Request for Proposals

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is currently accepting proposals for its conference scheduled for 27-29 September 2012 in Jefferson County, located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. This year's conference theme intends to identify historic preservation truths and debunk historic preservation myths. Proposal topics should relate to this theme and/or to one of the three conference tracks (preservation policy, heritage development, and preservation skills). Applicants' fields can involve aspects of historic preservation, historic architecture, planning, hands-on preservation skills, public history, historic archaeology, heritage tourism or a related field. Please see the below guidelines for supplementary information to be submitted with proposals, which will be accepted until 15 March 2012. Later submissions may be considered until all conference programming has been selected .

PAWV is the statewide grassroots organization committed to historic preservation in West Virginia. PAWV works to bring attention to the plight of at-risk historic properties and provide assistance to the organizations involved in their preservation. As part of our services, PAWV offers a three-day biennial historic preservation educational conference where attendees are offered:

• Plenary speakers
• Half- and full-day workshops
• Short educational sessions
• Round-table discussions
• Panel presentations
• Educational walking or driving tours
• Student poster session

There are three conference tracks:

• Preservation planning and policy: This track aims to educate about best planning practices, capacity building, and incentives for historic preservation projects at the local and state level by working with/as government entities and non-profit organizations. Proposals about overcoming obstacles in preservation planning are highly sought. However, proposals discussing state and federal legislation and preservation will also be considered.
• Heritage development and tourism: Emphasizing economic development through historic preservation, this track's themes include heritage and cultural tourism and the process of developing an economically beneficial basis for such. Proposals discussing historical interpretation of sites and landscapes will also be considered.
• Preservation trade skills and methodology: Focused on the reasons for proceeding with historic preservation and the tools/skills needed to do so, this track will emphasize the best steps in initiating, performing, and completing historic preservation projects, which also includes historic archaeology and landscapes. Hands-on workshops and how-to sessions will be considered for this track. Submissions that focus on preservation trades businesses will also be accepted.

The target audience is generally preservation professionals and students, as well as non-professionals and community leaders involved in saving historic properties.

Plenary speakers' services needed:

We are seeking two primary speakers on preservation topics related to our themes - one for the awards banquet on Friday evening (15-20 min) and a keynote speaker for a Saturday luncheon (20 - 40 min). We might possibly also select a speaker on local history for an opening plenary session Friday (10-20 min).

Workshop format and services needed:

Workshops can be either half- or full-day and are designed to teach a specific preservation skill. Trades workshops are best held at a historic property, with hands-on work performed on the property as part of the workshop. Some workshops include a classroom component or may be intensive training on a focused topic. Occasionally other formats, such as a longer training period, or combining multiple skills in one workshop, may be offered.

Trainers should have extensive experience in the specific skill, thorough familiarity with historic preservation issues regarding that skill, and experience in teaching the skill. Trainers are encouraged to bring additional hand tools for students' use for hands-on practice.

Educational session format and services needed:

Educational sessions' timeframe is 1 1/4 hours. Sessions will most likely be held at an educational breakout room assigned at a specific site. Conference participants will have the option of attending various sessions throughout the three-day period.

Speakers should have extensive experience in the specific topic, thorough familiarity with historic preservation issues regarding that skill, and/or experience in teaching the skill.

Round-table format and services needed:

Leaders of round-table discussions must have widespread knowledge and experience working with a specific topic. Leaders will be available to discuss and answer questions asked by conference participants regarding the discussion topic, and to encourage constructive input and sharing of experiences from the participants . Round-table discussions last for 1 1/4 hours and will be located at a specific educational breakout room.

Panel Presentations and services needed:

Leaders/moderators of panel presentations will assemble usually 2 or 3 panel presenters to each give a short presentation related to the same theme, followed by discussion led by the moderator. Names and qualifications of each panel participant should be included in the proposal. Panel sessions last for 1 ¼ hours and will be held at a specific educational breakout room.

Educational tour format and services needed:

Walking tours generally run from 1 ½-3 hours. Driving tours may be a half-day or longer. Guides must have pervasive knowledge of the historic structures and properties described on the tour. It is requested that tour guides are not only knowledgeable in the historic uses of the buildings but also the preservation methods and/or technologies used during the preservation of the structures/sites. While a primary focus or theme of the tour will be an aspect of local history, we encourage tours to also have an educational component related to the conference theme and/or one of the conference tracks.

Session Leaders Proposal:

Preservation professionals who are potentially interested in providing preservation training for any of the above formats -- speakers, workshops, educational sessions, roundtables, panel discussions, and/or educational tours should submit a proposal including:

• Qualifications, credentials, and experience
  • Skill(s) that you are qualified to teach
  • Teaching or training experience
  • A short one-paragraph bio suitable for use in conference handouts
• Organizational affiliation, if any
• Description of proposed presentation, no more than one page
• Short abstract, no more than 150 words, for use in conference handouts
• Tools or equipment, if applicable, you can provide for the class and student use
• Materials and site requirements you would expect to be provided
• Availability

Volunteer presenters are encouraged. Honorarium may be available for some presentations and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
    

Poster Session, Student Proposals:

Students of historic preservation, historic architecture, planning, public history, historic archaeology, or a related field who are potentially interested in participating in the poster session should submit a proposal including:

• Educational/University program
• One-page description of proposed presentation
• Short abstract, no more than 150 words, for use in conference handouts
• Indicate whether he/she is interested in volunteering at the conference for a reduced registration fee

 

Submit proposals to:

Email (preferred) to info@pawv.org and/or hard copy (3 copies) to

 

PAWV

P.O. Box 204

Slatyfork, WV 26291

For more information, please contact Danielle LaPresta at info@pawv.org or 304.345.6005

      

This RFP does not indicate any promise to follow through and implement any proposals. We reserve the right to select different trainers for different workshops. PAWV staff will organize and direct the workshops and will have final approval of content.