Museum house needs to be finished, and the men required will have to be hired again.
“We need jo-boys to help,” Mr. Coughlin said. “We can’t pay these guys to run up and down the ladder with shingles.
“We need volunteers.”
It was agreed that if necessary, the secretary and treasurer’s positions would be combined into one.
Ms. Barton said it will be necessary to search for people to fill the positions on the board.
Ms. Hawthorn agreed, and that’s why she volunteered to go onto the scouting committee.
“It’s important this organization continue,” she said. “It serves a worthwhile purpose in our community.”
Ms. Barton said it won’t be easy because people lead such busy lives.
“On Saturdays, people are involved in their winter sports,” she said. “The young people are involved with their children.”
However, those parents whose children have left the nest, or are even in their teen years, they can volunteer, she added.
“If you tell them, this is our need, I’m sure they’d be helpful,” she said.
“People aren’t going to go marching into a meeting and say I’ll do this, or I’ll do that. They want to be asked.”
Del O’Brien agreed with Ms. Barton.
“Families are busy nowadays,” he said. “If having to pay is the answer, then you’ll just have to pay. We cannot expect volunteers to work like they did years ago.”
He suggested setting up a booth at the local fairs and asking for donations or signing up volunteers.
“You might be surprised at how much money you will raise,” he said.
Ms. Barton agreed.
“When you asked for money, we got it,” she said. “If we tell the people how much the project is going to cost, you might just find we’ll get the money.”
The members also discussed activities for 2015.
Mr. Coughlin noted Family Day in 2014 “was a flop. Only two families came out.” In 2013, there were quite a few families, he added.
He was very disappointed with the lack of interest from teachers in area schools to bring students to the museum prior to school letting out for the summer.
“Teachers are not interested in coming and learning about the local history,” Mr. Coughlin said.
When he contacted the schools, he was told there was no money for bussing to the museum. However, he said, there’s no shortage of money when it comes to bussing for sporting events.
Mr. O’Brien agreed.
“I’m very upset teachers don’t teach the local history,” he said.
However, Ms. Barton said teachers hands are tied.
“People criticize the teachers, but it’s the Ministry of Education that is the problem. “They define the curriculum.
“If there were pressure from the politicians that there be a segment in every curriculum for local history, that might give the teachers the opportunity to teach local history.”
Mr. O’Brien agreed, saying there should be an obligation to get the local history across to the young people of this area.
Ms. Buttle said teachers only have so many hours in a day, and what the curriculum says must be taught, has to be done in those few hours.
“Our local history is being pushed aside,” she agreed.
Ms. Buttle said the museum committee did not host a Heritage Writing contest as in past years because there was no interest last year, with only two entries.
Ms. Barton suggested a catered dinner be organized to celebrate the society’s 30th anniversary.
“For our 20th, we had a successful dinner at the Orange hall,” she recalled.
Ms. Hawthorn noted afternoon teas were even successful.
Other ideas included pioneer day, perennial plant sale, a lumberjack day, boat cruise and bus tour.
“There’s lots of good ideas,” Mr. Coughlin said. “But what’s the answer? If you want to do these things, we need people to do these things.”
It was decided to hold a planning meeting on April 23 at the fire hall.
It’s hoped by then the society would find out if there will be provincial and federal funding to hire a summer student, as the society has done in the past.
