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| Rawson House Rhetoric "Excellence Earned" by Matthew M. Moye, Executive Director Many people have donated time, materials, and money to Westville over the years. Westville would not exist without these generous gifts. When the museum was founded thirty-four years ago, there was no governmental appropriation to make it happen. That is because, unlike most living history museums, Westville is not part of a government. Back in 1986, I toured the major living history villages in eastern North America through a Kellogg Fellowship. Two things became clear to me very quickly: (1) good living history villages are almost always operated by government --- Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts and Westville are the two major exceptions; and, (2) living history villages are rare in the South. Westville, then, carries out an important role. The Village is perhaps the leading institution of its kind in the Deep South, and it has achieved that stature without the benefit of governmental appropriations. Grassroots With no operational appropriation, Westville Village instead achieves its day-to-day excellence through admission fees, sales, contributions, memberships, grants (corporate, foundation, and government), endowment, bequests, and volunteering. I’m proud to display our independent roots. I am keenly aware that the grassroots nature of Westville is one thing that people value about the Village. We have, I believe, earned a reputation for being efficient with donations of all kinds. Westville is now beginning a campaign to finish some projects, to start some others, and to grow the endowment. The staff and and board of trustees are mindful of the spirit of the founding of Westville. The primary aspect of this campaign is our pledge of stewardship for the resources we are soliciting, the same original spirit which has been the well-spring of our operations for the last three decades. Westville’s Development Campaign is a way to maintain the Village’s quality and efficiency. Your support of the campaign now and over the coming five years will accomplish the continuation of that grassroot spirit. |
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