Museum gala celebrates success

To the Editor:

A celebration. That's the only way to describe the Putnam County Museum's 6th Gala and Annual Meeting on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the DePauw Union Ballroom.

More than 100 museum supporters attended to join in the celebration of the museum's successes over the past year and to give heartfelt thanks to Stacy Klingler who served the museum so well as executive director over the past three years, and who has accepted a new position at the Indiana Historical Society.

Thanks for the grand evening go to Dick Wolfsie whose humor matched the high spirits of those in attendance, to Steve and Laura Stamper who so admirably coordinated the silent auction, and to those who donated to the auction (Ambler Hill Florist, Mike Dean, Norm Handy, Hobbit Gardens, the Jewelry Clinic, Deanna Killeen, Stacy Klingler and Richard Lynch, Leatherwood Hill, Steve and Nancy Michael, Fred Pursell, Silverwood Signs, Spiker Excavating, State Farm Insurance and Wildwood Country Antiques).

We are grateful to Rick Provine, Bill Hamm and Ronnie Pejril for their mellow music that set the perfect tone for the social hour, and to Joe Miles who, as always, graced the cash bar so cheerfully and completely.

Diana LaViolette, my co-chair, and her husband John were of great assistance by helping in so many ways, and those who contributed to the table decorations (Linda Dunbar, Carol Emery, Barbara Feld, Vicki Krider, Berdee Lanie, and Nancy McFarland) were an important part of the lovely ambiance enjoyed by all.

The business meeting saw amendments to the museum bylaws passed, and the board of directors slate approved.

For 2007-08: Warren Macy, president, Diana LaViolette, vice-president, Jinsie Bingham, secretary, Kit Newkirk, treasurer, Rick Provine, Brad Tucker and Tony Robertson, new board members.

Our thanks go to everyone who attended and who helped to make the 2007 gala a huge success.

Sally Gray,