Falkirk Volunteers Making a Difference

What’s Happening at Falkirk These Days? Volunteers are busy making things happen! Ever wonder about the life and family of Captain Robert Dollar, Falkirk's historic figure? Who was he and what's happened with his family? Thanks to volunteer Jenni Monnier, you'll soon be able to find out online. Jenni has been compiling the Dollar Family Tree and will soon be posting information online to augment what's already there. In addition, Jenni has learned how to conduct tours and is helping with database functions for our fundraising efforts. For more information on Robert Dollar, visit the History section of our web site. Interested in taking a video tour of Falkirk online some day to see it from home or show your friends that live out of the area? How about to suggest it to someone you think might like to have their party or get married here? Ariel Sinelnikoff is working on a video this summer that we can post online so you can see this elegant Queen Anne Victorian in all her glory. More information coming soon. Do you often think: why doesn't Falkirk get some grants to help fund the building and operations? We do! But grants are hard to come by. Falkirk has seen a reduction in grants over the past 2 years just like the majority of nonprofits in Marin and elsewhere. Plus grants don't often pay for general operating expenses, which are our most cash intensive functions. However, in the next several months you'll see Falkirk get an exterior makeover thanks to a grant to pay for some long overdue painting. And, we have a stellar volunteer working on grants for operating expenses as well. Jim Davenport has been applying his history expertise and learning the ins and outs of grant hunting to find us some funds to begin a living history program and help us market Falkirk far and wide. Speaking of marketing, volunteer Mary Nealon has been using her marketing and PR skills to develop a marketing plan for Falkirk complete with web enhancements, new wedding rental brochure designs, targeted marketing procedures, personal outreach and fundraising suggestions. Our new wedding brochure has been a tremendous asset and has already gone out to dozens of people. And Mary has been personally reaching out to find new renters and connections to increase Falkirk's revenue. Falkirk's future rests in revenue generation through wedding and event rentals. Mary's service has been critical in getting us positioned to increase our rental revenues. Another way we are attempting to enhance our revenues as well as our position in the community is through a planned art auction fundraiser in the early winter. Who has time to do that, you ask? Once again, volunteers to the rescue! Ventana Amico, Susan Bercu, Geraldine Ganun-Owens, Enrique Goldenberg, Pattie Grey, Cynthia Jensen, Sherrie Rice, and other artists and Falkirk supporters have been meeting with our Curator, Beth Goldberg to design and implement a new annual event for Falkirk with the intention of raising funds and spotlighting our important place in the local art scene. Hundreds and hundreds of local artists have shown their work at Falkirk over the years. This auction is a way all artists can support Falkirk and get their work shown in a prestigious event. Falkirk Volunteer and Master Gardener Jessica Wasserman leads a tour of the succulent garden Several Falkirk volunteers and Marin Master Gardeners are working in the gardens year round and planning plant sales, writing articles for national gardening magazines, and working with other volunteers to beautify Falkirk's landscaping. In May they raised over $1000 in just 2 hours and conducted a lecture and tour to educate people on water friendly, Mediterranean, succulent, and tree gardens. Master Gardener Elizabeth Navas has just written an article on Falkirk's garden history to be published in Pacific Horticulture this fall. She and other Master Gardeners Leslie Bosch Hutchinson, Jessica Wasserman, Gail Mason, and Larry Mulryan have formed a regular Falkirk Garden Volunteer committee to oversee the gardens, plan events and work with Falkirk staff ongoing to make the most of our wonderful landscape. Check out the Mediterranean Garden plant list here: Mediterranean Garden List . And let us not forget about our fabulous Cultural Affairs Service League or CASL for short. CASL is the ladies auxiliary arm of Falkirk raising funds through holiday teas and special events, doing interior renovations, and funding critical aspects of Falkirk's programs and building. CASL does our docent tours and has teamed up with the Marin History Museum to offer monthly tours on Saturdays. They plan on doing some kitchen remodeling in the coming year to make Falkirk more user-friendly for caterers and event producers. In addition, CASL volunteer Jane Toffaleti is our Tuesday greeter and clerical volunteer at the front desk. If you ever feel the need to feel welcome and be greeted in the most gracious manner, you should really come by Falkirk on Tuesdays between 1pm and 5pm and experience the warmth and kindness that Jane has to offer. She makes us happy - why not you? Thanks to all our tremendous volunteers, too many to mention in this article. We couldn't exist without you. And if you are interested in volunteering at Falkirk, please give us a call at 485-3436 or send an email to cory.bytof@cityofsanrafael.org. We'd love to have your help!