June 20, 2008

On Family Reading

By Patricia Zahn, Associate Director

Summer’s here again. Summer holds different meaning for different people.  For some, it’s vacation time.  School’s out.  College kids are home for an extended break.  For many, it involves picnics, cook-outs, camping, boating, swimming, late nights enjoying precious moments with family and friends.  And, don’t forget summer reading!

I just finishted the ReadMOre 2008 selection, Peter Pan and the Starcatchers trilogy, that Michael Bouman has been writing about over the last few months.  These tales gave me a new interest and added depth to some of the characters that I remember from my youth.  This summer, I’m excited to be able to share these stories with my nephews who are big Peter Pan fans.  I also hope to get to several of the books about P.T. Barnum, Walt Disney Thomas Edison, and Margaret Mitchell recently recommended by our 2008 summer Chautauquans.  I do like biographies!

So, what’s on your summer reading list?  What books are you hoping to read and what books do you hope to share with your children this summer?  We’d love to hear from you.  We hope you will visit our blog and share your summer reading recommendations and stories.  And be sure to check our othe READ from the START family reading website (announced below) where you will find ideas and opportunites for sharing the enjoyment of reading with the little ones in your family and community.

READ from the START Has a New Web Site

Logo imaage

Announcing ….
www.readfromthestart.org
Please join us in celebrating the creation of a new website dedicated to family reading!  Information about READ from the START, the Missouri Humanities Council’s family reading initiative, is at your fingertips on our newly designed site.  Learn about the RFTS program, and discover the variety of ways in which you can participate.  In addition, browse our bookshelf for ideas about what to read next to your children,  peruse our blog, read testimonials from RFTS participants, and (coming soon!) watch online instruction about fresh and fun reading techniques to try with your little ones.  The site is designed to be interactive and offer RFTS participants and friends of RFTS an opportunity to exchange ideas and inspiration.

Much like a young child, our site is growing and changing as we learn new skills and make new discoveries.  We invite you to help us grow!  Be sure to register when you visit so that you can actively participate.  We look forward to connecting on the web with friends of family reading!

Do You Live in a "Read First!" Town?

Congratulations to Missouri’s first ten Read First! communities:  Butler County, Cuba, LaPlata, Macon, Marion County, Moberly, Mountain View, Savannah, Tarkio, and Washington!

We launched our Read First! project early in June with the selection of ten communities that will focus their attention and efforts on increasing the number of children being read to by parents and other adults.  The project grew out of conversations about what it would take to change the way family reading is valued in a community.  How could we capture the attention of everyone in the community, spread information and ideas about family reading, and reach even those families who do not usually participate in reading or book-based activities?  Representatives from the ten READ First! communities gathered on June 16th & 17th to learn more about the project and begin planning activities.

Read First Group

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT Chautauqua News

Hundreds of people have gathered over the last several weeks to participate in Chautauqua in Kirkwood, Osage Beach and Pike County.  They’ve heard storyteller Walt Disney talk about his imaginings of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves before they became the animated characters that we know and love today.  They’ve laughed with inventor Thomas Edison as he shared stories of competition and triumph in the burgeoning entertainment industry of his day.  They’ve applauded as P. T. Barnum talked about how he created the “Greatest Show on Earth,” and they’ve questioned as Margaret Mitchell engaged in dialogue about her characters in Gone with the Wind. 

Audiences of all ages were engaged in the presentations offered by the Chautauquans who portrayed these historical figures.  Did you know that was the only novel ever written by Margaret Mitchell and that she wrote it after being laid up for several months after an accident and had run out of things to read!  Do you know where the phrase, “Stick a sock in it” comes from?  Thomas Edison explains that since there was no volume control on the early phonograph, people used socks to muffle the sound when it was too loud.  There’s so much to discover from these fascinating characters of history, and the Chautuaqua format is the perfect way to engage in learning about them.

It’s not too late for you, too, to take part in Chautauqua this year.  The 2008 MHC Chautauqua tour will wrap up in Carthage and Webb City from June 26th through 29th.  Visit our web page for more details. (Below, Hank Finken portrays Thomas Alva Edison)

Hank Finken as Thomas Edison

Congratulations to our 2009 Missouri communities hosting the THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! Chautauqua next summer.   They are:

If you are interested in developing your own Chautauqua program throughout the coming year, don’t forget that we have “Build-your-own-Chautauqua” page on our website with support materials and a National Directory of Chautauqua Performers.  We are also available for consultation and support as you put your program together.

New Harmonies Program Planning Begins

Recently MHC hosted a gathering of representatives from communities who will tour the Smithsonian exhibit New Harmonies:  Celebrating America’s Roots Music next year.  The enthusiasm of the group was clearly evident as they talked about ways to make the New Harmonies exhibit more meaningful and interactive in their respective communities.  They learned a lot about what roots music is and what it means in the various regions of our state.  Scholar, Matt Meacham, has posted presentation notes with pictures and links related to roots music formats and musicians particularly relevant to Missouri on our New Harmonies WIKI site at www.newharmonies.missourihumanities.org.  This is where information about the project and all of activities taking place throughout the state will be published. 

People also took instruction with Webster University professor, Aaron AuBuchon, shown below, who showed them how to post information, pictures and short videos.  Be sure to visit this site often next year as the exhibit hosts begin to fill the pages with content.

Computer Instruction

NEH Grants Available

The Division of Public Programs at the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities funds humanities projects that are intended for broad public audiences at museums, libraries, historic sites and other historical and cultural organizations.

Planning and implementation grant applications from America's Historical and Cultural Organizations may be submitted at two annual deadlines: August 27, 2008, and January 21, 2009.  New application guidelines are now posted on the NEH Web site (www.neh.gov).  Grants support interpretive exhibitions, reading or film discussion series, historic site interpretation, lecture series and symposia, and digital projects. NEH especially encourages projects that offer multiple formats and make creative use of new technology to deliver humanities content.

Applications will also be accepted at both deadlines for Interpreting America's Historic Places grants, which promote public understanding of American history through interpretation of significant American places.

Program officers in the Division of Public Programs are available to assist you, whether it is to discuss projects or to read a draft of a proposal. You may wish to call the NEH Division of Public Programs
(202-606-8267) or contact a program officer directly. Below are the names and contact information for the Division's program officers:

Bonnie Gould, 202-606-8307, bgould@neh.gov Clay Lewis, 202-606-8288, clewis@neh.gov David Martz, 202-606-8297, dmartz@neh.gov John Meredith, 202-606-8218, jmeredith@neh.gov Karen Miles, 202-606-8308, kmiles@neh.gov Karen Mittelman, 202-606-8631, kmittelman@neh.gov Kathleen Mulvaney, 202-606-8270, kmulvaney@neh.gov Michael Shirley, 202-606-8293, mshirley@neh.gov David Weinstein, 202-606-8308, dweinstein@neh.gov