New members added to museum foundation’s board

Published 9:53 am Wednesday, August 17, 2016

SPENCER — The N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation has announced the election of three new members to the board of directors. All three have been dedicated volunteers at the N.C. Transportation Museum.

The new members assumed office during the July meeting of the board, and all three spoke of their role in the museum’s future.

John Bimrose, director of Wireless and Broadcast Services for the Microspace Division of Capital Broadcasting in Raleigh, has been associated with the museum since 1990 and has been an active volunteer in museum rail operations since 2011. Bimrose has two sons, Nathan and Noah. Noah is also a volunteer and the father-and-son team can often be found working on projects in the restoration shops.

“I would like to leverage my skill and relationships in technology, sales and marketing to expand our exhibits, improve the experience of our visitors and secure additional funding to support museum projects,” said Bimrose.

James “Jim” Morrison II joined the N.C. Transportation Museum as an interpretive volunteer in 2007. Morrison also works with the Cabarrus County Schools as a reading tutor and spent 10 years as the assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America Troop 3.  Jim and his wife Sarah have two children, James Morrison and Patricia Nolan. He retired in 2007 as the international sales director for ProQuest/UMI after spending 30 years with the company.

A N.C. State alumnus, Morrison brings experience from working with museum visitors, and has the perspective of hearing firsthand what visitors want from a visit to the N.C. Transportation Museum.

John Tackett Jr. has been a special events volunteer at the museum for more than 28 years. He can often be found handling ticket sales at major events, hosting aboard rail excursions, and entertaining visitors and fellow volunteers at social events. A teacher in the Durham Public School System, Tackett also has experience with State Historic Sites as a former assistant site manager for Duke Homestead. There, he conducted daily tours and developed additional programs that complimented the scope and history of the site.

A graduate of N.C. Central University, Tackett says, “The museum is truly moving forward, and I would like to be closely involved with strategic planning for the future.”

Members serve on the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation board of directors for three years with no more than two consecutive terms.