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Museum begins push for funds RAINMAKER
Museum of the Confederacy takes major step toward bringing museum to Spotsylvania County and two other locations in VirginiaDate published: 5/10/2008 By DAN TELVOCK The Museum of the Confederacy has hired a fund-raiser, a major step in its effort to expand out of Richmond into a system of museums in Spotsylvania County and other Virginia locations. S. Waite Rawls, president and chief executive officer of the museum, said Otis C. "O.T." Crowther Jr. will join the staff as vice president for advancement on June 1. "We moved from the internal planning to 'now let's go do it,'" Rawls said. "'Let's go do it' means we've got to raise money regardless of whom we raise the money from. This is going to be a big effort and we needed a real well-qualified person to lead it." The museum has the world's largest collection of Civil War artifacts. Rawls said his new vision is precipitated by a 50 percent drop in attendance chiefly caused by the continued growth of the adjacent Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Rawls announced late last year a plan to develop a system of museums at four locations in Virginia, including a site near or at the Chancellorsville battlefield off State Route 3 by 2012. The White House of the Confederacy and the museum's administration headquarters, research center and library would remain in Richmond. The other two proposed sites are Appomattox Court House National Park and Fort Monroe in Hampton. "I've just really been excited and motivated by the plan that the museum has laid out for its future," Crowther said. For the plan to work, Rawls said, he needs community support and at least $15 million in local, state and federal funding for the three new museum sites. He estimated the buildings will be 8,000 square feet, with about 5,000 square feet for exhibits. Rawls said that before a major fundraising effort is launched, Crowther will line up lead donors. Crowther worked on the capital campaign for the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, where he helped raise $30 million of the $80 million the school wanted to raise internally. Rawls continues to pitch his plan to area leaders. Since the March meeting with the Spotsylvania chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, he said, he has had frequent talks with the National Park Service and battlefield preservation groups. He has met with the local Ruritans and privately with county supervisors. Last Saturday, he attended the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust's annual meeting at Willis Hill, and brought with him Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's sword. About 100 people attended, including Speaker of the House Bill Howell, R-Stafford. "It was a real thrill for people to see Stonewall Jackson's sword, and it was the first time it was in Fredericksburg since May of 1863," Crowther said. Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 5/10/2008
Good Job
(posted by
Ranko
, May 10, 2008 3:27 am)
This will be a great asset for the county and the rest of our area. They are smart to get a person with a great background as a fund- rasier to hit the ground running and get the project moving.
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