The Chanute community showed up in style to the annual Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum Gala on Friday, Oct. 3. Attendees played cornhole, bid on auction items, had dinner, participated in a desert dash, and voted on the night’s costume contest winners at the Chanute Martin Johnson Airport.
Museum Director Kim Westcott said this year’s theme was “Take After Adventure.” Westcott said the planning process began this summer and was handled primarily by the museum’s foundation board.
“It’s so great to be at the airport. It’s named after Martin,” Westcott said. “It has been so awesome, I’ve also enjoyed getting to dress up.”
She also extended gratitude toward the museum foundation for planning the event for the community.
“It’s just such an awesome event to get the community out together and see everybody dressed up. It’s just so fun.”
Samantha Gastineau is a member of both the Museum’s Board of Trustees and the foundation. She said she has been involved in planning the gala for four years now. Gastineau said she enjoyed seeing many community members in attendance.
Venue parking was the biggest planning difficulty, Gastineau said. She said a decision to switch venues was almost made, due to a lack of parking, but said the City of Chanute helped by allowing attendees to park between hangars.
Gastineau said she appreciated the community members who chose to donate items, sponsor the event, and those who gave their time to volunteer at the event.
“We have lots of businesses, lots of individuals who are willing to do that, and it’s really neat to see a small town come together like that,” Gastineau said.
“The museum is so grateful to the community for all of their help with this, the HVAC project, and for continuously supporting the museum. I think it’s really important that our small town has something so cool — that they had a couple that made a name for themselves like this — and we uphold that legacy. It’s amazing that the community continues to support us.”
Of auction items, Gastineau said this year, a set of Ghanaian King and Queen masks were some of the more unique items available.
Westcott said the museum raised over $20,000 during the gala. Costume contest winners are as follows: Best Individual Costume, Emma Errebo, a pirate; Best Couple Costume, Rebecca Brazil and Lynn Gorrell as Dora the Explorer and Boots the monkey; and the Mih and Mitchell Party won Best Group Costume.
Former director Conrad Froehlich said it is always wonderful to have a gathering full of museum supporters.
“I mean, truly, that’s the best part of these galas every year. It’s always so much fun. Our volunteers do a fantastic job of decorating and organizing,” Froehlich said. “Ultimately, it’s the people that are here that bring it to life.”
The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call the museum at 620-431-2730 or visit SafariMuse- um.com.
