It will take some time for the members of the Lincoln CountyHistorical and Genealogical Society to collect, organize anddisplay the artifacts that will make up a museum, but the sacredbuilding they plan to use for the task could be theirs by the endof the month.

Hal Samuels, facilitator of Brookhaven’s Temple B’nai Shalom -the city’s only Jewish temple – said the deconsecrating ceremonynecessary to remove the temple’s status as a house of worship hasbeen tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 30.Additionally, he is working with local attorney Clint Gardner toarrange for the temple’s transfer to the society on a 99-yearlease, which he hopes to have ready by mid-September.

“There’s a second letter going out next week informing the(temple’s former) congregation basically that we’re deconsecratingthe temple on Aug. 30. Hopefully, that will be the final meeting ofB’nai Shalom that day,” Samuels said.

Samuels said the temple’s former congregation is united behindthe project, as it is a permanent way to ensure the facility ispreserved and taken care of. He said the Jackson-basedGoldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life would workwith the society to set up a section of the temple/museum fordisplaying Jewish artifacts.

“It’s a wonderful thing, and we’re all in favor of getting thisdone for both Brookhaven and Lincoln County,” he said.

The issue of securing a building for use as a museum – thehistorical society’s greatest concern and challenge upon itsformation in late 2007 – is about to be solved. But the societyfaces several other challenges, especially in the way offunding.

“The biggest question everyone always has is where do we get themoney to do this,” said Cindy Gardner, director of Collections inthe Museum Division of the Mississippi Department of Archives andHistory, while speaking to a society board meeting at the templeFriday.

The most-used source of funding for museums and like-mindedpublic entities is grant funding, but Gardner pointed out thatgrant allowances in Mississippi have taken a hit as revenues havefallen and grant-issuing state agencies – like her own MDAH -operate on reduced budgets.

Likewise, there is high competition for the few pots of grantmoney available, Gardner said. Countless other non-profit groupsaround the state vie annually for few grants, and progressingprojects often have better chances of landing a grant thanbeginning projects like the society’s.

Even locally, the ongoing restoration of the Haven theatre hasdrawn funding from both MDAH and the Mississippi Arts Commissionbecause of Brookhaven Little Theatre’s organized, successfulapproach.

Still, Gardner encouraged the society to apply for MDAH’s MuseumAid funding during the next grant cycle, which begins inJanuary.

Gardner also suggested seeking donations from the public, andlarger, single donations from the area’s wealthy residents. Suchrequests will have a higher chance of success, she said, when themuseum develops its exhibit plans, allowing society members to askdonations from those involved in specific fields.

“Once they figure out what the theme will be, it will help withfunding,” Gardner said.

In the meantime, Gardner said the best course for the society totake financially is to hold fundraisers, draw on volunteer work andseek assistance from local government.

“If you can, try to get your local government to pay theutilities,” she said. “The museum folks will tell you utilities arethe biggest expense.”

Historical society chairwoman Rita Rich has asked both countysupervisors and city aldermen for around $30,000 total to help getthe museum off the ground. Neither government group has voted onthe request, but supervisors last year backed away from financiallysupporting the group.

Rich said the society would meet the challenges and is workingand planning harder than ever as the temple’s deconsecrationceremony approaches.

The primary focus of the group now, she said, is to complete itspolicy for selections and displaying artifacts. Once the policy isset, she said the society would begin choosing themes for theexhibits, all of which will be based on local history, withagriculture, forestry and industry as themes being considered sofar.

Rich said the society also plans to follow Gardner’s advice oftouring other museums around the state, where likeminded volunteerswill likely be overjoyed to share their experiences.

“From now on, it’s going to take a lot of committee work,” Richsaid.