<div dir="auto">Hi Kuri,<div dir="auto">Thank you for the information, it very interesting!</div><div dir="auto">Judy DeSpain</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Dec 15, 2020, 8:21 AM GILL Kuri * OPRD via HistoricCemeteries <<a href="mailto:historiccemeteries@omls.oregon.gov">historiccemeteries@omls.oregon.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="m_-2127666988483109357WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Oregon Heritage Commission releases heritage volunteer study<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A new study released by the <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
Oregon Heritage Commission</a> addresses the value of heritage organizations through the lens of volunteerism.
<i><a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/tools.aspx#orheritagereports" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">The Value of Oregon Heritage Organizations’ Volunteers</a></i>, completed by
<a href="https://www.pdx.edu/nonprofit-institute/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">The Nonprofit Institute</a> of Portland State, surveyed heritage organizations about their volunteers and the volunteers themselves. The commission learned that volunteers clearly value the heritage organizations
by giving to them, affirming what was already understood. The research also revealed that volunteers get something special from working for heritage organizations.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Volunteers power heritage organizations throughout the state, whether they have paid staff or not. Of the 76 organizations throughout Oregon that participated, 23 are all volunteer run. Of those that track volunteer hours, 321,863 hours
were contributed in 2019. Using the Independent Sector’s estimated value of donated service of $26.39 dollars per hour, we see $8,493,965 in services. Volunteers also gave financial contributions amounting to $875,682. And they promoted the organizations by
bringing visitors, recommending the organization to others, and sharing organizational updates to other community groups.
<a name="m_-2127666988483109357__Hlk58411840" rel="noreferrer">These volunteers were motivated to serve by the heritage and preservation missions of these organizations.
</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In turn, according to the report, volunteers at heritage organizations, get special benefits. Heritage organizations offer localized opportunities to serve that provide volunteers with an enhanced sense of community and belonging to place.
They also provide a chance to help preserve local history, develop friendships, be engaged citizens and help organizations function more effectively.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heritage organizations will be able to use the complete report to promote their value locally, recruit volunteers, and improve volunteer management practices. “This feeds the
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2020_Oregon_Heritage_Plan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
Oregon Heritage Plan</a>, a goal of which is to promote the value of heritage,” noted Katie Henry, Oregon Heritage Commission coordinator. “The results affirm the value of local history in community development through enhancing sense of place and connection.”
The commission has developed a <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/tools.aspx#culturalimpact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
tool kit</a> for heritage organizations to assist in using this report to advocate for their value. Check out the report, summary, and messaging tools provided online and share it with your boards to support your organizations’ work.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Volunteerism is impacted by the current pandemic, with closures and safety precautions. Anecdotally, we are gratified to see volunteer commitment strengthened in supporting the organizations through this challenging time. The Oregon Heritage
Commission would like to thank the fantastic team at The Nonprofit Institute and the participating heritage organizations and volunteers. This study was funded in part by the
<a href="https://culturaltrust.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Oregon Cultural Trust</a>. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information about the commission, the report, and tools to use the report locally visit the Oregon Heritage website at
<a href="http://www.oregonheritage.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.oregonheritage.org</a> or contact <a href="mailto:kuri.gill@oregon.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
Kuri Gill</a> at 503-383-6787.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="625" style="width:468.75pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="81" style="width:60.85pt;padding:0in .05in 0in .7pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="76" height="84" style="width:.7916in;height:.875in" id="m_-2127666988483109357Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01D6D2BB.3999DAF0" alt="New Picture (1)"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</td>
<td width="544" style="width:407.9pt;padding:0in .05in 0in .7pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;color:#4f6228;letter-spacing:2.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#4f6228">Kuri Gill </span>
</b><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#4f6228">(she, her, hers) </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">| Oregon Heritage Grants & Outreach Coordinator</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#4f6228"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:3.0pt;color:#a6a6a6">___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Desk: (503)986-0685 cell: (503)383-6787<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">725 Summer St NE, Ste C<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Salem, Oregon 97301<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Visit our <a href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
<span style="color:blue">website</span></a>, Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OregonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
<span style="color:blue">Facebook</span></a>, Visit our <a href="http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
<span style="color:blue">Blog</span></a>, Join the Oregon Heritage News <a href="https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
<span style="color:#0563c1">e-news</span></a>.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote></div>