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THE WHALE MUSEUM |
New Director at The Whale Museum
posted 01/27/2007
Atkinson comes to the Museum from the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center based in Nashville, Tenn. For more than six years, she was the special projects coordinator seeking to raise awareness of First Amendment issues and rights through programs, musical events and exhibits. Prior to that, she was the founding executive director of Leadership Brevard (a community leadership organization in operation since 1985) in Brevard County, Fla. Atkinson is also a nature photographer who has had a long attachment to Southern Resident orcas, other marine mammals and the sea. She has been a long-time supporter of The Whale Museum's Orca Adoption Program. Atkinson began her tenure as director of The Whale Museum on Jan. 1, 2007. Founded in 1979, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. In addition to providing exhibits, the Museum also provides programs including: the Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, Marine Naturalist Training, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline. The Whale Museum can be found on-line at www.whalemuseum.org. Osborne assumes Directorship of The Whale Museumposted 02/11/04
After over 20 years of service as a non-profit administrator and fundraiser, Hodson will be shifting her efforts to her artistic interests. She said, "My work at The Whale Museum has allowed me to pursue one of my greatest passions - to help people understand and care about the wild beings who share the earth with us. As a wildlife artist, specializing in both stained glass and mixed media, I will be using visual images to continue helping our region's wildlife, especially the wonderful whales who inspire and haunt our northwest imagination." Hodson will still be around the museum in Friday Harbor as a volunteer giving tours, assisting with fundraising, and helping with the extra administrative demands that will be coming this spring when Luna (L-98) is planned to be reunited with L-Pod. One of Sally's more noted accomplishments during her tenure at the Museum was her leadership in the successful effort to reunite the orphaned orca Springer (A-73) in 2002. Hodson's wisdom from the Springer experience will be a valuable asset for success with Luna. Richard Osborne has assumed the position of Director of The Whale Museum this month. He has been a fixture around the Museum since its inception. He was a volunteer with the initial efforts to open The Whale Museum in 1979, and to keep it open during its early years. In 1981 Rich became Curator, and then shifted to Research Director in 1982; a position he has held for seventeen out of the last twenty-one years. Osborne is optimistic about the future of the Museum, he said, "The time is right for this community to have a world-class natural history museum to display the world-class research that is undertaken by the scientists who both live and study here. The Whale Museum is also an appropriate draw for visitors - a way to gain their appreciation of our amazing ecosystem and teach them how to treat it gently before they go out and enjoy it." |
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