From: Linda Day <lindaday@historicalsocietiesnh.org>
To:
Subject:    AHSNH/Listserv Vol. 2, #7
Date:    Mar 4, 2006 9:11 PM
 This newsletter is sent via Blind Copy to Historical Societies and interested parties from the Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire.  If you do not wish to receive this, simply hit Reply and respond, "Please remove."  Recipients are encouraged to participate by writing to lindaday@historicalsocietiesnh.org. 
    Visit http://www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/newslet.htm to read archived issues, which are posted as the E-ssociate.  Another avenue for discussion may be found at http://www.historicalsocieties.org, the Forum on the Association website. 
 --Linda Day, Association of Historical Societies of NH
Contents:
  1)  Lake Winni seeks oral-history-use feedback
  2)  Lakes Region seeks Cataloguer for pay
  3)  Docent Training Opportunity!
  4)  Learn to Digitize Photos
5a)  Etiquette
5b)  Facility Checklist
6a)  Ways to engage the Community
6b)  Resources for Programming
6c)  Program Ideas
  7)  Update on North Country Heritage Inventory/Brochure
  8)  Space for Rent in Peterborough
  9)  Free Advertising Opportunity w/Matchbook.com
10)  Oodles of Training Opportunities w/NH Ctr for NonProfits
11)  Spinners Resource
12)  Renovating Historical Properties
13)  FREE THEATRE SEATS!
14)  Municipal Records Board
 
1)  from Lake Winni, Support for Presentation:
I'm working on a presentation about "Telling Your Family Story" to be given at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications seminar in March.  I will be discussing about how historical societies can serve as a resource.  (May I have) feedback from other NH historical societies about how they've participated in "telling one's family story" to share what our industry is doing here in NH and perhaps offer specific examples (to help get the word out if an organization would like the publicity).
 
Ann W. Sprague, Executive Director, Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society
ann@lwhs.us;  603-366-5950;  www.lakewinnipesaukeemuseum.org.
2)  Lakes Region seeks Cataloguer--for pay:
...By the way, do you know of a free-lance cataloger available?  The Laconia Public Library, Laconia Historical & Museum Society and the Belknap Mill are looking to hire a free-lance cataloger FT for about 13 weeks.  Do you have any ideas? 
Mary Boswell, Executive Dir., Belknap Mill Society, Laconia;  MBoswe@metrocast.net; (603) 524-8813
3)  Docent-training workshop:
    The NH Humanities Council and the Arts Alliance of Northern NH invite you to participate in a one-day workshop on teaching through MATERIAL CULTURE for K-12 teachers and for historical society and museum staff and docents.  The workshop will be presented twice:
• April 6 in Peterborough
• April 13 in Franconia
    We’re excited about potential partnerships between schools and local historical societies.  Teachers recognize that this hands-on approach to teaching history and world cultures creates active, high-level learning for students of all ages.  Teaching through material culture is inexpensive, easy to implement, and meets essential state standards in social studies, language arts, and the arts. 
    ...a flyer with details and a registration form (is available) at http://www.nhhc.org/education-upcoming-programs.htm   We suggest registration by March 15. 
    Please contact me if you need scholarship support to attend.
    --Susan Farber, New Hampshire Humanities Council; 19 Pillsbury St., Concord NH 03301;
    (603) 224-4071 x16; sfarber@nhhc.org 
    The decent docent doesn't doze.
    She teaches standing on her toes.
    Her student dassn't doze and does.
    And that's what teaching is and was.
  
4)  NEDCC Conference: Digitizing Photos
May 15-17.   Topics will include:
• Identification of historical photographic processes
• Nuts and bolts of collections care
• Digitization for access
• How to produce long-lasting digital prints
• Preservation of digital images
Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and hands-on activities, you will learn how best to prolong the life of your photograph collections while also considering issues related to digitizing those images.  $175 for 3 days (less than $80/day), incl. lunches; at NHHS in Concord.  Go to http://www.nedcc.org for details, registration.
 
5)  from Governor's Commission on Disability:
Cheryl L. Killam, Accessibility Specialist, NH Governor's Commission on Disability
57 Regional Drive; Concord, NH 03301-8518
Direct Line: 603-271-4177; Office Tel: 603-271-2773; Fax: 603-271-2837
5a)  (Ed. Note:  In June 2005 [Vol1, # 14] we posted this "Step 1" for ADA compliance: ...I had the privilege of meeting with Cheryl Killam, Accessibility Specialist on the NH Governor's Commission on Disability, who reminded me that people with disabilities have discretionary money too!  Many Town Historical Societies have inherited buildings from an era pre-dating our inclusion of people with disabilities in our daily lives.  I asked her what we can do to welcome our guests and she had many ideas of what can be done for little or no money.  ...The easiest and least expensive is listed here.  Check out this link and have your Board members and any volunteers or staff that deal with the public review it once or twice a year.)
  Disability Etiquette - a document that I distribute plus this link has a great free book you can download:
 
5b)  (Ed. Note:  Now, Step 2.  Ms. Killam has created a facility checklist, a link to which will be on our website under "Articles."  With her permission I have broken it into bite-sized pieces, which I encourage you to use with others to evaluate your site. 
    You do not have to make any commitment to change anything!  Let's just see where we stand.  Wouldn't it be nice if the next edition of the Directory could indicate who has what type of access so we could begin to reach this population and increase awareness of our offerings to society?  Then you can give each other feedback and then each society can decide if it is able to offer more accessibility.  One step at a time.)
 

Are there accessible parking spaces located as close as possible to the accessible entrance?

Are enough accessible parking spaces provided, based on the total number of available parking spaces (one accessible space for every 25 spaces)?

How many accessible spaces are there?

 

Does each accessible parking space have an adjacent access aisle (a diagonal striped no-parking zone) that is at least 60 inches (5 feet) wide, or do two accessible spaces share an adjacent access aisle that is least 60 inches (5 feet) wide?

If there is a designated van-accessible parking space does it have an adjacent access aisle that is at least 96 inches (8 feet) wide?

How many van accessible spaces are there?

Are all accessible parking spaces, including the access aisles, located on a level surface, not sloping more than 1:50 or 2% in all directions?

Does each accessible parking space have a sign with the wheelchair symbol of accessibility that is mounted on a post 60 inches from the ground so that it is visible when a vehicle is parked in the space?

 
6)  from the Arts Alliance of Northern NH; Programming Ideas:
Below are some notes compiled from all of the meetings we hope you will find useful. We encourage you to share them with your colleagues. Let us know which of these ideas are particularly appealing to you, and tell us about other ideas that might work on a regional basis or if you would like to be part of a committee that works on implementing those ideas.
6a)  Ways to engage the community
* Inviting school field trips to your society. Creating study sheets for teachers to distribute prior to visit.
* Treasure hunt through museum or community.
* Workshops – how to preserve linens, papers etc., How to display historic items
* Lectures
* Column in newspaper with Historical Society Meeting Dates
* Themed exhibits
* Genealogy services for people and properties.
* Press Releases
* Email and mail newsletters. It was suggested that membership be criteria for receiving mailings
* Video tape lectures and programs for future generations
* Video or tape oral histories of community members
* Invite children to interview seniors to collect stories – hold storytelling event.
* Libraries feature local history books – complement with small exhibit.
* Create a time line – top of line is national events; bottom of line is local events
* Bring Favorite Book/Item Event – read short passage or tell story associated with item.
* Host Art Exhibits in addition to artifacts
* Utilizing volunteers in need of Community Service Hours (high school students)
* Take advantage of resources such as archeologists looking for dig sites
* Traveling exhibit / Culture Trunks - goes to schools etc.
* Encourage giving memberships and historical books as Christmas presents
* Exhibits in public places such as visitor centers
6b)  Resources
* Local experts: create a resource list
* Speakers/researchers -- create a list
* Look to other societies - many have artifacts from neighboring towns
* RSVP - Tri-County CAP program for (retired) volunteers
* NH Historical Society www.nhhistory.org
* NH Association of Local Historical Societies www.historicalsocietynh.org
* Public Radio -- StoryCorps -- website to assist in video/audio taping: http:/www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4516989
* Past-Perfect Software.
* Heritage Related Businesses: Hobo RR, Conway Scenic RR, Polar Caves
* Libraries – microfilms of old newspapers
* Town Clerks
* Dartmouth
* Dump and yard sale items
* Estate sales and clean-outs: photo albums, artifacts etc.
* North Country Education Services library
* AARP funded volunteers
* Using PSU's Heritage Study interns to assist with cataloging, outreach etc.
* American Folklife Center
* NH State Council on the Arts traditional arts program
* NH Division of Historical Resources
* Plymouth Community Channel 3. Jamie Cadorette, PCC 3/20, Pease Public Library Plymouth 536-8116; pcc3@adelphia.net
* Other local cable stations
6c)  Program Ideas & Action Proposals
* History Days - local or regional celebration (Cape Cod holds Heritage Days)
* Regional (or sub-regional, or local) treasure hunts like Valley Quest's in the Upper Valley
* Workshop series: How to start/sustain an historic society; conservation & restoration; grant-writing; cataloguing and creating exhibits
* Kick-off regional events for brochure – music, events, library exhibits, open houses...
* Using students to assist with oral history project
* Collaboration of towns - Panel discussion on a subject (i.e., industry) to be taped for archives
* Collecting community stories (hold theme-based intergenerational community discussions)
* Sponsored historic markers at sites
* Create local walking & driving tours and have lists of historic sites in community available
* Group Tours – bring groups of front-line people who refer historic society on a regional tour including tours, activities, meals and perhaps lodging.
* Step-on Guides to help tourism efforts: be sure local guide services & chambers of commerce know about heritage sites
* Plan and develop region-wide thematic exhibits with local emphasis in each museum -- e.g., history of outdoor recreation (snow machines, etc.), WWII, etc.
* Create a "Club" designation for visiting all listed historic destinations.
* Signage - utilizing sponsorships from billboard advertisers. Use common eye-catching icon.
* Coordinate an effort where historical societies can visit each other.
* Develop a resource list for historic societies
* Create a list of expert speakers.
* Regional cataloging system with designated keywords to facilitate searches.
Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire
Frumie Selchen
Executive Director
phone: 323-7302
Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire
Kelly Bryer
Membership Services Coordinator
phone: 726-8843
 
7)  from the Arts Alliance of Northern NH; Thank-you:
Information on the Map & Guide/ Heritage project and Heritage Inventory, Gallery & Membership forms can be found on www.aannh.org. The direct link to the heritage section is: http://www.aannh.org/heritage_ovrvw.php.

If you have joined the Arts Alliance, please be sure to visit the Participating Organizations section to update and add to your listing before it goes public. Email the changes to me at kelly@aannh.org or call me at 726-8843. If you have not yet filled out and returned your membership form, please forward it with your annual dues of $35 (the special membership & gallery page rate), along with your inventory forms, photos, and online gallery form.

We are especially grateful to those historical societies who have donated and/or raised $100 to help us come closer to raising our match for the North East Foresters Association grant. Our heartfelt thanks to Ashland H/S, Bath H/S, Berlin & Coos H/S, Campton H/S, Colebrook Area H/S, Dorchester H/S, Gorham H/S, Jefferson H/S, Littleton Area H/S, Twin Mountain/Bretton Woods H/S, Umbagog Area H/C, Upper Pemigewasset H/S, and Whitefield H/S. The Jackson Historical Society contributed a very generous donation of $1000.
 
Thank you all!
 
8)  from the Mariposa Museum, Peterborough:
    We have space for rent, suitable for many things.   Because the Fire Code required we box-in some beams, the space has the most magnificent acoustics for any unamplified performance of voice.
    Part of planning the museum as "space available" for performances and meetings came from a community forum held perhaps six years ago at the Peterborough H/S lead by John Vance, when a need for more performance and meeting space was voiced.
  
9)  Earn Rental Income via Matchbook.org:
    Do you have a facility or space for rent for performances?  Do you want to advertise it more broadly, bring in more rental income, and pay nothing?  From park bandstands to school cafeterias to 3,000- seat theaters, MatchBook.org is compiling a comprehensive online directory of performance spaces in New England.  Be a part of it.  It's fast, it's easy and it's free.
    Why should you list your venue?  Increase rental income.   MatchBook.org will drive traffic to your listing, helping to generate more rentals of your venue.  Get marketed extensively.  MatchBook.org will be advertised to performance organizers, party, wedding and corporate event planners, and performing artists throughout the region. 
    There is no charge.  In keeping with our mission as a nonprofit arts organization, MatchBook.org is a free service.  Add your listing, or learn more at http://www.matchbook.org/venue  MatchBook.org is a public service provided by New England Foundation for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, in partnership with the state arts agencies of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
10)  from NH Ctr for Non-Profits, Concord:
    On Thursday, March 9th from 9 AM to 1 PM, NH Center for Nonprofits, in partnership with Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green, will present an in-depth look at “Retaining Talented Nonprofit Leaders through Effective Compensation Practices.” The program will be facilitated by consultant Suzanne Benoit, an experienced nonprofit professional with human resource as well as board development expertise.
    Details and registration information can be found at www.nhnonprofits.org . Hope to see you there!
Nonprofit Notes is published by the NH Center for Nonprofits as a service to NH's nonprofit community. 
NH Center for Nonprofits - 10 Ferry Street, Suite 315 - Concord, NH 03301
Telephone:  603.225.1947
Peer Exchange Forums for Nonprofit Executives: A series of six monthly sessions
designed to address the challenges facing nonprofit leaders
Topics may include: Charting Our Course, Board/Staff Relationships, Leadership vs. Management, Planning for the Future, Human Resource Challenges, Ensuring Financial Stability. Reflection and Goal Setting.  Separate strands for New Executive Directors, Experienced Executive Directors, and COOs & Assistant Directors.  Forums begin in March at five different NH locations  - read more at
http://www.nhnonprofits.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=537&Itemid=86

Fundraising Peer Learning Circle

Giving Monadnock; Monthly beginning Tuesday, February 28, Keene

Achieving Organizational Goals through Sustainable Time Management

Giving Monadnock; Thursday, March 2, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Keene

Retaining Talented Nonprofit Leaders through Creative Compensation Practices

Sheehan, Phinney, Bass & Green and NH Center for Nonprofits

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 8:30 to 1:00 pm, Manchester

Major Giving--Yes You Can!

Giving Monadnock; Thursday, March 16, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Peterborough

Re-engage and Re-energize Your Board of Directors
United Way of the Greater Seacoast; Thursday, March 23, 2006, Community Campus, Portsmouth, NH  

Dealing Effectively with Conflict

NH Center for Nonprofits & NH Charitable Foundation’s Lakes Region: The Esther Nighswander Leadership Forum; Thursday, March 23, 2006, 4:00 to 6:30 PM followed by an optional “After Hours” networking opportunity, Chase House at the Inn at Mills Falls in Meredith. 

Storytelling as Best Practice: A Secret to Effective Nonprofit Fundraising

CONFR and NH Center for Nonprofits;

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM - CR Sparks, Bedford, NH

Let's Talk: Conversations Among Grantmakers and Nonprofits
Maine Philanthropy Center, 2006 Philanthropy Partners Conference

Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 8:30 – 4:00, Samoset Resort, Rockport, Maine

 
11)  Spinner Resource:
Thank-you(s) to Sue Hunt of Alexandria and to Marlena Schilke of Chapel Arts
for the following contact   http://www.textilelinks.com/guild/nh.html
 
12)  from New England ADA, Access & Historic Bldgs:
Click here for an article specifically exploring the issue of access to historic properties
 
13)  from Red River Theatre, Theatre Seats Seeking New Home(s):
There are approximately 175 rocking chair seats available for anyone willing to pick them up. They are currently located at the Page Belting warehouse (at 24 Chenell Drive in Concord). 
These seats came from a National Amusements (Redstone) movie theatre in Lawrence, MA. For the most part, they are in good used condition. They are dusty from being in storage for several years. 
The standards (arm rests) have flat bases (they existed on a tiered floor). The upholstery is green. They were removed in sections of 3's and 4's. Dozens of extra padded wooden arm rests are included.  The chairs have a market value of: used $75.00 each; new $300.00 each.  RRT is not expecting any compensation for them. 
Page Belting is vacating this building on March 31st, so, one way or another, the seats have to be relocated.   Any assistance you may provide in finding a permanent home for the seats will be greatly appreciated. 
Thank you.  Barry Steelman; Red River Theatres, Inc.; (603) 225-5650
14)  from New Hampshire Municipal Records Board
Minutes, Monday, December 14, 2005
    The New Hampshire Municipal Records Board [MRB] convened ... In attendance were ...
Mevers called the meeting to order.
    Burford explained that the purpose of the meeting was to address the statute RSA 33-A as altered by HB437 in the 2005 legislative session. To begin, he distributed a list of 18 concerns [see attached] that have been brought to the attention of the Secretary of State... The Board came to the following resolutions regarding these concerns.
#1) Determination of retention for records specific to a locality and not addressed in the statute should be made by each local records committee. It was suggested that perhaps the MRB could act as an appeals board in the event of local disputes and that the Board could recommend adding records to the law.
#2) Ask the assessors association to determine the value of the tax cards.
#3) These welfare records might be the records covered in “Health & Human Services:” if so, this might be answered by use of a cross-reference.
#4) For Voided Motor Vehicle Titles municipalities should follow guidelines of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
#5) The town of Sandwich asked about the retention of“Tax Sales” records.  Discussion led to the conclusion that these are already addressed under the heading “Tax Leins.”
#6) Burford offered to contact the Division of Motor Vehicles [DMV] for guidelines as to the retention of “Boat Registrations.”
#7 - #9) The Board determined that motor vehicle documents retention should be governed by DMV regulations.
#10) Bill Dow of Keene had relayed the need for clarification of “Current Use Card.” The Board determined to possibly add the word “release” to retention items LXXV, LXXVI, LXXVII, and/or XLII.
#11) Keene asked for clarification of “Fire Investigation.” The Board left this up to Keene.
#12 - #13) The Board determined to ask its “Assessors” representative to comment on these.
#14- #15) The Board favors removing “Property Record Map” but asking Assessors to comment.
#16) Keene asked to add “Intent to Excavate.” The Board recommended contacting Mary Pinkham-Langer at Department of Revenue Administration.
#17) The Board has no explicit authority to issue an Explanatory Book, but could issue general guidelines.
#18) The Board concluded Parking Tickets are covered under “Police-non criminal and all other files.”
    Other Business
    Fellows asked retention of “Bankruptcy files”: until paid or cleared. If a lien is involved is it then permanent? Also, about “Inactive Student health records” now held until 7 years after graduation. The Board suggested the local records committee in Manchester might determine these, and/or the Department of Education Commissioner’s Office might have guidelines.
    Scanlan announced that Representative Betsy Patten has a bill ready to submit pending amendments recommended by this Board.
...The Board adjourned at 3:20p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Frank C. Mevers, Secretary to the Board