PreservationNation Blog: National Preservation Conference

Partners in the Field Networking Nashville Style

Guest Writer
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:57:49 +0000

Written by Justin D. Sanders

The dust is still settling from the National Preservation Conference, and many attendees may still have the distinct sounds of Nashville and its honky-tonks still reverberating in their ears. Aside from the sights and sounds of Music City, this year’s conference saw a wide array of educational sessions, inspiring keynote addresses, and unique field experiences which contributed to what many call one of the best meetings in years. However, it was the networking opportunities at this year’s conference, both planned and impromptu, that I found most beneficial as a Partners in the Field representative.

We field representatives are often referred to as the ones who are working in the trenches in our communities, broadening the base of individuals receiving direct preservation assistance. Being on the front line often requires a “tool bag” of different approaches, strategies, and techniques that can be utilized to address various needs. What is easy to forget in these situations is that more often than not, the needs in our own communities are not vastly different than those occurring in other areas of the nation.

The sessions at this year’s National Preservation Conference allowed field representatives from small and large communities alike to share best practices and discuss the impact of preservation field services on their individual areas. This year’s PiF gatherings were designed as collaboration between newly hired field staff and those of us who have been on the ground since last fall. The meetings allowed for both a refresher for “veteran” Field Representatives and a chance for our new colleagues to hear real world experiences from the field, building a relationship among field staff to candidly discuss the preservation issues affecting our regions.

Covering topics such as reporting practices, utilization of social networking, funding, and effective community outreach, Round 1 Field Representatives shared case studies from their experiences, and provided insight on implementing similar programs throughout the country.

Outside the meeting rooms, PiF representatives were able to expand upon the facilitated discussions and potentially collaborate on future projects. In some instances, field representatives from nearby geographic regions or from the same state are planning to combine their individual resources to create events or programming that will have an even larger impact. These collaborative relationships, fostered by this networking opportunity, are central to the mission of Partners in the Field.

I count myself lucky to be part of such a diverse, energetic, and hard working group of professionals. Our daily experiences may be different, but at the heart of our work are the same challenges and opportunities and the same ultimate goal—expanding and growing the preservation movement to help people save the places that matter.

Justin D. Sanders is the Preservation Field Services Representative at the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Climate Change and Places That Matter

Sarah Heffern
Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:31:19 +0000

Last Wednesday night I was among a packed house at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for the opening plenary of the National Preservation conference.  Sharing the keynote speaker duties was Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature, and many other books. His presentation began on a light note, but quickly moved to more serious territory as he talked about the role climate change could have on a topic near and dear to our preservationist hearts — historic resources. He recapped his speech on the Mother Jones website a few days later, and his point is as powerful in print as it was in person:

We need to grasp that everything is threatened by climate change. Not just nature preserves, not just ski areas, not just poor people who depend on glaciers for their water. But everything we take for granted about the world.

Take history. The Scots just published a list of 10,000 historic sites, dating back to the Neolithic, that may disappear as the oceans rise. A one foot rise in sea level, and the Washington Mall could flood regularly.

But it goes deeper than that. Our sense of the people who came before us derives in part from the fact that we share the same world. The historic buildings of New England have steep roofs because they needed to shed snow—in a world without snow we’d never be able to feel the deep connection to their world. We won’t be able to farm in the places we used to farm, or fish in the places we used to fish—even if we survive, we’ll be moored on a new, presumably artificial, island with no real link to the past…

I have to admit that I’d never quite thought about climate change in that way, and I could see that I was not the only one in the Ryman that night with a little (compact florescent) lightbulb over my head.

All of this, though, was McKibben’s prologue — his way of reminding us that the reality of climate change resonates with different people for different reasons. He then got to the central point of his presentation, asking us to join him in taking action against climate change. The organization he founded, 350.org, has a “day of action” coming up this Saturday (October 24). Around the world, more than a thousand actions, from bike rides to tree planting sessions, will take place.

It’s still possible to add more actions to those being offered, so perhaps a work day at a local historic site could double as a 350 action. If you decide to run with this idea, please take pictures. The group is soliciting photos from each action, so it’s an ideal time to mashup your This Place Matters sign with a 350 one, and submit your picture to both us and 350.org.

Because, as McKibben says in his Mother Jones piece, “Global warming touches everyone, and everything.”

Including our places that matter.

***

Curious, by the way, as to what 350 stands for? Here’s a cool YouTube video that explains it – wordlessly.

***
Oh, and we’ll have video of the plenary session, including Bill McKibben’s keynote speech, posted to the Virtual Attendee page within the next week or so. Please check back.

National Preservation Conference: Friday Roundup

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:52:39 +0000

So, here we are again – we’ve come to the end of another long, action-packed day at the National Preservation Conference. We’re sitting in the conference staff office surround by a rat’s nest of cords and chargers, piles of worn out program books, and (strangely enough) a bouquet of red and pink roses resting in a plastic Solo cup. Who knows?

Anyway, what makes tonight different is the screeching of tape guns we hear in the hallways as the 2009 National Preservation Conference is broken down and packed up. We’ve had a great week here in Nashville and, even though we still have a few live offerings slated for tomorrow, we hope you’ve enjoyed our daily coverage of all the action.

It’s been real, Music City.

Photo of the Day

At the National Trust’s booth, attendees were asked to call attention to a special place that matters to them. We couldn’t help but share the heartfelt entry for the entire city of Detroit. See more conference shots on our Flickr photostream or upload your own.

Videos of the Day

In the spirit of looking forward, we caught up with kind folks from our next two host cities. Hear what they have to say about what you can expect in the future.

2010 National Preservation Conference, October 27-30, Austin, Texas

2011 National Preservation Conference, October 18-22, Buffalo, New York

Hot Tweets

@JPS_PresNation Just met Robert Hicks at the Preservation Action auction. Cant wait to see his lecture tonight and get my books signed. #presconf

@acnatta RT @urbanconvos: Hopefully folks at #bwe09 and #presconf take advantage of those off-line connections – http://bit.ly/pLdBq

@JJ_PresNation Listening to McDonald Craig, a famed African-American yodeler & country musician give a moving performance…hee-haw. #presconf

@AASLH This sign in bookstore @ Nat’l Trust meeting sums up my book buying obsession. Who feels likewise? http://twitpic.com/lqpxz #PresConf.

@JLC_PresNation Presentation hater? Check out my latest #PresConf session feed. It will turn you into a believer (and an achiever)! http://bit.ly/4FkBW9

@JoeBorgstrom Nice job @PresNation on a great #PresConf. I enjoyed the Main Street Coord discussions immensely. I look forward to OKC & Austin.

@docomomoga is thinking that it is great to see the recent past/Modern education sessions SRO or nearly so! Just wish the AC could keep up! #presconf

Over and out – we’ve got cowboy boots to buy (seriously) before the final party tonight.