We are facing two urgent volunteer staffing needs to ensure our museum can continue operating and being open to the public:
- A treasurer / bookkeeper: our current director and his wife are sailing the Intracoastal Waterway for a year + at the end of February. We use Quickbooks for accounting, and manage about $150,000 of assets at present. As our fundraising goals and expertise grow, careful investment and accurate tax reporting for our nonprofit is vital.
- A museum manager / volunteer coordinator for scheduling, training, and recruiting docents, being a contact for group visits, and interacting with the Crowne Plaza for maintenance and events. Being on-site is not necessary, but one should be able to swing by the museum to check in with staff or handle issues and projects on occasion.
Additionally, both to spread out responsibilities and also to tap into broader skill sets and personal networks, growing our Board from its current 7 to ultimately 15 members in 2025-2026 is a necessity.
Beyond the two functions listed above, key areas of know-how and enthusiasm our organization needs include:
- Collaborating with Twin Cities K-12 school districts and nearby colleges to use our archives and history to develop curriculum & materials for STEM and social studies subjects.
- Organizing community-building and fundraising events such as panel discussions, themed parties, movie nights, seasonal surplus sales, and behind-the-scenes tours.
- Building relationships with Minnesota aerospace companies to better communicate their future workforce needs, educational objectives, obtain their technical assistance & material donations, and advocate for our growth.
- Meet with local governments, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, state agencies, community groups, and other nonprofits to build interest and support (both moral and financial) for our mission.
- Find and apply for grants for specific projects and staffing.
We invite you to contact northwestairlines @ comcast. net if you are interested in joining our Board in any of these or other capacities that match your talents and experience.
