Former director explains her departure from HLOM

The following is a statement from Marilyn Warner (Drilling) regarding her resignation from the director's position at the Holland Land Office Museum:

Several of you, my friends, have called to ask why I so abruptly submitted my resignation to the board of the Holland Land Office museum. There are many reasons, but two I would like to make public.

I was married on July 31st , moved to Wyoming County and am now raising my two college-bound daughters along with my husband’s three young children. John and my girls are my primary responsibility and I am truly looking forward to focusing on our expanded family and less time on outside work duties. As you know, the job as director of the Holland Land Office Museum included many nights and weekend engagements.

Equally as important is my dedication to the creation of the honorary International Peace Garden in Batavia and the many opportunities it brings for the financial future of the Museum and the tourism industry in Genesee County. Due to the support of the County Legislature and the Chamber of Commerce, a small core of volunteers has now developed a nonprofit group known as the Friends of the Peace Garden Legacy Genesee, which will allow us to fundraise and write grants for the project.

We are working with the International Peace Garden Foundation and the BiNational Tourism Alliance to be included in regional and cross-border marketing plans for the anniversary of the War of 1812. The current leadership of the Museum recently requested that my energies on this project be spent as a private citizen. My resignation will allow my continued involvement in this exciting venture.

I have also been offered several development consulting opportunities that I have not been able to pursue due to my work obligations and time constraints operating the Museum.

I am very proud of the many accomplishments I orchestrated during my year as the Museum Director. Working with then-assistant director Emily Conable, we took to the task of reorganizing the Museum collection and repositioning the marketing program to focus on the land Purchase and its significance to the development of New York State. This winter’s temporary exhibit highlighting rare surveying equipment and the spring women’s exhibit featuring Genesee County females “ahead of their time” attracted many new visitors from throughout the eight-county region.

The Museum interior took on a new appearance as pieces of the collection are now regularly rotated from storage to displays. New marketing pieces were created and unique low-cost marketing techniques were implemented. Most important are the many collaborative community relationships that have been built during these months, especially with Genesee Community College, the county historians and key partnerships with the Chamber, Richmond Library and GoArt.

The Holland Land Office Museum is a vibrant, exciting treasure in Genesee County and it has been my honor to serve as its director.