Special to the HT
RBC | There are moments in an organization’s life when you can feel that something important is shifting.
This is one of those moments for the Rio Blanco County Historical Society.
In my time as Executive Director, I’ve had the chance to watch people walk through the doors of the White River Museum and reconnect with something—sometimes a name, sometimes a memory, sometimes just a feeling that they belong to something bigger than themselves.
That’s what this work is really about.
Our mission is to preserve, protect, and share the history of Rio Blanco County. But if I’m being honest, it’s more than that. It’s about making sure the stories that shaped this place don’t quietly disappear. It’s about making sure that what matters here—what has always mattered here—still has a voice.
And that kind of work doesn’t happen because of a building, or a collection, or even a single staff member.
It happens because people choose to care.
Right now, I’m asking a few more people to step into that role.
In January 2027, the Historical Society will be welcoming a new Executive Director. At the same time, we expect to have as many as four openings on our Board of Directors. That’s a significant moment for an organization our size. It means there is real opportunity—not just to participate, but to help shape what comes next.
Our board is intentionally small, between three and seven members, because every voice matters and every person is expected to be involved. Board members serve three-year terms, and those terms are staggered so there’s always some continuity alongside new ideas.
The process to join the board is straightforward, even if it’s a little more thoughtful than it used to be. Board members are elected by the membership at the annual meeting, but nominations begin earlier—typically at the third-quarter membership meeting. From there, interested individuals go through an application and a series of conversations with our nominations committee, along with interviews and reference checks.
We’ve put that process in place because we want to be intentional about who is helping guide this organization—especially during a time of transition.
But I don’t want that to sound intimidating.
You don’t need to have a background in history. You don’t need to have served on a board before. What matters most is that you care about this place and are willing to show up, listen, and contribute.
Some of the best conversations we’ve had around our board table have come from people who simply brought a different perspective. People who asked good questions. People who cared enough to stay engaged.
That’s what we need.
Because the truth is, places like the White River Museum don’t sustain themselves. They rely on people who are willing to take a little ownership of the community’s story. People who understand that once something is lost—a story, a photograph, a piece of history—it’s incredibly hard to bring it back.
Serving on the board is one way to make sure that doesn’t happen.
It means being part of the decisions about how we preserve and share our history. It means helping guide the organization through change. And right now, it means helping welcome new leadership and setting the tone for what comes next.
I know that stepping into something like this can feel like a big ask.
But I also know there are people in this community who have the heart for it.
If you’ve ever walked through the museum and felt a connection…
If you’ve ever heard a story and thought, “that shouldn’t be forgotten”…
If you care about what gets carried forward from this place…
Then I hope you’ll at least consider it.
You don’t have to decide today. You don’t have to have all the answers. But I would encourage you to reach out, ask questions, and start the conversation before nominations begin at our third-quarter membership meeting.
Stop by the museum. Call me. Let’s visit.
This work has never belonged to just one person or even one group. It belongs to all of us who care enough to carry it forward.
And right now, we have a real opportunity to do that—together.
By TERESIA REED
Executive Director
Rio Blanco County Historical Society