Quorum Court OKs museum board expansion

Quorum Court OKs museum board expansion

Machnitzki growing museum’s online presence

news@theeveningtimes.com

Crittenden County Museum has added a new board member and has room for one more, after the Quorum Court agreed to let it expand its membership.

Justices agreed to the museum’s request to add two more seats to its board of directors, and confirmed Thomas Machnitzki to fill one of those slots.

Board Chairman Scott Lovelady said Machnitzki has been a tireless volunteer who put together a new brochure for the museum and has greatly expanded the museum’s presence on social media.

The museum’s Facebook has grown from 260 likes to over 1600 thanks to Machnitzki and has lots of information on its site.

Lovelady shared Machnitzki’s resume with the justices and said that he would make an excellent addition to the board.

“He has done a tremendous job of promoting the museum,” Lovelady said.

“He is originally from Germany, but he probably knows more about the museum and Crittenden County history than most anybody in this room. It is unbelievable the time he has put in to learn and research our county’s history.”

The board currently has seven members but is allowed to have eight. Justice Hubert Bass suggested

at last month’s meeting that the board be allowed to expand to nine members to keep it an odd number in case of a tie vote.

Lovelady said confirming Machnitzki would add some much needed new blood and energy to the board.

“Several of our members are older,” Lovelady said.

“We have one now who is in and out of the hospital and had voiced about resigning from the board.”

Justices unanimously approved the request.

County Judge Woody Wheeless thanked Machnitzki for his interest in serving and his work at the museum.

“I think we are blessed to have somebody who is dedicated and wants to give back to the museum,” Wheeless said. “We live in a fast break society today where it is hard to find people who want to give back.

So I think it is just wonderful that we have somebody who not only wants to volunteer, but has given a lot of time. I see it because I follow your Facebook page and there is a lot of information on that page as a result of his work. I thank you for wanting to do that.”

By Mark Randall