Helen Van Fleet retires from CBMM – Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Helen Van Fleet retires from CBMM

Long-time Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum employee Helen Van Fleet of St. Michaels, Md. has recently retired after 29 years of service. Van Fleet held many positions at CBMM, most recently serving as education assistant with the non-profit institution .
Van Fleet joined the Museum in 1986, beginning as a fund-raise assistant as depart of the visitor services team. She later worked as the volunteer coordinator for over 18 years, helping to recruit more than 800 volunteers to the museum over her tenure .
“ Helen ’ s contributions to the museum have helped make CBMM the first institution it is today, ” commented CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “ Over the years, Helen has been the font of the Museum to many of our guests, volunteers, and staff members. We surely miss seeing her every day, and look forward to many more years of her volunteering with us. ”

In her retirement, Van Fleet ’ s commitment to the museum and community continues. In addition to ongoing community service, Van Fleet continues to volunteer with CBMM on the annual boat auction among early programs and festivals. She is a 27-year volunteer with Christmas in St. Michaels, and has served on the Tourism Board, Parks and Recreation, and the Waterways Commission for the Town of St. Michaels. Van Fleet ’ s volunteer work over the years has served Talbot Hospice, the Waterfowl Festival, St. Michaels Business Association, St. Michaels Community Center, St. Michaels Volunteer Fire Department, the Miles River Yacht Club, Habitat for Humanity of Talbot County, and the St. Michaels Planning Commission and its Board of Appeals. In January, she will be re-joining the board of the St. Michaels Community Center. A house physician of St. Michaels since 1985, Van Fleet is besides the owner/operator of The Fleet ’ s Inn in St. Michaels.

“ The Maritime Museum is obviously a big region of my liveliness, ” said Van Fleet. “ The friendliness and sense of community from the volunteers, staff members and guests are assets to the entire community. I ’ m fortunate to have contributed as a staff member, and continuing nowadays as a tennessean. It ’ s something I ’ meter identical gallant to be a function of. ”

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photograph : “ CBMM_VanFleet_2015.jpg ”
Long-time Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum employee and residential district advocate Helen Van Fleet, shown hera at CBMM ’ s OysterFest this past October, has recently retired after 29 years of service. Van Fleet has held many positions at CBMM, most recently serving as department of education assistant with the non-profit mental hospital, and continues to volunteer with respective organizations—including CBMM—in her hometown of St. Michaels, Md .
“ CBMM_VanFleet1986.jpg ”
A photograph of Van Fleet ( left ), along with Leslie Guthrie Grunden and Michael Armory, as it appeared in a 1986 newsletter of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum announcing the three as new staff members. After 29 years of service to the non-profit museum, Van Fleet has recently retired .