[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2011-10-21

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1. Oregon Civic Engagement Conference Set
2. High Desert Museum To Honor Limerick in Portland
3. Spirited Tours to Highlight Markers in Astoria, Portland
4.  Gravestone Symbols Explained in Heritage Bulletin


OREGON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE SET

Learn how to engage with your community, collaborate with other
organizations and increase volunteer participation by attending the
Oregon Civic Engagement Conference Nov. 3 - 5 at the Salem Conference
Center in Salem. Under the theme “Authentic Community Engagement:
Transforming and Inspiring Oregon Communities” participants will have
the opportunity to choose from programming options designed to meet
conference goals. These include building awareness, stimulating
conversations, germinating ideas, providing resources, and creating
partnership opportunities - all that lead to action. 

Conference content will include presentations from organizations and
individuals active in the engagement arena across the state. Content
areas include collaboration, community engagement, expanded learning,
nonprofit and government management and advanced and basic volunteer
management.

For more information visit http://www.regonline.com/2011conference-GVA
. 


HIGH DESERT MUSEUM TO HONOR LIMERICK IN PORTLAND

The High Desert Museum has chosen Patty Limerick, chair of the Center
of the American West at the University of Colorado, for the 28th annual
Earle A. Chiles Award. The $15,000 award is for Limerick's scholarship
and public history forums that challenge popular mythologies about the
West and reveal the essential commercial and scientific foundations of
American Western history.

Her best-known work, The Legacy of Conquest, is an overview and
reinterpretation of Western American history that stirred academic and
public debate. She has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between
academics and the general public and to demonstrating the benefits of
applying historical perspective to contemporary dilemmas and conflicts.

"Dr. Limerick's achievements exemplify the High Desert Museum's
founding tenet - to inspire people to better understand the region and
address issues surrounding its resources," said High Desert Museum
president Janeanne Upp. "The museum's work, like Dr. Limerick's, offers
new perspectives on the myths and realities of the American West. We are
proud to honor her work with this award, and are grateful to the
generosity of the Chiles Foundation, which makes it possible."

The award will be presented at the Earle A. Chiles award banquet in
Portland on Dec. 6. 


SPIRITED TOURS TO HIGHLIGHT MARKERS IN ASTORIA, PORTLAND

Portland: Meet some “residents” at their graves and hear the
unusual circumstances surrounding their untimely departures during the
“Tour of Untimely Departures” from 6 - 9 p.m., Oct. 31, at Lone Fir
Cemetery located on Southeast 26th street between Stark and Morrison,
Portland. Ghostly guides will share some of the history on Lone Fir as
they take you through the cemetery on a path lit with candles. Two
separate tours of approximately 45 minutes in length will be running
throughout the evening, moon-shine or rain. Visit
http://www.friendsoflonefircemetery.org/events.html for further
information.

Astoria: Former citizens will return from the great beyond for a
graveside chats during “Talking Tombstones” beginning at 1 p.m.,
Oct. 30 at Pioneer Cemetery, 14th and Niagara, Astoria. Visitors will
tour the graveyard and meet costumed characters who will talk about
their roles in history. For further information call (503) 325-2203,
email cchs at cumtux.org or visit www.cumtux.org . 


GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS EXPLAINED IN HERITAGE BULLETIN

As you wander through a cemetery you will see many motifs on
gravestones. A symbol on a marker can offer an interesting insight into
the person’s life or the family’s feeling about the death. In
addition to asking the question, “What does this symbol mean?” it is
important to remember that a particular motif may appear just because
someone liked it. 

Whether or not the symbols can be accurately interpreted, it is still
possible to enjoy the inherent beauty found in a cemetery.
The Heritage Programs of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has
published a Heritage Bulletin that is a sampling of Oregon gravestone
symbols and their intended meanings. To view this Heritage Bulletin and
others, visit http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/Bulletins.shtml
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission.
Contact us by emailing heritage.info at state.or.us .