Pacific Asia Museum

NEWS ARCHIVE

Winter 2007

Donor Profile: Georgianna Erskine
Georgianna Erskine (known to her friends as Georgie) has been a vitally important member of the Pacific Asia Museum family for at least 15 years. Georgie wears many hats at the museum. As a docent since 1994, with a background in art history, she expertly leads tours for students of all ages bringing the objects to life with her keen knowledge of the collection, her wit, and her engaging style. She received the coveted Honorary Docent award in 2006.


Georgie

As President of the Board of the Associates whose membership has grown to nearly 100 with the new Junior Associates level, she has raised funds for programs and operations, organized fascinating tours and lectures for the enjoyment and edification of the Associates, led trips to visit museums and private collections in Asia and the United States, and raised the awareness of the museum’s importance within and beyond the community. Under her leadership, the Associates are spearheading special projects including the restoration of the courtyard garden in 2007.

The garden project is particularly close to Georgie’s heart. An avid gardener herself, she studies ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, and has often beautified the museum’s lobby with her own arrangements.

Georgie and her husband Paul have demonstrated their commitment to the museum with a Leadership gift to the Campaign for the Future. Their remarkable generosity is greatly appreciated by the trustees, staff, and the entire museum family.

The James Irvine Foundation Awards Major Leadership Grant to Pacific Asia Museum
Because of the strong link between executive leadership and organization performance, The James Irvine Foundation has made a major grant to Pacific Asia Museum. The grant, to enhance the leadership capacities of the executive director and the board of trustees over an 18-month period, “could not have come at a more opportune time,” said Board Chair George Brumder.

Mr. Brumder added, “As we implement our new strategic plan, we are also building a shared vision for our future. This vision will support planned and sustained growth and will increase the impact of our programs in the community. This means we need to work as a team to optimize effectiveness. The Irvine Foundation grant is really an investment in our future, and we are most grateful to The James Irvine Foundation for this grant and for their generosity and foresight.