Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Barbara Wagner
(501) 396-7050, ext. 210

2005 Arkansas Museums Association Trustee Award Presented to John Parke
"Discovery Express" rolls in to the delight of families.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 1, 2005) – John Parke received the 2005 Arkansas Museums Association (AMA) Trustee Award, presented at the AMA conference in Mtn. View on March 31, 2005. Parke won the award because of the various roles he has played in the advancement of the Museum of Discovery (MOD), ultimately serving as its Board Chairman in his six years of service to the Museum. The purpose of the AMA awards program is to recognize and encourage outstanding work within the Arkansas museum community and to help focus public attention on museums and on the AMA.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the 2005 AMA Trustee Award,” stated Parke. “This award doesn’t just recognize the work that I have done for the museum; it really reflects all of the talents of the Museum’s outstanding staff and my fellow board members.”

During Parke’s time as Board Chairman, he oversaw major changes at the Museum including the resignation of an Executive Director, the selection of an interim Executive Director and the nationwide search for the current Executive Director. At the same time, he oversaw the merger of the Children’s Museum of Arkansas with MOD.

Parke supervised efforts to link MOD with the Smithsonian Institution, culminating in the Museum becoming a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2003. The affiliation drew national publicity and has expanded MOD’s exhibit capabilities with available loans of Smithsonian artifacts.
Parke began his role at the Museum on the Board of Trustees in 1998, serving as Chair of the Development Committee. He joined the Board when MOD had recently relocated to the River Market District, greatly increasing the yearly budget, a challenge he accepted, working to achieve financial stability for the institution.

Parke is Vice President of Democrat Printing and Lithographing Company. Through his business, he donates printing services to produce public relations materials for MOD.
In addition to his volunteer work at the Museum of Discovery, Parke is the Founding Chairman (and Executive Committee member) of the Little Rock Workforce Investment Board, is on the Little Rock Job Corps Industry Advisory Council, was in Class XI of Leadership of Greater Little Rock, and is on the UAMS Department of Psychiatry Advisory Board. He serves as a Classroom Volunteer consultant with Junior Achievement of Arkansas, another example of his commitment to the education of young people in Arkansas. He also serves Junior Achievement on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and as the Marketing Committee Chairman. A lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church, he has served them as a Vestry Member, Chairman of the Search Committee, and on the Capital Campaign Committee.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The Museum of Discovery was established in 1927 as the Museum of Natural History and Antiquities. Before changing its name and moving to its present River Market location in 1998, the museum was the Arkansas Museum of Science and History located in the Arsenal building in McArthur Park. In 2003, the Museum of Discovery merged with the Children's Museum of Arkansas to provide educational services to children and adults of all ages. The 44,000-square-foot educational institution provides unique learning opportunities through its interactive exhibits, programs and events.

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