PLATINUM2023

RIDGE ROUTE COMMUNITIES MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY

We're nuts about history

aka Not Applicable   |   Frazier Park, CA   |  ridgeroutemuseum.org

Mission

To collect and preserve the history of the mountain areas north of Castaic, and south of Bakersfield, California for past, present and future generations.  The area of focus extends into three counties, Kern, Ventura and Los Angeles.

Ruling year info

1997

President

Bethel Billesbach

Main address

3515 Park Drive PO Box 684

Frazier Park, CA 93225 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

77-0431597

NTEE code info

Museum & Museum Activities (A50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Find ways to expand our outreach programs.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Exhibits

Inside - Chumash Indian Display; Display cases with local items and artifacts; Local Fauna Taxidermy: Local History Flip-Panels; Rotating Exhibits;

 

Outside - Chumash Indian "Village" Display; Cuddy Homestead Cabin; 1930's replica Gas Station;  Outhouse;  Mining Operations Display; Ridge Route Hwy Construction Equipment Display; "Breakthrough" Farming Technology Equipment Display; Native Herbs and Other Plants

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Postcards, books and pamphlets on local history, archaeology, native peoples, geology, earthquakes, mining, ranching, roadways, plants, birds and other flora/fauna for sale:
   a.  in book store
   b.  at community events 
Retail value of inventory:  $30,000

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

a.  Guided tours of museum inside and outside exhibits, local historical sites (mines, roadways, trails, stone and adobe structures, Fort Tejon, the San Andreas Fault, etc.)

b.  Speakers Bureau - Local history/prehistory, archaeology, geology, earthquakes, mining, ranching, flora/fauna, the Ridge Route, Fort Tejon, Ridge Route Road & Communities, etc.

c.  Classes (basket weaving, natural history, mining methods, etc.)

Population(s) Served
Adults

a.  In-house publication of books and newspaper articles of local historical interest as well as a quarterly newsletter.

 b.  Area maps, photographs, a reference library containing books, articles and hundreds of files on local history, made available to the public for research purposes.

c. Tours of Historic sites in the area, including a drive alone the old Ridge Route Road.

Population(s) Served
Adults

A.  Sale of Books and Gifts;
      a.  In museum bookstore.
      b.  At community events.
B.  Membership dues and donor contributions.
C.  Donations for guided tours, lectures and classes.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of free participants on field trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Educational Activities

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of paid participants on field trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Educational Activities

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Numbers are sum total of all field trips that year.

Maximum number of participants allowed on field trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Educational Activities

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Some of our 2021 had limited participants to ensure "social distancing".

Total number of fields trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Educational Activities

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Due to COVID, we had no field trips in 2020.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The Ridge Route Communities Historical Society is dedicated to collecting and preserving the history and artifacts in the mountains south of Bakersfield and north of Castaic. Our area of research is from Wheeler Ridge on the north to below Pyramid Lake on the south, east to Neenach in the West Antelope Valley, and west to Lockwood-Ozena areas.

Continue to upload contact to our new YouTube channel and start a service of podcasts on the oral history the our local area by interviewing longtime residents.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    All visitors to the museum and it's events are encouraged to provide feedback, opinions, ideas & concerns regarding how we can continue to improve our programs.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Our annual July programs on the patio got moved to June after feedback that the July sun was a little to warm.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

RIDGE ROUTE COMMUNITIES MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

RIDGE ROUTE COMMUNITIES MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Board of directors
as of 02/11/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Ms. Bethel Billesbach


Board co-chair

Mr. Kevin Woten

Bonnie Ketterl Kane

Retired Bank Management

Chandra Sargent Mead

Community Volunteer

Bethel Billesbach

Librarian

Kenna Mattox

Retired

G Rick

Kevin Woten

Retired

Barbara Uquillas-Dee

Retired

Jim Mason

Retired

Sydney Croasmun

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Not applicable
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/11/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 04/22/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.