Abbe Museum Welcomes New Trustees

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Abbe Museum Members enjoyed a lovely evening at the
Annual Meeting, held this year at Nannau Woods thanks to
the generosity of hosts Carey & Claudia Turnbull.
Read the 2011 Annual Report presented that evening.
At its Annual Meeting held on August 15, 2012, the Abbe Museum officially added three new members of its Board of Trustees: Mr. David Moses Bridges, Ms. Ann Cox Halkett and Mr. Douglas Sharpe. 

“We are excited to welcome our incoming class,” said CEO, Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko.  “Our new members bring talents and new perspectives that will complement and strengthen our Board.  As a 21st century museum, we are building a Board that is reflective of our community, our organizational needs, and our mission.  It is a pleasure to work alongside the Abbe Trustees as we strengthen the Abbe Museum presence locally and statewide.”

Mr. Bridges is a Passamaquoddy artist, educator and community advocate, who has been immersed in the traditional culture of his community for his entire life. He carries on his family’s tradition of birch bark canoe construction and has been sharing his knowledge with children and adults through Abbe educational programs for twenty years.  Since 1992 David has focused on the preservation of Wabanaki material culture working with museums, schools and tribal groups as a consultant, conservator, and project leader. As a founder of Nulankeyutmonen N'Kihtahkumikumonen, he works as an activist and advocate for the preservation of indigenous homelands in Canada, the U.S. and South America.  He lives in Bar Harbor with his family.

Ms. Halkett lives in Bar Harbor and is the development and public relations writer at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. Her childhood in New York City was brightened by summers spent at Tranquility Farm on Frenchman Bay in Gouldsboro, the site of several of the Abbe’s archaeological digs and field schools. Her affection for Maine led her to move to Portland after college and then raise her four children in Cherryfield. In addition to her work in development, she has been an organic blueberry grower, family planning counselor, newspaper columnist, and freelance writer. She has served on the boards of the Downeast Food Co-op, the Downeast AIDS Network, and the Narraguagus Nursery School, and on the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Southwest Harbor.  Her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English come from Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Sharpe grew up in Rhode Island and has spent many summers in Sorrento and on Mount Desert Island. He has been closely involved with the Abbe Museum for many years helping to support its initiatives and directions, and is a regular participant in the Abbe’s archaeological field school.  A graduate of Brown University, his professional career was as a Systems Engineer and he worked in the software industry for 20 years with Raytheon, IBM & Lotus Development Corporation.  Recently retired, he is now focused on managing family business efforts and performing several volunteer positions.  He has non-profit board experience with the South Kent School in CT, the Foundation for Free Flight, and the Sharpe Family Foundation.  He lives with his family in Concord, MA.   

The Abbe Museum Trustees as of August 15, 2012 are: Sandra K. Wilcox, President, Barbara E. McCloud, Vice President, William Haviland, Secretary, Jeff Dalrymple, Treasurer, Christina Baker, John Benson, David Moses Bridges, Richard Cleary, Linda K. Dunn, Ann Cox Halkett, Margaret Kelley, Kessie Watters Kimball, Rick Phillips-Doyle, Darren J. Ranco, Douglas Sharpe, Arthur E. Speiss, and Honorary Trustee, Alice Wellman.

Abbe full-time staff include: Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, CEO, John Brown, Director of Finance and Administration, Raney Bench, Curator of Education, Julia Clark, Curator of Collections, Astra Haldeman, Manager of Museum Services and Hannah Whalen, Director of Development.