By Special to the Town Crier
The Los Altos History Museum, which opened in March, recently named Mary Ann Poulos events coordinator. Poulos, a 17-year Los Altos resident, will oversee marketing events.
In addition to the large garden area “under the oaks” and the main floor exhibit hall, the museum has a spacious state-of-the-art caterer’s kitchen.
Poulos brings an extensive event planning background from her previous position with Hewlett-Packard, various Los Altos community and church affiliations, as well as 10 years’ ownership of a successful local catering business, Gourmet Hors d’oeuvres. She will assist clients in planning weddings, family celebrations, holiday parties and organization and corporate offsites. Proceeds from such events go back into museum exhibits and operations.
“My main goal is getting our name out there,” Poulos said. “Nobody knows we’re available for events.”
To achieve this, Poulos suggested such ideas as sending out mailers to potential clients and establishing a cooperative relationship with like-minded facilities such as Gamble Garden Center in Palo Alto. The plan would be for Gamble to refer clients to the museum if its facilities are booked, and vice versa.
Poulos, who has volunteered in fund-raising activities at Montclaire School, this year helped in a successful silent auction that raised $200,000 for St. Simon’s School.
Although museum activities are the main priority, Poulos noted there is time available for booking outside events at the museum, open noon to 4 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. Even on days when the museum is open, events can be booked before or after museum hours.
Poulos envisions a variety of organizations using the facility. The Los Altos-based Packard Foundation has used the museum facilities, and Los Altos School District officials plan a training event there in October. West Bay Opera is scheduled to hold a fund-raiser Sept. 16 on the museum grounds.
The outdoor rental season runs from mid-April through mid-October. For more information, call Poulos at 938-9427, ext. 12.
