Musing about museums

About 45 museum tour guides and volunteers from around the region gathered Saturday at the Nevada State Museum for the second Joint Docent Symposium. Representatives from museums all over the Silver State and a few from just over the border in California discussed improving their museums.

"We all share the same problems of fund-raising and membership," said Pat Duchert, chairwoman of the Friends of the Nevada State Museum, which hosted the meeting. "And our latest program is going to be museum outreach - taking school programs to outlying areas."

Guests at the "tea and tour" included members of the Nevada State, North Lake Tahoe and Truckee-Donner historical societies, the Nevada State Railroad Museum Docent Council and a docent from the Churchill County Museum in Fallon.

Mary Summers of the North Lake Tahoe group explained a 40-minute lesson plan she uses to teach school students about games played by the Washoe tribe. One involved nuts shaped like half spheres which are shaken and thrown like dice. If they all land on their round side, the person gets to roll again.

"It's pure luck," she said. "All of you from Nevada know about that."

When docent Penny Fairfield - dressed in period clothing like all the Nevada State Museum docents - threw a good roll, she got a round of cheers.

"To the Nugget tonight, Penny!" hollered Duchert.

Saturday was more than fun; it was educational and stimulating.

"I've found it really inspiring and motivational," said Chelsea Waltersheid, secretary of the Tahoe-Donner Historical Society.

She said she learned about better ways to raise money for her museum - the Old Jail Museum on Jibboon Street in Truckee - as well as how to take her message to the community with outreach programs.

"We're thankful to be included in this forum," she said. "And we're hoping this can become an annual discussion."

Duchert agreed.

"Actually we're hoping we can start meeting twice a year," she said. Her group organized the first such meeting at this time last year. "We hosted the first two meetings and we're hoping the next one will be held up in Reno."

She said the Friends of the Nevada State Museum - the state's official museum - can always use more members. For information or to volunteer, call 887-0710 or 687-4810.