Max Meltzer
For a passionate baseball fan such as me, Cooperstown means one thing: the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, this past summer I discovered that Cooperstown is much more than baseball. The two weeks I spent as a Landmark volunteer at the Farmers' Museum introduced me to a new part of this historic town.

Working at the museum was a wonderful experience. Meeting new people is always interesting and my co-volunteers came from all over the country. We bonded quickly. In a short period of time we learned to work with each other and to function as a team. Our activities at the museum included installing trail markers, painting buildings, and fixing up animal pens. It was all new and different for me and lots of fun. The staff was so nice to the volunteers and appreciative of our efforts. We felt good about helping.

A full day at the museum was followed by nighttime activities that everyone enjoyed. We were very lucky to be able to use the amazing facilities at the Clark Sports Center. We played volleyball and basketball and went bowling. One evening we saw a movie in Oneonta. Our day off was spent at the beach on Lake Otsego.

Of course, the baseball connection was not completely lost. The museum was the venue for the party for Tony Gwynn, one of this year's Hall of Fame inductees. The volunteers assisted at the event, and I got to see many baseball greats. It was a real thrill. Landmark provided me with a unique opportunity, new friends and lasting memories.

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