Missouri Humanities Council e-News | November 2009 | View Online  

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In this issue:

2010 Governor’s Humanities Awards – Nominations Due February 15

Each year the Governor of Missouri and the Missouri Humanities Council confer the Governor's Humanities Awards on individuals and organizations whose achievements set an example worthy of statewide attention.  The awards recognize outstanding teaching in Missouri schools, outstanding community outreach activities by individuals and humanities institutions, and exemplary interpretive practices in libraries, history organizations, or other humanities organizations.  In addition, the Governor's Humanities Awards recognize outstanding books that have increased our understanding and appreciation of Missouri's history and culture.

Nominations are being accepted for the following awards categories:

Excellence in Education: recognizes one or more teachers of English, history, languages, or social studies, grades K-12, in Missouri's public or private schools.
 
Exemplary Community Achievement: recognizes an individual or group who has made a special contribution to a community's understanding of and support for humanities-related endeavors on the local and/or state level.  

Distinguished Literary Achievement: recognizes an individual or group whose book or publication (fiction, non-fiction, or poetry) has increased our understanding and appreciation of Missouri's history and culture.

Nominations will be accepted until Monday, February 15, 2010.  All nominations must be submitted using the nomination form and have supporting materials, including a minimum of two letters of support;  resume, Curriculum Vita, or summary of achievements (3-page maximum); 1 to 2 page summary describing the reason the nominee is deserving of the award and how the nominee fits the category; additional support materials.  For the book award nomination, at least three copies of the book or publication must accompany nomination materials.

Program information and guidelines are available on our web site at http://mohumanities.org/governors_awards.htm

Save the Date! 

Our next “Transformations” conference for museums, libraries, and cultural institutions is just around the bend -- March 12 & 13, 2010 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia.

This conference promises an inspiring and educational experience with information, hands-on sessions, and innovations that can be easily and affordably implemented in libraries and museums. Here is a sneak peek at just a few of the offerings at the March conference:

  • What’s the difference between a “good” experience and a “great” one? Discover the path(s) that will take your organization to the next level.
  • Collaboration:  Explore how museums and libraries working together are able to enhance the offerings of both entities.
  • Attracting Attention:  Learn the secrets of writing successful press releases and working with the press to market programs and facilities.
  • Gifts tell a story:  Many museums and libraries have found a profitable revenue stream in their gift shops. Find out how successful museum and library gift shops tie experiences and memories to merchandise.

If you’ve attended one of our conferences before, you know the value of the sessions and won’t want to miss this event.  If you’ve never been, come find out what you’ve been missing.  You won’t be disappointed.  Look for additional information and a registration form in early January. Latest information is always on our web page at http://www.mohumanities.org/programs/museums/museum_workshops.htm

On Family Reading: “All the Dancin’ Babies”

Julie Douglas has delivered a bounty of ideas in her piece about how babies respond to a certain pop star’s dance video.  What a treat!  Read it at http://mohumanities.org/E-News/Nov09/DancingBabies.htm

Executive Director Search is On at MHC

The search for my successor has been launched, with a December 31 deadline for submitting a letter of application.  The position starts with my retirement in mid-May.  Full details are at http://www.mohumanities.org/about/stafflist.htm

The Smithsonian’s “New Harmonies” in Charleston

Jerry McDowell

New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music is wrapping up its 2009 Missouri tour in Charleston.  Almost two hundred people attended the Folk Music concert performance by Dave Para & Cathy Barton that celebrated the opening of the exhibit on November 14th.  Hosted by the Mississippi County Historical Society in partnership with the Clara Drinkwater Newman Public Library, New Harmonies will be open for viewing through end of December at the library.  A special collection of musical instruments and mementos important in the history of Mississippi County are exhibited at the historical society.  Pictured here is Jerry McDowell, a retired band director who taught in Charleston for more than 30 years, and whose collection of wind instruments is on display.  Visit our New Harmonies wiki site at http://newharmonies.missourihumanities.org/ to learn more about the exhibit and the communities that have hosted the tour this year.

Volunteer Docents Needed For “Deadly Medicine” Exhibit in K.C.

Exhibit Logo

Exhibit: Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race
March 16 - June 10, 2010 at the National Archives in Kansas City

MHC has awarded a grant to the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education in support of this important exhibit. If you live in the K.C. area, there's a wonderful opportunity to become part of the interpretive team. Volunteer docents are needed to lead visitors and school groups on guided tours of the exhibit "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race". "Deadly Medicine" uses a variety of primary sources and artifacts tracing the development of Nazi racial cleansing programs resulting in the Holocaust. The exhibition, on loan from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, will be on display at the National Archives at Kansas City, March 16-June 10, 2010. To learn more about the exhibition, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial's website.

Docents are required to attend one mandatory training session on March 10 or March 11, 2010.  A background check is required for all volunteers. All interested individuals must apply through the National Archives by December 31, 2009.
 
For more information and application forms, please call 816-268-8071 or email Jennifer.audsley@nara.gov

Summer Institutes for Teachers

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History recently announced a big roster of summer seminars.  The application deadline is February 15, but “the early bird catches the worm!”  http://www.gilderlehrman.org/education/seminar_course_offerings.php

Introducing “The Confluence,” a Regional Studies Journal

Cover imageLindenwood University professor Jeff Smith, who many people have seen on our Chautauqua stages in the guise of Andrew Carnegie or P.T. Barnum, stopped here last week to show us the first issue of a new journal he edits.  It’s a classy piece of work, featuring some unique articles on the St. Louis region.  You can ask for a free copy on line at http://www.lindenwood.edu/confluence

The Confluence  offers a merging of ideas and disciplines within the humanities and beyond, which is why it is of particular interest to friends of the Missouri Humanities Council.   It’s based on the premise that the human experience, including our region, is shaped by the thinking of many disciplines and the convergence of ideas and topics from across the spectrum.  Just like our geographical location, the magazine is a confluence of ideas, topics, disciplines and thinking. Jeff Smith sent me some PDF files of the beginning of three articles, which you can download at http://mohumanities.org/library/confluence09.htm

“Preserve America Stewards” Program – December 1 Deadline

Preserve America Stewards is a federal program which recognizes organizations and agencies that successfully use volunteers to help care for our historic heritage. Programs have been recognized for preservation and interpretation of historic buildings and districts, archaeological site monitoring, historic lighthouse preservation, and historic cemetery preservation. Designated Preserve America Stewards include the Oberlin Heritage Center in Oberlin, Ohio; the InfoAge Science-History Center in Wall Township, New Jersey; the Glasco Community Foundation in Glasco, Kansas; and the U.S. Lighthouse Society, which was recognized for its preservation of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Maryland.
To be designated, applicants must demonstrate that their programs:

  • provide volunteers with opportunities to contribute in direct and tangible ways to the preservation, protection, and promotion of historic properties;
  • address an otherwise unfilled need in heritage preservation through the use of volunteer efforts; and
  • demonstrate innovative and creative use of volunteer assistance in areas such as youth involvement, volunteer training, public education, and public/private partnerships. 

Non-profit organizations, government entities (federal, state, local, or tribal), and businesses are eligible to seek designation for their programs. Preserve America Stewards is administered by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Department of the Interior. An application form and further information is available at http://www.preserveamerica.gov.  Applications are accepted each quarter.  Preserve America Stewards receive a designation letter and certificate of recognition signed by First Lady Michelle Obama.

A Blog About Handel Opera

Since I’m listening to Handel more often than not, especially to one gorgeous aria from the opera, Riccardo Primo, I thought I’d best write a bit about what is so interesting about “An Imagination of Boundless Fertility.” http://creatinginterest.blogspot.com/2009/11/imagination-of-boundless-fertility.html

 

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