Hello and happy Spring, readers! One of the many lessons 2020 taught us was the importance of flexibility. Like so many cultural institutions around the world, we have been adapting to a new normal. I’m grateful that we have a talented and committed team of staff, board members, and volunteers who have made the transition to virtual programming smoother than imagined.
We met some of the past year’s challenges by adapting the format of some of our programs. Some programs were easily modified to follow new safety guidelines, like the blacksmith demonstrations, but others were moved online. Instead of hosting summer History Camp programs at the historical society campus, last summer’s campers met online to participate in activities themed around the history of the Olympics and the Chicago World’s Fair. The complications of the pandemic also inspired us to create new programs, like the 2020 Dollhouse Video Tour.
Because so many guidelines have, so far, remained the same in 2021, we are continuing to be creative in finding ways to share history with the Mount Prospect community. Our Annual Meeting, for example, will be a virtual presentation this year. Watch your email inboxes, as well as our website and social media, for more details on this event. The financial presentation of the Annual Meeting is enclosed in this newsletter. This spring our Second Sunday programs will not feature “Make and Takes,” but rather “Take and Makes.” Participants will take their activity supply bags home and make the craft together over Zoom, instead of in Central School.
Although our buildings are not yet open to the public, you can still reach us by calling the office or sending an email to info@mtphistory.org. We regularly share moments from Mount Prospect history on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Make sure to follow us if you’re not already! Our social media accounts and our website are two of the best places to stay up-to-date on all our upcoming events.
Stay safe and healthy
Emily Dattilo, Director