PAWV RECRUITING MORE PRESERVE WV AMERICORPS MEMBERS FOR ELKINS, LEWISBURG, FAIRMONT, & CHARLES TOWN

PAWV is currently recruiting for the following Preserve WV AmeriCorps positions.  Contact info@pawv.org for more information on the program and how to apply.

Kump Education Center – 1 Half-time Position
Site Supervisor: Heather Biola
Elkins, Randolph County
http://www.kumpcenter.org/

The mission of the Kump Education Center is to utilize the historic Kump property for the promotion of student achievement and teacher excellence in central West Virginia.  The Kump Education Center is located in the historic home of H.G. Kump (the 19th Governor of the State of West Virginia).  In 2008, the Kump family home and an endowed trust were gifted to the City of Elkins by the will of Mary Gamble Kump, daughter of H.G. Kump. The Kump Education Center, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation, organized in 2010 with the mission to fulfill the further declared wishes of Mary Gamble Kump that the property be used for preservation and education purposes, including professional development for educators, student achievement, good citizenship development of children and youth, sustainability activities and studies, historic preservation, and heritage education and cultural tourism.

The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will serve approximately 20 hours per week primarily at the Kump Education Center in the spring and summer months (weather permitting).  Since the building does not currently have working heating methods, the member will be provided an office in the Elkins City Hall during winter, spring, and fall months.  The member’s main service projects will involve assisting KEC board and volunteers to bring the Kump Property up to a fully habitable, year round condition.  Member activities will include assistance in:

• Researching renewable energy methods, seek estimates on upgrades for old utilities, and finding information on grants and loans for public facilities needing to meet new ADA codes and standards for electrical wiring and plumbing codes;
• Jumpstarting the utility rehabilitation project so the Kump Center can have year-round activities in the historic house within the next three years;
• Leading some of the historic & heritage educational programs offered at the Kump Education Center;
• Giving heritage tourism tours of the house and property;
• Maintaining social media and traditional mailing; and
• Managing volunteers for the center and events.

Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission – 1 Half-time Position
Site Supervisor: Martin Burke
Charles Town, Jefferson County
http://jeffersoncountyhlc.org/

The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission (JCHLC) operates under the authority granted to landmarks commissions by the West Virginia legislature. Its primary mission is to preserve historic structures within the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County and to educate persons about the county’s heritage.  As a branch of Jefferson County government, the Landmarks Commission focuses on heritage education, historic preservation, historic resource development, and research.  The JCHLC owns three properties that are open to the public on a very limited basis.

The AmeriCorps member will promote historic preservation and heritage tourism throughout the service year.  The member will have an assigned office space and a computer in the Jefferson County Planning Office.  Physical Location:  The Mason Building, 116 East Washington Street, Suite 200; Charles Town, WV  25414.  The member will serve approximately 40 hours per week mostly during the week with some assignments during evenings and weekends.  Member’s activities will focus on enhancing existing programs under the Jefferson County HLC and will be formalized based on the member’s skills and interests.  Duties may include:

• Maintaining Jefferson County Historic Resources Inventory and GIS mapping updates;
• Responding to information requests from the public;
• Researching and submitting grant applications for JCHLC projects;
• Researching and writing historic preservation zoning ordinance;
• Researching Rural design information in the United States;
• Creating a Jefferson County inventory of agricultural structures suitable for adaptive reuse;
• Reporting to the Jefferson County Historic Landmark Commission on planning projects that impact historic sites or structures;
• Developing a stewardship program for National Register and Jefferson County Landmark owners through lectures and workshops;
• Developing and formalizing a Jefferson County Historic Landmark Commission volunteer program;
• Publicizing and assisting National Register landmark owners with Tax Credit applications;
• Educating landmark owners, developers, and others about preservation incentives, benefits, and techniques;
• Promoting and inputting data for the WV GeoExplorer, http://www.wvgeohistory.org/;
• Developing docent training materials for Peter Burr Farm programs;
• Developing historic preservation training materials for 4th grade school teachers;
• Coordinating volunteers for Jefferson County Historic Landmark Commission projects;
• Developing Jefferson County historic preservation interpretive and outreach materials;
• Maintaining contact with NR and JC Landmark owners via email, phone, mail, and social media;
• Maintaining and expanding JCHLC website and Google calendar; and
• Organizing volunteer projects for JCHLC to engage various groups in the County.

Lewisburg Historic Landmarks Commission – 1 Full-time Position
Site Supervisor: Shannon Beatty (City Recorder)
Lewisburg, Greenbrier County

Position will begin in January 2017.

The Lewisburg Historic Landmarks Commission operates under the authority granted to landmarks commissions by the West Virginia legislature. Its primary mission is to preserve historic structures within Lewisburg and to educate people about the city’s heritage.

The AmeriCorps member will promote historic preservation and heritage tourism throughout the service year.  The member will have an assigned office space at Lewisburg City Hall, Physical Location: 942 Washington Street, West, Lewisburg, WV 24901.  The member will serve approximately 40 hours per week mostly during the week with some assignments during evenings and weekends, as well as attending all meetings related to the Lewisburg Historic Landmarks Commission.  Duties will include:

• Coordinating the management of and improvements to the historic cemeteries in Lewisburg with tasks including building a volunteer base for basic grounds maintenance and selective monument cleanup;
• Managing the burial records of the historic cemeteries;
• Coordinating a review of Lewisburg’s latest historic buildings, surveying them in preparation for leading teams of volunteers to address inaccuracies in the current survey; and
• Providing support to the Lewisburg Historic Landmarks Commission as needed.

Pricketts Fort – 1 Half-time Position
Supervisor: Jessica Kittle
Fairmont, Marion County 
http://www.prickettsfort.org/

The Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) historical organization responsible for the historical and educational programs available at the park. The foundation uses a living history style of interpretation to preserve, document and exhibit the past. It features an 18th-century recreation of the original Pricketts Fort, which provided a place of refuge from Native American attack. In addition, guests enjoy visiting the original 19th century Job Prickett House, Prickett Cemetery, Visitor Center, and Museum Gift Shop.

Pricketts Fort’s half-time Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will provide services approximately 20 hours per week at the state park.  These projects will help to keep the site safe, accessible, and enjoyable to heritage tourism visitors.  The scope of service has been determined through a survey or the park and all of its needs.  This a mostly hands-on preservation position, in which the member will be assisted by and receive training from the Executive Director, staff members, and volunteers.  The member’s duties will include:

• Completing various preservation and maintenance projects such as laying shingles, repairing chimneys, and replacing logs in a period-correct manner;
• Organizing an educational log maintenance lecture to take place in the 2017 season;
• Organizing, promoting, and leading walk-throughs of the site in which he/she will demonstrate various examples of log preservation and maintenance;
• Replacing and painting the porch of the Job Prickett House;
• Repairing the fort gates;
• Repairing headstones in the Prickett Cemetery; and
• Managing, recruiting, and training volunteers to assist with these hands-on preservation projects.

The PreserveWV AmeriCorps program is Preservation Alliance of West Virginia’s statewide service initiative to promote cultural heritage tourism and enhance historic resource re-use and redevelopment projects in West Virginia.  Particular focus will be placed on non-profit capacity building through organizational policy development, volunteer management, and community engagement.  AmeriCorps members’ service will contribute to West Virginia’s economic development and environmental stewardship.

AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. To learn more about AmeriCorps see www.americorps.gov. The PreserveWV AmeriCorps program is sponsored by Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service: www.volunteerwv.org/

This AmeriCorps program is funded in part by a grant from Volunteer WV, the State’s Commission for National and Community Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Volunteer WV encourages West Virginians of all ages and abilities to be involved in service to their community.