In 2005 the World Heritage Centre was the location for an event called "Funday Sunday", and as St. George's Foundation Membership Director and Events Coordinator, Barbara Maguire explains, it was an opportunity for The St. George's Foundation to introduce the World Heritage Centre to the public.

Even though the Centre contained only whitewashed walls and one partial exhibit at the time, the turnout was "tremendous".

"We managed to have a cost-free day provided for people thanks to donations from merchants and people who planned activities. We had a bouncy castle for children, tea for seniors, face painting, a Guy Fawkes effigy making competition, a raffle and the day culminated in a bonfire" she explains. "It was a total volunteer effort and we had a couple of thousand people turn up."

However these types of events can be costly as Mrs. Maguire elaborates: "Although raffles generate some funding, events like this are not fund-raisers as such. And while we would love to do this sort of thing on an annual basis, our human resources won't allow it because it does take so much time and effort."

Anyone who has ever been to St. George's to attend the St. George's Foundation's "A Somers Evening" can attest to this unique and wonderfully entertaining annual event. Volunteer actresses and actors, in full costume, provide entertainment at venues throughout the historic town including The Town Hall, the State House, Mitchell House, Featherbed Alley, The Globe Hotel, St. Peter's Church graveyard, the World Heritage Centre and Deliverance, to mention but a few. Our mandate is to "Bring Bermuda's History to life" and one of the ways we follow this mandate is by hosting "A Somers Evening", which raises public awareness about our 400 years of history. This year is an exception though, because of all the other ongoing events in place for our 2009 anniversary celebrations, "A Somers Evening" will not be held in 2009.

However, The St. George's Foundation does have specific fund-raising events including tag days and the like.

Another way the Foundation generates funds is by allowing the World Heritage Centre to be used for private functions, including weddings, receptions, and birthday parties.

"We have had many weddings here with people renting the space upstairs, downstairs and the outside patio," she says.

However, with the ongoing exhibits in the upstairs area, the rental space is a little more challenging to manage. The new fortifications exhibit is a "rolling exhibit" so the exhibits can be easily moved.

Mrs. Maguire adds with a smile: "We want the World Heritage Centre to be the heartbeat of St. George's and hope that in the future the World Heritage Centre will become the Visitor Information Centre."

As the cruise ship is set to dock at Penno's Wharf next year — directly in front of the World Heritage Centre — she and fellow St. George's Foundation members, hope this idea will come to fruition.

The outside plaza in front of the World Heritage Centre is also the perfect location for a coffee shop of sorts and Mrs. Maguire explains that the space will be put out to bid shortly. It helps that The World Heritage Centre includes a full catering kitchen downstairs called the Argus Scullery.

The outside plaza was revamped and paved by Horsfield Landscape & Design Ltd. thanks to a generous donation by the Norwegian Cruise Line — a major sponsor of the St. George's Foundation.

A future gift shop is also on the cards in a downstairs area. Mrs. Maguire is quick to point out that they do not want to compete with any merchants in town and will only sell items relevant to the World Heritage Centre including calendars, cards and other memorabilia.

Our specially produced film, "A Stroll Through St. George's" is shown in The ACE Theatre located on the upper level of the Centre.

As for today's "by-invitation only event" at the World Heritage Centre, the major fund-raiser takes the form of a raffle. Prizes include a Chevrolet Spark worth $15,000, $2,000 travel voucher from Meyer-Franklin Travel, a $1,000 shopping voucher from The Market Place, Shell Gasoline Voucher valued at $1,000 and a shopping voucher worth $1,000 from People's Pharmacy. Anyone who has purchased a raffle ticket will be allowed access to the World Heritage Centre for the draw at 6 p.m.