Petaluma Wildlife Museum 'not bleeding anymore'

On the last day of class at the Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum, long-term substitute teacher Sierra Frey congratulated her students on their hard work and achievements over the past semester and bid them a happy summer. Then something unexpected happened.

"Group hug!" shouted the kids, and 25 teen boys and girls wrapped their arms around Frey. Frey's 13-year-old chocolate lab Cooter, who was brought in to meet the kids, also shared the love.

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"While enrollment (at Petaluma High School) is down slightly, the demand for our courses is way up," said museum executive director Neal Ramus. "When kids hear we have a 9,000-square-foot facility housing a multi-million-dollar collection that's run entirely by teenagers who can hold and take care of animals, they want to be a part of it."

Ramus, 25, and the museum have had to weather some tough challenges recently.

Last year, the museum, which is on school property, found itself in administrative limbo as a result of the alleged 2010 embezzlement by high school teacher and former director Marsi Wier. At one point during Wier's tenure, the museum's bank account was overdrawn.

Last October, Ramus had said that the museum's board of directors couldn't file any charges until a forensic financial audit was completed.

"Our CPA went through our expenses and categorized everything that has been spent in the past seven years," Ramus said last week. "Despite state and municipal cutbacks, the museum is stronger financially than at this time last year.

"We made a clean break with Marsi, we have no contact with her, and I don't know where she is," he added.

"We're not in a position to be litigious, so we are not interested in suing her or pressing charges," Ramus said. "Our mission is children and animals and keeping the program sustainable and functional, and we're sticking to that."

Professional kayak guide, Casey Brechbill, 29, has been the president of the board since January. When asked about Wier, Brechbill responded, "The school has requested that we refer questions about her employment to them or the district. The school and district administration have been very supportive of the museum program, and I don't want to damage that relationship."

A call to Christy Defanti, executive director for human relations at Petaluma City Schools, confirmed that Wier is no longer teaching in the area. Wier herself couldn't be located for comment.

Ramus and Brechbill are currently focused on increasing attendance for the museum's summer camp program, which starts June 13 (see sidebar), and they say the numbers are growing.

Another goal is to recruit more donors and board members, who currently number six.

Last year the museum had total revenue of $57,607 and expenses of $41,345. For 2011, it is projecting a revenue increase of nearly 25 percent, although expenses are expected to rise more than 70 percent, mainly due to a hefty increase in programming costs.

This year the museum hopes to grow both weekend public attendance and summer camp revenue by two-thirds. Among other goals is a 25 percent expansion of outreach events and a 15 percent increase in attendance for its major pasta-feed fundraiser. "Our first Halloween Hoots and Howls Open House last year was very successful," Brechbill said. "It's my baby, and we'll probably make it an annual event."

Ramus noted that over the past 22 years, the museum program has trained more than 350 docents and provided tours to over 100,000 children. "Many of our docents have become veterinarians, research biologists, park rangers, zookeepers, and wildlife conservationists," he added.

Ramus and Brechbill are cheered by the positive turnaround in the past several months, and count encouraging signs such as:

n A $5,300 grant for curriculum development from the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation based in San Francisco.

n Good attendance for the museum, which for the first time is open every Saturday.

n Reestablishing donor relations, which resulted in Mead Clark Lumber Company's contribution of materials to build three 4-foot by 8-foot planter boxes used to grow fruits and vegetables for the feeding of the museum's animals.

n More active board involvement in volunteering and funding.

n An uptick in individual donations.

"The one thing I want people to know is how great the PHS administration has been, especially Principal Brian Howard and Kim Arntz, the Ag Department Chair," Ramus said. "They both really looked out for the students and the program. And it certainly helps that we're not bleeding anymore."

(Contact Bob Canning at argus@arguscourier.com)

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