irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0HISTORICAL LECTURES AND PROGRAMS, USING VOLUNTEER LABOR, COSTS ARE MINIMAL, AND EXHIBIT MAINTENANCE AT THE BLUFF POINT LIGHTHOUSE.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Bluff Point Lighthouse Stewardship
Maintains exhibits and preserves the historic Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island, a key cultural site in Lake Champlain.
Historical Lectures and Programs
Monthly meetings featuring talks by historians and scholars on topics including local history, prison reform, transportation, and cultural heritage in Clinton County and the Champlain Valley.
Museum Operations
Collects, preserves, and displays historical artifacts and documents related to Clinton County; housed in the DAR building in Plattsburgh.
North Country Notes
Monthly publication documenting historical research, letters, church records, local events, and historical riddles; serves as a primary outreach and educational tool.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Conduct and publish historical researchConducts and publishes research on regional history topics including the Battle of Valcour Island, African Americans’ role in the Battle of Plattsburgh, the Spanish Flu in the North Country, the Underground Railroad, immigrant experiences, military units, and local infrastructure. Includes an eight-year archaeological survey of the Valcour Bay lakebed.
- Deliver historical lectures, programs, and educational eventsHosts lectures, workshops, and educational programs on regional history topics, including presentations on General Richard Montgomery, the history of Dannemora Prison, and the architecture of Plattsburgh’s East End. Organizes annual events such as Museum Day and summer trips featuring talks on county development and historic home tours.
-
-
Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 2 activities
- Provide guided tours and visitor experiences at Bluff Point LighthouseOffers guided tours of the Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island every Sunday in July and August, provides transportation to the island for a fee on the first Sunday of those months, and distributes free trail guides. Also restored the lighthouse interior and created interpretive displays about its history.
- Provide lighthouse passport stamp programOffers lighthouse passport stamps at the Bluff Point Lighthouse or museum during operating hours and by mail, in accordance with United States Lighthouse Society protocol.
-
-
Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Lead America250 commemoration activities in Clinton CountyLeads local observance of the U.S. Semiquincentennial through organized events and speakers focused on American founding history and development.
-
-
Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
- Offer membership benefits and publish historical contentOffers membership that includes access to the research library, a 10% discount on Association-published books and merchandise, and subscription to the newsletter North Country Notes. Also sells books, ornaments, and prints related to Clinton County history.
-
-
Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate museum with permanent and special exhibitsOperates a museum on the Old Base Museum Campus in Plattsburgh, NY, featuring four galleries, a gift shop, and a research library. Maintains permanent exhibits including Redford Glass, the Arto Monaco diorama of Plattsburgh and Valcour Island battles, military history artifacts, and rotating displays on topics such as local weddings, the Hotel Champlain, and 20th-century camps on Valcour Island. The museum is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday.
-
-
Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Steward and provide access to historical collectionsMaintains a permanent collection of over 50,000 historical artifacts, textiles, documents, photographs, and paintings. Receives and documents donated materials and provides research services for individuals studying Clinton County history, including access to records of individuals such as George Charron-Chabot and Civil War veteran Judson J. Burdick.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$111K
Contributions & grants$98K89%
Program service revenue$3K3%
Investment income$2K2%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$121K
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$59K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$574K
Cash$137K
Investments$0
Liabilities$15K
Net assets$559K
Liquid reserves13.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 12
- ALAN BOOTH — TRUSTEE
- BRANDON EPPS — TRUSTEE
- CAROL ARNOLD — TRUSTEE
- EDWARD SCOLLON — TRUSTEE
- GERI FAVREAU — PRESIDENT
- JAMES FARNAN — TRUSTEE
- JERRY GAGNIER — VICE PRESIDE
- KARIN THONE — TRUSTEE
- LAMIAA ALY-ELSHAFAY — TRUSTEE
- RANDI CHRISTODOULOU — TRUSTEE
- RICHARD SOPER — TRUSTEE
- WILLIAM D LAUNDRY — TREASURER
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Anderson Falls Heritage Society and Museum Partner — Collaborated with the Anderson Falls Heritage Society and Museum to preview Museum Day.
- Battle of Valcour Website Partner — Collaborates with the Battle of Valcour Website to share histories and coordinate event information related to the Revolutionary War and America250 commemoration.
- DAR House Partner — Hosts the Clinton County Historical Association's museum.
- Helen Nerska Partner — Collaborates with the Clinton County Historical Association to present a public event based on the CCHA's Revolutionary War exhibit.
- New York State Education Department Government — Chartered the Clinton County Historical Association in 1945.
- Plattsburgh Public Library Partner — Hosts events in collaboration with the Plattsburgh Public Library.
- SUNY Plattsburgh Partner — Collaborates with a professor emeritus from SUNY Plattsburgh to present on local historic architecture.
- SUNY Plattsburgh Partner — Collaborates with faculty, such as Dr. James Lindgren, for educational programming on local history.
- United States Lighthouse Society Partner — Administers lighthouse passport stamp program at Bluff Point Lighthouse in accordance with USLHS protocol.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Civic Commemoration Through Local Historical Narrativesmethodology: civic_commemorationBy using pivotal local historical events like the Battle of Valcour as focal points for commemoration, the organization inspires civic engagement, because connecting national narratives to local heritage fosters identity and collective responsibility.
- Exhibit-Based Interpretation to Foster Public Understandingmethodology: exhibit-based_interpretationBy curating focused historical exhibits and public programming, the organization deepens public understanding of underrepresented contributions and complex historical narratives, because structured interpretation makes local history more accessible and personally relevant.
- Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Heritage Preservationmethodology: public-private_preservation_partnershipBy assuming maintenance responsibility for historic structures like lighthouses through public-private partnerships, the organization ensures long-term preservation of key heritage sites, because shared stewardship leverages community investment while maintaining public ownership.
- Volunteer-Driven Model to Sustain Educational Programmingmethodology: volunteer-driven_operationsBy relying on volunteer labor to deliver lectures and maintain exhibits, the organization sustains historical education and preservation at minimal cost, because community involvement reduces operational expenses while deepening local ownership of cultural heritage.