BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
Education staffers at the
Farmers’ Museum are hoping
to help out area school districts
with program funding
during a time of economic
distress.
While school administration
and staff are facing major
budget cuts, organizers at
the New York State Historical
Association (NYSHA) are
planning to respond to the increase
in need by developing
a fund that will be available
to all New York state schools
for museum programming.
NYSHA will be hosting a night
of fun to help raise funds.
The benefit, ``Heat up the
Night,’’ will be filled with music,
food and activities that organizers
say will keep people’s
feet stomping and hearts
pumping all while supporting
local school children.
``Heat up the Night,’’ will be
held from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday
in the museum’s Louis C.
Jones Center.
John Buchinger, associate
director of education at
NYSHA, says he has talked to
lots of teachers and they are
saying the first thing typically
to be cut out of the school
budget is funding for field
trips. We want to be sure that
transportation costs can be
paid for if the school districts
cannot afford to come here,
says Buchinger.
``We need to ensure that
there are rich educational
programs offered to our children,’’
he says. ``It is not about
bringing money into the
museum, we see more than
10,000 kids a year and are a
non-profit organization; it is
about continuing our mission.
If children can’t come here
then we cannot continue our
mission.’’
Since 2008, NYSHA has
seen a sharp increase in
request from local schools for
assistance with field trip funding.
In response to the need,
NYSHA was able to write
grants and allocate resources
that allowed 29 schools and
community groups to visit
the Farmers’ Museum and the
Fenimore Art Museum during
the 2008-09 school year, according
to organizers.
Buchinger says he feels the
need to create attention to
the issue and says the community
needs to come together
and take care of the future
of its children’s’ education.
``Its going to be a great
cheap night out,’’ says Buchinger.
``It is going to be a very
economical night for families
and I am excited for the event
and hope many people come
out.’’
According to organizers, the
highlight of the evening will
be live music by local favorites
``The Gypsy Pioneers” and the
band ``Cheese of the Misty
Ceremony.’’ The event will also
feature fire juggling, food and
drink, a raffle hosted by Brewery
Ommegang and activities
for kids.
Adult tickets will be $10 in
advance and $12 at the door.
Tickets for children 13-18
will cost $5 and those under
12 will be admitted for free.
Facebook fans and museum
members will receive an extra
$1 off the regular ticket price.
For more information or to order
tickets by phone contact,
Karen Wyckoff at 547-1410.
Buchinger says the money
raised can be used by schools
for a variety of things, but the
primary focus will be providing
funds for busing students
to the Farmers’ Museum and
Fenimore Art Museum for
programming opportunities.
We will be considering each
school on a case-by-case base,
says Buchinger. The goal is to
be able to offer grants of up
to $500 so we can spread the
funds around a bit, Buchinger
says.
According to Buchinger, the
intention is to take a proactive
response not a reactive one.
We are looking for schools
that have not been visiting
and we want to get them
back, says Buchinger.
For example, Buchinger
says Richfield Springs Central
School has not brought
students to the museums in
about four years. We want to
make sure they have the opportunity,
he says.
Buchinger says NYSHA has
provided funding for Cooperstown
Central School students
to come visit the museums at
least two times this year. They
are coming right from town,
he says.
Tabitha Rathbun, vice president
of the New York Susquehanna
and Western Railway,
says the railway had donated
$500 to the benefit. Rathbun
says she became aware of
the fundraiser when reading
about it in a local newspaper
and wanted to help because
the proceeds would be going
to help local children.
``What can be better than
helping out our own local
children,’’’ she says.
Buchinger says the donation
will go a long way in the
education world and says
the funds will be the first to
be deposited for the benefit.
Bushinger says he thought
about using the money
towards advertising and food
for the event, but thought
it would be best to use the
money for the cause directly.
Buchinger says he would
like to thank the many businesses
that have helped
make it possible to hold the
benefit. He says The Hoffman
Lane Bistro is contributing
food for the event, Brewery
Ommegang will be hosting
tastings, Stagecoach Coffee
will provide coffee, Stewart’s
Shops will donate water and
soda and Ace Hardware is furnishing
a popcorn and cotton
candy machine.
