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AASLH has joined Museum-Ed and LearningTimes in sponsoring the first Museum-Ed Online Conference: Focus on Interpretive Writing. The conference features six live interactive webcasts with experts in the field of interpretive writing, and is highlighted by a panel on professional writing for museum-related publications.

It is affordably priced at only $45 per participant for the full conference.

More information is available at www.learningtimes.net/museumed

Click this link to an audio postcard with a short tip for writers and a preview of the conference by Kris Wetterlund, editor of Museum-Ed:
http://audiopostcard-007.com/X.asp?5664856X1413

MS002: Collection Protection - Are You Prepared?
This one-week online disaster planning seminar will be offered at www.museumclasses.org from March 3-7, with class chats on Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. (EST).

The cost is $75.

Dip your toes into the online learning experience and see if it works for you. Our one-week seminars are short, concise topics that provide you with instructor feedback. Here is the first one we are offering in 2008, a wonderful chance to self-analyze your disaster preparedness.

The seminar is instructed by Terri Schindel, conservator.

Disaster planning is overwhelming. Where do you start? Talk to Terri about how to get going. Use her checklist to determine your level of preparedness. What do you already have in place? Are you somewhat prepared? What can you do next? Participants in Collection Protection will read literature and complete a checklist before joining a one-hour chat to discuss disaster preparedness at their institutions. Each student should read course materials and prepare questions or comments to share with the other students in the chats. The final chat summarizes what was learned in the readings from the week.

This seminar takes no more than 10 hours of time.

Please sign up at www.museumclasses.org and pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html.

If you have trouble with either, please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org .

MS108: Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs
This will be an online course offered at www.museumclasses.org that will be instructed by Karin Hostetter from March 3-28.

The cost of this course is $425.

Volunteers are essential for most non-profit institutions. But even though they don't get paychecks, it takes time and money to have effective volunteers. Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs, new for 2008, is designed to teach the basics of a strong volunteer program. Topics include recruiting, training and rewarding volunteers, as well as preparing staff. Instruction continues through firing and liabilities. Participants will end up with custom forms tailored to their institutions, an understanding of liability issues and a nine-step process to troubleshoot an existing volunteer program or create the best one for a particular institution.

Participants in Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs work at their own pace through sections and interact through online chats. Instructor Karin Hostetter is available at scheduled times during the course for e-mail support. Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs includes online literature and student-teacher/group-teacher dialog.

The course is limited to 20 participants.

Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs runs four weeks.

If you have trouble completing an online order, please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org or Eric Swanson at eric@collectioncare.org

Karin Hostetter, author of a series of articles for the National Association for Interpretation's Legacy magazine, has worked with volunteers for nearly 15 years. She taught the National Association for Interpretation's two-day volunteer management course for volunteer coordinators and served on a panel about volunteer programs. As the first paid volunteer coordinator for the Denver Zoo in Colorado, she designed an interview process, developed a progressive and comprehensive recognition system, introduced interpretation into training and restructured the volunteer organization. Ms. Hostetter now consults with organizations on structuring and improving volunteer programs. And she volunteers herself.

Programs

Please confirm events specifics with sponsoring organization, especially if traveling any distance.

President's Day at the President Benjamin Harrison Home

The President Benjamin Harrison home opens its doors on the 2008 year with President's Day LIVE from Delaware Street re-enactment tours plus the opening of its 2008 major exhibit: Election Campaigns Through the Centuries, which will feature artifacts from a variety of Presidents' campaigns.

This event will be held on Monday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tours of the house on this day will feature Delia the cook, Josie the family seamstress, Charles the butler and President Benjamin Harrison.

Cost: adults $9; children (ages 5 to 17) $4.

The President Benjamin Harrison Home is located at 1230 N. Delaware St. in Indianapolis.

Lecture: Understanding the African American Experience through Technology
This lecture will be presented by Bro Sage at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Center for History in South Bend.

The program is free.

In conjunction with the lecture, a discount admission to the Center for History will be offered for participants interested in viewing the galleries.

In his presentation, Bro Sage will provide options for researching African American genealogy by sharing the past and focusing on the future. He will explore the rich cultural legacy of the African American experience as a motivational tool as well as discuss traditional and contemporary genealogical research methods using modern technology. In addition, Bro Sage will discuss his thoughts on forming an African American resource committee for those individuals interested in learning more about African American genealogy and history in the St. Joseph River Valley Region and surrounding areas.

Bro Sage is an Underground Railroad historian, IU South Bend adjunct professor and host of WSBT Newstalk 960’s Providing Options.

For information call (574) 235-9664 or visit www.centerforhistory.org.

IHS News

Immigration: A “Past” Perspective
This program will take place at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, Indiana Historical Society, on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m.

The cost is free.

From economic factors to quota debates and varying cultural adaptations to life in America, many of the hotly contested immigration issues of today are the same issues of yesterday. The “past” immigration program, will explore the historical similarities surrounding the current immigration debate. Different immigration trends from yesterday and today will also be discussed by a distinguished panel of historians including James Divita (Marian College) as moderator, Gary Gerstle (Vanderbilt University), Erika Lee (University of Minnesota) and sociologist Nancy Foner (Hunter College, CUNY).

Immigration: A “Past” Perspective is part of the IN Town Hall Series Presented by Lewis & Kappes, P.C.

The IN Town Hall Series gives you the opportunity to listen and interact with experts on enduring, yet contemporary issues. This spring, the IHS will explore immigration in three separate programs from the perspectives of the past, present and future. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how “today’s problems” have actually been debated throughout our state’s and nation’s history. This series will encourage audience members to learn about the historic nature of immigration (and immigration debates), how communities are currently dealing with new immigrants and what the future holds for America (and Indiana) as larger numbers of immigrants are woven into our society.

Help

Eastern Howard County Area Teachers (Past and Present) Needed to Share Memories

The Greentown Historical Society is searching for teachers, both past and present, in the eastern Howard County area to share memories and experiences.

The History Center is in the process of contacting as many teachers as possible to fill out a questionnaire. Please call Sally Imbler at (765) 628-7174, Lisa Stout at (765) 628-7674 or the History Center at (765) 628-3800. Please leave a message if necessary.

This exhibit will open in July. We are also seeking items which can be loaned to the Society for the exhibit such as photos, awards or anything of interest pertaining to teachers.

Exhibits

Lost Landmarks: Then and Now at the Center for History in South Bend
This exhibit will be open from Feb. 3-Oct. 31.

Do you remember watching baseball games at Playland Park or catching the train at the South Shore Station in downtown South Bend? If you do--and even if you don't--you'll enjoy the memories conjured by Lost Landmarks: Then and Now, featuring over 40 photographs of South Bend and Mishawaka buildings that were once local landmarks but are no longer standing.

A perennial favorite, the exhibit features for the first time, courtesy of the South Bend Tribune, photographs showing the current landscape of the "lost landmark," so that visitors can compare buildings of the past with their locations as they look today.

An image of Playland Park brings reminiscences of swimming, horse racing, midget car racing, ballroom dancing and other leisure activities enjoyed in this amusement park open from 1925 to 1967. For several years, Playland Park was home to the South Bend Blue Sox. Many of the park’s buildings were razed in 1969, and today the property is owned by Indiana University South Bend.

A 1960s street scene of Mishawaka spotlights the intersection of Lincolnway West and Main Streets where Karlin Drugs and the Mishawaka Trust & Savings Company were located. The Liberty Mutual Insurance Company has occupied that site since 1985.

The elegant Oliver Hotel, which opened in 1899, was located at the corner of Washington and Main Streets. Later known as the Pick-Oliver Hotel, the establishment continued to serve guests until 1967 when the building was demolished. Chase Bank and Holiday Inn now stand at that location.

On display next to the photographs are artifacts from some of the "lost landmarks," including a glazed terra cotta urn that stood atop one of the retail buildings that once lined W. Washington. From the St. Joseph Bank that was located on the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets is a cement lion’s head as well as a brass mail receptacle. A sign from Playland Park and a ceramic frog from the Studebaker Fountain that used to be in Howard Park are also on view.

The Center for History is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is $8 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and $5 for youth 6-17.

For information call (574) 235-9664 or visit www.centerforhistory.org.

Traveling Exhibits

The Faces of Lincoln at the Studebaker Museum in South Bend
In January 2003, the Indiana Historical Society acquired the Jack Smith and Daniel R. Weinberg Lincoln collections. Combined with other IHS holdings, these materials create one of the premier Lincoln print collections in the nation. The Faces of Lincoln exhibit is based on the Indiana Historical Society’s extensive collection and initially traveled the state on the Indiana History Train in October of 2004 and 2005.

The Faces of Lincoln traveling exhibit is comprised of three independent parts, Developing the Image, Creating the Image and Idealizing the Image, each an exhibit unto itself.

This traveling exhibit is on loan from the Indiana Historical Society. For more information about the IHS traveling exhibit program, go to www.indianahistory.org/LHS and click on “Traveling Exhibition.”

Job Opportunities

Part-Time Office Manager, Lincoln Highway Association's National Office in South Bend
A non-profit organization located in downtown South Bend is in need of a part-time Office Manager.

This is a 12-15 hour per week position, and the part-time Office Manager works as an independent contractor.

The pay rate is $10 to $12 per hour

Excellent communication skills and writing skills required. These include email, regular mail and phones. The position includes general office duties, management of computer records and mailings. Microsoft Excel and Word skills are a must. Internet research skills are a must. Other duties include:

Type letters and other correspondence.
Organize office processes and work with detailed records.
Outlook proficient.
Attention to detail and strong organization skills.
A professional attitude and appearance are a must.

An ideal candidate will be self motivated and have the ability to work independently with a strong work ethic. The Office Manager will communicate with the organization’s members across the United States on a regular basis, provide assistance to other professionals in related matters and provide administrative support for the work of the organization’s officers and committee chairs. Payroll is done twice a month. Free parking is available.

This opening was posted on Feb. 13, 2008.

For immediate consideration, please send resume and a brief cover letter to: President, LHA National Office, 402 W. Washington St., South Bend, IN 46601.

On the Internet

IRS Exempt Organization Updates

E-Postcard Filing System Now Available

Small tax-exempt organizations whose gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less may be required to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 added this filing requirement to ensure that the IRS and potential donors have current information about your organization.

For more information go to http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=169250,00.html

Fact Sheet on IRS Complaint Process for Tax Exempt Organizations Issued

FS-2008-13 describes the procedures the IRS follows in the consideration of complaints of alleged abuse of tax-exempt status by certain organizations.

For more information go to

http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=178241,00.html

IRS Issues Fact Sheet on Exempt Organization Examination and Compliance Check Processes

FS-2008-14 describes the tools the IRS uses to ensure that tax-exempt organizations comply with Federal law.

For more information go to http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=178242,00.html.

Note from the Editor

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 col@indianahistory.org or 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Communique Onlineis provided for the benefit of local historical societies and museums throughout Indiana. It is e-mailed to a subscriber list maintained by the Local History Services department of the Indiana Historical Society.

Anyone may subscribe. This is a free publication.

To be added or removed from the mailing list, simply e-mail col@indianahistory.org or call toll free (800) IHS-1830.

News releases from local societies are welcomed and may be faxed to (317) 234-0427, e-mailed to the above address

or mailed to Local History Services, Indiana Historical Society, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center,

450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Please visit the IHS Local History Services Web site at www.indianahistory.org/LHS.