Bishop Museum Association Council
The Bishop Museum Association Council (BMAC) functions as the member’s advisory council to the Museum, and plays an important and ongoing role in the success of the Membership Program and the Museum as a whole. In 1952, George P. Murdock of the Yale-Bishop Museum Committee was invited to Honolulu to consult with the Trustees and staff regarding the Museum’s future. It was his recommendation that the creation of a membership program would generate a wide base of public support for the Museum. To further that support, the BMAC implemented programs and activities as special benefits that would enhance the value of membership and help the community become more familiar with the many facets of the Museum. At the close of the charter membership drive in March 1953, the Association had 1,031 active members.
Today, the Bishop Museum has over 9,200 active memberships, representing 58,000 members, and our program continues to grow. The BMAC continues to support Bishop Museum’s activities by focusing on programs designed to attract new members and retain existing ones. Programs developed by the Council include: Treat Street, celebrating it’s 23rd year this October; Traditions of the Pacific, a lecture and workshop series that explores an array of tops such as native plants, Hawaiian tattooing, navigation, migration, hula, and more; and the Moonlight Mele On The Lawn summer concert series, which in 2010 will celebrate Hawaiian Hall’s themes of Kai Ākea, Wao Kanaka, and Wao Lani.
Because of the work of the BMAC, Museum members are also able to enjoy membership benefits like exclusive invitations to preview new exhibits; great discounts in Shop Pacifica and Café Pūlama, and at the premier levels, opportunities to attend rare behind-the-scenes tours of our scientific and cultural collections. The BMAC helps to create, enhance, and upgrade all of these benefits, and has helped the Museum to build new community partnerships to add additional benefits around town through our Member Benefit Program.
The BMAC also serves as the liaison between the Museum and our members, and we encourage you to get involved in the Museum and come share your mana‘o with us. Volunteer as a docent in the newly restored Hawaiian Hall or dynamic Science Adventure Center, or even volunteer to help with our membership drives at special events like Family Sundays! Or, attend the Annual Membership Meeting in June 2010 at let us know how we can improve the Bishop Museum experience for you, your family, and your community.
Your feedback is very important to us, and we are truly grateful for your ongoing support.
Mahalo!