Potential partner emerges for Armstrong museum

 WAPAKONETA - Members of a recently formed committee said they're willing to take over operations at the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum. Group members said negotiations are under way to ensure the museum remains open beyond July.

The Ohio Historical Society said earlier this year that budget cuts are to blame for a decision to close the Armstrong museum unless a partnership could be found to take over operations. The recently formed Armstrong Air & Space Museum Association intends to be that partnership, according to Rachel Barber, administrator for the Auglaize County Historical Society.

"It comes closer than any other facility operated by the Ohio Historical Society to breaking even," Barber said of the Armstrong museum. "Part of the negotiation will be to see what kind of continued financial assistance in the form of a stipend ... that would be provided to the partnership group. There would still be a gap. It would be up to us as a group to figure out how to close that gap."

Grants, fundraising campaigns and improved marketing campaigns are all on the table as part of the solution, Barber said.

The state historical society initially planned to close the museum by the end of June. That deadline has been extended to July 20 - the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon.

"I think with the popularity of the site and the importance of the site not only to the state and the community, I really can't foresee it closing until this partnership is made permanent," said Rebecca Macwhinney, site manager at the museum. "I think because we have identified a potential partner ... we need to continue to sit down with the Ohio Historical Society management team and come up with a management agreement that is viable for both sides."

John Zwez, the former site manager and president of the museum association, said the group will be soliciting donations to help offset the cost of operating the museum.

"There's going to be projects we want to be able to do. In the past, the historical society hasn't had the funding to do some of those projects," Zwez said. "There are a lot of things that are on the table right now. Like I said we're just in the early stages with this group, really getting our act together so we're in a position to be able to make an offer to the historical society to partner with those folks."

Macwhinney said the budget crisis and rush to form a group to save the museum could in the long run be a good thing.

"I personally think this could be one of the best things that ever happened to the museum," Macwhinney said. "To be able to have local control, folks like John (Zwez) and the individuals here, being able to do the things that need to be done to the museum to make it a better part of the community and surrounding area."

Both Macwhinney and Zwez said resolving a partnership agreement with the state historical society before the end of July is an achievable goal.

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