FROM THE DIRECTOR

They say, “It takes a village,” and often there are good examples of that.

Cape May MAC recently partnered with the Cape May County Department of Tourism and the Southern Shore Regional Destination Marketing Organization to conduct an economic impact study. More to come of the full findings, but at this point, I can say that Cape May MAC is responsible for upwards of $200 million infused into the local economy annually. For that, we’re very, very proud.

Now, we do that by working to provide things to do in Cape May year-round. We have a full-time staff of 23, and a few more yearly, part-time employees, about 150 seasonal part-timers, and indispensable help from some 150 volunteers. The result is thousands of tours and events each year. Any day in the peak season of summer, there may be 50 things on our calendar for people to do. From the week before Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, there were 563 holidays offerings. There are not many places that can say that, especially in a community our size. Still, even with our dedicated staff and gracious volunteer pool, we cannot do it alone. That’s where the village comes in.

Many of those Cape May MAC calendar items are partnerships with other local entities. You can book a whale watching tour,

Jody Alessandrine, Director/CEO

or another non-profit’s Actors Equity play. You can even attend a bingo with a lingerie show component. You can go on a Cape May MAC trolley wine trail, visiting local vineyards.

All told, Cape May MAC has more than 60 contracts and letters of agreement with for-profit, non-profit and private parties made to provide the wide array of museum, arts and cultural activities for people to enjoy 363 days per year. There’s the City of Cape May for use of Convention Hall, where we host some Cape May Music Festival con-

Cape May MAC Board Election Results

Ballots for the 2022 Board elections were mailed to Cape May MAC Members in November and returns tabulated by Membership Committee Chair Janet Coupland. Our Membership has elected the following Officers and Trustees to lead the organization in 2023:

President: Brian Groetsch

1st Vice President: Wendy Collins

2nd Vice President: Norris Clark

3rd Vice President: Lee Bellarmino

Secretary: Janet Coupland

Treasurer: Mary Farber McKenney certs, our Lessons of History series, and Crafts and Collectibles shows. With seven or eight other professional orchestras and artists for the music festival. With the Center for Community Arts and the Harriet Tubman Museum on our Underground Railroad Trolley Tour—concerning the intellectual content with the former and a combination tour with the latter. With a plethora of private homeowners who graciously allow us to conduct holiday, kitchen and garden tours at their properties. With other non-profits, like New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory and Cape May Nature Center, Historic Cold Spring Village and Naval Air Station Wildwood.

Trustees: Tina Angstadt, Ioanna Iliopulos, Steve Steger Jr.

The newly elected Officers and Trustees join Chris Clemans, Jake Cuomo, Wanda Wise Evelyn, Bob Gorgone, Bernie Haas, and Jake Pashelinsky who are currently serving unexpired terms, and Jody Alessandrine, who serves ex officio as Director.

Our thanks go to Barbara Dreyfuss who has moved away from Cape May and retired from the Board after one year of service.

And speaking of non-profits, we coordinate the local Cultural Organizations Roundtable, where 18 of us meet quarterly to discuss ways to help each other— borrowing another commonly used, yet apt phrase, “A rising tide raises all ships.”

Indeed, it’s all about the partnerships that help make Cape May MAC and the local Cape May Community at-large be what it is to so many. Why we live here, and why so many who visit wish they could. It’s the focus on what’s best for the community that is at the heart of our mission, and why we constantly are challenged, and challenge ourselves, to balance the needs of the few in favor of the needs of the many.

-- JJA

The quintessential pocket guide to Cape May

Cape May MAC announces the publication of Explore Cape May, the most comprehensive and detailed pocket guide to exploring America’s oldest seaside resort town by bicycle! This sturdy, hard cover, expanded edition features over 90 stops—from iconic homes and hotels to notable historic sites— with photos and information for each! We spent a long time on this one and it shows, yet it’s still compact enough to fit in your bike basket. Happy trails!

Explore Cape May can be purchased online by CLICKING HERE or at the Carriage House Museum Shop on the grounds of the Physick Estate.