Staffing Changes
vices head, adult tours, rental events; and Diane
van Zyverden: education, events. In addition,
there were quite a few invaluable employees in the
following categories: tour interpreters, custodians,
events and security assistants, and student workers. The Museum also receives great benefit from a
small army of esteemed adult and student volunteers, most notably the six BA College interns who
receive academic credit for their yearlong commitment to museum education. Working with all
these outstanding individuals has been a pleasure
and a privilege.
My last day as director of Glencairn Museum was
June 30th, 2013, a position I began during the summer of 1987. I chose to leave and pursue other,
related endeavors after twenty-six inspiring and
rewarding years in this position. Following my
decision, a search committee was appointed that
included Jim Adams (chair), Jill Brickman, Kristin King, Ken Schauder and Joe Weiss. Their interviews were completed by the end of January
and they selected Brian Henderson for the position. This decision was then affirmed by the ANC
Board at their winter meeting. As well as being an
outstanding assistant to the museum director for
six years, Brian has been a highly regarded administrator and assistant professor of history at Bryn
Athyn College. His accomplishments at Glencairn
during these six years have included assisting in
the creation of the Museum Advisory Council,
our first governing council, coordinating the Museum’s first five year strategic plan with financials,
and mastering – or just about – the intricacies of
the budgetary process at the Museum.
Conclusion
For the last 26 years it has been an honor, a challenge and a whole lot of fun to work for the Academy of the New Church at Glencairn Museum.
I’ve had six bosses, all of them inspiring and
supportive. For the last five years I’ve had the additional privilege of being one of three directors
in Bryn Athyn’s National Historic Landmark
District, working closely with the Cathedral and
Cairnwood. I’m also very grateful for the good will
and support of the extended Raymond Pitcairn
family. Every year without fail, grandchildren or
great-grandchildren have visited Glencairn with
their schools, attended summer camp, or served
as interns, employees or volunteers while attending Academy schools. I’m particularly pleased that
one of them is now an active member of the Museum Advisory Council. Glencairn and the Historic District are indeed fortunate to have such a
committed and enthusiastic family to help us stay
connected with our religious and historic roots.
One of the joys of working at the Museum for
me has been helping children, older students and
adult visitors connect with the outstanding religious art and symbolic architectural decorations
that are so much a part of Glencairn. New Church
concepts can be woven through any educational
program or tour. Mankind’s belief in the afterlife
through the ages is echoed in each of our collections and in the decorations of the building as well.
Our heavenly home is determined by the quality
of our service in this life, not by church membership or what we say we believe. The concept of the
four levels of service to the neighbor can be introduced to visitors in mosaic, stained glass, stone,
paint, wood, or embroidered fabric. The chapel is
a very special room to acquaint our guests with
Museum Staff
Since this is my last report as director I would be
remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Glencairn’s remarkable staff who contribute in many important ways
to the uses of the Museum. They have been a creative, committed, hard-working and professional
team. Several were on staff when I began full-time
work in 1987 and several more have worked at
the Museum for 20 or more years. As a gesture
of appreciation and also for the historical record,
I’m listing them here with key duties beside their
names. For the year, 2012-2013, the full-timers
were: Bret Bostock: collections head, exhibitions,
security head; Doreen Carey: office management,
events; Peter Childs: concerts and lectures, guest
services, collections; Joralyn Echols: public relations head, marketing head, events; Diane Fehon:
education head, education interns, events; Ed
Gyllenhaal: curatorial head, publications, exhibitions; and Edwin Steiner: custodial head, events.
The part-timers were: Glenn Greer: guest services,
collections, statistics; Kirsten Gyllenhaal: curatorial; Brian Henderson: budget, strategic planning;
Greg Jackson: historic district archives head; Drew
Nehlig: head of maintenance and restoration of
the building and grounds; Leah Smith: guest ser-
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