To the editor:
As president of the Berkshire Museum's Board of Trustees, I cannot adequately express the overwhelmingly positive emotions that I am feeling after our July 12 announcement. The excitement was palpable at the museum as everyone in the room recognized that this was a monumental day for the Berkshire Museum, for downtown Pittsfield, and for the greater good of Berkshire County. I honestly welled up at least three times in the theater as I felt a combination of relief, excitement, and an overwhelming responsibility for this institution as we finally announced our plans.
I am so proud of the board and the staff for taking the courageous steps that will ensure that the museum will continue to serve the Berkshire community well into the 21st century and beyond. Every member of this board has been an active participant in this two-year strategic planning process, sorting through and sometimes struggling with questions about the relevance, finances, and future of the museum.
We saw this strategic move as a way to catalyze change and bring the museum into the 21st century, securing the museum's ability to continue to serve the Berkshire community for another 100 years. The dedication of our board to this museum and our community continues to amaze me. But what I am truly grateful for is the recent overwhelming support and outpouring of positive feedback from people who are so appreciative of the direction we have chosen for everyone's beloved museum.
Thank you to everyone for continuing to love the Berkshire Museum.
Elizabeth McGraw,
Pittsfield
The writer is president, Berkshire Museum Board of Trustees