Sharing the
Vision
Meet the Team
Press Room
Accomplishments to Date
• February 2007: Chance conversation between Kathy
Weed and Wendy Philcox gave birth to idea of CMSJ.
• April 2007: Founding committee established with
5 members.
• April – June 2007: Meetings held with key
community leaders to test idea of CMSJ.
• May 11, 2007: CMSJ became a legal entity with
the filing of our Articles of Incorporation with the
State of Florida.
• June 2007: Application filed with the IRS to
obtain 501©3 status in order to begin fundraising.
• June 26, 2007: First public community roundtable
discussion held at the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum.
• July 2007: Received determination letter from
IRS designating CMSJ as an official tax exempt 501(c)3
not-for-profit organization.
• September 20, 2007: Launched Founding Member
Campaign with Kickoff Event at Board Member Donna Kelley's
home.
• September 28, 2007: CMSJ held its first Board
of Directors meeting with 11 members.
• December 1, 2007: Participated in the St. Augustine
Christmas Parade to increase awareness of CMSJ.
• December 8, 2007: CMSJ debuted its first offering
of hands-on activities to the public at Ancient City
Kids Day with an exhibit entitled "Walk Like A Timucuan." With
an estimated 700 children in attendance, we received
great feedback from both children and the adults accompanying
them.
• December 2007: Launched the CMSJ website: www.explorecmsj.org.
• December 11, 2007: Second Membership Campaign
event held at the home of John and Jennifer Koppman,
raising more than $12,000 in gifts and pledges.
• January 2008: Working committees activated to
concentrate on fundraising, marketing, strategic planning
and education/exhibits.
• January 2008: Joined the Association of Children's
Museums. Website: www.childrensmuseums.org.
• February 29, 2008: First public fundraising event
held at the Whitney Lab, raising more than $7,700 and
increasing awareness about the museum.
• Spring 2008: Continued community roundtable discussions
at each of the library branches throughout St. Johns
County.
• March 15, 2008: Offered hands-on activities to
the public at Lighthouse Festival in our "Museum
without Walls."
• April 12, 2008: Offered county's first ever triathlon
for kids: Just TRI It!: A Kid’s Triathlon was organized
by the Children’s Museum of St. Johns, in conjunction
with the St. Augustine Family YMCA. More than 70 children,
from 6 to 12 years of age, participated and the event
raised more than $5,000 for CMSJ.
Plans for the Future
• Fall 2008: Host information booth at area festivals
and events.
• Saturday, October 25, 2008: Launch "The
Great Bubble Blow-Out" exhibit for children in our "Museum
without Walls" at Ancient City Kids Day
• Sunday, December 14, 2008: Fundraising Event
at the Limelight Theatre
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