From the President

The muddy paw prints running across my kitchen floor are a sure indication that spring has arrived. The Museum has been just as active in preparing for a great summer season as my dog has been in the spring puddles. I am very pleased to announce that over the winter, the Museum has hired two fantastic new staff members. In the fall, we welcomed Emily Bodell as the Fishers Island Seagrass Project Coordinator. She has galvanized the Seagrass Coalition to further their work, including developing management goals and implementing monitoring programs. For complete information on the important seagrass work that has taken place see update.

In the winter, we welcomed Jack Schneider as our new Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator. Jack, in addition to developing management schedules for conserving the land trust properties, has developed a comprehensive list of volunteer stewardship opportunities. If you are looking to get out into nature this summer, we have lots of worthwhile outdoor activities. Please see the Land Trust report and details on volunteering.

Over the winter, Pierce has organized not one but two great exhibits for us to enjoy. On the first floor, Against the Tide: Prohibition on Land and at Sea, 1919-1933, takes us back a full century to a contentious chapter in the history of this region and America. On the second floor, The English Springer Spaniel on Fishers Island, celebrates the period from the mid-1920s through the late 1940s when Fishers Island was the center for English Springer Spaniel field competitions in America. Both exhibits are generously sponsored by Altus Partners and Chubb. The popular Instagram exhibit has been expanded with more iconic photos revealing island life.

The Museum’s lecture series continues in July and August with a great group of speakers. For all the bird lovers in the crowd, we have two ornithologists coming. Maggie Jones, director of the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, will discuss bird communications and migration, while Alan Poole, long associated with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, will speak about his new book on the worldwide revival of the osprey. Fred Krupp, the president of the Environmental Defense Fund, will give a provocative talk on climate change and how organizations are working to mitigate its effects. While we contemplate our changing world, historian and writer William Hosley will talk about “going local” and sustaining place and community. Writer Mark Borton will lead us on a journey through the millennia as great thinkers from Socrates to Isaac Newton attempt to unravel the riddle of the tides. Last but not least, Pierce will entertain us with his talk about prohibition and rumrunners, Scotch on The Rocks. Please see the complete listing of speakers and dates.

Our children’s programming is in full force again this summer, with programs offered every Wednesday afternoon in July and August. This year children will have the opportunity to build fairy houses, dip into the pond, howl at the moon, and interact with many fascinating creatures.

Thank you to all the Museum members whose generous contributions have enabled the Museum to provide such a wide range of events and programming. I look forward to seeing everyone at our opening party at the Museum on Saturday, June 29th, 5 to 7 p.m.

—Elizabeth McCance, President