Toni Mullee, Executive Director of the International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM), tells ANN that IWASM plans to build on its offerings and exhibits spotlighting the contributions of women in aerospace for 2008 -- Ed.

2007 was a busy year at the International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM). The year started out with a bang with a lecture series on the Mercury 13 that included a visit to the museum by Wally Funk. She entertained a large crowd with her stories of astronaut testing as well as her extensive aviation career.

Spring brought two new temporary exhibits at the museum on the subject of aerobatics. "Nancy Lynn: Inspiration Was Her Mission" and "Rock 'N Barrel Rolls" both explored the subject. The Nancy Lynn exhibit was a poignant look at her aerobatics career, her close relationship with her son and announcer, Pete Lynn, as well as her untimely death while performing in an air show. "Rock 'N Barrel Rolls" was full of artifacts of famous women aerobatic pilots, from Ruth Law to Patty Wagstaff.

Education was a major focus at IWASM with several programs for students, particularly females, that introduced them to careers in aerospace. One of the highlights was the Nikki Kukwa Memorial Aviation Camp, held on the campus of Kent State University. IWASM's first-ever aviation camp brought female high school students and their mothers together for three days and included a visit to Cleveland Hopkins Airport and flights with KSU instructors.

The year comes to a close with the introduction of a deck of playing cards by the museum highlighting women in air and space. The response to the decks (only 1,000 have been printed) has been overwhelming.

As we take a deep breath and head into 2008 the museum will be hosting our third annual Family Day on Saturday, March 8. This year's theme is "Women in Uniform" and the museum will be hosting Sarah Byrn Rickman, author of the new book, "Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II" as well as several WASPs. More education programs are on the way as well, with plans for two camps on university campuses in 2008.

FMI: www.iwasm.org