News and Information published by and for Volunteers

HIGH DESERT VOICES October 2014

2014 Annual Meeting & Volunteer Recognition by Siobhan Sullivan, Newsletter Editor

The lobby area of the High Desert Museum was packed with

volunteers, staff members, and members of the community on

the evening of September 12 for the Annual Meeting and Vol-

unteer Recognition event. The buffet included fresh fruit and

vegetables, bread, mini quiches, and shish kebabs with a variety

of meats and vegetables. Local beer, wine, and other beverages

were also provided.

President Dana Whitelaw started the evening’s proceedings

with a State of the Museum address. Over 156,000 people visit-

ed the Museum this year. Volunteers worked nearly 21,000

hours valued at $430,000. This was the seventh consecutive

year with a balanced budget.

Over 12,000 children benefitted from the Museum’s school

programs this year. Organizations benefiting from the Museum’s programs included the Boys and Girls Club

and the Deschutes Children’s Forest. Some of the Museum’s materials were available for use at nearby schools

through the Teacher’s Traveling Trunks program. Numerous young people learned more about the high desert

through community outreach in regional public libraries. Special programs on science, electricity, and water-

sheds attracted many young visitors to the Museum. The Museum and Me program reached out to kids with

special needs in the community.

The High Desert Museum is currently the number two local attraction-just behind Deschutes National

Forest. The ever-changing exhibits continue to draw in visitors. This year’s exhibits included ones on histori-

cal weapons, nocturnal creatures, wildlife forensics, Northwest Native American bags, railroads, and animal

corridors. Ongoing educational talks, such as those on the Desertarium wildlife, river otters, and Raptors of the

Desert Sky show, have increased in popularity. Visitors enjoyed the many characters portrayed by the Living

History team. Offsite Natural History Pub talks and field trips extended the reach of the Museum’s educational

programs. New ventures, such as the Open ‘Til Dark program, offered

an opportunity for those unable to make it to the Museum during regu-

lar business hours. Events such as Frontier Days, Picnic in the Past,

and the High Desert Rendezvous drew in huge crowds.

The Museum was recently awarded a significant grant in the

amount of $250,000 from the Oregon Business Development Depart-

ment to improve the river otter exhibit. This is a matching grant so

your donations are needed. People donating to the “Invest in Otter

Space” fundraiser will receive special buttons and decals as a thank

you for their involvement.

Dana read several comments from visitors. One said, “This

should be a required place for visitors to Bend. Thank you, thank you,

thank you!” Another said, “Our brains are exploding with infor-

mation!”

Dana thanked the volunteers, staff, and Board of Trustees for

their contributions to the Museum over the last year.

Page 2 June 2014

David W. Souther, Chair of the Board of Trustees, spoke next. He read the fol-

lowing quote by Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make

a life by what we give.” David said that by serving with “time and talent, we have

really helped make the Museum work.” He noted that the over 200 volunteers work-

ing on the Museum’s 100 plus acres help to make it a special place. He reminded the

audience that the Board also works as volunteers. Everyone works together to make

the Museum a great place.

Susan Langdon, Volunteer Program Coordinator, presented the Rookie of the Year

award to John Williams. John, Team Lead of the Photography Team, was recog-

nized for his skill, intellect, and humor. He works closely with the Communications

staff in capturing the essence of the Museum with his artistic photographs. His work

can be seen on the Museum website, in newsletters, and on his website,

www.seeingthegift.com. Susan gave him a very heartfelt thank you. John was not

present to accept the award but left a message thanking everyone for the recognition.

Linda Evans, Curator of Living History, presented the Vol-

unteer of the Year award to Frank Graham. His passion for history

and willingness to always lend a hand were noted. Frank began volun-

teering for the Museum in 2010 and enthusiastically plays several

characters for the Living History team including a surveyor, freight

agent, and Father Christmas. He and his wife, Anne, spent 500 hours

putting together the model railroad featured in one of the Museum’s

recent exhibits. He will provide leadership to all of the Museum’s vol-

unteers beginning this month as he starts his term as the Volunteer Ad-

visory Council Chair. He was not present to accept the award but sent

in a video thank you. To view the tape, contact Susan Langdon at

slangdon@highdesertmuseum.org or by calling her at 541-382-4754 Ext. 391.

Erica Pelley, Associate Curator of Education, presented the Teen Volunteer of

the Year award to Erica Nelson. Erica began volunteering for the Museum three

years ago, when she was 13. Her growth in responsibilities, professionalism, and

leadership were noted. She is a role model who leads by example. She works

around her busy schedule of music, sports, and employment to play an integral

part in the growing teen program. Erica Pelley asked all the Teen Volunteers in

the room to stand and they were recognized with a round of applause.

Linda Evans presented a special recog-

nition to volunteer, John Maloney, for

reaching 7,000 hours of volunteer service

for the Museum. In the past, he worked in many Hollywood films

where he played a variety of western characters. Here at the Museum,

he captivates visitors with his wit and charm in roles such as that of a

buckaroo and Dumas stagecoach driver.

Carrot cake and chocolate cake from Nancy P’s Bakery and cof-

fee were served for dessert. The meeting was closed with a round of

applause for all of the volunteers.

Annual Meeting –continued

Photos by John Williams and Siobhan Sullivan

October 2014 Page 3

Living History – There were many visitors

that came to see the Mustang Awareness Day and La-

bor and Lumber events. Children made a small wood-

en boat at the Labor and Lumber event. The Miller

Ranch will be open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on

Wednesdays through Sundays until winter. During

winter months, the Ranch will be open on weekends

and possibly on Wednesdays. The Fur Trader’s Camp

will take place September 20 and 21.

Mammals – Lec-

tures on cats will

take place at

12:30 pm and

talks on otters

will be at 2:00

pm. The otters

have been very,

very active. A question was asked about how to keep

visitors off the rocks near the otter exhibit. The grant-

funded redesign of the exhibit may help protect both

the inquisitive otters and curious visitors. The “Invest

in Otter Space” program and other activities will help

raise funds to match the $250,000 grant. For more

information on that program, please go to the Admis-

sions Desk at the Museum.

By Hand Through Memory – An inquiry

was made regarding the dark entrance to the exhibit.

Suggestions to improve the exhibit included clear

signage and arrows on the floor pointing the correct

way to go. Robert Flood, exhibit designer, will be re-

viewing the exhibit entrance. A new volunteer was

recently added to the team. The Museum has had Na-

tive American jingle dresses for young girls to try on

for a while but nothing for boys. A great boy’s vest

was recently found at a pawn shop near Yakima, WA

for only $25.00. There has been recent work by the

team on improving the backgrounds within the exhib-

its and in creating artifacts.

High Desert Museum Area Updates from September 2014

by Siobhan Sullivan, Newsletter Editor

Several volunteers and staff members were thanked for their work this month. People working at the

admissions desk were thanked for encouraging visitors to become members. Thanks to their efforts, member-

ship increased in August. Heather Vihstadt, Director of Development, was thanked for putting a chocolate

treat and a short note into each of the goody bags provided to volunteers at the recent Volunteer Recognition

event. Phil Meurer was thanked for contributing his proofreading skills to the High Desert Voices newsletter

every month. He does a great job and always points out ways to improve the newsletter in a kind and consid-

erate way.

The following people were nominated for the annual volunteer awards. Cyndy Wicker was thanked

for her amazing narrations of the Raptors of the Desert Sky program, the Desert Dwellers program, and for

doing Birds of Prey talks several days per week. The person nominating her said, “We would not be able to

get through each season without her help and kindness, as she picks up weekend talks to support staff each

week”. Don Lind, a volunteer for the Raptor Ticket program, was thanked for being respectful and willing

and for being someone who always does his job supremely. Carol Douglass was thanked for her enthusiastic

dedication to Education and By Hand Through Memory. Sylvia Collins was thanked for always going above

and beyond her duties in the Desertarium area. For example, she recently brought in her own hair dryer to de-

frost the frozen refrigerator in the Desertarium. Annie Graham was thanked for the work she put into creat-

ing and maintaining the model railroad in a recent exhibit. She is modest about her part in that work but we

appreciate how much time she put into it. Kudos to all of you!

Kudos Korner by Siobhan Sullivan, Newsletter Editor

Photo by John Williams

Page 4 October 2014

Names Chosen for Mustangs by Lynne Schaefer, Newsletter Writer

People favor the name Sage for a mustang. Ten years ago, people voted to name a pinto from the Pais-

ley herd Silver Sage. In August, voters chose names for the two horses currently housed at the Museum.

“Sage” was chosen for the filly and “Storm” for the gelding pinto.

According to Jeff Cool, membership coordinator, the ballot boxes containing votes cast included cur-

rency and small change for Juniper, Paisley, Sage, and Storm totaling a little over $200. This amount goes

toward their upkeep.

During the summer voting period, one young boy looked at the ballot boxes and said, “I like the name

Jupiter,” pointing to the Juniper box. Then he pointed to the Paisley box and asked, “Why would anyone

name a horse Parsley?”

Mustang Awareness Day by Lynne Schaefer, Newsletter Writer

Mustang Awareness Day, September 13, at the Miller Ranch achieved

its goal by attracting more visitors than in previous years.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) representatives Rob Sharp and

Wendy Rickman from the Burns facility sat behind a table filled with

mustang themed giveaways opposite the willow corral and explained the

plight of the mustangs.

The BLM manages 19 mustang herds in Oregon. Because of a 20 per-

cent increase in population, the herds require thinning every four to five

years. The BLM gathers excess wild horses and burros where vegetation

and water are scarce. An expensive birth control vaccine lasts only a year

or two. Adoption is the primary method of thinning herds.

Prospective adopters must meet BLM requirements and have facilities to provide for a wild horse or burro.

The BLM vaccinates, deworms, and freeze marks all of the wild

horses and burros it offers for adoption. A freeze mark, applied

to the left side of the animal’s neck, is a permanent, unalterable

way of identifying each captured wild horse and burro. Using

the International Alpha Angle System, the freeze mark contains

the registering organization, year of birth, and registration num-

ber. Adopters receive title to the animal after meeting the BLM

requirements for one year including humane care and treatment.

Sage, one of the mustangs on display at the Museum, is being

adopted by her

trainer.

In the Muse-

um’s Miller Ranch

barn, visitors met and petted Storm and Sage, two mustangs

from the Paisley herd, who spent the summer at the Museum.

After off-site winter boarding, they will return to the Miller

Ranch next May through September. The Museum’s Adopt-

an-Animal program now includes a mustang to help cover ex-

penses so that the animals may remain a part of the Miller

Ranch.

Sage greets visitors

Trainer Alyssa Alm working with Storm

October 2014 Page 5

Museum Adopt-an-Animal brochures shared the BLM

table with BLM adoption brochures, maps of Herd Manage-

ment Areas (HMAs), mustang color descriptions, illustra-

tions of the Alpha Angle Symbol, and poster-sized photo-

graphs of free-running mustangs. Youngsters and grandpar-

ents picked up the BLM educational mustang coloring book-

let, pens, pencils, erasers, colored foam cup holders, brace-

lets, key rings, and a mustang logo bag in which to carry it

all.

One delighted couple chose two different posters: She

for their New York home and he for their Florida home.

“Are you sure you don’t want any money for these?” she

asked. “Not even a dollar?” Western hospitality amazed this woman from the East coast.

Another couple on a road trip had passed BLM wild horse facilities in Montana and Utah and asked if they

are open to the public. Rob Sharp said they welcome the public, including bus tours and school groups. Many

wild horse facilities operate at different hours so it’s best to call ahead. A self-guided auto tour circles 27 cor-

rals or pens at Hines, Oregon, west of Burns. Some arrange their visit to witness the freeze marking proce-

dures.

One woman, eager to adopt a mustang, confessed that she lacked the proper facilities to care for an animal.

As an alternative, Rob Sharp handed her one of the Museum’s Adopt-an-Animal brochures. Mustang Aware-

ness Day resulted in three adoptions supporting the Museum’s Adopt-a-Mustang program. This will help en-

sure that they remain a part of the Living History program at the Miller Ranch.

Mustangs –continued

Photos by John Williams and Lee Schaefer

Labor and Lumber Event

on August 30

Photos by John Williams

Page 6

50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act by Siobhan Sullivan, Newsletter Editor

The Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Sep-

tember 3, 1964. The Act defines “wilderness” as “areas where the earth and its com-

munities of life are left unchanged by people, where the primary forces of nature are

in control, and where people themselves are visitors who do not remain”. Initially,

9.1 million acres were set aside “for the use and enjoyment of the American people”.

Since then, an additional 100 million acres have been added to the system.

There are currently 757 wilderness areas in the United States. Oregon contains 47

wilderness areas. There are many wilderness areas in this region including Steens

Mountain Wilderness, Oregon Badlands Wilderness, Mill Creek Wilderness, and

Three Sisters Wilderness.

Photos by Lee Schaefer

Water’s Extreme Journey Exhibit by Siobhan Sullivan, Newsletter Editor

The Water’s Extreme Journey exhibit recently opened at the Muse-

um. Visitors make their way through a maze to learn the different routes a

drop of water might travel. They will learn about how water can be affect-

ed by different types of pollution and about the importance of conserving

this precious resource.

The 50th anniversary will be celebrated throughout the country.

There will be educational events, projects, and programs that

will educate people about the importance of wilderness. The

Wilderness50 website, located at www.wilderness50th.org , con-

tains information on the history of the act and events and pro-

jects related to celebrating its success over the last 50 years.

The High Desert Museum opened an exhibit about the Wil-

derness Act on September 17. The exhibit traces the history of

the Wilderness Act from its early phases to the recent establish-

ment of desert wilderness areas in Central Oregon.

Photos by Ralph Berry and Siobhan Sullivan

October 2014 Page 7

High Desert Voices

Editor: Siobhan Sullivan

Team Leader: Siobhan Sullivan

Contributing Writers: Lynne Schaefer & Siobhan Sullivan

Proofreading/Editing: Phil Meurer

Computer: Ralph Berry & Siobhan Sullivan

Photographs: Ralph Berry, Lee Schaefer , Siobhan Sullivan, &

John Williams

Printing: Ralph Berry & Siobhan Sullivan

Fall Harvest Dinner

with Kathy Deggendorfer to benefit the High Desert Museum

Saturday, October 4, 2014

6:00 pm: Cocktails and Silent Auction 7:00 pm: Dinner: $100 per person

Advanced Registration Required www.highdesertmuseum.org/harvest-dinner

541-382-4754 , Ext. 392

Painting Oregon’s Harvest: The Art of Kathy Deggendorfer—Exhibit Opening

Photos by John Williams

2014 2014

High Desert

Museum, Inc.

59800 S. Highway 97

Bend, OR 97702

November – Save the Date!

1 Thorn Hollow String Band. 11:00 am-3:00 pm.

5 Water Management in the West: Part III. 6:00 pm. Mem-bers $3; Non-Members $5. RSVP.

7 Members Appreciation Night. Entertainment will be provid-

ed by Thorn Hollow String Band. 4:00-8:00 pm 8

Museum Explorers: Migration! 10:00-11:30 am. Members $3; Non-Members $5. RSVP.

8 Mining Day. Pan for Gold! 11:00 am-3:00 pm. Museum ad-

mission plus $2/miner.

11 Natural History Pub: Before the Oregon Trail: An Archaeo-logical Perspective on the Oregon Story. 7:00 pm (Doors open at 5:30 pm). McMenamins. RSVP.

13 Exhibit tour: Painting Oregon’s Harvest: The Art of Kathy Deggendorfer. 6:00 pm. Members $3; Non-Members $5. RSVP.

22-

29

Science Party: Winged Wonders. 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Members $3; Non-Members $5.

25 History Pub: Over There: The American Doughboy in WW I. 7:00 pm. (Doors open at 6:00 pm). McMenamins.

27 Museum Closed: Thanksgiving Day.

30 Exhibit closes. Painting Oregon’s Harvest: The Art of Kathy Deggendorfer.

To RSVP: www.highdesertmuseum.org/rsvp or 541-382-4754 ext. 241

1 Lunch & Lecture. Deschutes River Restoration. 12:00 pm.

2, 9, 16, 18, 19

Green Ridge Hawk Migration Counting. 9:00 am at Indian Ford Campground near Sisters, OR.

4 Thorn Hollow String Band. 11:00 am-3:00 pm.

4 Fall Harvest Dinner & Silent Auction. 6:00 pm. $100 each.

8 Senior Day. 9:00 am.

8 Water Management in the West-Part I. 6:00 pm. Members $3; Non-members $5. RSVP.

11 Museum Explorers: Water! 10:00 -11:30 am. Members $3; Non-members $5. RSVP.

14 Natural History Pub: Oregon Roads and Wildlife: Issues, Solutions, Cost, & Benefits. 7:00 pm. (Doors open at 5:30 pm). McMenamins. RSVP.

16 Museum & Me. 5:00-8:00 pm.

18 Be a Field Biologist. 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Members $3; Non-members $5. RSVP.

21 Evening on Agriculture. 6:00 pm. Members $3; Non-members $5. RSVP.

21 Volunteer Advisory Council. 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

22 Water Management in the West: Part II. 6:00 pm. Members $3; Non-members $5. RSVP.

25 Off-site Field Trip: Passage for Wildlife. 9:00-11:30 am. Members $5; Non-members $10. RSVP.

25 Tales of All Hallow’s Eve. 6:00-8:00 pm. Members $3; Non-members $5.; 4 and under Free.

28 History Pub: Our Vanishing Glaciers: 100 Years of Glacier Retreat in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. 7:00 pm. (Doors open at 6:00 pm). McMenamins.

Kitchen Patrol: By Hand Through Memory

October