Taking place December 3, 2013 – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.

PAWV joined #GivingTuesday because we want to celebrate all the nonprofit organizations devoted to bettering our communities, our state, our nation, and our world.  We want to recognize the efforts not only of our dedicated staff, AmeriCorps members, and Board of Directors, but also the efforts of all the volunteers and staff working to preserve our heritage and re-use it to improve the places we live.  We believe one of the best ways to do this is by joining this national initiative.

Seeing an opportunity to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season to inspire action around charitable giving, a group of friends and partners, led by the 92nd Street Y, came together to find ways to promote and celebrate the great American tradition of giving.  Thought leaders in philanthropy, social media and grassroots organizing joined with 92nd Street Y to explore what is working in modern philanthropy and how to expand these innovations throughout the philanthropic sector.  The concept gained steam, and bybringing together a group of founding partners — including the United Nations Foundation, DonorsChoose.org, Mashable,and Venture Three Capital — a nationwide series of discussions about how to make #GivingTuesday a success is already underway.

#GivingTuesday is a counternarrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation.  “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends, and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.”
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For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org)

The National Trust for Historic Preservation featured a lengthy article about the progress at McCoy fort.
There are some great photos, and it’s definitely worth a read.

Check it out at http://blog.preservationnation.org/2013/11/15/deconstruction-discovery-west-virginia-community-digs-fort-mccoy-colonial-past/#.Uoppi-K-fTp

The 1834 library building, located in Lewisburg, was added to the endangered list in 2010 because of deterioration.  The interior floors had buckled due to water intrusion, and water pipes had burst from lack of heat. It also needed a new roof and rehabilitation of windows and bathrooms.  Since being listed, the city and college have partnered on this re-use project for the library, which housed the “Library and Study for the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia” prior to West Virginia statehood in 1863. Additionally, the building served as a Union hospital and barracks and still has soldier’s inscriptions on the interior walls.

The award ceremony will begin at 4:30 on November 22, and it will be held in the Student Lounge of the New River Community and Technical College’s Greenbrier Valley Campus in Lewisburg.   It will be followed by a reception and preservation tours of the library building.   The event is free and open to the public.   

The VISTA position is made possible through a sponsorship from the National Coal Heritage Area.

Stop by and meet our new VISTA!  There will also be resources available from PAWV, in addition to those made available at the Preservation Resources Library on the first floor.

PAWV also maintains home offices in Morgantown and Slatyfork, WV.  Contact [email protected] if you ever want to set up meetings in any of these offices.  You can also reach us at 304-345-6005.
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Photo Credit: WilliamBrandon on flickr

Read about PreserveWV AmeriCorps member, Eliza’s, recent adventure at the Old Hemlock Foundation.

http://preservationyear.tumblr.com/post/66281434937/artifact-story-bowls-of-bones

We are excited to share that West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller introduced legislation, Senate Bill 1641, that would designate Appalachian Forest Heritage Area as a National Heritage Area, in addition to extending funding for two other West Virginia National Heritage Areas, Coal Heritage and Wheeling.

We encourage everyone to show their support and participation for this bill by contacting their Senators to thank them for this sponsorship, and to contact your Representatives to encourage a companion bill in the House. You can also submit letters of support on behalf of this bill.  AFHA is currently updating its website to include information on the Senate bill, and to provide more information on expressing support. We urge all of you to check www.appalachianforest.us starting next week to find out how you can help.

Please see the following press release for more information about the bill.

ROCKEFELLER SAYS HERITAGE AREA BILL WILL STRENGTHEN TOURISM, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN WV

Senators Manchin, Mikulski and Cardin join bill to reauthorize funding for two National Heritage Areas in West Virginia while adding new designation for a third that includes Maryland

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today said legislation he introduced will strengthen tourism in West Virginia and Maryland by securing federal funding for existing National Heritage Areas in Wheeling and in southern West Virginia, while creating a new one in the state’s eastern mountains, as well as the Mountain Counties of Maryland.

The West Virginia National Heritage Area Act of 2013, co-sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin, Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, supports continued National Park Service funding and technical assistance for the Wheeling National Heritage Area and the National Coal Heritage Area, while designating the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area as a National Heritage Area. The new region would encompass 16 counties in West Virginia and two in Maryland.

“Tourism is such an important part of West Virginia’s economy, creating jobs and enriching people’s lives,” Rockefeller said. “Our state has so much to offer, whether it’s a tour of Independence Hall in Wheeling, a trip back in time through the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, or a day spent fishing on mountain streams in the Monongahela National Forest. These historic, cultural and natural treasures need to be preserved for—and enjoyed by—future generations of West Virginians.”

Federal funding for the National Coal Heritage Area expired in 2012, and will expire for the Wheeling National Heritage Area in 2015. Rockefeller’s bill would continue funding for all three National Heritage Areas until 2017.

“West Virginia is one of the most beautiful states in our nation and we must preserve our many natural wonders for the next generation of West Virginians and for the visitors from all over the world who visit our great state each year,” Manchin said. “This commonsense measure is an investment in a healthy future for both our children and our growing tourism industry.”

“Strengthening the tourism economy of Western Maryland is a smart investment that will continue to draw in new visitors, new jobs and economic development to the region,” said Senator Mikulski. “Maryland is a state rich in history and culture with many unique treasures. By supporting National Heritage Areas, we will honor Maryland’s key role in American history for future generations while encouraging heritage tourists to enjoy the state’s terrific combination of natural beauty.”

“The Appalachian Forest Heritage Area supports the growing outdoor recreation and tourism economies of Garrett and Allegany counties. Importantly, it simultaneously helps to preserve the rich culture of Mountain Maryland,” said Senator Cardin. “I want to applaud Maryland’s local leaders who encouraged this new designation, understanding how celebrating the natural and cultural heritage of Mountain Maryland is good for business in Mountain Maryland and the entire region.”

 National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. NHAs are a grassroots, community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development. Through public-private partnerships, NHA entities support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects.