[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2009-08-19

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  Museum artifacts shown in new artwork
2.  'Heartfelt' exhibit opens at OHS
3.  Nonprofit networks operating in four areas
4.  Main Street program seeks leader
5.  SOHS, Clackamas museums to shutter


MUSEUM ARTIFACTS SHOWN IN NEW ARTWORK

"Art Through Ancestry" is a new exhibit at the High Desert Museum that
features three Native American artists' interpretations of museum
artifacts, with video of the artistic process and artist interviews. The
artists are Lillian Pitt, Rick Bartow and Pat Courtney Gold. The exhibit
runs through Feb. 21. The museum is five miles south of Bend on Highway
97. For more information, phone (541) 382-4754 or visit
www.highdesertmuseum.org 


'HEARTFELT' EXHIBIT OPENS AT OHS

"A Heartfelt Welcome: The Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
Collection" opened a six-month run this month as an exhibit at the
Oregon Historical Society.   In honor of the church's 65th anniversary,
congregation member Raymond Burrell III collected memories, photographs,
and church ephemera. In an effort to preserve the church’s history and
share it with the wider community, he coordinated the donation of this
collection to the Oregon Historical Society.   The church’s collection
is a significant contribution to understanding the history of the
African American community in Portland.

For more information, visit www.ohs.org or phone 503-222-1741. The
Oregon Historical Society is located at 1200 SW Park, Portland.

  
NONPROFIT NETWORKS OPERATING IN FOUR AREAS

The TACS nonprofit group will develop nonprofit training networks
beginning this fall in Bend, Medford, Portland and Salem. At the
sessions, nonprofit leaders meet with others managing similar
challenges, share ideas and resources, and gain the knowledge needed to
build a healthy and adaptable nonprofit .Each year long series is
designed to encompass the most relevant topics facing the sector. For
more information, visit http://www.tacs.org/training/networks 


MAIN STREET PROGRAM SEEKS LEADER

The Oregon Business Development Department is seeking applications from
people interested in becoming the coordinator of the Oregon Main Street
program. This position will initiate, coordinate and supervise the
statewide Main Street Program by utilizing historic preservation as an
integral component for downtown economic development. This involves
working closely and on-site with partner agencies and organizations to
assist communities in setting up and carrying forward local programs
based on the Main Street approach, as promoted by the National Main
Street Center. This position is responsible for the development,
implementation, documentation and evaluation of the statewide program.

Information about applying for the position is available at
http://www.oregon.gov/OBDD/jobs/LEEC0759.shtml   Additional
information about the program can be found on the Main Street Program
website: http://www.oregon.gov/OBDD/mainstreet/index.shtml.


SOHS, CLACKAMAS MUSEUMS TO SHUTTER

The Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Clackamas Heritage
Partners have announced that they will shut down for varying periods of
time beginning in September.

The Board of Trustees of the Southern Oregon Historical Society
announced that it will suspend most public operations for a period of
six months in order to restructure the organization. This is in response
to a financial crisis that has been in the making since the Society lost
all of its county funding in 2007. Hanley Farm will remain in operation,
and school field trips will still be held at the Children's Museum.

Executive Director Allison Weiss said the Society is not closing; it is
reorganizing in order to develop a plan that will ensure the Society is
financially sustainable and relevant to the community.

All museum properties located in Jacksonville will close to the general
public on Sept. 7, as will the Research Library in Medford.  The
Children's Museum in Jacksonville will be open to scheduled school
groups. Hanley Farm will continue to operate in order to complete the
fall farmers market season and host the annual Harvest Festival and
Pumpkin Patch, all activities that bring in people and revenue.

During the time that the Society will be closed, the organization will
be restructured. Key to this is negotiating with Jackson County to amend
the lease on the Jacksonville properties. The Society is seven years
into a 50-year lease through which the county leased six historic
properties to the Society for $1 a year. The Society in return operates
the properties but is also responsible for their maintenance.

Almost all staff members will be laid off as of Sept. 7, although some
will be asked to stay on on a part-time basis.  Positions that are grant
funded will be retained for the duration of the grant.  Several other
positions, like bookkeeping and maintenance will be retained with
reduced hours.  For more information, visit www.sohs.org 

The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will shut down
indefinitely after Labor Day. A recent assessment for the City of Oregon
City showed that additional operations funds as well as capital
investment were needed for the three sites that have been operated by
the Clackamas Heritage Partners. Those sites have included the
interpretive center, the Museum of the Oregon Territory, and the
Stevens-Crawford House. Many of the Clackamas Heritage Partners staff
positions will also be cut. For more information, visit
www.historicoregoncity.org 
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