Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is currently accepting proposals for its next statewide historic preservation conference, scheduled for September 22-24, 2016.  It will be held primarily in Beverly, with some opportunity for programming in the immediate Randolph County vicinity (Elkins, etc.).  This year’s conference theme will be This Place Matters: Connecting with Historic Places.  Conference proposals should relate to the theme and fit into at least one of three tracks:

1. Exploring cultural heritage tourism connections
2. Connecting health and safety with preservation
3. Building connections for stronger organizations and communities

This is a request for knowledgeable professionals willing to lead one or more of the following:

• Keynote speeches
• Plenary speeches
• Half- or full-day workshops
• Educational walking or driving tours
• Educational sessions
• Round-table discussions
• Panel presentations
• Student/AmeriCorps poster session

For more information on each of these positions, necessary qualifications, and applications, please see the guidelines below. Here is a downloadable version of the PAWV conference RFP 2016

Submit proposals via email to info@pawv.org by April 25, 2016. 

For more information, please contact PAWV’s Executive Director, Danielle LaPresta Parker, at dlapresta@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 workshops, sessions, etc. We reserve the right to accept late proposals if insufficient or inadequate proposals for all slots are not received by the deadline. We may suggest revisions to your proposals for your consideration.  PAWV staff will organize and direct all events and will have final approval of content.

This conference will be funded in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior and the WV Division of Culture & History, State Historic Preservation Office. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.

Proposal Application Requirements:
Professionals interested in providing preservation training for any of the above formats — speeches, workshops, keynote speakers, educational sessions, roundtables, panel discussions, poster sessions, and/or educational tours — should submit a proposal including:

• Title of session or presentation
• Conference track(s) to which the session or presentation relates
• Description of proposed presentation, no more than one page
• Whether presentation/session is for beginners or a more experienced audience
• Short abstract, no more than 150 words, for use in conference handouts
• Name, Title, Contact Information (phone and email) and Organizational Affiliation, if any
• 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
• Tools or equipment, if applicable, that you can provide for the class and student use
• Materials, equipment, and site requirements you would expect PAWV to provide
• Availability
• Cost proposals for presentation (when applicable)

Presenters will be offered free admission to the conference for the day (excluding banquet) of their presentation, plus the volunteer-discount rate to attend the rest of the conference. Presenter fees, when paid, will be negotiated on a case by case basis. Presenter fees may be offered to major speakers, with smaller amounts offered to panel participants and additional presenters if funds are available. No separate travel expenses will be paid.

Positions Available: 

• Plenary and keynote speakers

We are seeking one plenary speaker and two keynote speakers for the following:

1. A 15-30 minute plenary speech on local history or preservation – or on one of the conference themes/tracks – for an opening session directly following Friday’s lunch;
2. A 30-45 minute keynote speech related to the conference theme or one of the conference theme/tracks for the awards banquet on Friday evening;
3. A 30-45 minute keynote speech related to the conference theme or one of the conference theme/tracks for the luncheon on Saturday afternoon. 

• Workshop leader

Trades workshops are best held at a historic property, with hands-on work performed on the property as part of the workshop.  Some workshops may 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. These workshops can be either a half or a full day. 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.

Seminar, panel, or round-table type workshops related to one of the tracks could also be considered for workshop topics or presentations more appropriate to a longer format than the 75 minute educational sessions. 

• Educational speakers

Educational speakers will lead 75 minute sessions related to one of the tracks. Each session will most likely be held in an educational breakout room 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 topic, and/or experience in teaching the topic.

• Round-table leaders

The round-table discussions, which should be related to one of the tracks, will be 75 minutes long and will be located in a specific educational breakout room.  Leaders of round-table discussions must have widespread knowledge and experience working with the specific topic.  Leaders will be available to discuss and answer questions asked by conference participants regarding the discussion topic, as well as to encourage constructive input and sharing of experiences by the participants.  

• Panel presenters and moderators

The leaders/moderators of panels related to one of the tracks will assemble 2 or 3 panel presenters to each give a short presentation related to the same theme, followed by discussion led by the moderator. The names, contact information, and qualifications of each panel participant should be included in the proposal. Panels last 75 minutes and will be held in a specific educational breakout room. 

• Tour guides (walking or driving)

Walking tours generally run from 1 ½ to 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.   PAWV requests that tour guides be knowledgeable not only in the historic uses of the buildings, but also in the methods, strategies, and/or technologies used during the preservation, adaptive reuse, etc., of the structures/sites. The primary focus of the tour should be related to historic preservation, the conference theme, and/or one of the conference tracks; however, PAWV encourages tours to also share aspects of local history.

• Poster session

The poster session will include the presentation of research or a historic preservation project by an individual (typically a student or AmeriCorps member) or by representatives of a project team.  Posters will be displayed in an exhibitor hall, and presenters will accompany their posters – illustrating their research methods or project scope and outcomes. The posters will be displayed during the entire conference, but the poster presentation session will be held over a period of one hour on Friday or Saturday of the conference.
 Three Conference Tracks:
Conference attendees can choose to attend workshops and educational sessions related to three conference tracks, which focus on specific themes common in historic preservation projects and development.  By featuring three different tracks, conference attendees can choose the topic that best reflects their interests and gain the most from their experience.  Attendees will have the choice of Thursday workshops and tours reflective of track themes, as well as Friday and Saturday concurrent educational sessions.  Proposals should be related to one of the following tracks.

1. Exploring cultural heritage tourism connections – The track on cultural heritage tourism connections could feature sessions on thematic trails, such as the WV Historic Theatre Trail, or on finding new connections for people and communities. Heritage connections can include promoting your site, making virtual connections, and attracting heritage tourists for community revitalization. Possible cultural heritage sessions could showcase relevant mobile apps and web-based tools; provide lessons for site marketing; explore rehabilitation success stories and works-in-progress; and share unique and innovative cultural and culinary business plans in the region that contribute to attracting heritage tourists and to healthy, revitalized communities.
2. Connecting health and safety with preservation – The track regarding historic preservation’s connections with green development and healthy communities can address issues of safety in preservation practice and the healthy historic buildings that can result. Sessions could address prevalent myths, such as that historic buildings cannot be saved because of hazardous materials, or that they can’t be energy efficient with wooden windows. Attendees could learn how to identify hazards in historic buildings, what is safe to deal with themselves, and when and how to call in the experts to deal with hazards. Other possible topics could explore how historic buildings can be redeveloped to be energy efficient and sustainable, or healthy community strategies that involve preservation and revitalization. Potential hands-on sessions held at Beverly historic buildings might include lead-paint safety, historic windows, mothballing, masonry restoration, historic roof repair, or porch rehabilitation.
3. Building connections for stronger organizations and communities – The track concerning organizational connections will focus on partnerships and networking, increasing involvement and engagement, and funding for successful and sustainable preservation organizations. Sessions could provide concepts for building collaborations and partnerships, using successful efforts in the region as examples. Round-table and networking sessions could give opportunities for attendees to connect with others, who might become partners in their ongoing efforts. Sessions can also provide preservation advocacy organizations (as well as those focused on a particular issue or on saving a specific structure) with tools for building capacity, finding funding, and increasing organizational development.

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is accepting nominations for the 2017 West Virginia Historic Preservation Awards.

The 9th Annual Historic Preservation Awards Banquet will be on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at the Municipal Auditorium in Charleston.

Download the PAWV Awards Nomination Form 2017 Here!

Guidelines:

• All nominations are due July 31, 2017 (Monday).
• Submit completed nomination form via email to info@pawv.org.
• Submit at least 3 photos – larger than 1 MB in size – of the project nomination with your nomination form.

A special nominating committee consisting of PAWV board members and staff will select and notify the awardees, as well as the nominators of the nomination status.  All are welcome to submit nominations and attend the banquet. Nominators can submit more than one nomination but must submit one nomination per award.  For information on award recipients from previous years, visit http://pawv.org/awards.htm.
​      
Download the PAWV Awards Nomination Form 2017 Here!   

By Rachael, PAWV VISTA

Every year in the town of Ireland, West Virginia (Lewis County) an Irish Spring Festival is held in celebration of St. Patrick’s day and the Vernal Equinox. But most importantly, it as a celebration of the communities Scots – Irish heritage and a way of welcoming spring to Appalachia. The theme of the festival varies year to year and is inspired by the different plants and animals of spring. This year’s theme is Horseshoes.

One of the festivals most unique events is the West Virginia Irish Road Bowling competition. In this old Irish tradition, an iron and steel small cannonball, called a “bowl” is hurled down a 1.2 mile country lane, and the fewest throws to the finish line wins, similar to disc golf.

At the moment of the Vernal Equinox, the festival goers trek up a cliff to the Blarney Stone where they stand an egg on end, the church bells ring, and just like that, the festival is over.

This year 35th Annual Irish Spring Festival will be held March 17 at 7:00 PM to March 20 at 8:00 PM.
For more information about the festival, check out their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Irish-Spring-Festival-110828812328952/

The schedule of events is as follows:

Friday March 18, 2016
7:00 pm – Irish Jig Square Dance
7:00 pm – Costume Contest
8:00 pm – House Decoration Winners Announced
8:30 pm – Costume Contest
9:00 pm – King and Queen Coronation

Saturday March 19, 2016
Arts & Crafts, Irish themed food and drinks, harp music, an Ireland postal station with the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day collector’s cancellation stamp and a wide array of gift items are features from 9am to 4pm in the Ireland Community Building. Health Screenings by Community Care of WV will be available.

9:00 am  -Scavenger Hunt
9:30 am – Kite Fly
10:00 am – Lucky Charms Horseshoe Pitch
10:00 am – Hunting Hounds [Central WV Hunting Dog Association]
10:30 am – Tour de Shamrock [10.5 mile bike tour]
10:30 – Intermediate Harp Workshop [Extra harps available at the church]
11:00 am – Foul Shooting Contest
11:30 am – Harp Concert Rehearsal [Ireland U.M. Church]
1:00 pm – The March “MARCH” Parade
2:00 pm – Harp Concert [Ireland U.M. Church]
2:30 pm – Road Bowling
3:00 pm – Beginners Harp Workshops [Ireland U.M. Church]
4:00 pm – Just Ducky Sweepstakes – Duck Race
4:30 pm – Building Shamrocks Talent Contest
7:00 pm – Luck O’ the Irish Bingo
11:59 pm – Ascent to the Blarney Rock
Sunday March 20, 2016
12:30 am – Vernal Equinox
Noon to 4:00 pm Shamrock CEOS Arts & Craft Table
1:00 pm – Snake Chase, 10K Walk/Run
1:30 pm – Road Bowling
2:00 – 4:00 pm – “Acoustics Only” Jam Session
4:00 pm – Fried Potato Contest
5:00 pm – Unicorns, Gremlins & Shmoos Pet Show
6:00 pm – Corn Hole Challenge

By Danielle LaPresta Parker

​This week, the Preservation Alliance of WV received a $15,000 grant from the 1772 Foundation to conduct a revolving fund feasibility study.  The 1772 Foundation, based in Newport, RI, is a national leader in the field of historic properties redevelopment programs. Many non-profit historic preservation organizations establish historic property redevelopment revolving funds to receive donations and other capital, which are used by the organization to either make loans for building renovations or purchase endangered properties that are then resold with easements.  The organization earns either loan repayments or property sales to replenish the revolving fund and continue to redevelop properties across the state. The feasibility study is the first step in the process of developing a historic properties redevelopment program and will help to determine what kind of program will be most effective in West Virginia. “We are thrilled at having this opportunity to start a fresh program in the Mountain State focusing on developing existing cultural assets and are very thankful for the 1772 Foundation’s grant to us,” explained Executive Director Danielle LaPresta Parker.

According to the 1772 Foundation, Executive Director Mary Anthony, “Historic properties redevelopment programs, sometimes known as revolving funds, greatly increase the number of historic buildings we can save and put back into use by the community. Unlike more reactive, traditional preservation models, they are proactive and robust; they move at the speed of the market, using the same tools and financing as for-profit developers. The 1772 Foundation awards grants for real estate education, fellowships, feasibility studies, and business plans in addition to increasing the capacity of existing programs through grants and loans to help grow this increasingly important sector of the historic preservation field.”

Danforth Ely, president of The 1772 Foundation, noted, “We have been promoting the relationship between historic properties redevelopment programs and economic development for many years. I am happy to note that almost half of this year’s grant recipients are receiving 1772 funding for the first time.”

Other grant recipients were the Newport County Development Council ($15,0000, Preserve Rhode Island ($30,000), the Providence Revolving Fund ($75,000), Cincinnati Preservation Association ($15,000); Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation ($37,500); Fairmount Park Conservancy in Philadelphia, PA ($30,000); Germantown United Community Development Corporation also in Philadelphia ($50,000); Heritage Works in Dubuque, IA ($25,000); Historic Columbia Foundation ($15,000); Landmarks Illinois ($15,000); Louisiana Preservation Alliance ($75,000); Maine Preservation ($60,000); Michigan Historic Preservation Network ($75,000); Montana Preservation Alliance ($50,000); National Main Street Center in Chicago, IL ($135,000 – two projects), National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC ($225,000 – three projects); Preservation Alliance of New Orleans ($50,000); Preservation Maryland ($20,000); Preservation Massachusetts ($37,500); Restore Mobile ($25,000); The L’Enfant Trust in Washington, DC ($100,000); and Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) in New Bedford, MA ($150,000).

​The 1772 Foundation was named in honor of its first restoration project, Liberty Hall in Union, NJ, which was built in 1772 and is the ancestral home of the Livingston and Kean families. The late Stewart B. Kean was the original benefactor of The 1772 Foundation. The 1772 Foundation works to ensure the safe passage of our historic buildings and farmland to future generations. More information about The 1772 Foundation may be found at www.1772foundation.org.

The Preservation Alliance of WV is the statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation.  Started in 1982, the Preservation Alliance of WV promotes the re-use of cultural resources.  It administers the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program and the WV Endangered Properties List.

This year, the Preservation Alliance of WV nominated Curt Mason, of Charles Town.  Since joining the Preservation Alliance of WV Board of Directors in 2011, Curt has worked to make PAWV’s activities more successful.  He has opened his beautiful, historic home in Jefferson County for a PAWV fundraisier and has also invited PAWV to use his home for other fundraising activities, such as hosting PAWV’s quarterly board meeting and fundraising work days.  In addition, Mason works to make PAWV’s name better-known not only in the eastern panhandle but state-wide and nationally.  He represented PAWV at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s conference and at the Preservation Action annual meeting in November 2015.  He sits on various PAWV committees including the advocacy committee and helps in selecting the WV Endangered Properties List each year.

Curt brings several valuable tools to the preservation table.  For example, he has worked for five years in Jefferson County identifying issues that PAWV may address in Jefferson County.  He is a tireless promoter of historic preservation.  To his contact list of over 1,000 people, Curt shares PAWV news and announcements, which helps to increase our reach to people not already involved in the organization.  Curt has also helped in coordinating historic windows workshops to benefit the old Yellow House on the campus of Shepherd University.  Curt helped to organize the initial two-day workshop and ensured that the windows were restored after an accident occurred that postponed the completion of the windows work.  Curt is dedicated to enhancing historic preservation through his board position by utilizing PAWV staff services for historic properties in Jefferson County. Thank you, Curt!