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WEBSITE NEWS
At the bottom of this update you will see a new link to the Website News Archive where you will find previous updates for reference.
November 6, 2008
Work continues in the Paderewski Room. Three of the five window plugs are installed and the HVAC ductwork has been reoriented. The second generation of windows were installed in the late 1980's were not completely sealed air-tight. As a result, because of our close proximity to the Kennedy Expressway, soot infiltrated into the room. When we packed display items away for the construction period, the cotton gloves we used very quickly became black with the oily soot. Everything will be cleaned before the display is re-opened. It was decided from this experience to seal the windows and then install a wooden cover over the windows on the inside. This tactic has several advantages; It gives extra protection from air infiltration, completely blocks sunlight (the bane of all museums), provides added insulation for better temperature and humidity stability and, finally, provides additional display surfaces.
As part of the re-design, the committee paid a visit to the Chicago History Museum. There we noticed their display of Lincoln's "death bed" was very well done. The bed is elevated and additional display space was then available without blocking the view of the object. We unanimously decide to use the same approach. The HVAC ductwork, intended as a security wall and extra display area, would now be laid on its side and incorporated into the new raised floor. A laminated glass partition will then be installed from the new floor to near ceiling, allowing a very high level of security.
Yes! We will have a temporary display available for visitors in late November! Take a look at the latest photos.
As noted previously, our busy season has begun. We opened our UNESCO exhibit on October 19, just a week after the Heritage Program. The opening was not open to the public. About 300 students from the local Saturday Polish School programs.
The following Thursday, October 23, we hosted the Advocates Society annual meeting and dinner. Next the floors will be cleaned and preparations made for our benefit formal dinner on November 7.
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October 9, 2008
Work is scheduled to begin in the Paderewski Room tomorrow, October 10. Finally! I do not have an estimated date for re-opening yet but should have one in the near future. The board appointed a committee to organize the renovation effort and under the leadership of Geraldine Coleman the project has started moving forward. Thank you Geraldine! I intend to start posting photos of the construction progress on the Paderewski webpage.
As I have previously noted, our busy season has started. The Great Hall has been re-configured for the Polish Heritage event on Sunday October 12. As of this writing, we have only a few slots open for the dinner. We are so very pleased that Polish-Americans continue to honor their cultural heritage.
Next week, the Great Hall will be again re-configured, this time to host the annual dinner for the Advocates Society. There are usually around 300 people that attend this event!
Following that, we prepare for the big Lifetime Members benefit dinner. Then to the annual Gift Show and the Christmas "Wigilias."
Welcome to the new website of The Polish Museum of America! The new site is designed to download faster and get you to your desired destination page faster and easier. It also now includes more content and features such as newsletters, blogs and articles. But, please be patient because not all the pages have been completed and not all the intended features have been activated. The site will gradually be finished during 2008.
I want to especially acknowledge the assistance of Mr. James Czurcha in helping develop the drop-down menu features for the website. Thanks Jim!
One very big change we ask you to make note of is that our address has changed. If you have our old address bookmarked or in a Favorites folder, please change to the new address!
Your comments, corrections, suggestions and criticisms are most sincerely welcome. Please send them directly to this site.
EMAIL: suggestions at PolishMuseumOfAmerica.org
Rich Kujawa and the Website Committee; Margaret Kot, Monika Nowak and Kevin Ryba.
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