Cardinal Public Relations 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh N.Y. 12901 March 5, 2013 Ms.

Ashley Lamoy Plattsburgh Elks Lodge # 621 56 Cumberland Ave, Plattsburgh N.Y. 1290-1733 Dear Ms. Lamoy, My name is Laura Colon. I am part of Cardinal Public Relations, a student run public relations firm on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus. Each year, Cardinal PR picks a local client to build, maintain, and promote the organization's image and vision. We offer our services to local organizations, for free, to reach our goal of providing students with practical public relations experiences as well as striving to create a better future for Plattsburgh. This year, we have chosen the Imaginarium Children's Museum of the North Country as our client. The Imaginarium is a non-profit childrens museum that offers an extensive amount of exhibits and programs that will stimulate childrens curiosity and creativity. The reason we chose the Imaginarium is because we share their vision and support the mission of providing a safe environment for families to enjoy quality time together where children can experience the joy of learning, and gain the skills they will need to be successful in life. We strongly believe that the development of this museum has serious potential to better the economy, the quality of life, and the impact the lives of children in the North Country for the better. Although the Elks Club and the Imaginarium seem like two completely different organizations, both share a common goal. The organizations work to better the lives of children in the community. We are seeking general awareness and support of what the museum has to offer our community. By raising awareness, and becoming an advocate, for the Imaginarium, you are helping us accomplish our goal, as well as your own. We would love, nothing more than, having the Plattsburgh Elks Club as a partner in accomplishing our mission to provide the children in the North Country a place where they can learn to love learning through creativity, discovery and hands on exploration. I appreciate the time and consideration you are taking to listen to our message. I will be in contact and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Laura Colon Secretary at Cardinal Public Relations

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Backgrounder!
Purpose Imaginarium Children's Museum is founded by community-minded mothers/educators with a strong passion for fostering interactive inquiry and inspiring creativity in children and adults through moments of shared discovery. Mission Inspiring the love of learning through creativity, discovery, and hands-on exploration.

Overview We hope to accomplish our mission of transforming communities through innovative, child-centered learning. There is definitely a strong need in our area for an interactive discovery center. The Imaginarium Children's Museum of the North Country will be a hands-on discovery museum, offering a multitude of exhibits that engage kids in the ultimate learning experience. The museum hopes to elevate early childhood development to a community-wide priority.

Description Childrens museums stimulate curiosity, creativity and learning through fun, interactive exhibits and programs for children, families and school groups. Families are important as childrens first teachers and as their partners in learning. Our programs and participatory exhibits will be designed specifically to encourage interaction and inquiry, as well as participation from the entire family. Learning occurs in a variety of ways, and experiential learning is essential for proper brain development. We know that communities are enriched when diverse groups work creatively together to educate our children. We will actively partner with social service agencies, public schools, service clubs, public libraries, and other community organizations to bring interactive education and fun, hands-on learning experiences to the community.

Imaginarium Children's Museum of the North Country will essentially operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the direction of a Board of Directors. We are now an official educational corporation with a provisional charter from the NYS Board of Regents, with recognition by the State University of New York system. We have also recently joined the Association of Children's Museums as an Emerging Museum. We are currently looking for inspired individuals with a vision and a compelling drive to make this dream a reality.

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Childrens Museum Facts!

Childrens Museums In the past ten years, neuroscience has confirmed that the first years of life are essential to future learning. Childrens museums are leading a movement that combines specific learning objectives with play in informal learning environments that are developmentally appropriate for infants, toddlers and children. Research from the University of Illinois finds that children feel bored as much as 50 percent of the time while at school or doing their homework. At childrens museums, kids become excited about what they are learning while playing. As multidisciplinary institutions, childrens museums are defining how to teach the arts, humanities, sciences, mathematics and human relations across generations.

With todays workplace demands, adults have less time to spend with children. Childrens museums are places away from work and household distractions, where parents and caregivers can spend quality time with children, learn something new themselves and experience the luxury of becoming lost in the present moment as they play. A landmark examination of civic engagement, Working Together: Community Involvement in America, indicates that children are one of the most likely subjects to motivate community involvement. Childrens museums engage families and individual citizens to share their talents and points of view.

Childrens museums provide shared experiences through interpretative and interactive exhibits. By exposing adults and children to unfamiliar concepts in a non-threatening, hands-on approach, and ensuring that the museum experience is accessible to those of differing abilities and backgrounds, childrens museums create bridges of understanding. Childrens museum art, science, math, music, literacy and other exhibits and programs for children are valuable resources, especially in communities where such programs have been reduced or completely eliminated from schools and libraries due to budget constraints. More than 30 percent of childrens museums are part of a downtown revitalization project. According to ACM data, the total economic activity of its childrens museum members is $448 million. Childrens museums are sought-after local and travel destinations. More than 30 million individuals annually visit childrens museums around the world. One in two childrens museums offer discounted/free admission for low-income individuals.

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Economic Facts!
There are 341 Association for Childrens Museums members, representing a total of 22 countries. Approximately 23%of these children's museums are in the start-up phase. According to 2007 data, more than 30 million children and families annually visited children's museums. 23 % of children's museums are located in suburban areas and 12% of children's museums are located in rural areas. 35% of children's museums are flagships in downtown revitalization projects; many city planners regard childrens museums as an anchor for nearby attractions, restaurants and retail stores. Currently, 62 ACMs members museums are undergoing a capital campaign in order to build a new facility or expand an existing facility. According to 2005 survey data, the cost of building and expansion projects currently underway at 66 U.S. childrens museums average $14.1 million for a total planned capital investment of $930.6 million. 4% of children's museums are accredited by the American Association of Museums. According to ACM data, the total economic activity of its childrens museum members is $448 million. The multiplier effect has shown that for every dollar spent at local business, about 45 cents stays in the community. The family vacation market accounts for close to 70% of all vacation travel in the U.S. Data collected from 40,000 attendees at a range of arts events (including childrens museums) reveal an average spending of $22.87 per person, not including the price of admission. This spending generates an estimated $80.8 billion of valuable revenue annually for local merchants and their communities. The findings of this survey also reveal that non-local attendees spend nearly twice as much as local attendees ($38.05 compared to $21.75), demonstrating that a community that attracts cultural tourists stands to harness significant economic rewards

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Contacts!
Executive Members President: Jenn Meschinelli Vice President: Karen Dispo-Deboos Secretary: Alicia Roberts Frank Treasurer: Theresa Bennet Chair of Membership Services: Lindsey Jess General Phone: (518) 324-7426 Email: info@imaginariumchildrensmuseum.org

Development (Fundraising, Sponsorship, Membership, Marketing, etc.) Contact: Jenn Meschinelli Email: develop@imaginariumchildrensmuseum.org

Operations (Exhibits, Programs, Facitlities) Contact: Alicia Roberts Frank, Ed.D. Email: Operations@imaginariumchildrensmuseum.org For more information regarding the Imaginarium Childrens Museum please visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Imaginarium.Childrens.Museum?fref=ts

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