AQ July 26 Cincy to Pittsburgh

I'll be there! I booked last year in an inside room, and got an upgrade into an outside room thanks to the decrease in fares and a phone call to the Memphis office.

My wife and I will be on this one also. The boat was in Louisville yesterday and just seeing her got me so excited I had to book this trip.
See y'all on board in just two weeks!

As of July17, I am out of a job; even with 2 for 1, we can't do it. Anyone need a curator, or a Theatre manager?

Just curious. What do you curate?

Hi Lexie,
When I was hired by the City of Oroville, I was in charge of four museums: The Oroville
Chinese Temple Complex & Museum, the C. F. Lott Home (1856), the Butte County Pioneer Memorial Museum (opened in 1932), and the Bath House Museum in the Feather River Nature Center (a CCC built stone building). Since then, the city added the Bolt's Antique Tool Museum. Part of my job was to assist the State Theatre Performing Arts Center manager, and three years later he left and I was "temporarily" asked to run the theatre. Today I spent more time running the theatre than the museums. Other than a "temple Guide" I was the only employee directly working with the museums. The Parks crew did do maintenance and would open & close the museums for the docents when I wasn't available. I also did all the scheduling of special tours (schools & other groups) and the theatre booking--actually, until three years ago, I also booked acts for the theatre, did all the publicity & ticketing for those too. Since then the city has only rented the theatre out & I did all the scheduling & contracting for that too.
No one is replacing me & the community is getting up in arms over the mess that will soon ensue--but I don't see my job coming back. I suspect I was too visible and known which somehow must have threatened the present city administration. Of course, I am only one of many who were let go. Right now the city has no code enforcement either (right now someone is camping out across the street from the Temple museum & there is no one to tell them to move on--I asked!).
Sorry, this is probably more information than anyone wanted to know!

Frank, Jim: Looking forward to meeting you. My wife is excited to taking this trip as she says the river trips are the most relaxing vacations she's ever had. Our documents are supposed to arrive on Monday so we're getting ready to drive up from Tampa. Funny thing, the savings of the 2 for 1 will be eaten up by the kennel costs for our four dogs and the cat. Oh well!

David: I'm sorry to hear that you're out of work. A man of your talents should be in demand, though. Hope you find a new job soon.

-Jim Herron

Jim Herron;32020 wrote: Frank, Jim: Looking forward to meeting you. My wife is excited to taking this trip as she says the river trips are the most relaxing vacations she's ever had. Our documents are supposed to arrive on Monday so we're getting ready to drive up from Tampa. Funny thing, the savings of the 2 for 1 will be eaten up by the kennel costs for our four dogs and the cat. Oh well!

David: I'm sorry to hear that you're out of work. A man of your talents should be in demand, though. Hope you find a new job soon.

-Jim Herron

Hi Jim,

I'm looking forward to it also. There will also be some other S&D members making the trip too. If you would, could you bring along some of your steamboat DVDs for sale?

David: Sorry to hear about your "downsizing" experience. Been there; done that...more then once! However, I never lost a job that I didn't get a better one. May it be that way with you...and soon. Good managers of ANYTHING are hard to find! Good luck!! Cap'n Walnut.

Sounds like an interesting place. I figured that with a name like Oroville that it had something to do with gold mining. We had an Oro City here near Leadville that sort of followed the miners who were working up California Gulch, looking for the mother lode. It no longer exists. You must have been a very busy person.

Lexie,
Yeah, pretty busy. When I hired on, there were two of us, me doing museums, and Vorin, doing the theatre. Back then there was one less museum too!
I had a call tonight from the city wanting me to bid on doing just the lights & sound, no rehearsals (so how do I learn & set up the cues without seeing the rehearsal??)--and, of course, at a cut rate! I'm thinking! (Jack Benny pose).
S'
David D.
PS, in the Pioneer museum we have a doll from the Donner party and a miner-made gold needle for clothes mending.

More on Museums

Sounds like you are dealing with some real winners. Just found out that a city owned museum site is up for grabs. The city doesn't really want to deal with this sort of thing or be criticized for competing with the private historic attractions. However, whoever obtains this site must be willing to preserve it and perhaps continue with tours. Interested? It is a house. If you want to know more, and there is more, my email is [email protected]

Lexie,
I will email you directly, but I want the group to know that in today's world, with the general population (especially the younger ones) less interested in history, we have a "glut" of historic home sites in this country. Things do not look too positive for the Museum field!
I just left city hall, sans keys, phone, etc. It feels like a divorce, and the city has custody of my "children." I may be gone for a few days--too much to process.