The Anthony Law Firm, PLLC kicked off the season of giving by donating a Nintendo Wii game system to the Stillwater Children's Museum for a raffle. Shown above: Executive Director, Ruth Cavins, Wii Donor Luke Anthony and SCM Board President, Marcia Karns, with Brenda Nipp's lucky ticket.

"All proceeds from this raffle will benefit the Stillwater Children's Museum, which plans to open its doors in 2010," said Luke Anthony, Anthony Law Firm, PLLC, and Stillwater Children's Museum Board Member. "I am very excited about the hands-on educational opportunities that the museum will offer the children of Stillwater... including my own."

The Stillwater Children's Museum advertised the raffle in local papers, at the Museum's information booth outside the OSU Student Union Bookstore, and on the Museum's website, www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org. Word of the raffle spread statewide, and one lucky winner was drawn December 17, 2007.

"Mr. Anthony's very generous donation has not only raised dollars for the Museum, but also increased community awareness and involvement," said Stillwater Children's Museum Executive Director, Ruth Cavins.

The drawing was held outside the former Katz building which will be the Museum's permanent location after renovations are completed.  The lucky winner, Brenda Nipp, will receive a new Nintendo Wii console with one controller and five Wii sports games.

For more information about the Stillwater Children's Museum or to make a donation, please call 405-533-3333 or visit www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org.

Plant Virus Exploration has completed its second season as a very popular Museum Without Walls program for 5th graders. Over 430 students from Stillwater, Perkins, and Yale were actively engaged in hands-on learning as they explored the nano-sized world of viruses.

Students across Payne County eagerly participated in a two-hour interactive classroom presentation brought to their schools by the Stillwater Children's Museum (SCM). As a complement to the 5th grade Micro Worlds and Ecosystems Science units, "Plant Virus Exploration" provided the opportunity for students to learn through play. Virus "research" has never been so fun!

Although the program itself has many very exciting components — examining live virus vectors (aphids), spreading pretend viruses (glitter bug powder) to classmates through handshakes and high-fives, and racing other groups of students to be the most infectious "plant cell" while replicating viruses using shoe string DNA and pattern block protein coats — the students were the most dynamic part of the program! They made connections, not only with their Science units of study, but also to library books they've read, the polygons they've been studying in Math, and by asking tough questions.

The soccer players were excited to learn that some viruses (like the rhinovirus that causes the common cold) are Icosahedrons, a 20-sided polygon shaped just like a soccer ball. Some classes missed a recess without complaint, and one young man asked if "Plant Virus Exploration" would come back every day!

Many classes also took advantage of the chance to visit the OSU Microscopy Laboratory and/or the OSU Insectary as a fieldtrip. They met amazing real life scientists, manipulated a Scanning Electron Microscope, and dispelled many myths about insects as they held and petted walking sticks, millipedes, and spiders!

"These fieldtrips have been a wonderful way to extend the 'Plant Virus Exploration' adventure while giving children an immersion experience to learn about exciting careers in science," said Ruth Cavins, SCM Executive Director.

As with all of the Museum Without Walls programs offered by the Stillwater Children's Museum, "Plant Virus Exploration" was provided completely free of charge to its recipients. A grant from NSF Oklahoma EPSCoR and donations from the community supported this program.

You can make a lasting difference in our community this holiday season when you give to Stillwater Children's Museum. While many of our programs have been funded by grants and special sponsors, most of the expenses that keep our day-to-day work moving — utilities, supplies for volunteers, postage, printing, etc. — must be paid for by generous individuals, like you. Right now, an additional $30,000 will complete the funding for basic operating expenses of the Stillwater Children's Museum and its programs for the remainder of the 2007-2008 programming cycle.

And not only will your tax donation help Stillwater Children's Museum now, but it will provide you a valuable tax deduction on April 15th! According to the IRS rules, charitable donations are tax deductible. As a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to the Stillwater Children's Museum qualify for that tax deduction.

However, in order to be applicable to 2007 taxes, the donation must be made prior to midnight on December 31. This applies to when the transaction was made, so credit card charges made before midnight qualify, even if the bill is not paid until 2008. For checks sent via mail, the effective date is the postmark, not the date received by the charity.

The IRS requires that all charitable deductions have a bank record or a written communication from the charity showing the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution. A bank record includes canceled checks, bank or credit union statements and credit card statements. Bank or credit union statements should show the name of the charity and the date and amount paid. Credit card statements should show the name of the charity and the transaction posting date.

Be aware that only taxpayers who itemize on Schedule A can claim a charitable donation as a tax deduction. The rules do not apply for those using standard deductions via 1040 or 1040EZ forms. As always, consult with a qualified tax professional for details.

Stillwater Children's Museum is already making an exciting difference in our community. And your help is vital as we get closer and closer to opening a hands-on, interactive Museum right here in Stillwater. Will you help us continue serving our children and our community?

For more information about giving to Stillwater Children's Museum, see
http://www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org/donate.htm.

*Source: http://www.irs.gov

Stillwater Children's Museum (SCM) recently welcomed three new members to their Board of Directors. Lorrie Janzen, Katrina Jarvis and Luke Anthony will bring their talents to the board and join in the continued efforts to build a children's museum in Stillwater as well as maintain current Museum Without Walls programming.

Lorrie Janzen has lived in Stillwater for the past 30 years. She is an alumni of Stillwater High School as well as Oklahoma State University. While in Stillwater, Lorrie has been active in many local civic organizations.


Katrina Jarvis came to Stillwater from Enid to attend OSU. Since then she has made her home in Perkins with her husband and 13-year-old son. Katrina has served on the Board of Directors for Downtown Stillwater Unlimited and the Main Street organization, where she served as Board President. She is also very active in her church. Katrina has been with Stillwater National Bank since 1994 and is currently Vice President of Stillwater National Bank Financial Services.
The opportunity to be of service to the board as they realize this dream for the children of the greater Stillwater area is indeed an honor and a privilege," said Katrina.

Luke Anthony is a native of Stillwater, where he graduated from Stillwater High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Oklahoma State University. Following college, Luke received a juris doctorate from the University of Tulsa before returning to Stillwater to start the Anthony Law Firm, PLLC. Luke is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Payne County Bar Association, the Westwood Elementary Parent Teacher Association, and a volunteer for Legal Aid of Oklahoma.


"We are very fortunate to have three outstanding individuals joining our board," said DeAnna Little, SCM Board Development Chair. Not only do they bring a unique blend of experiences to our group, most importantly they bring a desire to make an impact in the lives of children within our community."

Stillwater Children's Museum plans to open its doors downtown in 2010. For more information about the Museum or to make a donation, please call 405-533-3333 or visit www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org.

President Marcia Karns President-Elect Jana Phillips Treasurer Jason Pogue Co-Secretary Tyler Martin, Amy Tidland Members Luke Anthony, Brenda Anderson Bose, Dena Cornforth, Bethany Houser, Lorrie Janzen, Katrina Jarvis, DeAnna Little, Kandi Speer		Executive Director Ruth Cavins VISTA Members Nita Buckner, Suzanne Buckner, Emily Phillips, Hallie Rock MWW Facilitators Dana Babinec, Kelsey Bridges, Amanda Dyer, Mindi Franks, Kari Huggins, Rachel Sproul and Kayleen Wichert		Watch for Us at Various Events in 2008 January SCM Board of Directors Meeting January 22, 2008 11:30 a.m. Stillwater Community Center, Room 100

Stillwater Children's Museum • P.O. Box 1299, Stillwater, OK 74076
405-533-3333 • www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org