From left: CBMM Director of Education Kate Livie; FDHS President Eric Lowery; Easton Town Councilwoman Megan Cook; Benjamin Cook; Frederick Douglass Day (FDD) Co-Chairs Harriette Lowery and Karen Shook; Outreach Committee Co-Chair Clairdean Black; CBMM Director of Events and Volunteer Programming Melissa Spielman; and CBMM Events Coordinator Ida Heelan. Not pictured from the FDD committee: Doreen Getsinger, Marie Thomas, Childlene Brooks, Richard Potter, Michelle Zacks, Brenda Wooden, Trappe Commissioner Rosalee Potter, and Phyllis Hubbard.

Members of the Frederick Douglass Day committee recently gathered at the Talbot County Courthouse in preparation for the second Frederick Douglass Day celebration, set for Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD.

The event is jointly sponsored by CBMM and the Frederick Douglass Honor Society (FDHS), with proceeds benefitting the Frederick Douglass Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The May 5 event will feature exhibits about Frederick Douglass’ life and work, a genealogy workshop, dance and live music, regional foods, and activities for children to learn about the diversity of cultural traditions established in our early heritage. Shipbuilding techniques used by Douglass will also be demonstrated at the boatshop.

The first Frederick Douglass Day was held at CBMM in October 2010, drawing more than 500 people to the museum’s waterfront campus and raising $10,000 for the Frederick Douglass statue that was unveiled at the Talbot County Courthouse in Easton in June 2011.

Sponsorships are available to the event by contacting Frederick Douglass Day Co-Chair Karen Shook at 410-745-3307 or at [email protected]. For more information about Frederick Douglass Day, visit the Frederick Douglass Honor Society at www.frederickdouglasshonorsociety.org or CBMM at www.cbmm.org.

Student artwork is now on display in the Van Lennep Auditorium at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD is hosting a display of 50 pieces of original art from elementary school students in its Van Lennep Auditorium now through March. The show represents young artists from across the Mid-Atlantic who have qualified as semi-finalists in a “Chesapeake Bay Revival Coloring Contest.”

Hosted by Donna Danielle McCartney and The Nautical Mile Series, the contest invited schools from within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to participate. Students were encouraged to create an original piece of artwork capturing their own interpretation of the Chesapeake Bay and its issues, on a standard 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. The semi-finalists shown at CBMM represent 36 schools from throughout Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and New York.

Each participating school sent one submission package, with a maximum of 15 pictures. Each submission package included all pictures intended to represent the school for their 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes.

The winning poster will be selected in March 2012 with input from contest sponsors, including Donna Danielle McCartney (the author of the Nautical Mile Series), and members of the Chesapeake Conservation Corps, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The winner and their school will win cash and prizes.

The exhibit is open to the public and is free with general admission or for museum members. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.
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The Model Guild of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD will host a weekend model-building workshop in the museum’s Bay History building from 6 to 9pm Friday, February 24 and 9 to 5pm Saturday and Sunday, February 25 and 26. Led step-by-step by skilled modelers, participants will create a 10-inch wooden rowing skiff with lapped side planking and a flat bottom. Class size is limited, with pre-registration needed.

The 10-inch model is formed over a frame in much the same manner as a real boat is constructed. Thin toothpicks are used along with fast-drying glue to fasten the models together. Models are made of one dark and one light wood, which are alternated in the design to make a handsome, two-toned appearance.

CBMM’s Model Guild welcomes anyone 12 years of age or older to take these classes, and encourages new members of all skill levels to participate in the Guild, use its facilities, and trade model building experience with museum visitors. A special rate for a parent-child team can accommodate younger children.

The cost for the February 24-26 workshop is $80 for CBMM members and $95 for non-members. All tools and materials are supplied. Pre-registration is required by Monday, February 20. Call 410-745-2916 to register for the class or contact Model Guild Director Bob Mason at 410-745-3266 or [email protected] for more information.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum volunteer docent Joe Irr pulls an oyster cage from Fogg’s Cove in St. Michaels during a museum tour.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD is offering training for new and existing docent volunteers at the museum beginning on February 2 and continuing on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout February. The training is free and open to the public, with advanced registration needed.

This training is offered once a year, and prepares participants to lead group tours, interpret the museum’s exhibits, and assist at special events. Anyone who enjoys interacting with people, has a curiosity about the Chesapeake Bay, and would like to help promote the Bay’s cultural heritage is encouraged to participate in CBMM’s volunteer docent training.

The new volunteer orientation from 10 – 11am on Thursday, February 2 will provide the basic information for becoming a museum volunteer. The orientation is followed with a 6-part intensive training program led by CBMM’s Director of Education Kate Livie, with topics ranging from learning about the museum’s exhibits and collections to developing tour group management techniques. Sessions are scheduled for 10am-12:30pm in CBMM’s Van Lennep Auditorium on February 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, and 23. All sessions must be attended to qualify as a museum docent.

CBMM docents provide invaluable support to the museum in its mission to promote a deeper understanding of the Chesapeake Bay region and its history. Docents are asked to commit to one, 4-hour weekly shift. Duties can include guiding museum visitors and providing a memorable and positive visit; staffing individual exhibitions and leading demonstrations, classes, and special events as needed; and promoting the museum and its mission to others.

“Many docents express that volunteering at the museum is one of their most gratifying experiences,” commented CBMM’s Director of Events and Volunteer Program Melissa Spielman. “I often receive comments from volunteers who say that engaging museum visitors from across the country and around the world is inspiring and fulfilling work. That kind of feedback makes me feel the same about my work here also.”

Pre-registration is required for the volunteer training. To enroll or to receive more information, contact Melissa Spielman at 410-745-4956 or at [email protected].