South County Museum
Rhode Island's Coastal Legacy

Membership & Donations

Dear Friend,

The South County Museum has one of the most diverse collections in the state, dating from the 18th to the mid-20th century. Our archival data base provides an electronic record of the most valuable pieces. The Museum's conservation program is an ongoing effort to preserve our heirlooms.

Membership with the South County Museum is truly a gift of history. Your participation in our shared legacy contributes to the health of our organization and ultimately, our community.

Since our founding and incorporation in 1933, the purpose of the South County Museum has never changed: We encourage the study and understanding of early American life and industry in the home, in the shop, on the farm and on the seas. We seek especially to discover, identify, classify, preserve and exhibit the tools, implements, utensils, instruments, vehicles, appliances and mechanical devices used by craftsmen, farmers, housewives, mariners, professional men and other workers in South County.

Your support gives value to our past by securing the Museum's future.

Please renew your membership today!

Jim Crothers,
Director


 

The easiest way to regularly support South County Museum is to schedule donations through the online bill pay service of your local bank. This is the electronic equivalent of writing a check. It's fast, direct, and saves trees. [More info... www.consumersearch.com]

Here are the contact details you need for setting up SCM as a bill pay account:

South County Museum
PO Box 709
Strathmore Street
Narragansett, RI 02882
401-783-5400

No matter the size of your contribution, your generosity makes a difference and will really add up when made on a monthly basis.

We endeavor to completely and faithfully abide by all tenets of A Donor Bill of Rights by The Association of Fundraising Professionals
  1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
  2. To be informed of the identity of those serving the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgement in its stewardship responsibilities.
  3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
  4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purpose for which they were given.
  5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
  6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
  7. Expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
  8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
  9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
  10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
What Do You Get As a Member of the South County Museum?
  • The satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to provide funds for exhibits and educational programs.
  • Free admission to SCM and the opportunity to see revolving exhibits, such as Wedding Bells, scheduled for the Metz Exhibit Hall during 2009.
  • Member discounts for the Folk Art Quilt Show, Blacksmithing for Kids and Adults, Advance Registration for the Coastal Lecture Series which includes a sunset cruise aboard The Southland on Salt Pond.
  • Invitations to Members-Only Preview Parties and Receptions.
  • Reduced price for the Culture Coalition Historic Trip Ticket. This new offering provides discounts to sites and events held by members of the Arts & History Collaborative of Southern Rhode Island.
  • Staff assistance using the SCM Archives and Artifact Data Base.
  • Subscription to the SCM newsletter, The Canonchet Gazette.
In addition, Business Memberships receive multiple membership cards and the business is listed as a Sponsor of SCM on our website.

Please select one of the membership categories listed here and make checks payable to:

SCM, PO Box 709, Narragansett, RI 02882

  • Life Member ($1000)
  • Event Sponsor $250 and up)
  • Business ($125)
  • Benefactor ($100)
  • Family ($35)
  • Individual ($25)

Membership forms are mailed to all Museum members. You also may download a printer-friendly form here.

Annual Fund gifts

To make a gift in support of South County Museum's Annual Fund campaign, please return the form mailed to all members. Annual Fund gifts are recognized in an annual report that is distributed to members and displayed on this website. If you wish to remain anonymous you can so specify on-line when you make the donation, or, if you are donating by mail, you can check the appropriate place on the form that is mailed to all members.

Gifts to the Fund of $1,000 or more are recognized annually on a plaque displayed in the Main Exhibit Hall entryway.

Annual gifts are crucial to the museum, but they are not the only way to support it. Some other ways include:

The Legacy Society

The Legacy Society honors individuals who have named the museum in their wills or made a commitment toward the museum's future through planned giving. Legacy donors become Honorary Trustees and are recognized permanently on a plaque in the Museum.

  • 1933 Society: $5,000 and above
  • Curators Society: $2500-$4999
  • Preservationists: $1000-$2499
  • Historians Society: $500-$999
  • Osprey Society: $250-499
  • Artisans Society $100-$240

Donations from $5 to $99 will be recognized with our appreciation as being received from:
A Friend of SCM.
Rhode Island Red Endowment Fund
The South County Museum Rhode Island Red Endowment Fund was established thanks to the efforts of Dr. Wayne Durfee to support a Rhode Island Red Demonstration Flock at South County Museum and provide for programs to promote public awareness of the heritage breed. Annual distributions from the Fund are made in accordance with the distribution policies of the Rhode Island Foundation.

For information on any of these giving opportunities, please contact the museum office and a board member will contact you.