Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces
Anthracite Heritage Museum and Iron Furnaces AssociatesDavid Berk
Prior to his passing in February of this year, David Berk had served as an outstanding member of the docent volunteer team at the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces for two years. He shared regional history with school children at the museum each spring and fall and with visitors to the Southside Farmers Market at the Scranton Iron Furnaces each Saturday from mid June to early October. His humor, skill, and directness were greatly valued by the museum staff and they will miss his friendship, contributions, and support. We were privileged to have Dave as a volunteer at the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces and extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends.
Brandywine Battlefield Park
Brandywine Battlefield Park AssociatesJohn Amspacher
John Amspacher has been volunteering at Brandywine Battlefield since March 2012, giving his time every Saturday to conduct tours of the Benjamin Ring house for the public as well as helping out during very busy and sometimes chaotic special events. John has a wealth of knowledge and a tremendous enthusiasm to educate the public about the Revolutionary War events that took place at the park and in the surrounding area, as well as the civilian impact of the war on this mostly agrarian community. John is vital to the success of the park during the many busy weekends when it can be difficult to get volunteers. We thank John for his continued dedication and service.
Bushy Run Battlefield
Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage SocietyWendy Stier
Wendy Stier is a multi-talented and very creative volunteer, sharing her knowledge of Bushy Run and expertise gained during her teaching career. She is co-founder and secretary of the newly formed Education Committee, helps staff the front desk and gift shop, leads tours, and plans programs for families and children. Dressed in period clothing she is seen at nearly all site events and is ready to help with any task, including making casseroles, serving tea, helping to run the children’s pavilion at the annual battle reenactment, and much more. Wendy’s levelheaded demeanor and friendly smile help everyone have a good time, making even a slow day interesting and educational. She is a vital part of moving the site forward. We thank her for her dedication and service.
Conrad Weiser Homestead
Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead Kim Otto
Kim Otto began volunteering at Conrad Weiser Homestead in 2005 as a reenactor at the "Terror in the Tulpehocken" event and has never looked back. In 2009, she took on the responsibility of editing and publishing the Friends newsletter in color. The Friends also credit Kim with singlehandedly taking the organization's recordkeeping from the 18th century to the 21st. She created inventory metrics for the bookstore that make reordering stock more efficient and moved the recordkeeping to QuickBooks. In addition to her organizational prowess, Kim shares her skill with a tape loom to support the site's living history demonstrations. We thank her for her steadfast support and enthusiasm.
Cornwall Iron Furnace
Friends of Cornwall Iron FurnaceDon Beck
Don Beck began his association with Cornwall Iron Furnace, applying his experience as an engineer, after he retired from local business. He quickly signed up for membership and his engineering expertise and interest in history combined to create a knowledgeable and gifted tour guide. Don’s willingness to lend a hand in any way next led him to be the media “expert” for Cornwall’s many events and activities while maintaining his availability to guide visitors on a tour. Don can be found at all special events, camera in hand, to share the site’s activities on Facebook and through the member newsletter and other site publications. For his consistent willingness and reliability to freely offer his time and talents as a volunteer guide and media representative The Friends of Cornwall Iron Furnace are happy to recognize Don Beck as a truly an outstanding volunteer!
Daniel Boone Homestead
Friends of the Daniel Boone HomesteadBeverly Connor
A long-time volunteer, Beverly Connor served the Friends board, where she was an active member of the finance, personnel, and museum shop committees. Although she has stepped down from the board, she continues to serve on a variety of committees as well as supporting events and programs as a volunteer. In 2015, she could be found staffing the Friends’ Hospitality Table at special events such as Charter Day, Pennsylvania German Easter, Children’s Day, and Evening on the Green. During the Revolutionary War Encampment in August, she gave Boone House tours to over 1,000 visitors; she also offered Boone House tours during Heritage Day, Halloween at the Homestead, and A Homestead Christmas. Her talents have also enhanced the Hands-On History school program and numerous Friends’ bake sales. Beverly has proved to be a vital asset to the site and is an integral member of the volunteer corps. We thank her for her dedication and service.
Drake Well Museum
Friends of Drake Well, Inc.Paul Adomites
A professional writer and editor, Paul Adomites began volunteering at Drake Well Museum in 2011. He serves on the site’s Publications and Marketing Committees and as an advisor to the Friends of Drake Well Board of Directors. As a leader on the museum’s editorial team, Paul played an integral role in publishing a major catalog, Lighting the Way: The Boyle Collection at Drake Well Museum, and three volumes of Drake Well's award-winning scholarly Oilfield Journal. In addition to hundreds of hours editing and designing the museum’s publications, Paul also contributes his own original research from the Drake Well archives, sits on the Strategic Planning Committee, helps at special events, designed an audio tour for historic Pithole, and volunteered to help redesign the Drake Well website. He has recently taken over as editor of the site's quarterly newsletter. We are extremely grateful to him for his enthusiastic contributions of time and energy to the fulfillment of our mission.
Eckley Miners’ Village
Eckley Miners’ Village AssociatesRegina Drasher
Regina Drasher has been an Eckley volunteer for more than 25 years. As coordinator of the Eckley Players, Regina has written plays, recruited participants, scheduled outreach performances, and done her best to control the uncontrollable costume closet. For the past two years, she has been the editor of Patchwork, the biannual associate newsletter, and the monthly volunteer newsletter. For three years, she has performed her popular red-headed 50s TV star skit at our Halloween program and in 2015 she coordinated the best-attended Christmas program in five years. Regina attends volunteer meetings; works on parade floats; represents Eckley at many local programs and outreach activities; gives school, group, and daily tours; maintains the victory garden behind the Eckley 1940s house; and takes site brochures and events calendars wherever she travels. We thank her for her hard work and her dedication to provide and promote a well-planned and informed experience for visitors.
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