But what if we want to give you money right now?!

It's awe inspiring to see the passion and dedication so many people have for the Natural History Museum and we hear from a new person every day whether it be a story or a suggestion or even an offer to volunteer.

Thank you, thank you. We can always use more volunteers, we are always open to ideas and suggestions, and we appreciate whenever anyone sends an email with technical difficulties, questions or corrections.

This is an effort run by volunteers and we will take all of the help we can get.

One of the questions coming up on emails is "What if I want to write you a check right now?"

• Thank you! That's amazing that you are ready to write a check to save the museum.
• At this moment we are asking for pledges only. This is because we are trying to get an idea about the amount of immediate funds we can raise to keep the museum open to submit with our proposal to HSU.
  
• We are submitting our proposal to HSU to keep the museum open on Friday (August 28). And then we wait. Until we hear from HSU that we can go forward with keeping the museum open we don't want to collect checks or payments from donors.
  
• You can visit our website at www.savethenorthcoastnhm.org to pledge. Once we know for sure that the museum is staying open and that we can start collecting the funds to keep it open we will be in contact with you.
  
• Your pledge matters! The closer we can get to the $120,000 goal the better because it shows HSU just how dedicated the community is to the museum and also provides the support we need to stay open while we make long term plans for the future of the museum.
• You can continue to pledge after Friday. And the effort will continue after Friday. We're going to keep going so that we have the momentum going when we hear back from HSU.
  

Pledge today! www.savethenorthcoastnhm.org

The Latest Press Release

Save the North Coast’s Natural History Museum

brought to you by Friends of the North Coast’s Natural History Museum

	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2009

FRIENDS OF THE NORTH COAST’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

$40,000 raised by this group of volunteers in three days

The fundraising campaign to “Save the North Coast’s Natural History Museum” launched yesterday when a group of dedicated volunteers met at the museum to outline a comprehensive strategy for keeping the museum from closing. Calling themselves “Friends of the North Coast’s Natural History Museum” this independent group of community members outlined their approach to raising the $120,000 necessary to keep the museum doors open through June 2010. $40,000 in pledges has been gathered in only three days. The most recent donor pledged both $5000 and a trailer to accommodate more office space for the museum staff.

On August 7, 2009 Humboldt State University announced plans to close the museum due to State Budget Constraints. Immediately after the announcement concerned community members rallied their support to "Save the North Coast’s Natural History Museum." On August 12 the first community meeting was held at the Museum with over 60 people in attendance. At this meeting Dean James Howard and Associate Dean Steven Smith agreed to let the group come up with a plan by Aug. 28 to raise $120,000 and to submit strategies for long term fiscal support for the museum. A second meeting held on August 17 set forth a fundraising, marketing and long term strategies plan for the future of the museum.

The August 19, 2009 meeting was a lively and excited discussion. Buoyed by the $40,000 in pledges the group developed a Fundraising Committee focusing on six approaches : Grassroots Efforts; Foundations & Large Donors; Grants; 501(c)(3) Research; Closing & Incentive Costs and Marketing. In the coming weeks each group will launch their efforts to raise the rest of the funds needed to keep the museum open.

The proposal to Humboldt State is due on August 28, 2009. After receipt of the proposal HSU will determine if the museum will stay open or if the doors will be closed. The Board is at work on a proposal that both outlines short term goals to raise $120,000 and also the long term goals of raising enough money to fund the museum so that it can be a lasting and thriving institution in the community.

Friends of the North Coast’s Natural History Museum continues to update the blog (http://savethenorthcoastnhm.blogspot.com) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/savencnhm). They are also on Facebook and can be reached at savethenorthcoastnhm@gmail.com. For interviews please contact Karen Reiss, 825-0465 or karen-reiss@redwoods.edu