2016 Report to the Community
President’s Message
It’s time for our annual check-up. It is the point in the year when we assess our performance and report to the community on progress made and challenges ahead.
So what is the health of the Jewish Museum of Maryland at the end of FY 2016? I am happy to report that the patient is thriving and the prognosis is even better!
In this fiscal year we set records for fundraising (most funds raised for a traveling exhibit project); for attendance (highest for a season and for an event); and for visibility (front page coverage, arts section lead, multiple TV/radio interviews and social media references to both JMM and Jonestown). We had three major exhibit openings in just one fiscal year – Cinema Judaica, Paul Simon and Beyond Chicken Soup – and more than sixty-six public programs, ranging from concerts to outdoor films to thought-provoking lectures. In September the American Association for State and Local History awarded its highest honor to our A-Mazing Mendes Cohen exhibit and in May we learned that a JMM participant in the international “My Family History” was selected to be a finalist in Israel – that is the second year in a row.
Behind the scenes, our collections grew to more than 11,000 objects adding items ranging from a ten foot tall sign for Hendler’s Ice Cream to a boating club pennant for the “Jewish Navy” of Chesapeake Bay. We strengthened our partnerships with The Associated working ever more closely to improve our administrative efficiency and marketing effectiveness. We also created new partnerships, like our successful engagement with George Washington University’s Experiential Education and Jewish Cultural Arts program, holding a first of its kind practicum for a graduate student specializing in Jewish museums.
With all this excitement, it’s fortunate that our heart is in good shape too. We continue to strengthen our Board and our staff. Our latest additions to the Board, Dr. Neri Cohen, Nancy Kutler, Suzanne Levin-Lapides, Jeffrey Katz and Claire Tesh represent an exceptional cross-section of talent willing and able to advance the JMM agenda. Tracie Guy-Decker who has just completed her first year as JMM’s Associate Director has been a terrific addition to the team, keeping our projects on track and leading the way towards a more visitor-focused institution. And it isn’t just the Board and staff that keep our heart pumping. This year we had the benefit of more than 60 volunteers and interns, putting in over 7250 hours.
The truth is that we’re just beginning to hit our stride. Next year brings the Great Chicken Soup Cook-off, our Henrietta Szold living history character, Hanuyearsikkah, and two more new exhibits – Remembering Auschwitz and Wedding Stories. So if you want to exercise your mind on a steady diet of engaging content, stick with us, JMM is healthy for you.
Duke Zimmerman
JMM Board President, (2015 – 2017)