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Saturday
Dec112010

Membership Models Support Bozeman's Best

My recent vacation to my hometown of Bozeman, Montana was filled with many highlights, including visits to two nonprofit organizations that have dramatically shaped my evolving interests.

These organizations reflect two different models of membership, with different forms of impact in the direct community and beyond. It's safe to say that I've always considered a nonprofit career in large part due to their influence in my life and their contribution to my hometown community.

Museum of the Rockies

When I was probably 12-years-old, I asked my mother for one birthday present: a gift membership to the Museum of the Rockies. I would often visit alone, as it was only a short ride on my bicycle to visit the collections. From an early age, I have been fascinated with the sociology of science, how knowledge evolves, and the relationship between people, the planet, and the cosmos. 

The museum’s mission is to “inspire visitors to explore the rich natural and cultural history of America’s Northern Rocky Mountains.” The museum's collections feature the physical and cultural history of the Rocky Mountains and the people and animals that have lived there, dating back more than 500 million years. The museum houses the largest collection of dinosaur remains in the United States and possesses the largest Tyrannosaurus skull ever discovered.

Cool!

Its permanent exhibits include: Enduring Peoples, which chronicles the life of American Indians on the Northern Plains and near the Rocky Mountains; History of the Northern Rocky Mountain Region, whose inhabitants included Native Americans, fur traders, gold seekers, and settlers from frontier days through World War II; Living History Farm, which includes the Tinsley House where costumed interpreters demonstrate life in a turn-of-the-century home; and the Taylor Planetarium, a 40 ft (12 m), 104-seat domed theater.

Of course, philanthropy makes institutions like this possible, historically and presently. In 1957 the Museum of the Rockies was born as Dr. Caroline McGill’s remarkable gift to the people of Montana. Today, a wide range of philanthropists support the museum in a collaborative public partnership. The museum is both a college-level division of Montana State University and an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution. It's also a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and a federal repository for fossils.

Membership at the museum not only carries visitation benefits, it also directly supports the preservation and prosperity of the collections. Although large-scale gifts by prominent philanthropists are important, individual and family memberships provide the base of support for this important scientific and cultural institution.

As the year ends, please consider giving to the Museum of the Rockies. Mark my words: its exhibits and programs are life-changing and inspire many to keep learning.

Bozeman Community Food Co-Op

The mission of the Bozeman Community Food Co-Op is “To provide food and goods, promote sustainable practices and follow co-op principles.” As a community of cooperative consumers, it promotes an understanding of nutrition and ecological principles. Based on mutual aid rather than profit, the co-op strives to provide viable options for its members, offering consumer control over resources, supplying basic needs, and supplying those needs at the lowest commercially reasonable prices.

The co-op also nurtures relationships with other cooperatives, farmers, small businesses and local producers, thereby strengthening the alternative food network, the community at large, and the benefits of cooperation.

As a youth, my family worked at the co-op as members. Together, we awoke hours before it opened and, for a few days a week, cleaned the entire store. My mom would play Bob Dylan cassettes on the stereo and we used to sing and play games to make the work fun. I am thankful for the time we spent working beside one another, and also for the discount on food and other household items that helped us in many ways.

Please consider donating to the Bozeman Community Food Co-Op - or better yet, if you live in Bozeman, become a member! This organization exemplifies a community working together for peace and prosperity. It is also a great place to give your time and talents, as the new building reflects members’ collective spirit.

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