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New museum staff welcomed

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Thursday the Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) hosted a tea party and welcome reception for the new Executive Director Marnie Leist (left) and new Program and Development Director Amber Bentler.

NEW ULM — Thursday the Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) hosted a tea party and welcome reception for the new Executive Director Marnie Leist and new Program and Development Director Amber Bentler.

Both Leist and Bentler joined the BCHS staff in mid-February and are committed to improving the Historical Society.

Leist is an Ohio native. For the past 11 years she served as director at a tribal museum in Kodiak, Alaska.

Local residents will recognize Bentler from Fort Ridgely. She has served as the site manager for the last four years.

With visitors, Leist and Bentler discussed plans for the museum. Leist said the first big event is the WWI exhibit opening in early May.

Bentler said her goal is to expand BCHS reach countywide and create more family-friendly events.

In most museums, young children are used to seeing signs that say “don’t touch.” Creating hands-on activities would bring in more kids.

“They are our future visitors,” Bentler said. “We need to get them in the door now, so they’ll want to come back later.”

During the tea party, visitors were encouraged to vote in the BCHS survey. The survey includes questions about preferred museum hours, exhibit subjects and programing options.

Leist said the survey was a way to help move the museum to the next level. The public will be able to vote in the survey until the opening of the WWI Exhibit on May 6.

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