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Residents urge volunteers to save Proctor Historical Society; '100 squared' campaign proposed
Summary
Residents and historical society volunteers asked the Proctor City Council for help recruiting new volunteers for the Proctor Museum and proposed a "100 squared" community volunteer drive and recognition picnic; council thanked volunteers and agreed to provide representation when the organizers meet.
Jim Schwarz Bower, representing the Proctor Museum Historical Society, told the City Council on Nov. 3 that volunteers who presented recommendations in September had received no follow-up and appealed for wider community help to keep the museum operating.
"We just need to figure out a way to continue to try to get people to step forward," Schwarz Bower said, adding that the society had shared a report on Facebook and in the local journal and hoped for more community engagement.
Volunteer Chris Bren Lions, a Proctor graduate, described the museum as a place that preserves local character and urged people to support it. "It's good to come back to Proctor," he said, and asked the council and residents to help keep the museum’s collections accessible to future generations.
Gary Jones, a museum volunteer, said the museum struggles to find people to run exhibits and operate trains. "It's pretty tough to find anybody young," he said, and encouraged community members to try spending a day helping with operations.
Carrie Welsh, an original Hoghead Committee member, said the festival and the museum survive only when volunteers and community groups collaborate. She outlined a proposed "100 squared" campaign to recruit 100 new volunteers by coordinating schools, civic groups and local media and suggested a July 4 volunteer recognition picnic if the effort succeeds.
Council members praised the society's work and asked organizers to send invitations when they schedule a planning meeting so the city can be represented. The council did not take formal action but thanked volunteers for their outreach and promised to work with the organizers to explore support options.
The public comment period also included a separate request about sidewalk repairs and other routine community concerns.
