THE WHALE MUSEUM

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Whale of a biology lesson at FH Labs fin whale necropsy

The Whale Museum begins Plank-by-Plank Campaign

posted 02/14/05
The Whale Museum’s 113-year-old building needs new paint, and you can help! In the next few weeks Stegman Painting will paint the west and south sides of the building, which are the most weathered. Every $20 donated will pay for the painting of one plank.

The historic Whale Museum building was constructed in 1892 as the Friday Harbor Odd Fellows Hall. The building served as both a meeting hall and a community social center. Over the years, the building met changing community needs by serving as a theatre, dance hall, and sports venue. In 1978, a group of concerned citizens who wanted to increase awareness about local whales rented the upstairs. Over the following months, dozens of volunteers worked miracles to refurbish the building and create exhibits for a grand opening of The Whale Museum in the summer of 1979. Several years later the museum expanded to fill the entire building, and eventually it was purchased from the owner.

"Any donation that helps us protect the historical value of the building and maintain the structure that The Whale Museum calls home will be very much appreciated," says Exhibits and Facilities Curator Albert Shepard.

To donate, call Jeanne Hyde or Eliza Buck at 378-4710, ext. 24. The Whale Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Info about The Whale Museum

THE WHALE MUSEUM
The mission of The Whale Museum is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.

• Email: marcy@whalemuseum.org.
• Mailing Address: The Whale Museum, PO Box 945,
  62 First Street N. Friday Harbor, WA 98250.
• Phone: 360-378-4710 ext. 23.
• Web site: www.whalemuseum.org

Volunteer Service Needs The following list of services includes brief descriptions of the volunteer jobs that are essential to the successful operation of The Whale Museum. Although many remain constant, there will always be changes as fitting to program needs. Once you have selected a job, contact the volunteer coordinator for a more extensive review of responsibilities, time commitments, training, etc.

• Collating / Mailing Assistance: The museum has regular mailings for adoption renewals, newsletters, etc. Participation involves folding, collating, and stuffing envelopes. These “mailing parties” will be scheduled events as times vary throughout the year.
  
  
• Collections Assistance: This department needs assistance in collections, development, and maintenance of a resource library, an historian, and various other programs. Organization is paramount. Time requirements are steady and long-term.
  
  
• Docent: Docents are part of the Education Department. Docents go through a short training about marine mammal natural history and interact with the public in the main exhibit hall. Docents are needed to relay accurate and relevant information about the whales and other marine mammals within the Salish Sea ecosystem.
  
  
• Education: There are a number of educational programs for people of all ages. Work in this department may involve coordinating and scheduling participants as well as instructors, promotion, and supervision. Group tours are a major part of this effort. Time requirements will be heaviest in spring, summer, and fall.
  
  
• Museum Monitor: This multi-departmental job involves monitoring visitors to the museum, answering questions concerning museum exhibits, providing travel information and acting as back-up cashier for the store. This position will require scheduling, some program training, store training, and availablility during peak visitation hours.
  
  
• Orca Adoption Program: This program needs assistance with various clerical assignments including the preparation of adoption packets, which entails folding, collating, stuffing envelopes, and preparing certificates.
  
  
• Retail: The store is in need of volunteer lunch coverage year round, help receiving store merchandise (May-August), a greeter and occasionally “traffic controller” on days that multiple tours are booked, a bagger to help in the store on busy retail days, and to help keep public areas clean.

Whale Museum's 25th anniversary party

posted 07/20/04
There must have been something in the water 25 years ago. Three of the county's biggest environmental organizations - San Juan Preservation Trust, Friends of the San Juans and The Whale Museum - were founded in 1979. More than 75 people gathered at the museum Friday night (July 16, 2004) to celebrate The Whale Museum's 25th anniversary.

Museum Director Richard Osborne said it was hard to believe it had been that long, but he knew it was true. His daughter, who wasn't born when the museum started, is now in college. Osborne acknowledged the contributions of the two founders Mark Anderson and Ken Balcomb. He also said a special thanks should go to Lee Bave who owned the former Oddfellows Hall which became the Museum's home.

Students in the naturalist program created the banner and the orca head which decorate the museum.

Attendees were encouraged to sign the timeline to show when they became involved with the museum.

The audience cheered after viewing a slide presentation which mentioned several of the museum's programs such as the Orca Adoption program.

Shoppers of all ages, checked out the merchandise which was 25 percent off in honor of the occasion.

Carolyn Haugen and Matt, a budding scientist, bonded over a whale skeleton.

Museum members caught up with each other at the informal open house celebrating the 25th anniversary.

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NMFS honors The Whale Museum

Photo by Rowann Talmon, The Whale Museum

Bob Lohn, regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, presents a plaque to Sally Hodson, director of The Whale Museum, acknowledging the museum's help in returning Springer home. Also from left: Richard Osborne, research director; Kari Koski, Soundwatch coordinator; Thor Hanson, board chair; and Brent Norberg and Joe Scordino of NMFS.

posted 03/10/03
Representatives of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, recently honored The Whale Museum for its efforts to return an orphaned orca to her home.

Presenting a custom-made plaque to museum Director Sally Hodson, Regional Administrator Bob Lohn said NMFS appreciated the museum's "taking the lead in coordinating efforts to get Springer back home."

Springer, or A-73, a juvenile orca from the Northern Resident Community, was found living alone in Puget Sound last winter. Through the combined efforts of NMFS, businesses, individuals, and seven nonprofit organizations including The Whale Museum and Friends of the San Juans, the orca was returned last summer to her pod in Canada. Such an effort had never before been undertaken.

The Whale Museum served as the administrator of two funding sources that were used for Springer's rehabilitation and transportation home: the Orphan Orca Fund, established by the seven organizations, and the Prescott Stranding Grant Program. The museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program also monitored the young whale in Puget Sound for several weeks before she was captured and returned to Canada.

Because the federal government is ineligible to receive funding from the Prescott grant, and because The Whale Museum was one of two entities in the state pre-authorized to accept such funding, Lohn stressed that the museum was highly instrumental in the success of the operation, which cost nearly $400,000. Approximately $150,000 of that sum came from public and in-kind donations.

Addressing the NMFS representatives, Hodson said, "We commend your courage in leadership in undertaking this kind of project that had never been done before-moving an orphaned orca to a new location and all the risks involved in it."

The Whale Museum, 62 First St. N., Friday Harbor, promotes stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. Now open daily, admission is free to San Juan County residents every Thursday. For more information, visit www.whalemuseum.org.

Tacoma foundation helps repair Whale Museum's roof

Photo contributed by Traci Hornung

posted 11/27/02
The south half of The Whale Museum's roof is being replaced thanks to a donation by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation of Tacoma. The $6,500 donation will insure that the 110-year-old building and the museum's exhibits will continue to be protected from the elements. The previous roof was so worn that Curator Albert Shepard said he was concerned that it would begin leaking during winter rains.

Esary Roofing and Siding Co. Inc. of Friday Harbor have been contracted to do the work.

"We're very grateful to the Cheney Foundation for their contribution," said Executive Director Sally Hodson. "Because of them this great old building will continue to be preserved."

The Cheney Foundation has contributed funding to the museum several times in the past.

New director hired for The Whale Museum

posted 03/30/02
Dr. Sally Hodson, a new resident of Orcas Island, has been hired as executive director of The Whale Museum.

Hodson has spent several years vacationing in the San Juans, including two summers volunteering in the museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program. She moved from Colorado to Orcas in December.

For the last 10 years Hodson was director of a large non-profit organization in Denver that offered services for teen parents and their babies. The successful program was recognized as a national model by the U.S. Department of Education as well as the Department of Health and Human Services.

Hodson has a doctorate in education from the University of Colorado, and wrote her dissertation on environmental education. She has 20 years experience managing non-profits.

Hodson says she is "delighted to be part of such a wonderful organization." She added that she will be busy getting to know members of the community and invites them to visit The Whale Museum. "I'm looking forward to getting to meet my fellow islanders and involving them in protecting our orcas and improving the health of our marine environment."

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