Hard to Believe - BUT IT'S TRUE!

A few years ago, I brought boxes full of artifacts into a huge boardroom of a local organization, and was given twenty minutes to discuss my plans to create "The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center" and the need for organizations such as theirs to support our efforts.

I remember clearly that I had been asked to bring our business plan and any other information that I could to show that we had a viable plan for SRAC for the future...

The conversation was very polite and professional, and truthfully - I thought it was going really well as I told the CEO about the thousands of artifacts that we already had while I handed him the baby mastodon tooth to inspect... I went on to describe this incredible place we were planning with a huge gift shop, a large museum area, and a lecture hall for events...All along, I was getting more and more excited as I answered his questions one by one...

Some of the incredible LOCAL artifacts at SRAC

But as time went on, I realized that something was going wrong...His questions more and more were centered around revenues and expenses...paying bills etc, - and he then asked me how we could even staff this incredible place that we were planning...and when I explained how we would be staffed 100 percent by volunteers...I finally realized what was going on...

SRAC Visitor Center and Gift Shop Today

 

Today - SRAC hosts over 50 community events a year!

In the closing seconds of that meeting, the CEO smiled and said that he just didn't believe that SRAC had a chance to make it. I felt my face start to redden as I look him straight in the eye and said, "We'll make it - you'll see..." He just smiled and wished me luck...

Today, SRAC has visitors from all over the country and the world

Today, SRAC averages around 80 people/month in the Exhibit Hall

To me, it seems like that happened so long ago - yet it was just 5 years ago. Since then, SRAC has bought their building at 345 Broad Street, Waverly, NY and have had many accomplishments such as:

• 100% volunteer staffing
• over 50 community events a year
• open five days a week, year round
• FREE field trips for all local schools
• over 300 members
• thousands of LOCAL artifacts
• highly knowledgeable staff

The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) is dedicated to education, research and preservation of the region's archaeological and historical assets for the communities within the Twin Tier Region of Southeastern NY and Northeastern PA. We are also dedicated to our community and continue to have school children from Sayre, Athens and Waverly and other locations in our Center for field trips year after year.  The truth is that we also have given field trips to our local nursing home residents too! - But no matter your age or the reason you choose to visit SRAC, we hope your experience will become a lasting memory for years to come.

The SRAC Annual Giving Fund supports day-to-day operations of our Center located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY. Contributions to this fund are vitally important to help the Center cover its general operating expenses each year. The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) is a 501c3, (nonprofit organization) and your donation is tax deductible. All of our funding comes from our membership, the revenues that we can generate at the Center, and donations from philanthropic organizations and generous individuals like you.

We were able to do all that we do because while our plans seems unbelievable to some - YOU DID BELIEVE! We want to thank you for your support over the past years, and we hope that you will continue to support us in 2012! In these difficult economic times we need your support more than ever.

Click here to learn more about all of the ways you can support SRAC, or mail donations to SRAC Giving Campaign 2012, PO Box 12, Sayre, PA 18840, ( download our donation form here!)

Thank you for your supporting all that we do!