12:30-1:00 pm    Registration

1:00-3:30 pm      Class

  

Where:

Western UP Michigan Works!

110 East Quincy St.

Hancock, MI 49930

 

REGISTER EARLY! 

There is no charge for this seminar, but space is limited. 

 

 

Hosted by:

 

 

Supported by:

 

 

 

K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum Inc. Launches

Crowd funding Site to Find Permanent Home 

 

 

 

Gwinn, MI - The K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum Inc. became one of the first non-profits in the Upper Peninsula to take advantage of crowdfunding - the practice of funding a project by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people typically via the internet - when it launched it's new site https://www.crowdrise.com/KISawyerMuseumBuildingPurchase

 

"Our membership dues and a visitor donations are enough to keep us operating, but for building improvements, building purchase, aircraft restoration, etc., we need help and we need to get creative," said Bob Vick, President/CEO.

 

After reviewing many sites, KISHAM opted to go with Crowdrise because they felt it had a great reputation in the philanthropic world, was well-established and offered some creative fundraising options.

 

"We want our donors to feel safe and comfortable utilizing this method of donating and we wanted a way to reach new potential donors," said Vick.

 

The fund-raising priority is on raising funds to purchase the museum building and provide a permanent home to approximately 3,000 artifacts under the museum's care.

 

Additionally, the group acts as caretaker for the nearby Upper Peninsula Memorial Retreat Center static display park and operates the Silver Wings Community Center and the K.I. Sawyer Air Heritage Library in the museum building. According to Vick, the group has hosted business meetings, clubs and organizations, small gatherings and wedding receptions. The library is open during museum hours and serves as a resource for people conducting research "The added income is not that great, but the community really appreciates having a facility like this," he said. "We get a few people a week who stop by just to use the library and research a family member or for a school project and about three or four event bookings per month."

 

The static displays include a B-52D Bomber, F-101B Fighter/Interceptor, FB-111A Strategic Bomber, T-33A Jet Trainer, F-106A Figher/Interceptor, and ADM-20 Decoy Missile.

 

The organization has moved several times since the base closed and has never had a permanent location. "It's important to protect the materials to have a facility that we can call our own." Vick explained that some of the materials are old and delicate and shouldn't be moved repeatedly.

 

"It will be much easier to attract assistance, growth the museum and take on more obligations if we are owners and not renters subject to a thirty day termination notice."

 

"Every dollar counts" said Vick "and that's the beauty of crowdfunding."

The site address is:

 https://www.crowdrise.com/KISawyerMuseumBuildingPurchase. The museum is located at 500 S. Third Street, Gwinn, MI 49841 (Sawyer) and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5 PM. There is NO fee for admission but donations are appreciated.