Monday, March 7, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - March 7, 2011


South Main, Little Rock


If anyone has a Heritage Month event for May 2011, please register it at your earliest convenience at http://www.arkansasheritage.com/plan/heritage_month_registry.aspx.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar March 7 – 11, 2011
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MONDAY Cary – Governor’s Conference on Tourism, LR
TUESDAY Cary – Governor’s Conference on Tourism, LR
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Mark – Hardy (interviews); Cary – out
FRIDAY Cary – out
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Main Street El Dorado Press
Main Street Texarkana Press
Main Street Russellville Press
Delta Byways Award Winners
Clinton School Seeks Field Service Partners
Scholarship to Community Development Institute
Scholarship to National Trust Conference
National Trust Survey
Americorp Workshop



Main Street El Dorado Welcomes Travis Tritt
http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2011/02/26/tritt-to-perform-unplugged-show-at-munic-99.php

Main Street Texarkana Press
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2011/02/28/preserving-the-past-planning-the-future-310813.php

Main Street Russellville Press
http://russellville.todaysthv.com/news/community-spirit/volunteer-main-street-russellville/55154

Congratulations to Arkansas Delta Byways Award Winners:
• Boot Strap Award: Main Street Paragould’s Holiday Traditions
• Promotional Award: Main Street Programs in Blytheville, Helena, Paragould and West Memphis (sponsored by MSA)
• Outstanding Member Award: Rep. Sheilla Lampkin, Monticello (board member of Downtown Monticello)

Clinton School Seeks Field Service Partners

The Clinton School invites non-profits, government agencies, businesses, foundations or other organizations working on issues of social change to submit ideas for field service partnerships to be completed during the 2011-2012 academic year.
Field service at the Clinton School emphasizes the practice of public service through student projects focusing on systemic social justice issues. Clinton School students complete three for-credit public service projects during the two-year Master of Public Service (MPS) degree program.
“The students, the partner organizations and the community have all benefited from the field service projects,” said Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford. “We encourage interested organizations to submit proposals to work with us next year.”
Projects appropriate for partnerships with Clinton School students include:
• Conducting needs assessments to study a problem and determine a plan to develop and implement solutions
• Identifying and developing community/organization assets
• Designing and implementing surveys to collect information about a problem
• Building or strengthening partnerships, coalitions and/or teams
• Conducting interviews and focus groups
• Mobilizing people to take action on social issues
• Researching best practices
• Facilitating public discussions on social issues
Click here for all application materials. An information session for interested organizations will be on Wednesday, March 30 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sturgis Hall. To attend that session or obtain additional information about how to apply contact Jeanne Busbea at jbbusbea at clintonschool.uasys.edu or (501) 683-5130.

Scholarships to Community Development Institute

http://www.uca.edu/cdi/scholarship.php

2011 Diversity Scholarship Program Applications Now Available
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is now accepting applications for the 2011 Diversity Scholarship program for the National Preservation Conference, to be held in Buffalo, NY, October 19-22, 2011. The program provides financial assistance to community leaders from diverse social, economic, racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. It also gives attendees an opportunity to network and participate in the conference, and provides them with tools to strengthen their commitment and effectiveness in preserving historic places and revitalizing communities. Visit our website for more information on the program and how to apply. Have questions? Email: scholarship@nthp.org. Applications are due electronically by June 1, 2011.
Dear National Trust Partners and Colleagues:
Almost eight months ago, I was honored to become the 8th president of the National Trust. During my short time at the Trust, I have been energized by the excellent work and track record of the organization’s wide range of partner networks across the United States—Statewide and Local Partners, Main Street organizations, Forum members, National Trust Historic Sites, Save America’s Treasures projects, and others.
To ensure these partnerships continue to be relevant and mutually rewarding, the National Trust is conducting a number of assessments over the next few months to evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts, including how we relate to partners and constituents, and how they relate to us. This Needs Assessment Survey, the first in a series of targeted surveys, will help us determine where to focus our energy and resources in the future.
Access the survey here.
As a member of one or more of our partner networks, the information and feedback you offer in this confidential survey will provide valuable insight into National Trust services and resources that have the potential to have the greatest impact. As you know with respect to your own organization and work, it is not possible to be all things to all organizations, especially in a time of limited resources. We are striving to focus our work with partners on areas that are most needed and will achieve the most meaningful results.
We appreciate your setting aside approximately 20 to 30 minutes over the next few weeks to complete the online survey and submit it no later than Friday, March 18. The information gathered will be compiled and analyzed, and we will be glad to share how the results influence our decision-making in the months to come.
Many thanks for your help as we move forward together to save more places that matter.
With warmest regards,
Stephanie Meeks, President, National Trust for Historic Preservation

AmeriCorps Grant Writing Workshop Registration
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2011

This workshop is for AmeriCorps specific grant applications. In it, participants will learn the information necessary to put forward an application for AmeriCorps program funding in the 2011 grant cycle. We will cover the service corps and six focus areas of Corporation for National and Community Service programs, identify performance measures with their outputs and outcomes and discuss the financial and programmatic requirements of a federal grant. You will learn the basics of AmeriCorps, the Arkansas Service Commission and the grant review and application process. This workshop is free of charge and open to any agency interested in hosting an AmeriCorps program. (Registration deadline March 10th.)