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Dear Friends,

Welcome to Lighter than Air. This is a chance to celebrate the Museum and
to mark the opening of Jimmy Kuehnle’s joyful and raucous exhibition Tongue
in Cheek. This is also the last time I will have the privilege of greeting you as
the Museum’s Chair. What a privilege it has been. This is my 18th Museum
Gala (and not my last). In the years, I have had a front row seat watching
the Museum grow, thanks to the efforts of my dedicated fellow trustees and a
talented and committed staff.

Through exhibitions and the programs that accompany them, the Museum
reaches out to more than 65,000 people a year and our attendance is
up another 10% this year. The great majority of our visitors come from
Westchester County. We are able to serve them and thousands of school
children because of your support. On GALA Night we have to raise more
than 10% of our budget for the entire year! Because of all of you, we can do
it. For that, I and the entire Museum Community thank you. I hope you will
approach tonight’s fundraising with a spirit of generosity.

I am glad to have been a part of the achievements of the last 12 years and I
know we could not have done it without a community of supporters. Your help
brings the Museum to our public, reaching into classrooms, training teachers,
and changing lives. With your support we embrace the challenges, grow,
and improve.

I will see you next year, as a fellow guest, admiring the next generation of
people up on the podium bringing us together to do great things.

Chair, Board of Trustees