Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Final Deadline for Fast Track Grants
The final small grant deadline for Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants is Friday October 29, 2010. Limited funding available; projects must be completed by June 30, 2011. Contact the Grants Office with questions.

Final Reports
The Minnesota Legislature will be back in session in January 2011, and one of the topics of discussion will be the next appropriation for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants program. The legislature is interested in the program's progress--keep it looking sharp by completing your projects and final reports on time.

From the Blog

Mimicry for Professional Capacity (new post) - Individuals are hardwired to mimic what others do, and this tendency can also be seen in how organizations adopt better practices. Local historical organizations copy from other organizations, and often are encouraged to do so. What organizations do you turn to when you need advice? Why? What is it about their work that impresses you?

History Overnight (3 comments) - Readers weigh in on whether overnight stays at historic house museums are appropriate. Join the discussion! 

Job Opportunities

Director of Learning and Museum Projects
Brucemore, Cedar Rapids IA, seeks Director of Learning and Museum Projects. Deadline: October 19, 2010.

Preservation Program Officer
National Archives and Records Administration, Washington DC, seeks Preservation Program Officer. Deadline: October 20, 2010.

Program Associate/Volunteer Coordinator
Anoka County Historical Society seeks part time Program Associate/Volunteer Coordinator. Deadline: October 29, 2010.

Collections and Program Manager
Sauk County Historical Society, Baraboo WI, seeks part time Collections and Program Manager. Deadline: November 1, 2010.

Properties Master
Minnesota Opera, St. Paul MN, seeks Properties Master. Deadline: December 1, 2010.

Executive Director
Wicoie Nandagikendan Urban Early Childhood Immersion Project seeks Executive Director.

Do History Here

Resorts and Recreation Talk
White Bear Lake Area Historical Society hosts a talk on the Golden Resort Era at the Ramsey County Library in White Bear Lake on Monday October 18, 2010, 6-7 p.m. The focus will be on the grand resorts and recreation sites around the lake, 1870-1910. Free; donations welcome. Contact WBLAHS, 651-407-5327, for information.

History in a Pint
Veterans' Memorial Hall in Duluth announces speaker Robert Olson at History in a Pint at Carmody Irish Pub, Tuesday October 19, 2010, 6 p.m. Olson will speak on his experience in the Chosin Reservoir Battle in Korea. Contact Dan Hartman, 218-733-7500 for more information.

Boundary Waters Talk
Come to Macalester College on Tuesday October 19, 2010, 7:30 p.m. for a presentation on Paleolithic quarries and early human inhabitants of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Free. Contact Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, 612-332-9630, for more information.

Civil War Talk
Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable meets Thursday October 21, 2010, 7 p.m. at the Faribault Community Center. Speaker will be Stephen Osman on the topic of Collecting Civil War Artifacts. Call Dan at 507-332-8250 or Jan at 507-244-0500 for more information. 

Harvest Haunting
LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, hosts Harvest Haunting on Saturday October 23, 2010, 5-9 p.m. Activities and treats for children and adults. Admission: $5/person, all ages. Children invited to dress in costume. Reservations required; call 651-437-7055.

Halloween Historia
Stearns History Museum presents Halloween Historia on Saturday October 30, 2010, noon to 4 p.m. Family fun geared toward younger children and designed to be non-scary. Admission: $3/person; members free. Call 320-253-8424 for more information.

Continuing Education

MDL Webinars
Join Marian Rengel, Outreach Coordinator for the Minnesota Digital Library, for a free online informational session about contributing to Minnesota Reflections, an online collection of more than 53,000 items contributed by more than 115 Minnesota cultural heritage organizations. Thursday October 14, 2010, 10-11:30 a.m. and Wednesday November 17, 2010, 1:30-3 p.m. Free. Register online.

MALHM Conference
Want to learn how to raise lots of money in hard times? Attend the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museum's 2010 conference on Friday October 29, 2010, at the Winona County Historical Society.

Conservation Workshops
Midwest Art Conservation Center hosts several workshops this fall and winter in the Dakotas and Minnesota. More information and applications available on the MACC website.

News

Legacy Destinations
Work with your local Convention and Visitors Bureau to participate in a new Legacy Weekend program. Goals for the weekend include explaining how Legacy money is being spent in the community, drawing visitors to the area, and garnering positive press. Application available online. Initial deadline: November 5, 2010.

Exhibit Cases Available
Five birdseye maple and bronze display cases available for donation. Contact Andy Joy, 651-231-5688.

IRS Filing Deadline
Preserve your organization's exempt status by filing Form 990 with the IRS on or before THIS FRIDAY October 15, 2010. Organizations that do not file for three consecutive years will automatically lose tax-exempt status. If your organization has not filed recently, read up on the IRS' one-time filing relief program.

Immigration Web Resource
Minnesota Historical Society launched a new web resource on recent immigrants to Minnesota called Becoming Minnesotan.

Field Note

Washington County Historical Society, in partnership with Stillwater Library, will show the film "An Ode to Stillwater: The John Runk Films" on Tuesday October 26, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at the Stillwater Library. Free.

Washington County Historical Society received several grants, including a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant, to transfer these 8 mm films from the 1940s and 1950s to DVD. Call WCHS for more information, 651-439-5956.