Note that the HAHA monthly meeting is usually held the second Monday of the month, but is sometimes changed to meet volunteers' schedules. Please check this HAHA website (see below) or Facebook page, or send us an email, to confirm the date of any member meeting. Thanks! (HAHA's email is [email protected])
Saturday, January 27, 2024 -- HAHA members got together for the annual board election and member meeting. We shared potluck lunch of wonderful crockpot beans, chili, casserole, salads, desserts, and good cheer before and after the meeting.
Monday, February 19, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the meeting room under the Hermosa Library. We then gathered at the HAHA Museum to look over the renovations that were suddenly going full speed ahead.
Monday, March 11, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held in the meeting room under the Hermosa Library. We then gathered at the HAHA Museum to look over the next stage of completed renovations, including the small kitchen area.
Monday, April 15, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held in the meeting room under the Hermosa Library at 6:30 pm.
Friday, April 19, 2024 -- HAHA members and volunteers gathered at the Hermosa Coffee House to make small flowers and pinwheel decorations for the upcoming Mother's Day Open House, under the direction of Cathy Dahl. After completing the handicrafts, volunteers went to the HAHA Museum to discuss how to set up the displays and chose a cleaning day for the upcoming Mother's Day Open House.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 -- HAHA volunteers came together to dust, sweep, vacuum, and scrub the walls, windows, floors, and displays. Leta treated us all to lunch at the Hermosa Coffee House, then we went back to work for another couple hours. It's exciting to see the Museum emerging from its long hibernation.
Wednesday, May 8 - 11, 2024 -- HAHA volunteers completed the cleaning and set up the displays, including a special exhibit honoring mothers of the past. The Museum looks great!
Sunday, May 12, 2024 -- HAHA celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a ribbon-cutting grand re-opening of the HAHA Museum, and a Mother's Day Open House. All on one day, from 11 am to 2 pm. Hooray! Nearly 100 people stopped in to see the exhibits and the renovations, and watched a slide show giving the history of the building: from a school house to a Masonic Lodge to the HAHA Museum. People enjoyed cookies made from vintage recipes, and took home a hand-crafted flower or pinwheel decoration.
Monday, May 13, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held in the HAHA Museum. We discussed the success of the Open House on May 12th, and talked about the upcoming fundraiser Online Auction in June. A volunteer entertained us with a poem about volunteering for HAHA, and played the piano. Fun!
June -- HAHA Museum was open Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm
Monday, June 10, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. We picked up one new member last year and three additional new members as well as some who have returned now that they have more time since retiring. It's wonderful to need more than one table to hold everyone.
June 21-23, 2024 -- HAHA held an online auction fundraiser with the donated services of McPherson Auction Company. Complete details about how to register and bid; the auction preview dates, times and location; and photos of the items available to bid on; were on the 2024 Online Auction Page.
July -- HAHA Museum was open Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm
Monday, July 8, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. We discussed the Custer County Fair and set up a schedule for volunteers to set up and take down the booth, as well as scheduled times volunteers can sit at the booth to talk to fair visitors.
August -- HAHA Museum was open Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm HAHA volunteers had the Museum open once a week through the summer. Folks stopped in to tour the Museum, watched a slide show on our TV of the history of the HAHA Museum's renovations, and talked to whichever volunteers were on hand. We appreciate it when they signed our guest book, so we have a record of those who came.
Monday, August 5, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum, one week early in order to meet before the Custer County Fair. We discussed the fair display and other upcoming events.
August 8 - 11, 2024 -- HAHA had a booth at the Custer County Fair, with our theme being schools. We displayed some small vintage school desks, donated to HAHA recently, a map of the historic schools in the eastern Custer County area, the Centennial Quilt made in 1976 by Hermosa School students, as well as photos and information about local schools. We offered local history books for sale as well as some greeting cards with drawings of the Hermosa Cemetery cannons and old barns and sheds found along Highway 79, and we had a sunflower frame for group photos. Some folks stopped by each day, had some good conversations, and we even had one of the Centennial Quilt students come by for a photo. How cool is that?
Monday, September 9, 2023 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. Plans were made for the "Hermosa Art Out" and a Veteran's Day letter-writing project. And of course it's not too early to start thinking about the Christmas Carnival! A call to Craft Fair vendors to reserve tables is underway.
Thursday, October 3, 2024 -- Artists checked in at the HAHA Museum for the Plein Air "Art Out" and created art (any media) on Thursday and Friday in Hermosa or within a 20-mile radius. Saturday, October 5, 2024 -- Art was set up in the HAHA Museum for viewing and voting from 10 am to 3 pm. An artists' Happy Hour, Reception, and Awards took place from 4 pm to 6 pm. Light refreshments and beverages were served, and HAHA volunteer Beverly provided piano music. Some art was available for purchase. Click here for complete details.
Monday, October 14, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. We discussed Halloween, a Veterans' Day letter-writing project, the December Christmas Carnival, decorating the HAHA Museum with Christmas lights, and possibly decorating a tree at Custer State Park. Volunteers who like to decorate are needed!
Thursday, October 31, 2024 -- Trick or Treat was enjoyed on the HAHA Museum front porch. Come one, come all. Costumes or street clothes. All ages welcome. Stop by for a candy treat and let us take your photos for posterity.
Saturday, November 2, 2024 -- The HAHA Museum had an Open House from 10 am to 2 pm. Starting at 11 am, we had a number of speakers: local retired USAF Marilyn Moe, local retired SDNG Jim Preston, and a number of people from SD Service Dogs organization. Some military items and uniforms were on display, and we had art supplies and blank postcards available so the public could write Thank You, Get Well, or Thinking of You cards, which were delivered to the VA Medical Center in Hot Springs. The Hermosa School students also wrote post cards. We let our veterans know they are not forgotten.
Monday, November 11, 2024 -- HAHA member meeting will be held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. We will again discuss the upcoming Christmas Carnival, decorating the HAHA Museum with Christmas lights and ornaments, and possibly decorating a tree at Custer State Park.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 -- HAHA volunteers will join with Hermosa Connects volunteers, the American Legion Auxiliary, and other community members to set up the Christmas Carnival at the Hermosa School the day before the big event.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 -- The Hermosa Christmas Carnival will be held at the Hermosa School from 10 am to 2 pm. We will have many kinds of soups and chili, fresh bread, and desserts for a free-will offering. Free games and prizes for the kids. Photos with Santa from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The Craft Fair is back! We have a lot of vendors lined up, but we still have room for more.
Monday, December 9, 2024 -- Member Meeting at 6:30 pm at the HAHA Museum. If it's too cold we may meet elsewhere. Look for a note on the door.