GVHS understands that incomplete history can instead erode community. Whether we are conscious of it or not, history can strengthen a sense of place and build community.
The willingness to learn and change is a particularly enviable attribute of GVHS.Īt the end-of-process meeting, Kyle Scott, GVHS President, thanked board members “for their faithful and dedicated commitment to excellence” and also singled out Crystal Boyd, the Society’s volunteer collections curator, for writing the grant and serving as project manager. The process prompted valuable discussions and also turned up a few unseen gaps, raising awareness that makes transformation possible. The Society is clear on its responsibilities, has been working for many years with attention to accountability and quality, and inspires committed and skilled volunteers. I have worked with museums of all types and sizes for over 30 years and have rarely seen an organization that is as self-aware, dedicated, and organized. As this was above and beyond regular Board meetings and volunteer tasks, the commitment to seeing this through demonstrates the level of dedication and care GVHS inspires. This represented more than 190 hours of volunteer time, with “homework” between meetings likely more than doubling this figure. Board members met nine times, for 1.5 to 2.5 hours each month to step through a chapter of the workbook.
Getting through this process was no small feat for an all-volunteer organization. The State of Minnesota provided a grant of $10,000 from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society, a sign of capability and trust for both the program and the organization. It points history organizations towards national standards in six areas spanning everything from governance to collections, interpretation to community engagement. The self-assessment was structured around the national STEPS (Standards and Excellence Program) workbook and community, under the umbrella of the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). As an independent museum professional, I am pleased to report that GVHS is a solid organization, built over decades on strong foundations, and working actively to expand and advance the value of Golden Valley’s history to the community.
In 2021, the Golden Valley Historical Society contracted with me to facilitate a year-long self-assessment of its entire operation.
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