Agent Nancy Canfield Inducted into the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame

We are proud to announce that one of our Windermere Homes & Estates agents, Nancy Canfield, got inducted into the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame for her leadership with the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society. She was nominated by Ted Gaasch, a 2000 inductee, who wrote that Canfield’s efforts as president and fundraising committee chairwoman “resulted in making the RB Historical Society such a positive aspect of the RB community.”

Canfield said in 2006 she visited the museum, then located in a storage shed at Bernardo Winery. She was writing a book and due to her interest in history wanted to become a member. When longtime member Tom Cook found out about her success in raising money through her Rancho Bernardo Honorary Mayor campaign, he told her about the historical society’s goal to raise $100,000 for a permanent museum and asked her to spearhead it. That goal was quickly raised to $300,000 for the museum and an additional $300,000 for an endowment to fund its continued operation.

From 2006 to 2010, Canfield led the fundraising committee’s efforts, not only to raise money, but awareness of the historical society and museum.

“I knew we had to build our reputation in the community as worthy of their contributions,” Canfield said. “People would not give if they never heard of us and/or did not know what our mission was.”

To do this, she focused on increasing membership and museum visitors. The museum — now in the winery’s bunkhouse with a 20-year lease — had 10,000 visitors last year. Under her leadership the volunteer organization developed a newsletter, website and e-blast; started holding its annual pancake breakfast and monthly speaker series; hosted receptions; and participated in the Spirit of the Fourth parade and cultural fair during the RB Alive! Expo.

Canfield also posted flyers about the museum at local businesses; sold numerous fundraiser items like the museum’s cornerstones, brick pavers, benches, blankets, ornaments, books, postcards, visors, tote bags and prints; and engaged a local writers group to write about Rancho Bernardo’s history.

From 2007 to 2010 and since 2013 Canfield has been the historical society’s president. With the museum settled in a permanent home, Canfield’s focus has shifted to its infrastructure, including policies and procedures, exhibit planning, recruiting a volunteer museum director and forming an acquisition policy for its accessioning and collections program.

Canfield said her preference is to lead each committee when it forms, then get a chairperson to continue its leadership while she moves on to the next committee needed for another task. As for why she volunteers, Canfield said it represents an extension of one’s self, family and neighbors — a way to reach out beyond one’s own responsibilities.

“I am thankful I am able to do it … and consider it a blessing as well,” Canfield said.

As featured in the Pomerado News click here to view the article.