A Unique Opportunity for Change

 

by Bruce Whitmarsh, Executive Director

CCHS Executive Director, Bruce Whitmarsh

Throughout 2025 the Chemung County Historical Society Board of Trustees worked on updating their own internal operations. The result is a new committee structure that in 2026 the Board will be working on to bring into full use. The goal is to make better and more efficient use of the talents that are present on the Board. In much the same manner, the CCHS staff holds annual staff retreats where we spend a full day away from our desks, even traveling offsite, just to discuss and plan for our upcoming year. This includes thinking about what exhibits to produce, what programming to offer and what changes we may wish to see as a staff. This discussion then guides our day-to-day work for the remainder of the year.

In December of 2025 I learned that I had been awarded the Leadership Advancement Award from the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes to allow me the chance to take an extended sabbatical from my position as Director. The Board of Trustees, staff and I are currently planning for me to be away July, August and September of this year. Given the planning work mentioned above, this may seem like the opposite of what is needed but just bear with me for a moment.

The use of sabbaticals as part of a non-profit executive compensation package is still a relatively new, but growing, idea. The opportunity for me to take a sabbatical actually comes from the Community Foundation granting a sabbatical to their president, Randi Hewitt, a few years ago. Upon her return, she and the Community Foundation as a whole, found that they had both benefitted with Randi refreshed and reset while the organization had developed new operational capabilities and resilience during her extended break. The success of this experiment led to the establishment of the Leadership Advancement Award that is now permitting me to step away later this year.

Prior to applying, I reached out to my colleague Elaine Smith, Executive Director at Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum. Elaine had been awarded one of the first Leadership Advancement Awards two years ago. As I was considering whether to apply myself or not, she shared her positive experience with her own sabbatical. The chance to step away from the day-to-day of her organization and take the time to pursue some of her interests gave her the chance to refresh and refocus. The proof for this is the Tree top Canopy that Tanglewood will begin construction on in 2026. This has been a multi-year fundraising effort, with more work to come, but her time off allowed Elaine the necessary break to come back with more determination and energy to now bring this project to a successful conclusion.

In the same manner, I am looking forward to getting away myself. I will do some traveling and plan to attend a woodworking class, supported by the grant. I will also spend some time in my own workshop, trying to complete some half-finished projects as well. I am confident that during my time away the Board and staff will be able to manage the everyday operations of the CCHS and that I will be ready to take on the big projects we have started talking about for 2027. This is all a bit theoretical at the moment, but I will be sure to follow up here with all of you at the end of this year to let you know how things turned out.