The Sheldon Museum board of directors is looking for a new museum director after its first choice declined the offer at the end of July.

John Hairr of South Carolina changed his mind about moving to Haines, said interim director, Christina Baskaya. “He decided that it was too complicated and too pricy to move his family from South Carolina.”

“No one can be more disappointed than I am over this turn of events,” Hairr said in an email, without expanding on his reasons for not taking the job. “I truly wish we could have made this work, as I was really looking forward to heading up to Haines.”

The board is looking for someone with skills in museum studies, nonprofit administration and with “experience fundraising and writing and managing grants” according to the job description for the position.

They are re-advertising on the Haines Borough website, as well as on various museum- dedicated websites and listservs like Alaska State Museums and West Coast Museums Association.

The deadline for applicants is Sept. 30 and applicants should apply online at the borough website.

“We hope to have more (applicants) than last time,” Baskaya said. She has already seen interest from several people from outside of Alaska.

The deadline is set after the Museums Alaska and Alaska Historical Society’s Annual Conference Sept. 25-28, said Baskaya, so that the job could be advertised to a wider variety of museum enthusiasts.

The conference, which has registered 140 attendees, “will feature 3.5 days of workshops, presentations, exhibitors, catered functions and tours at facilities or places all over Haines,” Baskaya said.

The museum is still looking for advertisers and sponsors for their program guide, she said. The deadline is Friday, Sept. 6.

The conference is also open to residents of the Lynn Canal, said Baskaya. “Registration options include full, one-day, workshops and single evening networking functions.”

For more information check out the Sheldon Museum’s website, http://www.sheldonmuseum.org.