Planning for Beginners Workshop
This Local History Services workshop will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour.

Register by: Jan. 20

The cost is $10 per person or $8 for IHS members with lunch on your own.

Have you been caught off guard when a funder asked for your organizational or strategic plan? Has your staff or board resisted going through a planning process?

You don’t need to be big or have paid staff to create a plan that works for you. In fact, planning is even more important for all-volunteer organizations where comings and goings are common.

We will de-mystify the mystique around creating strategic and organizational plans and share non-threatening ways for you to introduce planning (and budgeting) to your group.

The workshop is instructed Stacy Klingler, assistant director of Local History Services at the Indiana Historical Society.

For more information or to register please call (317) 233-3110 or e-mail localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org.

Fellowship for the AAM CEOs and Governance Seminar
The Small Museum Administrator's Committee of the American Association of Museums is offering one $300 fellowship to this seminar. The application deadline is Jan. 9, 2009.  You must be a SMAC-AAM member or join at the time of application.  For more information go to http://www.aam-us.org/ and click on Fellowships.

The AAM CEOs and Governance Seminar will be held Feb. 13 to 14, 2009, in Tucson, Ariz.

Looking for a safe place to explore board issues and soothe your CEO anxieties?  With financial challenges swirling all around, now more than ever is the time for strong leadership and communication in your institutions. If you are within the first seven years of your CEO/director role, or know someone who is, AAM invites you to get on board for one of the best professional development opportunities available to museum executives!

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Please confim event specifics with sponsoring organization, especially if traveling any distance.

Live: Family Christmas at the President’s Home at the President Benjamin Harrison Home
This event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the President Benjamin Harrison Home in Indianapolis.

The cost is $9 for adults and $4 for children ages five to 17.

Bring the family for a unique Christmas tour of the President Benjamin Harrison Home.  The year is 1888. President Harrison, some of the family from Ohio and the household staff will be "home for the holidays" talking about the excitement of Christmas Day and personally offering their good wishes to you and yours for the holidays.

For more information visit http://www.pbhh.org/ or call (317) 631-1888.

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NEH Grant Applications Due Jan. 28, 2009
The Division of Public Programs at the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities funds humanities projects that are intended for broad public audiences at museums, libraries, historic sites and other historical and cultural organizations.

Planning and implementation grant applications from America's Historical and Cultural Organizations may be submitted on January 28, 2009.  New application guidelines are now posted at http://www.neh.gov/.

Grants support interpretive exhibitions, reading or film discussion series, historic site interpretation, lecture series and symposia, and digital projects. NEH especially encourages projects that offer multiple formats and make creative use of new technology to deliver humanities content.

Applications will also be accepted for Interpreting America's Historic Places grants, which promote public understanding of American history through interpretation of significant American places.

Program officers in the Division of Public Programs are available to assist you, whether it is to discuss projects or to read a draft of a proposal. Call the NEH Division of Public Programs at (202) 606-8269.

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Mannequin Pattern Available
A pattern was developed a few years ago for an easy and relatively cheap mannequin for museum displays. It requires minimal sewing and construction skills. The pattern includes small, medium and large sizes. The cost is $15 plus $5 shipping and handling. 

To order a pattern or for more information please contact:
Jan Livingston Brady
12620 Amity Rd.
Brookville, IN 45309
(937) 833-4341
jlivmuseum@aol.com.

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Las Posadas
This event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in Indianapolis.

The event is free to the public.

Join the Indiana Historical Society and the Eiteljorg Museum in this annual holiday treat celebrating the Latino Christmas tradition Las Posadas – a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for room at a “posadas” or inn. Families will first assemble at the History Center to learn about the traditions surrounding Las Posadas. They then will gather along the canal where a choral director will lead them in songs that represent Mary and Joseph’s plea for shelter and, eventually, the innkeeper’s offering of his stable. At the end of the procession, families are invited into the Eiteljorg to tour exhibits, enjoy pan dulce and ponche and break piñatas.

Schedule

• 4 to 5:30 p.m.: Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
• 5:30 to 6 p.m.: Central Canal procession
• 6 to 8 p.m.: Eiteljorg Museum

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Your Help Needed to Improve LHS Workshops
The Indiana Historical Society’s Local History Services department would like to offer the best and most convenient workshops. Share your opinions about LHS workshops to help us give you more of what you need to make your local history organization great. Please click on the link below to complete this short survey. It should take less than five minutes to complete. Responses will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2009. Thank you!

The survey is available at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mML4ouDdTCpzUhh9MPx5Iw_3d_3d

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IMLS Invites 2009 Coming Up Taller Award Nominations

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is inviting nominations for the 2009 Coming Up Taller awards, which honor excellence in afterschool, out-of-school, and summer arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. Coming Up Taller is an initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with IMLS, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit http://www.pcah.gov/pdf/2009CUTNominationForm.pdf for the nomination form.

Jan. 30, 2009, is the deadline for nominations.

Each year, the Coming Up Taller awards recognize and reward exceptional programs that cultivate character development and life skills in young people, in addition to presenting high-quality arts and humanities learning opportunities. Award recipients receive $10,000 each, an individualized plaque and an invitation to attend the annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference. PCAH and its partners encourage programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses and eligible government entities to participate.

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President Bush Awards Presidential Citizens Medal to IMLS Director Radice
President George W. Bush awarded Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the 2008 Presidential Citizens Medal Wednesday on Dec. 10, 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House.

The official citation noted that Radice is a skilled administrator, art historian and museum professional. Through her career in public service, she has worked to enhance the intellectual and cultural development of all Americans. The United States honors Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice for her commitment to excellence and her dedication to providing people of all ages the resources to explore new ideas and better understand the world around them.

The President presented 23 individuals with the Presidential Citizens Medal and one award posthumously. To see the list of recipients, please go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081210-3.html.

Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein Resigns
On Dec. 7, Historian Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States, submitted his resignation to the President, effective Dec. 19, 2008. Professor Weinstein, who has Parkinson's disease, cited health reasons for his decision. Deputy Archivist of the United States Adrienne Thomas will serve as Acting Archivist until a new Archivist is appointed. It is anticipated that the Bush administration will not try to seek to name a successor and that President-elect Obama will nominate the new Archivist sometime after he takes office in January.

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Regional

Local History Coordinator at the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio Historical Society has an opening within the Local History Office that provides assistance and guidance to Ohio's local historical societies and local historians. The position administers multiple projects including the Ohio Historical Markers Program and the programs and activities of the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums. Candidates must have the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people with differing levels of sophistication, to work on cooperative projects involving different offices, agencies, and committees, and must have a good understanding of Ohio history with excellent research, writing and methodological skills. This position involves substantial in-state travel. A full job description is available at: http://www.ohiohistory.org/about/jobs/121108a.html.

Forward resume and salary requirements to:

Human Resources Office
Ohio Historical Society
1982 Velma Ave.
Columbus, OH 43211
HR@ohiohistory.org

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Indiana Historical Society Deaccessions

IHS deaccessions available to first local historical agency to reply, with preference given to an agency that agrees to pick up any item on or before Jan 30, 2009:

• Golding Mfg. Co. printing press (48 ½ inches x 26 inches x 20 inches), includes press board and tympan packets, 10 metal/wood misc. parts, 9 bearing wheels/containers, 3 “New Composition A.O. Rollers,” and type case with 12 drawers (42 ½ inches x 26 inches x 22 ½ inches)
• 1 Remington Rand (17 inches x 9 inches x 8 ½ inches) and 1 Marchant brand (14 ½ inches x 13 inches x 9 inches) adding machine used by the Indianapolis Union Railway
• Black and green painted wood trunk (23 inches x 13 ½ inches x 13 inches) with sliding lid from the McKay/Steele families
• Turntable (33 inches x 24 inches x 24 inches), believed to be used by the Cadle Tabernacle to play 16-inch long-playing records of services at the Tabernacle
• Underwood Standard Typewriter with extra long carriage (40 ½ inches x 14 ½ inches x 13 inches)
• Harry E. Wood jewelry worker's bench (62 inches x 39 inches x 18 ½ inches)
• Wood rocking chair with cloth-covered seat cushion (31 ½ inches x 24 inches x 16 ½ inches) from Harry E. Wood family but not made by him
• Prehistoric Antiquities of Indiana, by Eli Lilly, 1937 (multiple duplicates)

IHS deaccessions available to first local historical agency to reply, with preference given to an agency that agrees to pick up the entire lot on or before Jan 30, 2009:

• The Conner Prairie Farm, published by Vern H. Fisher & Eli Lilly, 1941
• History News (March, 1976), edited by William T. Anderson, 1976
• Touring Historic Indiana, published by Indiana Dept. of Commerce, Ca. 1966
• Indiana Folklore and Oral History (1985), edited by Linda Degh & John Bodnar
• 6 vols. of "Memories of Hoosier Homemakers" Series (1983), edited by Eleanor Arnold, 1990
• 2 Issues of Indiana Magazine of History (June 2005 and June 2007), edited by Eric Sandweiss
• Mixed group of assorted state and centennial history publications or similar printings and several duplicate IHS publications
• 5 cubic feet of boxes of assorted Indiana Magazine of History publications

Please contact IHS Registrar Michael Stauffer for more details at (317) 234-0036.

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Do you know someone who might want to receive Communique Online? Anyone may join the mailing list by e-mailing col@indianahistory.org.

If your historical organization, genealogical society or museum has changed its address or phone number in the past six months, please send the updated information to Coordinator, Local History Services, at the above e-mail, or Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.