Mount Prospect Historical Society

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HS Board

Walk and Learn About Mount Prospect

INCREASE YOUR MOUNT PROSPECT KNOWLEDGE WHILE YOU ARE OUT
“COVID-19” WALKING

The Mount Prospect Historical Society is hoping to add some historic interest to residents’ neighborhood walks during this COVD-19 pandemic. They have put together five different neighborhood walking tours, highlighting historic homes that have been featured on their Holiday Housewalks over the past 32 years.

The tours cover 36 homes and other attractions in the Triangle neighborhood; 16 houses north of the Mount Prospect Post Office; 24 homes and churches in the neighborhood just south of the tracks; and 20 houses and other attractions, each, in both the Mt. Prospect Country Club area and the neighborhood south of Mrs. P & Me and the Route 83 S-curve.

Each tour includes an annotated neighborhood map and brief descriptions of the featured homes and attractions. Interspersed photos assist in keeping walkers on track.

“We had this wonderful collection of local information and figured this would be the perfect time to share it with people who suddenly have extra time on their hands. Instead of counting fire hydrants when you walk, you can stop and educate yourself and your children about these lovely homes,” explained Jean Murphy, Housewalk co-chairman and Society vice president.

Go to the walking tour page, download the pdf and print out the tour(s) of your choice or point your cell phone at the QR code on the lawn signs in the various neighborhoods.  You can find the signs at the Society, St. Paul Lutheran Church, the St. Paul Cemetery (north of the Mount Prospect Post Office), Lions Park, St. Mark Lutheran Church, St. Raymond Catholic Church and the Mt. Prospect Country Club.

Order your bulbs online

One of the best things you can do during this difficult period is spend time in your garden.  But you may not want to brave the garden center crowds to get the flowers you desire.

To help our gardening friends, the Mount Prospect Historical Society is once again offering spring flower bulbs for sale through its website.  Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Society’s general operating fund.  The bulbs, provided by Dutch Mill Bulbs of Annville, PA, are guaranteed to bloom or you get a free replacement.  They range from gladiolas, irises and amaryllis to hosta, lilies, strawberries and beyond.

Gardeners in the market for new, fresh bulbs to plant in their yards can order completely online by providing shipping and billing information, and offering payment through PayPal or a credit card.  By following the link provided on the Mount Prospect Historical Society website, your purchase will be automatically credited to the Society.  

Each order will be shipped directly to the purchaser, no matter where they are in the country.  So, if you have a friend in another state who is an avid gardener, suggest that he or she purchase their bulbs on behalf of the Mount Prospect Historical Society this year, too.

The flower bulb sale ends December 1, 2020.  To purchase bulbs via PayPal, log onto https://www.mtphist.org/support-us-with-dutch-mill-bulbs-2/.  Or you may phone the Historical Society at 847/392-9006, Tuesday through Thursday during office hours, to pay by credit card.

Director of MPHS

Position: Director of Mount Prospect Historical Society

Status: Part-Time, 20 hours per week

Schedule:  Day hours. TWTH.  Ability to work additional hours if requested.  Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. Schedule subject to change to meet needs of Society.

Reports to:  Board of Directors

Purpose: Director is passionate about museum work and demonstrates a strong appreciation of preservation and promotion of local history. This position serves as the liaison between public and Society Board; develops and manages the collections; develops and presents educational programs for the public and the schools; develops and creates exhibits for the public; recruits and manages interns; and works with the Society Board on developing policies, goals, fundraising strategies and special projects.

The job involves working closely with Board officers, directors and volunteers. 

Requires professional knowledge of museum management, preservation, teamwork, leadership, and ability to work effectively with community leaders, groups, organizations and residents.

The position requires excellent computer skills, flexibility, writing, public speaking, communication and interpersonal skills.

Must work well in fast paced and fluid environment. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Annual and monthly reports
  • Attend and assist at Society events and fundraisers
  • Attend community events representing the Society
  • Attend monthly board meeting
  • Promote community engagement opportunities
  • Develop and create public exhibits
  • Develop and present educational programs for the public, community groups and schools
  • Develop and present program at Society annual meeting
  • Directs and manages collections
  • Writes and designs newsletter

 

Duties and responsibilities

Collection

  • Catalogs and processes acquisitions with assistance of volunteers
  • Develop and implement promotion opportunities 
  • Develop and implement digital preservation of artifacts
  • Ensures collection policies meet Society’s goals in relating to focus, content, and quality.
  • Ensures proper storage of museum artifacts
  • Recommends accessioning and de-accessioning of acquisitions
  • Monitors and ensures proper environmental controls for the collection

Community and Programming

  • Attends community events and meetings representing MPHS
  • Develops and creates public exhibits
  • Develops and presents educational programs for the public, community groups and schools
  • Provides tours 
  • Represents Society in the community
  • Researches and responds to queries for information
  • Work collaboratively with other Mount Prospect organizations
  • Works closely with Living History committee

Society Administration

  • Attend and assist at fund raising events
  • Attends and reports at monthly Board meetings
  • Attends committee meetings when requested
  • Attends continuing education, seminars, workshops and conferences when funds allow
  • Attends Village board meetings when appropriate
  • Attends workshops, seminars and conferences when funding allows
  • Collects statistics and prepares reports when requested
  • Designs graphics and written materials as needed
  • Implements grants including monitoring expenditure of funds and proper documentation
  • Monitors content website
  • Posts social media 
  • Provides input into budget as prepared by executive board
  • Researches information for the board when requested
  • Researches and writes grant proposals
  • Supervises and directs interns and volunteers
  • Works with Board on fundraising plans for operations and special projects
  • Write policies and procedures for Board approval as appropriate
  • Writes and designs newsletter

ESSENTIAL ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

  • Ability to organize, manage and prioritize work effectively
  • Ability to take initiative
  • Collaborative
  • Diplomatic
  • Enthusiastic and passionate about history
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Excellent knowledge of professional practices, procedures, and techniques of museum management
  • Excellent public speaking skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Professional demeanor
  • Proficient MS Office
  • Teamplayer
  • Thorough knowledge of Mount Prospect history

Additional Abilities, Knowledge and Skills

  • Ability to access, input and retrieve data from the computer
  • Ability to act with diplomacy
  • Ability to innovate
  • Ability to delegate
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Board, volunteers and residents
  • Ability to establish standards for collection management
  • Ability to exercise independent judgment
  • Ability to listen effectively
  • Ability to maintain confidences 
  • Ability to multi-task
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Ability to perform light to moderate work 
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Ability to reach and stoop
  • Ability to train individuals
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to work with volunteers effectively
  • Ability to utilize diverse skill sets within groups of volunteers
  • Creative
  • Excellent computer skills
  • Excellent time management skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication
  • Knowledge of community needs and interests as they pertain to the Society
  • Knowledge of current technology and application to museum operations
  • Knowledge of grant resources for museums
  • Knowledge of standard fundraising techniques and standards and the application to museums
  • Knowledge of volunteer management
  • Professional demeanor
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including: WORD, EXCEL, PUBLISHER, OUTLOOK and POWERPOINT
  • Public Service oriented
  • Self-directed
  • Skill and knowledge of PastPerfect
  • Skill and knowledge with Adobe and WordPress

Education and Training

Bachelor Degree in history, museum studies or related field. Specialized certificates a plus. Minimum two – five years of experience in field.