Legacy amendment money goes to conference

Last week was a busy week for the Legacy Amendment: the House and Senate versions of the bill each passed their respective bodies and are on their way to conference committee. The good news is that each bill provides a significant amount of funding for history, but less than what the Minnesota History Coalition recommended.

The Senate largely followed the recommendations of the Minnesota History Coalition – they provided $12.5 million each year, which would be allocated to statewide programs; regional and local program & historic preservation programs; and programs carried out by partnerships. The House provided a similar, slightly smaller level of funding that is divided out in a slightly different manner, with some more specificity of how dollars would be spent.

There is fierce competition for dollars in the Arts and Cultural Heritage category. We must all act now to contact our legislatorsand urge them to include significant funding for history in the final Legacy Act / Arts and Cultural Heritage Appropriation.

Members of the Legacy Act Conference Committee (also known as “conferees”) will be announced within the next couple of days. We will let you know who the conferees are when they are announced. If you are a constituent of one of the conference committee members, it is especially important that you contact them very soon, to urge them to provide significant funding for history in the Legacy Act. As a constituent, the most effective way to urge support for an issue is an in-person visit or a phone call to their office.

Please act now: important decisions will be made this week. Please also ask your members, your board members, and your customers to contact their legislators also.

From the Local History Blog...

Evolution of Local History Websites(new post) The manager of one of the oldest local history websites comments on what's changed since 1997. Answer: a lot.

Overlooking Local Museums(1 new message) It is important to know about the places you live, and local museums have a prominent role to help the public learn.

Equity and Decisions for Legacy Fund(1 new message) MinnPost has an excellent article on how the discussions of the Legacy Fund are proceeding.

Tried and True at the Museum Store(1 new message) Handmade by local grandmothers, some items are just born to sell.

Do You Use Social Media?(2 new messages) There is an impressive list of local historical organizations that are using Facebook.

AVAILABLE: Illuminated Display Case

Fund your mission

Museums are eligible for stimulus money
Museums will be allowed to compete for funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the Stimulus Bill.

Fundraising made easy
GuideStar recently published "Do-It-Yourself Fundraising: How to Get Money for Your Nonprofit."

Local History Events

Work on Ellsworth Rock Gardens
Since 2001, Voygeurs National Park has organized a volunteer effort each July to assist with research, documentation, repairs, and maintenance tasks at the Ellsworth Rock Gardens. This year work is scheduled for July 13-16, 2009. If you would be interested in participating, let Mary Graves (218-283-6674) know which day(s) that week you would like to work.

May Sampler
Join MAM members and museum colleagues on Friday May 15, 2009, 8:30 a.m., at Northeast Minneapolis's Firefighter's Hall and Museum. Follow your pent-up urge to do the unthinkable: pull a fire alarm. RSVP by Wednesday May 13, 2009.

Book signing at the Pond House
Anne Allen will present her new book "...and the Wilderness Shall Blossom: Henry Benjamin Whipple, Churchman, Educator, Advocate for the Indians" on Sunday May 17, 2009 at the Pond House in Bloomington.

Goodhue County History Organizations to meet
The public is invited to join representatives from all the historical organizations in Goodhue County for the groups’ Annual Meeting on Sunday May 17, 2009, 2 p.m. at the Goodhue County Historical Society.

LeDuc House Opens for the season
LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings opens for its fifth season on May 27, 2009 and continues tours through November 1, 2009.

Lundie Tour
Attend the popular fundraiser for the Schroeder Area Historical Society on Saturday July 18, 2009, for a tour of Lundie cabins and other eco-friendly historic buildings in this scenic North Shore community.

History of Mounds in Denmark Township
Ken Martens will speak on prehistoric mounds on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 7 p.m. at Denmark Town Hall and is sponsored by the Denmark Township Historical Society. More information about the event is available from President Jean Boyd, 651-436-8031.

Mourning attire of the Civil War Era
The next meeting of the Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable is Thursday May 21, 2009, 7 p.m. at the Faribault Community Center. The guest speaker is Jan Stevens on "Mourning Paraphernalia from the Civil War Era."

Ice cream and pie social in Rockford
Rockford Area Historical Society will host a Pie and Ice Cream Social at the historic Ames-Florida-Stork House in Rockford on Memorial Day May 25, 2009, 10-2.

Local News Roundup

Preservation tax credits considered
Minnesota Legislators are considering a tax credit to encourage private investment in rehabilitation of the state’s historic buildings. Senate File 1724/House File 1974 has the potential to be incorporated into the Omnibus Tax Bill. Please contact your legislators and encourage them to create a Historic Preservation Tax Credit for Minnesota.

Property tax exemptions for charities
Minnesota Legislature's Conference Committee on Taxes (HF2323/SF1704) passed the clarifications to the existing charitable property tax exemptions on Saturday May 9, 2009. The bill must be signed by the governor prior to becoming law.

Cox House to open for season in St. Peter
Nicollet County Historical Society announces the E. St. Julien Cox House opens for the season on May 22, 2009. Regular hours will be Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. There is an admission fee for non-NCHS members.

Mayowood cleanup is set
History Center of Olmsted County will host a Community Restoration Day for the Mayowood Mansion on Friday May 29 and Saturday May 30, 2009, 9-3:30.

Remember to file 990-N
Internal Revenue Service reminds small calendar year tax-exempt organizations (those with income of $25,000 or less) to file their electronic Form 990-N, known as the "e-Postcard," by the May 15 deadline. Upwards of 500,000 charities may risk losing their charitable status for failure to file. Do not join the crowd!

Nowhere to Hide reopens in Duluth
St. Louis County Historical Society announces its reopening of "Nowhere to Hide," a traveling exhibit providing a historical understanding of the present worldwide HIV/AIDS pandemic by comparing it to the 1918 flu pandemic. The exhibit opened on May 4, 2009 in the Fesler Gallery of the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, where it will remain until June 30, 2009.

Luxembourg exhibit opens in St. Cloud
A special exhibit entitled "Luxembourg – USA: A Migration Story," will be premiered on Sunday May 17, 2009, at Stearns History Museum.

Continuing Education Opportunities

S.O.S. Save Our Stuff!
Iowa State University hosts this conference at Carver Hall, Department of History, on Friday June 5, 2009, 9-4:30. Register by May 26, 2009 by contacting Lucy David, 319-338-0514, or Nancy Kraft, 319-335-5286

18th Annual Minitex Interlibrary Loan Conference
Attend this conference on Tuesday May 19, 2009, 8:30-3:15, at the University of Minnesota's Continuing Education & Conference Center, St. Paul Campus.

Small Museums Conference
Small Museums Association is planning its 26th Annual Conference in Ocean City, Maryland, February 21-23, 2010. Small Museum Conference seeks sessions that address the current economic recession. Submit proposals to Pam Williams by July 20, 2009.

7th Annual Digital Library Meeting
Join the Minnesota Digital Library for its annual meeting at the Gorecki Center, College of St. Benedict, in St. Joseph MN on June 8, 2009. Register.

Scholarships to the National Trust Conference
The Diversity Scholarship Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting applications for the 2009 Diversity Scholars. Selected candidates will receive a scholarship to attend the National Preservation Conference October 13-17, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.

AASLH Annual Meeting
American Association for State and Local History holds its annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, August 26-29, 2009. Register online or by mail or fax.

FIELD NOTE