vMUSEUM continued from page 25 largest sum ever paid by a museum for a collection of antique instruments. Patricia describes Woolfe’s article “a wonderful moment of legitimization, recognizing the museum is of the caliber that it is. “The museum, for much of its history, had to dedicate itself to collecting and curating,” she said. “We’re more in the moment now of promoting it, and that’s partly why my job exists – to make sure that this is not considered simply as a regional museum. The irony is that we have so many international fans, because they are in the music world, and they know about us.” Social media, Patricia said, has allowed the National Music Museum to spread its stories to the four corners of the world. “It has its advantages,” she said. “But my job is to use all the forms of media and communication possible, and not only have people talking about us on a news show on television, but also to tell their next door neighbor, and spread our story by word of mouth.” One of the latest doses of great publicity for the museum came last spring, when it hosted a display of “The First Folio,” a rare 1623 book of William Shakespeare plays. The book was on display next to musical instruments from that era. “We were really glad to have involvement from the state when we did that,” Patricia said, noting that the South Dakota Department of Tourism sent their popular Mount Rushmore mascots to the museum. Patricia is from the Midwest, having lived in Madison, Wisc. for 20 years. She studied at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, earning a graduate degree there. “I am very much a Midwestern person, but I hadn’t been out here to the center of the United States, to the Midwest plains (before moving here), and I hadn’t lived in an area that wasn’t as urban as Madison,” she said, describing the path that eventually had her settling in Vermillion nearly three years ago. “That was an interesting change for me, but it’s a university town, and, of course, you feel that culture around you, and I’ve been very pleased about that.” Patricia said she likes to consider herself a citizen of the world. “I love to travel, and I love to go all over, from the most metropolitan place, to the smallest, least known corner, so it’s another big adventure for me to be in this part of the United States. “I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of travel internationally, and that’s helped me be able to judge the merits of this museum, in part, because of that. It’s another reason that I know how great it is,” she said. Being manager of communications for a place with the diversity of the National Music Museum is a challenging role, Patricia said. “But that’s what I’m here for,” she said. “I’m very passionate about getting people to know the term National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota. I also want people to know it’s an internationally-classed music museum.” Methods Patricia uses to spread the word about the museum in the Vermillion area involve television spots on South Dakota Public Broadcasting. She is also involved with the I-29 Cultural Corridor Project, which has the goal of informing the public of cultural venues located along Interstate 29. vMUSEUM continued on page 28 et Your G Knit On Save up to $2600 Get hooked on a brand-new hobby. Not only is knitting fun and relaxing, you’ll be creating handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts and fashions. •Huge Selection of Yarns •Knitting Needles•Crochet Hooks •Patterns & Supplies•Classes Check Our Website For Class Schedule www.eweknitit.com 1101 Broadway, Ste. 104, Morgan Square 605-689-3999 www.eweknitit.com Open: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-5pm Call Ethan or Jamie for complete details Serving Yankton, Vermillion and surrounding areas On A Qualifying Home Comfort System With 18 Months Interest Free OR Have Up To 5 Years No Interest To Pay For It! includes utility & manufacturing rebates HEATING & COOLING 920 Broadway, Yankton • 605-665-9461 • www.larrysheatingandcooling.com HERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2016v27