It was a busy week in Donalda, with several organizations hosting annual general meetings (AGM) and outlining their plans for 2016.
The week of meetings started on Tuesday, March 8 with the Arts Society AGM. Candice Ericson is president, Bruce Gartside is vice-president, Marlene Conibear is treasurer and Darlene Tantrum is secretary.
One of the major projects the society hopes to accomplish this year is the creation of a wheel-chair accessible entrance at the art gallery, which is owned by the museum. The hope is to replace the east side stairs, which "aren't in great shape," according to Gartside, with a ramp that will allow the old bank building to be accessed by the mobility challenged.
From June to September, the gallery will be bringing in exhibits, with four already locked in and confirmed, Gartside noted.
The next day, the Community Promotions Society held its AGM. Gartside is president, Ken Walker is vice-president, Conibear is secretary and Teresa Donald is treasurer.
Since its foundation in 2009, the society has created, maintained and promoted the coulee trails, has put out the Donalda Business and Tourism guide, has held sliding events at the old ski hill on Family Day, hosted two drive-in movies in the summer, took over Canada Day celebrations and held a Village Christmas celebration. It also used to host the Haunted Hall event, which has since been taken over by another organization.
Finally, on Thursday, March 10, the Museum held its AGM, with Tantrum elected as president, Lorraine Blouin as vice-president, Conibear as treasurer and Lane Damburger as secretary. Most of the board is the same from last year, Tantrum noted.
The big project for the museum continues to be the Donalda Creamery. This year, the museum will be residing the northeast corner and put in new windows. Inside the museum at the village hall, the interior has been rearranged and new brighter LED lightning installed in the display cases.
While the museum hasn't planned any events yet for this coming summer season, Tantrum said they'll definitely be in the works as fundraising for the creamery restoration and preservation will need some fundraising to fund.