ROY -- The Roy Historical Museum is short on funds and volunteers, so it may exist only a short time more.
The nonprofit group usually raises about $2,500 in annual membership dues, but this year has received only 15 memberships at $25 each, a vast decrease from years past.
This is the second year of a serious financial slump for the museum, and volunteers worry that, if things don't improve quickly, the museum, at 5550 S. 1700 West, may have to close.
But funds aren't the only thing the museum is lacking; it also needs volunteers. The museum has had to cut its hours to noon to 4 p.m. four days a week because it costs too much to run the utilities and there are too few volunteers.
"We are dying off," said Margaret Child, who has volunteered at the museum for about 15 years. She said the group gets money from grants, but not enough to keep the museum open.
Because of the funding shortage, it has been hard to even do its usual fundraisers and other events that generate money.
"This year has been really devastating," said museum President Jean George.
They have a fundraiser in September, renting booths at Thompson Gardens on Hill Air Force Base at the Food for Life Festival.
The group will have its art show in conjunction with Roy Days. Artwork is on display at the museum until the beginning of Roy Days, this Saturday, when it will be on display at the city's annual event.
The city helps fund the show, and winners go on to the county fair competition, George said. Mayor Joe Ritchie said the city gives the museum $800 from its Roy Days budget to underwrite the art show.
George has been concerned about lack of participation in the museum by the city and city council, but Ritchie said the city does everything it can to help, including putting something about donating money in every city newsletter.
"We do as much as we can, but our hands are tied," Ritchie said, adding there is only so much money the city can donate to nonprofit groups without going through a long legal process that wouldn't give the museum much money anyway.
"We have to be fair. We can't give money to one group and not another."
George said she was surprised that no city council members have renewed memberships at the museum in the past couple of years.
The museum doesn't charge an admission fee, but asks for a donation. Sometimes people from out of state come into the museum because of its location, just down the road from the Hill Aerospace Museum.
"People are so impressed with what they have (at the museum) when they come in. We just need more people to come in," George said.
The museum is full of memorabilia from all around the world. "It's not just things from Roy."
Pieces of the Berlin Wall, a Faberge egg and brass slave tokens are just a few of the items in the museum.
"We even have a game for the kids when they come in," she said.
The group received a $1,600 RAMP grant this year for a new computer system. RAMP funds come from a tax approved by Weber County voters in 2004 that allows the county to impose a local sales tax of one-tenth of 1 percent, which is 1 cent on a $10 sale, to improve recreation, arts, museums and parks.
The group has talked of turning the museum over to the city, but George said the city doesn't say much about it.
Ritchie said that wouldn't be an option because the city doesn't have the funds to run the museum or a place to put everything.
"It's crazy that, when so many cities want a museum so much, and we have one, we can't support it to stay open," George said.
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