#21 The Danish Pioneer’s Countdown to Christmas 2014: Keep The Danish Windmill Turning in Elk Horn, Iowa
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lisa Riggs, Manager of The Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, Iowa, has given The Danish Pioneer Newspaper permission to reproduce The Danish Windmill’s December 2014 Appeal Letter. It’s up to all of us to help start The Danish Windmill turning again…and keep it turning. Please embrace your Danishness….with a charitable gift to The Danish Windmill this holiday season. Read on to learn more about this unique Danish landmark in the Midwestern USA and thank you for your support!
December 2014
Dear Friends,
The holidays are a time when we look forward to looking back. The aroma of fresh baked pebernødder, fragrant evergreen trees adorned with woven hearts and garland remind us of the cherished family traditions that have been passed down from one generation to the next, all the way from Denmark to Elk Horn and beyond.
It’s been almost 40 years since Harvey Sornson’s “impossible dream” became a reality. The 1848 Danish Windmill from Nørre Snede towers proudly above the rich fields of Iowa prairie, an ever-present reminder of our agricultural heritage and the land that was settled by our Danish ancestors.
The Mill has served generations of families over the span of its 166 years, from the field to the mill and from the mill to the table. Today, as an educational and historical museum, it is a unique and irreplaceable part of our culture and community. It is vital we take steps to ensure the Windmill’s continued story.
With that in mind, we are reaching out to ask you to please consider supporting the Mill this season through a charitable donation or a contribution to the Danish Windmill Endowment Fund. Both offer great tax incentives to you and your gift will help to strengthen the Mill’s financial reserves in order to sustain its historic preservation needs today and in the years to come.
The Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, Iowa (Photo by Linda Steffensen, The Danish Pioneer Newspaper’s Editor)
Help us Start the Mill Turning Again…and Keep it Turning
In the coming year the short-term and longer-term fundraising needs the Mill has identified include:
* Making immediate repairs to start the Mill turning again–You may have noticed that the Windmill has not been turning for several months now. Summer’s extreme heat, followed by last year’s harsh Iowa winter, took a serious toll on the Mill. It shifted the mechanical structure of its sails and the brackets that hold the shutters bringing the mill to a standstill for safety reasons. We need the expertise of an experienced millwright to provide technical assistance to get it turning again and that is estimated to cost $10,000-$15,000.
* To encourage donors to contribute to the established Danish Windmill Endowment Fund at the Omaha Community Foundation. In this way, donors can help assure that future generations will be able to experience the Danish cultural heritage and traditions that shaped our way of life on the Iowa prairie. Iowa residents become eligible for an Endow Iowa tax credit in addition to any federal deduction for which they qualify.
* We plan to install interpretive signage around the complex to help tie the different points together along the path as well as describe the significance of each. The “story telling” dimension that the signs can provide will enrich the experience for all guests, and especially for school children and international visitors. We have been awarded grants to help fund this project however, they require a local cash match.
What is the Windmill’s Danishness all about?
We find that in preserving our cultural heritage, our Danish Windmill plays an essential role in helping to sustain our community development. It gives our Villages a sense of place, pride, and uniqueness. It is the icon and foundation of our communities. We celebrate and promote our Danishness as ethnic, cultural, and heritage tourism. It is a clean industry, provides jobs, stimulates the local economy and brings in new dollars. Most importantly it helps keep our Danish Heritage alive.
We would welcome a gift of any amount. You can send a check, make a donation through our website, or contribute to the Danish Windmill Endowment Fund. Proceeds from the online store and gift shop purchases also support the programs and upkeep of the Windmill Museum. The Mill is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Again, we would appreciate your financial support and we thank you for considering a potential gift.
Glædelig Jul and Godt Nytår!
The Board of Directors and Staff of the Danish Windmill
Danish Windmill Donation Form (Reproduced with Permission in The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
Name: ________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
City/State/Zip: ___________________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: _______________________________
Please indicate your preferences by checking any of the options below:
Enclosed is my check for $ _______________ for the:
_____ Danish Windmill Foundation Endowment
_____ Annual Appeal
_____ My gift is made in honor of: _____________________________________________
Please send notice of gift to the person/family I have chosen to honor:
Name: _____________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________
_____ Please have someone call or visit to further discuss planned giving, bequests and life income gifts.
_____ Please send an automatic withdrawal form so that our donations can be set up electronically for monthly contributions.
Mange Tak!
* Checks can be made payable to: Danish Windmill
* Return to: Danish Windmill Corporation, PO Box 245, Elk Horn, IA 51531-0245, USA
* You may also contribute by credit card or PayPal at www.danishwindmill.com or by bank wire. If you have questions, please call The Danish Windmill at 712-764-7472. Please let The Danish Windmill know that you heard about the “Keep the Mill Turning Campaign” from The Danish Pioneer Newspaper.
A piece of Denmark close to home…
DANISH WINDMILL
PO Box 245, 4038 Main | Elk Horn, IA 51531-0245 USA
712.764.7472 | danishwindmill.com
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