<html><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><META name="Author" content="Novell GroupWise WebAccess"></head><body style='font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; '>The Oregon Heritage Commission is recommending that individuals,<br>
businesses and organizations re-vitalize Oregon heritage resources by<br>
focusing on four goals. The recommendations were announced today after<br>
the Commission completed an 18-month-long study to determine the common<br>
challenges facing hundreds of heritage organizations in Oregon.<br>
<br>
“Oregon’s heritage is at risk from both external and internal<br>
challenges,” says Commission chair George Kramer. “Some are<br>
statewide and nationwide in nature, while others are found in<br>
communities and organizations. No single solution, not even money, will<br>
solve all of these challenges.”<br>
<br>
The Heritage Commission’s first recommendation is to request the 2011<br>
Legislature to appoint an interim task force to examine the issues<br>
facing city, county and state heritage organizations and to recommend<br>
solutions for them.<br>
<br>
“The commissioners thank Rep. Peter Buckley for introducing HB 3210<br>
to initiate the Oregon Heritage Vitality Task Force,” said Kramer.<br>
“The Commission sees the task force as a key step toward solving<br>
the number one heritage issue in the state: the challenge of stable<br>
funding, both public and private.”<br>
<br>
The Heritage Commission also set three other goals in its report:<br>
-- Determine the economic and cultural value of heritage in Oregon,<br>
including its direct and secondary effects. The Commission’s report<br>
says there are indications the amounts from building restoration and<br>
renovation, tourism and other heritage economic sectors is significant,<br>
but totals have never been compiled.<br>
-- Strategically communicate consistent information about the value<br>
and importance of heritage to the economy and daily lives of<br>
Oregonians.<br>
-- Increase the capacity of heritage organizations and businesses to<br>
collaboratively expand their leadership, development, preservation,<br>
community-building, communications, educational offerings and<br>
technology.<br>
<br>
The Commission was established in 1995 to assure the conservation,<br>
development and coordination of Oregon’s heritage. Nine members are<br>
appointed by the Governor, with ex-officio members representing the<br>
Oregon Historical Society and seven state agencies.<br>
<br>
The Commission initiated its statewide analysis of Oregon’s heritage<br>
organizations and service models in late 2009, the state’s<br>
sesquicentennial year. Commissioners were concerned that the Oregon<br>
Historical Society, End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in<br>
Oregon City, the Southern Oregon Historical Society and other high<br>
profile heritage organizations were facing struggles that threatened<br>
their continued operation.<br>
<br>
The Commission’s recently released Oregon Heritage Vitality Report is<br>
precedent-setting in that it looks at Oregon heritage comprehensively,<br>
with the greatest emphasis on museums, historic preservation, historic<br>
cemeteries, historical societies, local heritage efforts, archives and<br>
archaeology. The report is available at<br>
<a class="weblink" href="http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/vitality.shtml" target="browserView">http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/vitality.shtml</a> <br>
<br>
For more information, contact Commission coordinator Kyle Jansson at<br>
503-986-0673 or heritage.info@state.or.us </body></html>