Chair

Once again, it is my privilege to welcome Members, Patrons and Friends of QEMA to the Fifth Annual Victorian Gala on behalf of QEMA’s Board Members. This Gala Event is our major fundraiser of the year and represents both a time of celebration for the accomplishments of our 2011 initiatives, and an opportunity to plan strategically for our 2012 priorities as we move forward with our Mission.

As a charitable, non-profit Corporation, we are mainly dependent on our fundraising projects, along with goodwill offerings of local businesses, community organizations, and individual and memorial donations to sustain both our century-old Schoolhouse and our Outreach Educational Programs on an ongoing basis. Moreover, fundraising and donations support the development of our educational archival collection to meet the standards as compiled by the Canadian Counsel of Archives. After much reflection, I believe that our success in the future is centred on an opportunity for children and young adults to truly develop an understanding of the history of education. Initially, we are considering several centres for learning for all grade levels utilizing multi media technology. This new initiative, consistent with the Ontario Curriculum, will operate in conjunction with the Grade 3 educational program offered in the Victoria Schoolhouse with Lynne Hunt in the spring and fall visiting classes, in addition to our Summer Program for children in the Quinte area. Moreover, our Learning in a One-Room Schoolhouse Boxes with artifacts and archival material to enhance in-class teaching continue to be popular in the Hastings and Prince Edward school jurisdiction during 2010-2011.

Helen Keller’s quote, “ Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” reminds me of the outstanding support that QEMA receives from the partnerships established with a number of stakeholders in the role of preserving history for future generations. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I offer a sincere thank you to the Corporation for the County of Prince Edward and especially the Recreation, Parks and Culture Department; Barry Braun, Commissioner: Wendy Lane Manager of Recreation Parks and Culture; Ron Dubyk, Manger of Properties; Jennifer Lyons, Head Curator and Rose Hall Curator, and Janice Hubbs, On Site Curator of Ameliasburgh Historical Museum and Pioneer Village. Additionally, we appreciate the partnerships established with Sandy Latchford, Chair of the Friends of Ameliasburgh Historical Museum and Pioneer Village; Roy Pennell, Chair of the Ameliasburgh Fall Fair, and Carol Wood, Chair of Ameliasburgh Town Hall Working Group. It is also our hope to establish a close working relationship with the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board in the same way we had with the Prince Edward Board prior to the amalgamation of those Boards in 1998.

The Board of Directors is excited about the evolution of our website www.qema1978,com. Considerable time and effort has been given by Kornelis DeJong and me. Further, we are delighted to have the support and expertise of Amber Martin and Sue Capon from Countylive as we learn to utilize all of the aspects offered by this website.

QEMA is encouraged by the ongoing sales of our recent publication, The Saga of the One-Room Schoolhouse. The books are $35 each, and their sales bring us closer to financing our new book featuring education in the schools of North and South Marysburgh as well as Athol.

As we look forward to the 2012 year, our budget will focus on children’s programming and the museum space required to provide new learning opportunities. In addition, the painting and chimney/stovepipe project related to the Victoria Schoolhouse and the technology initiatives in The Three Year Plan for the development of the Archives are also central to the QEMA Mission and budget.

Our membership is just shy of the 100 mark. Perhaps this evening you could help us reach our 2011 goal of 100 members. Yearly membership is just $10.00. Thank you to Louise Sallans who keeps our Membership Registry.

A sincere thank you is extended to Kathryn Reed for planning this Gala Event and her sincere commitment to the QEMA mission and all fundraising events in 2011.

Finally, I take this opportunity to thank you, our guests this evening, for your ongoing support of our vision of long-term sustainability of QEMA, the mission to tell the educational story, and preserve its history for future generations.

J. Daniel Rainey QEMA President 2011

QEMA Historian 2004-2011