Some of the high points from 2012 are:
Doubled our membership to over 100 paid members
Beautifully restored 1947 Diamond T truck donated by John & Linda Stivers
Fairgrounds agreed to give us land and help build our new home
Building design rendering and model donated by Renato de Guia
$10,000 donation from Rio Tinto Borax
The AVRM received the first Committee of the Year award from the Antelope Valley 
Fair Association.
AVRM Board member David Pickus received the first Volunteer of the Year Award also from the AVFA
The AVRM was chosen by the AV Chambers of Commerce as the Grand Marshall for the Fair Parade
Our first Fundraisin’ for a Barnraisin’ was held at Dixie Eliopulos’ home at her suggestion
The Pickus Challenge, Fundraiser dinner, and various raffles kicked off a great start for our building fund.
We added 11 new display cabinets, lighting, video, and slide shows to our exhibits.
New exhibits to Honor the Past in 2012 included:
The Pioneers of the Antelope Valley Wall
Route 6 Historical display
Models and Video set up by NASA showing the early years as well as future NASA projects.
Dairies of the AV milk bottle and historical display
Antelope Valley High School 100 Year Anniversary exhibit
Our extensive Wartime in the AV display by Dayle DeBry was dedicated to the Vietnam veterans
In continuing to Invest in the Future the AVRM awarded three $500.00 scholarships in 2012.
We have been allowed to stay set up and to expand our museum in the Agriculture Building. (In past years we had to tear down and store all our exhibits until the following year.)
AVRM was open for the Old Timers Picnic, the Flea Market, and the Rodeo following the AV Fair.
Some of our goals for 2013 are:
Pick up the completely restored 1045 Haro-Bed Bale Wagon from Don Grey in Selma California. (This was accomplished on January 5, see news article)
The restored 1045 Haro Bed is being featured as New Holland’s guest at the World Ag. Expo in Tulare.
Begin building plans and get cost estimates for our permanent home. (AV Engineering met with us on January 28, and will donate surveying, engineering, and plans). We also have the cooperation of Robert Neal from the City of Lancaster Engineering office.
Schedule special events during the year at The Home Show, Thunder on the Lot, Flea Markets, Old Timers Picnic, etc.
Invest in computers and software to preserve our records and acquisition catalog.
Fundraise, Fundraise, Fundraise. We will hold at least one fundraiser either at Dixie’s home or the Fairgrounds. Frances Lane has also offered her Hacienda Lane Ranch for a fundraiser. A raffle for the 1953 vintage FORD 8N tractor donated by Scott Harter began immediately following the fair, and has already generated a lot of interest.
Expand, Expand, Expand. Along with the growth of our existing displays, we are in the process of adding the following:
Mining and Minerals in the AV
Movies, Television, and Theaters
Schools of the AV
Churches of the AV
Airfields of the AV
In June we will feature Ed Houtz’s extensive antique motorcycle collection during Thunder on the Lot.
Our goal is ground breaking for a 10,000 square foot building with plenty of room for expansion immediately following the fair
Some of our long term goals are:
EDUCATION:
The State of California curriculum dictates that ALL third grade students study LOCAL history. We intend to bus every third grader in Antelope Valley to the Antelope Valley Rural Museum, and to be THE provider for all teachers and students interested in the history of Antelope Valley. We will do this with our AV History Research Library, film presentations, guest lecturers, and comprehensive displays. We will recruit docents from active and retired teachers experienced in teaching large groups of children.
I sincerely hope you will visit the AVRM during one of our special events, and that you will deem us worthy of your support.
Sincerely,
Bill Rawlings
Chairman, AVRM
