Everyone is welcome to bring family and out-of-town guests to Chanute’s Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum this summer! Museum admission is free for the rest of this month thanks to underwriting from Passport Sponsor Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. Free admission in July will be sponsored by Home Savings Bank. Please take advantage of free museum days and thank our generous Passport Sponsors.
It has indeed been my great honor to serve as director of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum for the past 36 years. In this time I’ve had the pleasure to know so many wonderful co-workers, trustees, volunteers, museum supporters, and Johnson fans. Each has contributed significantly to make the Safari Museum a favorite destination and educational resource for Chanute families and visitors from across the country.
A special thank you goes to 120 individuals who served on the museum’s board of trustees since 1989. Trustees give freely of their “time, talents, and treasures” and are ultimately responsible for the success of the organization they govern. This is not easy. As many of you know, it’s an ongoing challenge to ensure a small non-profit has sufficient funding from year to year. This involves actively pursuing numerous income streams – contributions, events, grants, store sales, licensing, and other sources. Trustees are the museum’s most important advocates for all these efforts.
It is truly due to support from city and county commissioners and staff along with museum members, sponsors, and donors that the museum is able to offer popular exhibits and programs year-round.
The museum also benefits from the backing of honorary trustees. These individuals are worldwide leaders in professions associated with the museum’s mission, including historians, anthropologists, zoologists, oceanographers, filmmakers, actors, producers, and writers.
Plus, over the years experienced advisors have provided invaluable assistance with legal issues, publishing agreements, film projects, and licensing contracts.
We are indebted to our Foundation trustees (and earlier Campaign board members) for countless hours and hard work invested in planning and running annual fundraising events such as the Gala and Night at the Museum. Additionally, we’ve been blessed with many student and adult volunteers who help with all aspects of museum operations from greeting visitors to organizing collections and social media to serving on committees.
I sincerely thank the Chanute Tribune staff for kindly allowing me to contribute over 400 monthly columns.
Importantly I want to recognize Jacquelyn Borgeson Zimmer, curator since 1995, and Linda Showen, store manager and bookkeeper since 2022. They are the heart of the museum and its achievements are thanks to their enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism. Jacque and Linda are a wealth of information. Please take time to visit with them and tour your Safari Museum.
Beginning in July, I switch to a volunteer role focusing on research, writing, and related projects. So if you see a happy-go-lucky, make-it-upas- you go-along, devil-maycare guy around town (I’ll be retired after all), stop to say hi and think kindly of Judy who must endure this every day ; ) Happy Adventuring!
The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum and Osa’s Ark Museum Store are open Tuesday through Saturday 10-5. The museum will be closed Frida, July 4th for Independence Day. For more information call the museum at 620-431-2730, visit SafariMuseum. com, and check us out on Facebook.
