First printed in the Chanute Tribune
If you haven't noticed already, there are two new Safari Museum highway signs north and south of Chanute on US-169. These match signs previously placed east and west of Chanute on K-39. A very special thank you goes to Harvey Young and Young's Welding for donating one of the two new signs (as well as for donating one of the K-39 signs).
The museum is indebted to Walter Wulf Jr. and the Monarch Cement Company and to the Umbargers for providing the land. Funds for these signs were donated by Community National Bank and Rankin Charitable Trust. Additional labor, equipment and materials were kindly supplied by the city of Chanute's electrical department, O'Brien Ready-Mix and Zimmerman Electric Service.
I also want to continue to recognize the Ash Grove Cement Company and the Reinhardts for providing land on K-39 for museum signs. Please join me in thanking these companies and individuals for their important support.
The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum benefits from many locally who help promote this museum. Local residents refer visitors to the museum. Drivers detour to see the museum after spotting the highway signs. Area businesses, such as the Holiday Park, provide space for museum displays and brochures. The Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce & Office of Tourism does a marvelous job of promoting Chanute and its attractions. Thank you for your help.
Last year Chanute High School student Whitney Lawrence suggested the creation of a student organization at the museum. Our trustees and staff agreed and officially established the Junior Board of Trustees in December.
Fifteen students from the Chanute High School and Chanute Christian Academy are involved with a variety of important museum projects from data entry and digitizing to multimedia and graphic design.
We applaud the initiative and hard work of these students to improve the museum's operations and service to our community. Please thank students Ruth Babb, Kate Barker, Chanelle Bradford, Aubrey Jarred, Anna Jenkins, Seth Galemore, Whitney Lawrence, Jessica Lau, Waneca McCormick, Michael Miller, Stephanie Powell, Terra Schommer, Melissa Taylor, Heather Wood and John Yowan.
The museum is in search of volunteers of all ages and skills. You are welcome to contact the museum at (620) 431-2730 or osajohns@safarimuseum.com or just drop in.
Visitors to the museum's www.safarimuseum.com website now outnumber on-site museum visitors. In 2003 we had over 8,000 internet visitors as compared to an annual attendance of 6,000. For Johnson fans and museum members across the U.S. this is a convenient way to stay current with museum activities and to order merchandise from our Osa's Ark Store