The Dowagiac Area History Museum held its Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Cass County Council on Aging Front Street Crossing Monday.

Mayor Don Lyons, city manager Kevin Anderson and museum director Steve Arseneau recognized the cumulative efforts of the 35 volunteers who dedicate their time to the museum and singled out some individuals who met hourly milestones.

“This group of volunteers worked over 2,500 hours in the past year — over 48 hours per week,” Arseneau said. “The Dowagiac Area History Museum would not function as it does without our dedicated volunteers and I appreciate all their efforts.”

He added that volunteers perform a variety of duties, including staffing the desk, assisting with school tours, helping with events and opening the museum on Saturdays. Each volunteer received a free annual membership to the museum and a new nametag with the museum logo on it.

Volunteers who reached milestones in hours worked since they began working for the museum (including hours worked when it was at Southwestern Michigan College) were Virginia Kraft of Niles (500 hours); Maxine Frederick of Dowagiac (500 hours); Betty Taggart of Dowagiac (750 hours); and Laura Maddox of Cassopolis (1,000 hours).

Museum Director Steve Arseneau commended the efforts of Chuck Timmons and Alan Palmer, both of Dowagiac. In the months prior to the museum’s opening in May 2013, Timmons and Palmer worked over 30 hours per week to ensure the museum would be ready.