Imagination Station hopes, presses on

Imagination Station is grateful for the support we’ve received as we wait for the official results of the Nov. 6 election (“Science center pins its hopes on provisional county ballots,” Nov. 8). There is a real possibility that Issue 26, a five-year, 0.17-mill levy renewal, may pass. More than 13,000 provisional votes still have to be counted. As of this writing, the science center trails by only 1,075 votes.

With that in mind, we have received a number of questions about what happens now. The answer is simple: We will continue to deliver powerful science education to the community.

Children will continue to visit with school groups, outreach programs will continue in classrooms, and families will continue to explore our science center together.

Imagination Station, in partnership with school districts, universities, and local businesses, is committed to helping prepare future generations to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) career fields. Thirty of the fastest-growing jobs in the United States require a background in STEM.

At Imagination Station, our unique blend of hands-on exhibits and experiences plants seeds that excite, engage, and inspire our future leaders to pursue STEM careers. We help inspire a growing and diverse work force to think like scientists — questioning, investigating, and discovering new things every day.

Inspiring kids to love science remains Imagination Station’s number one goal. We recently announced a five-year traveling exhibition plan that includes our current exhibition, “Sesame Street Presents: The Body,” on display through January, 2013, followed by “Grossology.”

We remain cautiously optimistic for a positive outcome and urge everyone to show support of Imagination Station by visiting the science center, exploring the exhibits, participating in the exciting special events, and remaining hopeful that when the final votes are tallied, Issue 26 will have passed.

If the levy fails, we will go back to the voters for the renewal of our public fund request in fall, 2013, with a compelling message. Without taxpayer support, we can’t continue to fulfill our mission, inspiring a life of science in children and helping to prepare them for careers in a knowledge-based society.

Thanks again to our supporters.

LORI HAUSER

Chief Executive Officer

Imagination Station

Discovery Way