UW Extension Humanities & Historic Preservation Grant Evaluation Panel Meeting

HH Panel Minutes (298 KB)

Arts, Humanities & Historic Preservation Grant Evaluation Panel

HUMANITIES & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Minutes of the Special Meeting

March 10, 2014

Panel Members Present:  Mary Ferrell-Stieve, Verlyn Mueller, Liz Nevers, Michael Jacobs, Dick McFarlane

UWEX Staff Present:  Sue Nagelkerk
Others Present: Judy Ashford, Donna Stehling

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM by Nagelkerk, and the requirements of the Open Meeting Law were met.

Introductions

            All individuals present above introduced themselves.  

Election of Chairperson

Motion made by Nevers, second by Stieve to have Verlyn Mueller serve as chair of the panel for the meeting.  Motion carried.

Panelist Process

Nagelkerk reviewed guidelines.

Consideration of grant awards and development of recommendations

            The panel reviewed all seven grants and discussed the pros and cons of each application.       

            The following are the funding recommendations and comments for each application:

A.)  Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society requested $1,100, and the panel recommended fully funding for this project.

PROS:

• Alliant Energy grant proposed.
• Reaching out to Lake Wisconsin Community.  Different mix.
• Reasonable request.
• Well fleshed out idea.
• Touring the dam.
• Consider permanent museum exhibit.

CONS:

• Keep positive (past corporate policies).
• No letter from Alliant? Did you get the money? (This is anticipated.)

B.)  Badger History Group Inc. requested $2,685, and the panel recommended fully funding for this project.

PROS:

• Modest request.
• Important work.
•    Sauk needs to preserve national significance.

CONS:

• Not broad enough.
• More partnership with Historical Society?
• Digital?
• $2,000 isn’t enough to accomplish this. Timeline is too ambitious.
• Too little known about processors.
• Organize generally. Save storage.
• Have Pete review the plan.
• Make sure can be incorporated into larger systems.

IDEAS:

• Integrate.
• Have a professional keep steward of national/international.

C.)  Wormfarm Institute requested $4,000 and the panel recommended fully funding for this project.

PROS:

• Focus on this part of the county.
• Great writing and marketing.
• New York Times.
• Partnering with Aldo Leopold.
• “Burma Shave”
• Benefit to the county.
• Remember the grassroots start.

CONS:

• “We are going to help you”? Land user connection? Doing us a favor?
• Start a money making and/or private funding component?
• Art, culture, sense of pride with farmers was already there, but it is a cool community event!

D.)  Village of Sauk City, Sauk City Historical Preservation Committee, requested $5,000 and the panel recommended fully funding for this project.

PROS:

• Local public library involvement.
• Putting a face to the history.
• Passion. With a community festival there is life to the history.
• Best of small tour history.
• Action plan.

CONS:

• Misspellings/incomplete sentences.
• Speaker was on a speaking tour. Did not retire here. Get history right. Do your research!
• Sustainable in the future?
• County wide impact. Advertising in Sauk, Reedsburg, and/ or Baraboo. Consider the Baraboo News Republic.

E.)  Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club, Inc. requested $2,000 and the panel recommended fully funding for this project.

PROS:

• Expansion. Different artists.
• Reasonable amount requested.
• Proven record.
• Good impact for county.

CONS:

• Help with student outreach, artists, etc. would be beneficial. Get help from the start!
• Timeline is difficult.
• Can you let us know who you will be working with?
• For outreach, education, and new audience consider convening a board.

F.)  Baraboo Range Preservation Association requested $2,000 and the panel recommended partially funding for this project in the amount of ????

PROS:

• Arboretum for youth.
• Asked for reasonable amount.
• Free access to adults. Critical thinking.
• 2015 funding.
• Partnership with Baraboo Public Library.

CONS:

• Need a concrete younger audience game plan.
• Nothing specific for younger audience. Partnering? Classroom?
• Other (broader) lecture sites?
• Need for a broader outreach.
• 2/3rds of audience are own people.
• Consider a fundraiser.
• No letter from UW Baraboo.
• Webcast! Market more!

G.)  Lake States Railway Historical Association requested $2,655 and the panel recommended partially funding for this project in the amount of $ ???. 

PROS:

• Enthusiastic group.
• Understand target audience.
• Focused on making organization the best it can be.

CONS:

• Grant needed AFTER the feasibility study.
• Do you actually need this grant?
• Numbers do not match. Didn’t include projection screen materials.  Please get assistance with budget!
• Partnership. Focused internally. Raise awareness.
• $50.00 a person?
• Limited audience.
• Immediate benefit for Sauk County?
• Neat potential...

Final Recommendations:  Projects were prioritized in the following order:

1. Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society
2. Badger History Group Inc.
3. Wormfarm Institute
4. Village of Sauk City, Sauk City Historical Preservation Committee
5. Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club, Inc.
6. Baraboo Range Preservation Association
7. Lake States Railway Historical Association

Adjourn

Motion by Nevers, second by Stieve to adjourn.  Meeting adjourned at 12:10 PM.

Submitted by,

Sue Nagelkerk

Sauk County UW Extension Family Living Educator

SEN/lkz