Northern States Conservation Center 2009 Online Courses

• MS 242: Museum Microclimates
  Jan. 5 through 30, 2009
• MS 104: An Introduction to Collections Preservation
  Jan. 5 through 30, 2009
• MS 235: Scripting the Exhibition
  Jan. 5 through 30, 2009
• MS 217: Museum Cleaning Basics
  Jan. 5 through Feb. 14, 2009
• MS 103: The Basics of Museum Registration
  Jan. 19 through Feb. 14, 2009
  

The cost for each course is $425.

Each course runs four weeks. To reserve a spot in the course, please pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html. If you have trouble, please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org or Eric Swanson at eric@museumclasses.org .

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

Family Fun Open House at the Monroe County History Center
This event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Monroe County History Center at 202 E. 6th St. in Bloomington.

Enjoy the museum, exhibit scavenger hunts, wool spinning demonstrations and the history of holiday traditions.  The event is free.

For more information visit http://www.monroehistory.org/ or call (812) 332-2517.

President Benjamin Harrison Home Lights Up Annual Candlelight Evening on Delaware Street
This event will take place Monday, Dec. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the President Benjamin Harrison Home at 1230 N. Delaware St. in Indianapolis.

A Victorian atmosphere, memorable food, and pleasant company will prevail as the President Benjamin Harrison Home hosts its ninth annual “A Candlelight Evening on Delaware Street,” a holiday dinner tour of historic mansions on the Old Northside

Guests will be greeted at the newly-renovated Harrison Home for a tour of the mansion, including “The Tiffany Touch” exhibit on the eve of its final day, followed by hors d’oeuvres and warm, spiced cider.  Harpist Laura Hiner will provide music at the President’s home, an Italianate-style, three-story Victorian (1875) which was his home when he served as the 23rd President of the United States and the only President from Indiana.   The home will be decorated with Victorian holiday ornaments, including feather trees and Harrison family toys. 

Other homes on the tour include:

• The New Fishback, 1101 N. Delaware St.
• Indianapolis Propylaeum Club, 1410 N. Delaware St.
• The Villa Inn Restaurant and Spa, 1456 N. Delaware St.
• Indiana Humanities Council, 1500 N. Delaware St.
• Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Christian Church, 1516 N. Delaware St.

Reservations are required for “A Candlelight  Evening on Delaware Street.”  Tickets are $75 per person, $70 for members.  Reservations may be made by calling (317) 631-1888.

More information is available at http://www.pbhh.org/.

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AEP Grants
AEP is a financial supporter of non-profit organizations whose focus is improving the quality of life. Whether targeting improvements in education or tackling the issues of hunger and homelessness, AEP's giving is meant to help non-profit organizations address and positively impact community life.

For more information, visit the Web page on corporate giving guidelines, including AEP's focus on the areas of education, environment and human services such as hunger, housing, health and safety. (http://www.aep.com/citizenship/community/corpGive/)

Twenty Emergency Funding Sources for Nonprofits
Visit the Fieldstone Alliance Web site (http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/client/tools_you_can_use/12-16-08_emergency_funding.cfm) to learn about twenty revenue sources that can be accessed quickly—usually within 30 days.

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StayExempt.org Online Mini-Courses 

Visit StayExempt.org to view several mini-courses on the new Form 990, applying for tax-exempt status, charitable contribution deductions, and more.  The courses listed below can be found at http://www.stayexempt.org/home_mini_courses.html.

Navigating IRS Resources for Tax-Exempt Organizations
Ever wonder what the IRS Web site contains for exempt organizations?  This mini-course will show you what’s available and how to find it! (approximately 7 minutes)

Political Campaigns and Charities:  The Ban on Political Campaign Intervention
A 501(c)(3) organization jeopardizes its exempt status when it intervenes in a political campaign.  This mini-course provides examples of prohibited activities and explains steps an organization should take to avoid an inadvertent violation. (approximately 16 minutes)

The Wonderful World of Foundation Classification (Part I)
All 501(c)(3) organizations also have something called a “foundation classification.”  This mini-course covers the basics of two of the more common types. (approximately 18 minutes)

Can I Deduct My Charitable Contributions?
Is this a question you hear from your donors? This brief overview of deductibility can help your exempt organization understand the rules of what’s deductible and what’s not. (approximately 20 minutes)

Applying for Tax-Exempt Status
If your organization is brand-new, and you’re thinking about applying for tax-exempt status, take a look at this mini-course first. You’ll learn about IRS resources that will make the process easier and quicker. (approximately 19 minutes)

Preparing to File the New Form 990
For the 2008 filing year, exempt organizations will be working with a completely redesigned Form 990 or 990EZ – the first major overhaul of these documents in 30 years. This course provides an overview of the changes IRS  has made, and the next four courses provide a line-by-line walkthrough of the different sections of the course and provide guidance and tips to completing an error-free return.
(approximately 14 minutes)

The Redesigned Form 990 –Part I
In this mini-course, you’ll receive general instructions for completing the form and walk through the heading and financials sections. (approximately 37 minutes)

The Redesigned Form 990 –Part II
This mini-course walks you through the Accomplishments, Compliance, and Compensation sections of the new 2008 Form 990.
(approximately 25 minutes)

The Redesigned Form 990 –Part III
In this mini-course,  get a walkthrough of the Governance, Management, Disclosure, Summary sections, the Checklist of Required Schedules and Schedule A. (approximately 25 minutes)

The Redesigned Form 990 –Part IV
This mini-course takes you line by line through Schedules C, F, G, I, M and R. (approximately 37 minutes)

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New Year’s Eve Anything Goes: The Cole Porter Review
This event will take place Wednesday, December 31, 2008, from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center.

Eli Lilly Hall will be transformed into a grand 1940s nightclub for a romantic evening of classic Cole Porter standards. Dancing will be accompanied by a band with vocalists performing Porter’s music throughout the evening in addition to a staged cabaret show presented by the Actors Theater of Indiana about his life and music. Guests will enjoy a multi-course meal, including a glass of wine, and costumed servers and special characters will help create the dramatic atmosphere. A midnight balloon drop and complimentary champagne toast will ring in the new year.

The cost ranges from $120 to $165 per person. For details and reservations, call (317) 232-1882.

Parts of IHS Will Remain Open During 2009 Renovations
In an effort to continue its service to the community, the Indiana Historical Society will maintain regular public access to several of its spaces at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center during its interior renovation in 2009. 

The Smith Memorial Library and Basile Theater will remain accessible during interior renovation.

The William Henry Smith Memorial Library attracts several thousand visitors each year who utilize the IHS research collections, and operating hours will continue to be Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The IHS maintains the nation's premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest.

The Frank and Katrina Basile Theater will continue to host performances and some IHS-related programs through the end of March and again beginning with the fall of 2009. More than a dozen organizations such as the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and Storytelling Arts of Indiana call the theater home.

Various class and meeting rooms will also be accessible for rent while physical modifications to the building are taking place. A schedule of space availability can be obtained through the IHS Special Events Department.

In order to prepare the History Center for the introduction of the Indiana Experience, the IHS will close several other parts of the History Center for some interior renovation during 2009. Work will begin Jan. 5, 2009, and will run through the course of the year. These include:

The Indiana Experience will make the History Center even more of a destination by bringing the people of the state a uniquely Indiana experience—one that connects them with their rich Hoosier heritage in new and exciting ways. IHS officials are planning a grand re-opening for the spring of 2010.

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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

Greentown Historical Society Seeks Artifacts
The Greentown Historical Society is now accepting artifacts and items of interest for the Native American Indian Exhibit to open in March. The purpose of this exhibit is to explore the lives of the Indian tribes who lived in eastern Howard County. If you have something to loan or information for this exhibit please call Lisa Stout (765) 628-7674 or (765) 610-8461.

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Local Organizations and the IHB Install Historical Markers
Read about how the Indiana Historical Bureau works with local organizations to install historic markers in an article by Jenny Peter in the Vincennes Sun Commercial:
http://suncommercial.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=2&articleID=3751.

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Preservation Job Opportunities
Visit PreservationDirectory.com to learn about job in the field of historic preservation.  Job postings can be found at http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationBlogs/ArticleListings.aspx?catid=3.

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NARA and Footnote.com Launch Interactive WWII Collection Online
In early December Footnote.com and the National Archives and Records Administration unveiled the release of the first-ever interactive World War II collection, which includes an interactive version of the USS Arizona Memorial, WWII Hero Pages and WWII photos and documents previously unavailable on the internet.

Included in the WWII collection is the first-ever interactive version of the USS Arizona Memorial. Similar to the Vietnam War Memorial project that Footnote.com released last March, the USS Arizona Memorial is a fully searchable digital image of the national monument.

In January 2007, Footnote.com partnered with the National Archives and other archives to digitize valuable records and there are currently over 47 million documents and photos on the site.

For a limited time, Footnote.com is providing free access to their National Archives WWII collections that include:

• Pearl Harbor Muster Rolls
• Missing Air Crew Reports
• US Air Force Photos
• Submarine Patrol Reports
• Japanese Air Target Analysis
• Army JAG Case Files
• Navy JAG Case Files
• Naval Press Clippings
• Allied Military Conferences

In addition to the USS Arizona Memorial, Footnote.com is also releasing Hero Pages, an easy way to create a tribute or memorial to our war heroes. These Hero Pages feature an interactive timeline and map, a place to upload photos, documents and letters, and a place to share stories about individuals who fought in WWII.

Footnote.com and the National Archives have already created over 9 million Hero Pages from the Army Enlistment Records. Footnote.com invites those who were impacted by World War II to come and find or create a Hero Page.

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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.