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Inside This Issue

Fall/Winter Events 1

President’s Report 2

Manager’s Report 3

Membership News 4

Membership News 5

Make Donations Grow 6

Fall Supper Thank You 7

Become An Advertiser 8

www.dicksonstoremuseum.com

December 2017 Newsletter

Dates to Remember

Special Events for 2018

AGM Feb 3

Special Events for 2018

TBA

Contact Information

Phone: 403.728.3355

Fax: 403.728.3351

Address:

Box 146

Spruce View, AB

T0M 1V0

The museum has hosted many

events this fall including our Fall

Supper which was a huge success.

When the museum caught wind of the

Harald Haugaard band from Denmark

we tried to book them in 2016 for the

museums 25th anniversary thinking

the evening would truly be a “Taste of Denmark”. Unfortunately they could

not make it but were asked to keep in touch. In February 2017 the manager

received an e-mail that they were coming to Alberta and could do a concert for

the museum on Friday, September 15, 2017. The board immediately took to

that idea and they passed a motion to bring them here on that day and decided

we would hold the fall supper at the same time. When the Dickson Store

Museum booked the Concert “Droplets of Time” to be performed by Helene

Blum, Harald Haugaard and their band we knew we were in for a treat.

However, we did not know just how much of a treat this would be. The crystal

clear voice of Helene Blum and her story telling abilities brought the poetry of

these songs to life. It was absolutely beautiful! Harald Haugaard playing the

fiddle, and the band not only made fabulous music but made the instruments

speak to the audience. They were not only musicians but they had a great sense

of humor that enhanced their performance. The entire evening was incredible.

The next event was the annual Julestue. The last event of the season was

the Dinner/Dessert Theatre, which was another huge success.

Email: dicksonstoremuseum@gmail.com

Fall/Winter Events

Dickson Store Museum

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President’s Report

Written by Antonia Nissen, President

The 2017 season at the Dickson Museum is ending

on a lot more hopeful note than last year. The Board

has worked very hard to get our financial picture in

better shape. We have worked Bingos each month,

we did a Casino in the spring and we had very

successful fund raisers in the fall. We have applied

for several grants to get the roof replaced and the

painting and siding repairs done. Thanks to the

County of Red Deer, we will get the roof done next

spring. We have a good start on saving for the

painting and siding repairs. Our biggest expense

always is payroll during the summer. The grants for

the students' wages don't come in until well after the

season starts. This always is stressful for the

treasurer. Somehow with the ice cream sales and

donations we squeeze through those first months.

The Bingo revenue now covers our utilities and

maintenance. This summer we realized the need for

better security, so we purchased a safe and security

cameras.

We hosted a supper, concert, the Julestue and a

dinner/dessert theatre in the fall. We found that we

needed extra help in the kitchen so we asked the

local 4-H Club if they would work for us bussing

tables and doing dishes. This has become a great

partnership. They take a load of work off our backs

and they make some money for their own projects.

Two community groups benefit when we have an

event.

Our Annual Julestue happened to fall on the worst

weather weekend so far this year. Attendance was

down so our profits suffered. It was still a good day

and we thank Kari Morck for taking over on the

sandwiches so we could still offer

the famous Danish Restaurant

that many look forward to.

The Dickson Troup of very

talented actors came back

together for a sequel to last year's

adventures at the local retirement

home. Sharon, our manager of many talents, wrote

another engaging and entertaining play that drew a

full house for each performance. I wonder what they

will be up to next year!

We look forward to 2018 as we go ahead with our

renovations and continue to offer the museum as the

interpretation of our history and a meeting place for

community members and visitors. We thank all of

our members and volunteers who contribute

countless hours to our fundraisers and programs. We

have support from local, municipal, provincial and

federal levels. We continue to be a place to showcase

our Pioneer background and provide the hospitality

that the Christiansen General Store represented for

over 100 years now.

Stay Connected with the Dickson Store Museum!

Like us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/dicksonstoremuseum1

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Manager’s Report

Written by Sharon Lightbown, Manager

In just a few short weeks the year 2017 will end.

Looking back, this year at the museum was a very

successful one. We hired two university students

and one high school student. Having this amount of

staff and some great volunteers we were able to

attended every Monday market at Spruce View and

also several other events such as Viking Days at the

Danish National Museum, Cream Day and Taste of

Markerville at the Markerville Creamery and the

Harvest Fair at the Stephansson House. In an

attempt to continue to raise money for building

repairs, we sold raffle tickets at these events and

also promoted the museum and its events. In the

months of May and June we had some school

programs. Over the summer we had a float in the

Canada Day Parade, held Thrilling Thursday,

Sunday Afternoon at the Museum, and our Teddy

Bear Picnic. The students also managed to get the

back log of accessioning done.

The museum closed on Labour Day weekend and

the students left for school again. However, that did

not mean that there was nothing left to do at the

museum. The fall concert that we had been

planning since February was fast approaching. This

event was promoted throughout the summer and we

were still selling some tickets to the last minute

stragglers. This event was top notch and we were

certainly glad that we had brought Harald Haugaard

and his band all the way from Denmark to entertain

at this event. It was certainly a highlight of the 2017

season.

We had not even held the fall supper when we

had already began practices for the upcoming

Dinner/Dessert Theatres. The Dinner/Dessert

Theatres, “Turn Up Your Hearing Aids”, were held

on November 24 & 25. This was a very successful

fundraiser.

I attended the Alberta Museums Association

conference in entitled, “Unite” hosted by the

Western Museums Association in the USA and the

Alberta Museums Association. I was awarded my

Certificate in Museum Studies at the awards

ceremony. Upon return from the conference it was

back to practicing for the play and organizing the

Julestue.

A big thank you goes to Kari Morck for ordering

food and organizing the Danish Restaurant for the

Julestue. Unfortunately we did not have as good of

a financial return for this event due to the weather.

However, it is still the same amount of work.

Thank you to the Board of Directors and all the

Volunteers for working tirelessly to make 2017 a

very successful year!!

The 2017 season was successful in

receiving funding from the Federal

Government for Young Canada Works

and Canada Summer Jobs, the

Provincial Government for the Summer

Temporary Employment Program,

Alberta Museums Association for the

Operational Staffing Grant, Alberta

Historic Site for a commitment to

building repairs, and the Municipal

Government: County of Red Deer for

help with Visitor Information Center

wages, Recreation and Culture Division

5 grant, as well as the Capital Assistant

Grant to help with building repairs.

This funding goes a long way to keep the

museum running and the site in good

repair.

Merry Christmas

Everyone and all the

best in 2018!

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Become a member today, give the gift of a membership,

share this form with a friend. Renew your membership

by using the form below or send us a quick note with a

cheque enclosed. Membership keeps you current on the

museums happenings and events. We value our

members and their support.

Thank you for your interest in the Dickson Store Museum.

2018 Membership and Donation Form January -December

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________

City/Town: _____________________Province: _______________

Postal Code: _______________Email: ______________________

Phone: __________________

Please choose which format you wish to receive.

Paper/Regular Mail Electronic

Email

New Member _______ Membership Renewal _________

1 year membership $10.00

5 year membership $50.00

Single Life Membership (age 55 and over) $100.00 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Every Donation Helps the Museum

Your donation can be designated to:

Museum Operations

General Donation

Museum Repairs Wish List Donation

Memorial donation in Memory of: ______________________

Donation Amount: _____________________________________

Make cheque payable to Dickson Store Museum

Mail to: Box 146

Spruce View, Alberta

T0M 1V0

Membership News

Don’t forget to renew your

membership for 2018!

If the date on your address label is

highlighted pink your membership

is due.

Would you like to advertise in our

newsletter. The cost is $40.00 for

one year.

What a bargain.

Looking For A Gift! A community member has come up with

a great gift giving idea that will help the

museum and solve all your problems for

the hard to buy for. The donor will

receive a tax receipt and the museum will

issue a certificate to the honored person

stating who the donation is from and the

special occasion. Below is a sample of

the certificate which is smaller than the

card-sized one that will be sent.

Dickson Store Museum Donation Certificate

A special donation has been made in

honor of

______________________________

to the Dickson Store Museum by ______________________________

On ________________________________

_______________________

Signature of Museum Representative

dicksonstoremuseum.com

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Annual General

Meeting And

Volunteer Appreciation

Saturday February 3, 2018

Bethany Lutheran Church Hall

Please call the museum to verify your

attendance as supper will be served.

403-728-3355 or email:

dicksonstoremuseum@gmail.com

We wish you Happy Holidays

and all the best in 2018!

Thank you to the Alberta Museum Association for

funding the Operational Staffing

Grant.

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Make Your Donations Grow

We are very excited about registering with this program through ATB, for donations to our Society! ATB will

add 15% on to any charitable donations received through this site. They also issue the tax receipts for

donations made through here. This link takes you to the explanation of the program. If you wish to donate,

please use the DONATE tab, and enter search word Dickson Store. Thank you to all of you who wish to

donate through this program!!!

https://www.atbcares.com/how-it-works

Thank you for making a donation to the Dickson Store Museum!

Your Donations are Greatly Appreciated!

We apologize if we have missed anyone or anything.

Thank you for being a sponsor of the Dickson Store Museum Dinner/Dessert Theatres!

King of Kings Church Spruce View Hall

Central Alberta Coop Spruce View School

Red Deer County Division 5 Recreation & Culture Board

Red Deer Advocate and Life, Olds Gazette, Western Star, Red Deer Express, Sylvan Lake News, CKLJ, Red Deer County News, CKGY, Big 105

Thank you to all who volunteered at these fundraisers/events!

Julestue Board Meetings

Play Acting

Ticket Sellers Cooks/Bakers

Bingo Catering

Singers Bartenders

Meat Carvers Lightening and Sound

Stage Manager Director

Dianne Franssen In memory of Gordon and Helen Christiansen

Linda Glenfield General

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Thank you to all our Fall Supper and Silent Auction Donors

ALPENROSE MARKETS & GIFTS ANTONIA NISSEN

ANN ZIEGLER BALANCE EXPLORE

BBB HONEY FARM, WADE HANSMA BRACKO BROTHERS

BURNT LAKE GAS CO-0P CENTRAL ALBERTA CO-OP

CAROLINE SUPPLIES, REG DEAN CAROL RITTEN SMITH

DEBRA MCIVOR DICKSON FERTILIZER

DIVINE CRYSTALS DON MACINTYRE, MLA

DOREEN & NICK NICHOLSON EDLEWISS IMPORTS LTD

EVELINE JOHNSEN GAMMEL HOUSE POTTERY, ANNA RASMUSSEN

GLENNIFER LAKE RESORT IRENE RICHARDS

KATHY McCRINDLE KAVIA FINE JEWELLERS

JASON LEO BANTLE MARG MCFARLAND

MARIANNE NICHOLSON, PARADISE REALTY NELLIE LISCOMBE

NUTS ABOUT CHOCOLATE BY SHELLEY RED DEER DANISH CANADIAN CLUB

REAL WORLD SAFETY/BOYD BLACK ROBBIE SMITH/SYLVIA SMITH

RONNIE SHAPKA RUSTLERS LODGE, KIT & KELLY BRINK

PAT & AL FEDKENEUER STEVE & TAMMIE MORCK

TIVOLI GARDEN CAFE THE ODD SHEEP

THE CORNER STORE, KATHY KNIGHT TAIMI PREMIUM MEATS

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Place your advertisement here!

Call today to find out how 403-728-3355.

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