“I have seen Americans making great and sincere sacrifices for the key common good and a hundred times I have noticed that, when needs be, they almost always gave each other faithful support.”
—Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
In America's early history, helping each other was necessary for survival. Colonists helped each other gather and preserve crops, build and maintain structures and develop roads for transport. We can recall examples from our own counties recent rural past when neighbor helped neighbor to bring in the crops, raise a barn, dig a well, replace a burned out homestead, dig a stump, shear sheep, string a fence or work cattle. Women helped each other can the season's harvest and make soap. Perhaps the most familiar example of women helping women was the quilting bee.
Volunteerism continues today. We see it in political campaigns, blood drives, Boy and Girl Scout leadership, church activities and in efforts to promote and preserve local history. Today we celebrate some of our South Sebastian County Historical Society volunteers. They enable us to keep our museum doors open, assist us in repair and maintenance, loan display materials, maintain our grounds, present educational programs, prepare refreshments, decorate our historic buildings for holidays and special events and so much more.
When you see an SSCHS volunteer, please take a minute to express your thanks!
We picture just a few of the many, many volunteers who share their gifts with us throughout the year. We thank you all.
|Our officers, who do double duty as re-enactors|
|Our vice president, presenters and past president|
|Those who assist with special projects|
|Those who prepare our Christmas banquet|
|Those who brave the cold weather to present exciting activities for our community's children|
|Those who beautify our grounds|
|Those who make history come alive|
|Those who are willing to respond to the call when assistance is needed, no matter what form it takes|
|Those who share their special talents|
|Those who brave the Fourth of July heat to man the history trolley|
|The volunteer coordinator whose job is never-ending|
|The men who erect the racks for our annual quilt show|
|The sorority who sponsors our annual fund raiser, "The Airing of the Quilts"|
|Those with dedication and persistence and the will to succeed|
|Our founding families|
|The many musicians who volunteer their talents|
|Those who work behind the scenes to make the quilt show a success|
|Those who are always willing to go the extra mile|
|Those who are there, rain or shine|
|Those who inspire us|
|Those who remind us of our values and heritage|
|Those who bring us joy|