VISTAS MARCH/APRIL 2009 WhatÕs inside: Roadside Reflections 2 Trail Training 3 Coming & Going 4 National Scenic Byways Conference Ð Sneak Peek 5 National Forest Scenic Byways Partnership Success Report 6 Roadside Assistance 8 Preserve America Initiative Complements Byway Efforts 10 Calendar 12 Look inside for an important survey about ViStAS. see page 4. Published in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration by: AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center 394 Lake Avenue South Suite 600 Duluth, MN 55802 1-866-974-6403 www.bywaysresourcecenter.org Logo: America's Byways Resource Center AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center is a division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This material is based upon work supported by the Federal Highway Administration and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission under cooperative agreement No. DTFH61-08-H-00007. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the Author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration and/ or Arrowhead Regional Development Commission. Announcing An All-New Online Learning Experience: Byways 101: A Starter Toolkit For Byway Leaders The AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center announces its newest training program, Byways 101, available now at www.byways101.org. This engaging online self-study course focuses on basic information about byways, the National Scenic Byways Program and other related programs in a user-friendly format for individuals and organizations approaching development of a byway. It also serves as a secondary resource for existing State, Indian tribe or Federal lands byways. The sequentially based learning program covers topics critical to byway organizations through four separate modules: PART 1: PROGRAM OVERVIEW Build your understanding of the National Scenic Byways Program, other byway programs and key definitions and concepts related to byways. PART 2: INTRINSIC QUALITIES AND THE BYWAY STORY This section focuses on beginning the byway planning process. Learn what a byway story is and how it enhances the visitorÕs experience, how to identify the byway corridor, and how to inventory resources along your byway that best demonstrate the intrinsic quality(s) of your route. PART 3: PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Take a look at the important process of developing a grassroots byway initiative, based on community participation. See how to identify, engage and organize stakeholders, and how to work together to create a clear purpose, vision, and goals for your byway. PART 4: PLANNING AND ACTION For groups ready to create an action plan to preserve and enhance their byways, this section focuses on the purpose and process of developing a corridor management plan. It also provides information for byways considering a nomination application for designation in the National Scenic Byways Program. Other Handy Features Byways 101 is packed with handy features, including: ¥ Video demonstrations for each topic overview ¥ A useful PowerPoint template to customize for your byway presentations ¥ Printable self-assessment charts to determine your knowledge before and after covering the materials ¥ Additional tools and resources for each section Learners register and receive a password to access Byways 101 from a personal computer. In addition, registered learners receive a binder from AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center to keep all printed materials, tutorials, tools and resources (while supplies last). Check it out on your computer today! Roadside Reflections by Michelle Johnson, Director, AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center Photo: Michelle Johnson, Director, AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center Libraries, Byways And Green Canvas Bags Growing up in the country had its good points and bad points. An hour-long bus ride to school? Bad. Playing outside surrounded by trees, flowers and a beautiful lake? Good. Thirty-minute drive to town if you wanted to visit the library? Bad. Ordering books through the mail from the library? Good. I remember the green canvas bags that arrived in our mailbox every week. It was exciting to zip the bag open and spread out all the new books. The hard part was deciding which book to read first. I knew we were lucky to have books delivered to us, and I loved reading those books, but I didnÕt realize then that a wonderful lifelong love of books was being nurtured and developed in those little green bags. Those green bags arrived at our door nearly thirty years ago. Libraries have changed since then, but the core value a library offers to its community remains. What do libraries have today? How can your byway organization partner with your library? ¥ Libraries are more than just books. You can rent a movie for Saturday night or music for your road trip. Save money and enjoy nearly unlimited choices! Sometimes you must have patience, however, to wait for your title to become available. ¥ Libraries are wired. You can go online to conduct business and check e-mail. ¥ Libraries can connect you to resources. Libraries have the latest reference books and information on nearly every topic. Want to find a local organization that provides community grants? Establish a formal organization? Not only do libraries have resources and information from the local, State and national level, but they also have trained staff who know how and where to find answersÑfast. ¥ Libraries have friends. Most libraries have a board of trustees, and some have a friends group, usually a nonprofit organization. These groups can be resources on organizational structure (bylaws, etc.), if you are starting up your own organization. You can also look at their membership for individuals that you might like to involve in your project or organization. And, lastly, you may want to partner with another community-based organization to work together on projects. One library along the Mississippi River served as a community shelter during last yearÕs floods. The library provided overnight shelter to community members and they helped avert a disaster. ItÕs a great example of the expanding role a library can play in a community. ¥ Libraries support lifelong learning. Research shows that children who read have higher scores on math and other subjects in school. Most libraries have special events just for kids and would welcome programs from other community organizations that connect kids to reading. Your byway has great stories that you share with visitors; share those stories at the library! Bring Your Byway To The Library Your byway wonÕt fit in the green canvas bag, but you can develop fun and innovative programs to teach community members about your byway at the library.If your byway has a National Wildlife Refuge or a significant wetland, you could host a childrenÕs program and read Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobell, or Fabulous Frogs by Linda Glaser or Trout, Trout, Trout (A Fish Chant) by April Pulley Sayre. Volunteers could bring in real frogs or fish for the kids to see and touch. Other great books on the great outdoors include Girls Who Looked Under Rocks by Jeannine Atkins (kids love to look at and collect rocks) or Henry Works, a beautifully illustrated ode to Henry David Thoreau and Walden Pond by DB Johnson. Did you say dinosaurs? There are hundreds of great childrenÕs books on dinosaurs. Some of my childrenÕs favorites include Gorgonzola: A Very Stinkysaurus by Margie Palatini or How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen. Children could make Play-Dough dinosaurs or dig for pretend bones in a sand-filled tray. Historic connections? Plenty! There are some great books to share with children that tell stories from other cultures or other times including Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting, which tells the story of Young BullÕs struggle to save his heritage when heÕs forced to attend an Indian boarding school. Raven by Gerald McDermott, a Caldecott Honor Winner, is a beautifully illustrated Native American tale describing the birth of the sun. Older children would enjoy the story of a young Ojibway girl growing up on the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker told beautifully in The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. Another great story from the past is a book by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You can encourage kids to think about what life was like growing up in the Little House on the Prairie or map Laura and her familyÕs travels from The Little House in the Big Woods to These Happy Golden Years. Teaching children about geography would be really silly (and fun!) with The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller. Or check out America: A Patriotic Primer or Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America by Lynne Cheney. Both books are filled with great illustrations and information that shares facts and stories about our great country. And donÕt forget adults! Many libraries host book club meetings and group discussions. Some participate in community-wide reading events. Imagine you and your neighbors reading a book that reinforces the intrinsic qualities that are important to your community or area. Your byway group could host discussions at your local library and maybe even invite the author to come in and talk. Ideas include Looking for Alaska by Peter Jenkins, Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, The End of the Road by Tom Bodett, The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw, Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon or his newest book Roads to Quoz: An American Mosey. DonÕt forget classics like Silent Spring byRachel Carson, A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, or On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Now the books my family checks out from our library every week could fill about fifty of those old green canvas bags. My kids usually overfill their library bags and I have to help carry the bags to the van. I canÕt imagine what would happen if all those books were delivered to our mailbox! Trail Training Opportunities Now Available Through The National Trails Training Partnership By Mark Conley, AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center and Stuart Macdonald, American Trails Photo: Visit the NTTP website at www.TrailsTraining.net for more information about training and other resources available for trails advocates. Input on the needs of byway organizations in working with trail advocacy groups is also welcomed. Please tell others interested in trails training about these resources, and include this information in your byway newsletter and Internet communications. The National Trails Training Partnership (NTTP) is an effort by trails advocates to improve opportunities for training for the nationwide trails community. The vision of the partnership is Òto ensure that the full range of skills, training, and resource information is available to trail groups, communities, tribal governments, and State and Federal agencies.Ó American Trails is the lead organization for developing NTTP, with funding from the Federal Highway AdministrationÕs Recreational Trails Program, and support from many other groups. As the lead trail organization for the Partnership, American Trails is also providing online details of businesses, products and services supporting trail planning, improvement and education. NTTP invites the byway community to join the movement for better skills and better trails. Many opportunities exist for you to get involved in education in the trails and greenways field. Across the country, trail advocates can find classes, conferences and seminars for every aspect of trail work. You donÕt need to participate in actual trail projects to benefit from much of the available training. Besides trail work, courses in nonprofit management, grant writing, strategic planning and liability, and land acquisition, as well as accessibility, volunteer development and resource management complement your groupÕs efforts. From fundraising and organizational development to design and interpretation, courses address a range of important topics. NTTP is also doing research to identify needs and resources in priority areas such as accessible trails, volunteer development, funding, trail design, construction, and maintenance. In addition, American Trails is seeking grants to support the program and develop new training materials and curricula. NTTP GOALS ¥ Identifying important trail training programs available around the country through organizations, agencies, universities and businesses ¥ Exploring ways to enhance cooperation on training efforts ¥ Developing a clearinghouse of training and resources at TrailsTraining.net ¥ Studying target audiences, delivery methods and special needs ¥ Identifying needs and gaps in existing trail training ¥ Publicizing model statewide programs for trails training cooperation ¥ Creating individual State pages in the website to highlight training providers and resources Logo: National Trails Training Program Trails Training Opportunities in 2009 The website TrailsTraining.net, sponsored by American Trails and NTTP, offers hundreds of training opportunities in 2009 covering the full range of trail activities and all types of trails from primitive backcountry routes to urban greenways. Training formats include one-day workshops to week-long trail schools, and from basic introductions to trail work to specialized technical skills. Some of the courses include: ¥ Trail design and layout ¥ Planning trail and bicycle/pedestrian systems ¥ Wilderness and resource monitoring ¥ Technical skills in rock work, rigging and drainage ¥ Managing trail users of all kinds ¥ Researching grants and writing project proposals ¥ Developing your organization and volunteer program Some courses are sponsored by ongoing training programs and are held several times during the year and in different parts of the country. Visit the website for more information. WhatÕs On The Trails Training Calendar? The following examples are only a selection of what is available in 2009 on the online Trails Training Calendar at http://www.americantrails.org/Calendar.html. ¥ IMBA Trailbuilding Schools are sponsored by Subaru of America and directed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association to help bike clubs, land managers and other trail groups to build and improve trails, solve trail management challenges and teach the art of sustainable trailbuilding with interactive learning and hands-on trailwork. ¥ Off-highway vehicle recreation is covered at several State workshops and national conferences by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) and local groups. Marshall University offers online distance learning courses on several aspects of off-highway vehicle recreation planning, facilities and management. For more information, visit www.AmericanTrails.org/nttp/MarshallNTTP.html. ¥ Trail Skills for Volunteers are taught by national, State and regional groups such as the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, American Hiking Society, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Use the calendarÕs search function to find more information about training volunteers. ¥ Tread Lightly! Train-the-Trainer Workshops and other courses in outdoor ethics, wilderness management, and ÒLeave No TraceÓ skills are available from a variety of organizations. Again, check the calendar for specifics. Dear Vistas reader, As part of our comprehensive eco-friendly initiatives, weÕre considering moving toward an all-electronic form of Vistas delivered electronically as an e-mail and/or a PDF, which you could print if you choose. Vistas would also be posted at BywaysResourceCenter.org, as it is now. Tell us what you think, please. Your input matters! Complete this form and mail to: AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center 394 Lake Avenue South, Suite 600 Duluth, MN 55802 or e-mail your response to center@byways.org Please respond by May 18, 2009 Tell us your preference: I prefer to receive a printed form of Vistas via the regular mail. I prefer to receive an electronic form of Vistas via e-mail. I have no preference, but continue sending Vistas. I prefer that you completely discontinue Vistas. How do you read Vistas? I read every article. I read some of the articles. I skim the articles. I rarely read the articles. I never read the articles. Thinking of the past 12 months, how often have you referred to an article you read previously in Vistas, either using online or printed versions? More than eight times About six or seven times About three to five times About one or two times Not once Thinking of the past 12 months, how often do you pass along articles from the printed version of Vistas? More than eight times About six or seven times About three to five times About one or two times Not once Please provide additional comments if needed on a separate sheet of paper. Thank you for your time. AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center Coming & Going Mark Conley After nearly four years of service, Mark Conley, Federal Lands Scenic Byways Coordinator, is moving to California to serve as the National Landscape Conservation System Program Manager for the USDI Bureau of Land Management. Mark worked with AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center in providing education and training to the 125 AmericaÕs Byways¨. As a USDA Forest Service employee, he filled a position created by the Forest Service, the USDI Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Highway Administration. Mark was responsible for overall policy and direction working in partnership with the Forest Service and Federal Highway Administration to nationally coordinate the National Scenic Byways Program and Federal lands scenic byways programs. We will miss his dedication and his kind words. We wish him well in this new endeavor. Photo: Mark Conley meets with Linda Vokes National Scenic Byways Conference Sneak Peek! 2009 National Scenic Byways Conference Elevate Your Expertise Plan now to attend the 2009 National Scenic Byways Conference in Denver, Colorado, August 23-26! Choose from new learning formats covering important byway topics for developing and sustaining your byway. Watch for full conference details when registration opens May 1. HereÕs a sneak peek. Schedule Highlights ¥ Sunday, August 23 - Official conference kick-off with an evening opening reception and exhibits ¥ Monday, August 24 - Learning sessions, Scenic Byway Awards presentations and exhibits ¥ Tuesday, August 25 - More learning sessions and early evening reception ¥ Wednesday, August 26 - FHWA-led general session and open space forum; luncheon and keynote speech concludes the conference Location/Lodging The Denver Marriott Tech Center will host all conference events and provide group-rateaccommodations. Lodging is $149/night plus tax. Ask for the National Scenic Byways Conference group rate. Pre-Conference Workshop Tours* Presented by the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program Come to Denver early to explore a Colorado byway and enjoy peer-to-peer learning. Pre-conference workshop tours are offered by the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program. Additional costs apply. Look for details and registration information May 1. *The pre-conference tours are not part of the conference; they are not included in the conference registration fee. Registration Fees ¥ Early Bird Registration: May 1-July 15, 2009 $350 Ð Save $100! ¥ General Registration: July 16-August 14 $450 REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 1 at www.bywaysresourcecenter.org. TIP: We recommend waiting to book airfare or other travel arrangements until you have an opportunity to review the complete conference schedule and exciting pre-conference activities. National Forest Scenic Byways Program Partnership Success Report Now Available Photo: A woman stops to peruse the wares at a roadside stand along the Amish Country Byway, Ohio. The USDA Forest Service, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Federal Lands Highway, recently released the National Forest Scenic Byways Program Partnership Success Stories report. The report highlights accomplishments on AmericaÕs Byways¨, National Forest Scenic Byways, and other byway projects with DOT funds available to the Forest Service through the Federal Lands Highway Transportation Planning Assistance (HTFB) funds and the National Scenic Byways Program competitive grants (HTBW) program. Projects range in scope from corridor management planning to renovation of historic sites, new visitor facilities, interpretive waysides, scenic overlooks, marketing plans and other projects. The National Forest Scenic Byways ProgramÕs emphasis on promoting community tourism has been one of the most popular aspects of byway designation with rural communities. Through the relationships built among a diverse group of byway entities, designating a highway or road as a National Forest Scenic Byway can be the catalyst to new marketing and funding opportunities available through the National Scenic Byways Program and State transportation agencies. In addition, the relationships built early on result in long-term goodwill to foster future byway endeavors. The National Forest System includes more than 6,000 campsites and picnic areas; over 193 million acres of forests, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs open to recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, geo-caching, camping, rock climbing and more; and 5,400 trailheads providing access to more than 143,000 miles of trails. Communities along National Forest Scenic Byways serve as gateways and provide enhanced access to many of these public resources. These byways provide a way to educate visitors about the unique qualities and characteristics of each byway region. Photo: Kiosks and overlooks provide after-hours information for gateway communities. Scenic byways connect the public to destinations and special places. These designated roads traverse some of our countryÕs most unique landscapes, noteworthy for their scenery and natural and cultural features. Planning for scenic byways requires a community conversation that brings many diverse partners together; byway implementation keeps that conversation going. Once a byway is designated, communities, businesses, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations work together as a byway organization to carry out a wide variety of projects that promote stewardship and benefit local economies. The National Forest Scenic Byways Program is a success because it unites rural communities, empowers collaboration among diverse partners and offers travelers a way to Òmake the journey as important as the destination.Ó This report highlights a few of the many success stories made possible through key partnerships along the byways and through funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation, for byway planning and project grants. To read about National Forest Scenic Byways Program Partnership Success Stories, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/fstoday/2008/081226/index.html. Roadside Assistance Plan Implementation: Your Plans ArenÕt The Destination Ð TheyÕre The Beginning Of A Journey! By Kathie Knapp, Byways Specialist Roadside Assistance is a regular column designed to provide working tools that byway groups can use to solve problems and be more effective. Send topic ideas to center@byways.org. Our Byways Specialists are here to assist you. Find the Resource Center contact for your State or Indian tribe on the Resource Center website at www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/about/people/States. Call us toll-free at 866-974-6403, or contact your Byways Specialist directly: Dennis Adams dadams@byways.org Kathie Knapp kknapp@byways.org Curt Pianalto cpianalto@byways.org Your byway group has worked hard developing plans: a corridor management plan, a strategic action plan, a marketing plan, and probably a few other particular plans for your special byway. These plans have taken a lot of time and effort, and finally, with consensus, theyÕre done and printed in one neat package that looks great sitting on your desk. Now, where do you go from here? Your byway plan needs to be implemented to keep it moving forward. Getting started means getting everyone involved and building confidence within the group. You will need to ensure some quick, highly visible results to capture the groupÕs attention and to build momentum. Step 1. Getting Started No matter what type of plan you are attempting to implement, start with the vision and mission statements in your corridor management plan. They provide a starting point to begin addressing your goals. If the vision/mission has changed, donÕt review or get stuck on one or the other at this time; update them after you define your goals. You will be able to truly assess your vision as your goals become concrete. Step 2. Sustaining Momentum Awareness of moving forward and reaching your goals builds competence. Start with listing your goals on individual cards and posting them on the wall in front of the byway group working on the implementation. These goals may be obtained from the corridor management plan, the strategic action plan or whatever plan you are working on. Assign tasks to each of these goals to turn them into a reality. Check to see if the original plan provides a timeline; if not, make one. If the tasks have not been developed for each goal, ask the group to brainstorm the steps needed to successfully implement each goal. What tasks must be completed to move on to the next steps? What tasks can be developed simultaneously? Break each task into small, manageable parts and add to a quarterly calendar. Develop a ÒParking LotÓ for tasks more than a year out. This focuses the group on the next year. Continue to implement your plan at regular intervals and bring in new goals or long-term goals as you move forward. Set up an ÒAccomplishmentsÓ tracking system. Post it on the wall in front of the group. As each task is completed, move its card to the Accomplishments and celebrate, no matter how small the task. ItÕs very encouraging and motivating to show that you are moving ahead with your tasks and goals. Perhaps arrows can be placed on task cards showing movementÑforward, backwards, up or downÑas the tasks are completed or the implementation reaches the next quarter on the timeline. Step 3. Remaneuvering And Adjusting Not all implementation goes smoothly and this step allows you to evaluate and update the plan. Anticipate low points as well as high points. Identify tasks that are Òstuck.Ó What underlying contradictions are blocking them from moving forward as the group had expected? Create alternative scenarios. Have the group develop new short-range actions in response to being stuck. Change or drop parts of the plan that are no longer appropriate. Employ indirect as well as direct approaches to ensure victory. Finesse your way to consensus. Get the group involved! The byway leader or facilitator needs to lay out the situation briefly and explain the dilemma or difficulty. ÒFailuresÓ need to be reframed as learning opportunities for creative strategizing. Obstacles and shortfalls need to be acknowledged non-defensively. Clarify the question that the leader is asking the groupÕs help in answering. The group has responsibilities also. They need to ask key questions to clarify the situation. Encourage individual and/or small group brainstorming of ideas, suggestions and recommendations to answer the questions. The individuals or groups may want to choose two or three ÒgemsÓ to share with everyone. Ask each person to verbally share his/her ideas briefly. Step 4. Decide The Next Steps Document the next 90- or 100-day accomplishments and integrate new steps. Ask the group for feedback and adjust the schedule. Update the quarterly calendar and deal with coordination issues where necessary. As this step is completed, the group should have before them a one-year schedule of tasks divided by quarter and a ÒParking LotÓ reflecting future tasks. They should be able to clearly see the full implementation process. Step 5. Bring Closure The leader or group member should document the achieved objectives and the expected and unexpected outcomes. Write down the accomplishments and the lessons learned. Always recognize and appreciate individualsÕ and teamsÕ commitment and contributions. Lastly, hold a highly visible celebration filled with affirmation and humor. Step 6. The Future Update public displays of progress and accomplishment, using a website, bulletin boards, reports, monthly meetings or other venues. Hold regular meetings to mark turning points and move ahead. Maintain regular team reports, feedback and communication, keeping leadership and other stakeholders fully in the loop. If possible, provide training for individual and team capacity building as you develop and regularly bring new stakeholders on board. Be ready to seize unexpected opportunities and leverage points. And finally, care for the human spirit with positive reinforcement, dŽcor, symbols and eventful meetings. Enjoy The Journey Think of your plan as a roadmap for a momentous journey for you and your organization; you will move eagerly forward to each new step while you participate in and appreciate both the ups and downs of the road, take pictures of beautiful sights along the way, and notice the welcome changes in yourself and others as you go. Source: This information is based on a workshop developed by ICA Technology of Participation ÒToP¨ Secrets of Implementation.Ó Copyright The Institute of Cultural Affairs, 1991-2005. For more information, please contact ICA at www.ica-usa.org or call Marilyn Oyler at 602-468-0605. How Do You Think Of Your Plan? ¥ If you think of your Plan as a stack of paper, you will use it to fill up a file. ¥ If you think of your Plan as a burden, you will use it to remind yourself and others of overwork. ¥ If you think of your Plan as a carrot and a stick, you will use it only on others less committed than yourself. ¥ If you think of your Plan as a covert operation, you will use it yourself and keep it from others. ¥ If you think of your Plan as a critical opportunity, you will pour all your energy into it and burn out and get grumpy before long. Photo: The Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway (Washington) group participates in an implementation meeting facilitated by AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center. The preserve america initiative complements byway efforts Logo: Preserve America, Explore and Enjoy Our Hertiage EditorÕs Note: The AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center hosted a national networking call on December 9, 2008, which was facilitated by Druscilla Null, Sr. Program Analyst, Office of Preservation Initiatives for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. View documents related to the discussion at http://www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/about/news/archives/2008/12/03/1294/. Preserve America is an Administration initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nationÕs past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the countryÕs cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities. The First Lady of the United States serves as the Honorary Chair of Preserve America. Detailed information on all aspects of this initiative can be found at www.preserveamerica.gov. Major components of the Preserve America initiative include the following: Preserve America Presidential Awards Four awards are given annually to organizations, businesses and government entities for exemplary accomplishments in the sustainable use and preservation of cultural or natural heritage assets; demonstrated commitment to the protection and interpretation of AmericaÕs cultural or natural heritage assets; and integration of these assets into contemporary community life, combining innovative, creative and responsible approaches to showcasing historic local resources. The winners of the 2008 Preserve America Presidential Awards were announced at a White House ceremony May 12, 2008. The awardees were the African Burial Ground Project, New York; Corinth and Alcorn County Mississippi Heritage Tourism Initiative, Mississippi; Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York; and Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, Texas. The call for 2009 Preserve America Award nominations ended November 1, 2008. Awards will be given in May 2009 during Preservation Month. Preserve America Communities This program recognizes and designates communities, including neighborhoods in large cities, which protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs. Since the program began, Former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush designated 696 communities (including 17 neighborhoods and two tribal communities) in all 50 States and one U.S. territory. Benefits of designation include White House recognition; eligibility to apply for Preserve America Grants; a certificate of recognition; a Preserve America Community road sign; authorization to use the Preserve America logo on signs, flags, banners, and promotional materials; listing in a Web-based Preserve America Community directory; inclusion in national and regional press releases; official notification of designation to State tourism offices and visitors bureaus; and enhanced community visibility and pride. Preserve America Communities are also featured in National Register Travel Itineraries and in ÒTeaching with Historic PlacesÓ curricular material created by the National Park Service. There are four quarterly deadlines to apply for designation annually on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1. Application forms are available at www.preserveamerica.gov/communities.html. Preserve America Grants Nearly $17 million in matching grants have been awarded since 2006 to support community efforts to demonstrate sustainable uses of their historic and cultural sites, focusing on the economic and educational opportunities related to heritage tourism. Grants for 44 recipients in 24 States totaling more than $4.3 million were announced on September 29, 2008. The application period for the first round of 2009 Preserve America Grants closed on November 18. Maximum grant amounts have been raised so that grants may now range from $20,000 to $250,000. Grant awards are expected in January 2009, pending availability of FY 2009 funds. This program does not fund bricks-and-mortar projects, but rather complements the Save AmericaÕs Treasures grant program by helping local communities develop sustainable resource management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation and use of heritage assets. State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, designated Preserve America Communities, and Certified Local Governments that have applied for Preserve America Community designation are eligible to apply for Preserve America Grants. Further information, including 2009 grant applications, is available at www.nps.gov/history/hps/hpg/PreserveAmerica. Preserve America Stewards Applications are now being accepted in a new recognition program of the Preserve America initiativeÑPreserve America StewardsÑwhich will honor exemplary volunteer efforts at historic resources around the country. Mrs. Bush announced the new program at the 2008 Preserve America Presidential Awards ceremony. The program recognizes stewardship programs that have demonstrated a successful use of volunteer time and commitment to help care for our cultural heritage. Government entities (Federal, Indian tribe, State or local), nonprofit organizations and businesses are eligible to apply to have their programs recognized. The application form and further information is available at www.preserveamerica.gov/stewards.html. Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award Mrs. Bush presented the fifth-annual Preserve America History Teacher of the Year award on October 24, 2008, to David B. Mitchell of Masconomet Regional High School, Topsfield, Massachusetts, at a ceremony at the Union League Club in New York City. Mr. Mitchell was selected from a group of finalists from each State, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, who each received $1,000 and a core archive of history materials for his or her school library. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History facilitates this award program. Educational Outreach Preserve America has worked with the History ChannelÕs Save Our History initiative to create a teacherÕs manual with lesson plans and volunteer ideas to involve students in preserving historic sites in their communities. In addition, Mrs. Bush prepared three public service announcements on the importance of preserving AmericaÕs heritage that first appeared in 2004 and have continued to air. Executive Order 13287: ÒPreserve AmericaÓ Signed by President Bush on March 3, 2003, this Executive Order complements the Preserve America initiative. The order establishes Federal policy to provide leadership in preserving AmericaÕs heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the Federal government. The order also encourages agencies to seek partnerships with State, Indian tribe and local governments and the private sector to make more efficient and informed use of these resources for economic development and other recognized public benefits. In addition, it directs the secretary of commerce, working with other agencies, to use existing authorities and resources to assist in the development of local and regional heritage tourism programs that are a significant feature of many State and local economies. As required by the order, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation delivered the first report on implementation of Section 3 to the President on February 15, 2006; agency reports of progress were due September 2008 and February 2009. See www.preserveamerica.gov for the full reports. Omnibus Public Land Management Act Becomes Law On March 30, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which includes the text of the Preserve America and Save AmericaÕs Treasures Act, formerly H.R. 3981/S.2262 in the previous 110th Congress, permanently authorizing both programs. Up to $25 million per year is also authorized to carry out the Preserve America Program (funds must be appropriated each year through the budget process). The White House is working with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Transportation; the General Services Administration; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the PresidentÕs Council on Environmental Quality; and the PresidentÕs Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to implement Preserve America. For more information about the initiative and its programs, visit www.preserveamerica.gov. Signed by President Bush on March 3, 2003, this Executive Order ... establishes Federal policy to provide leadership in preserving AmericaÕs heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the Federal government. Photo: Leadville, Colorado is a designated Preserve America Community. Located along the Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway, this bustling mining town is rich in history and beautiful architecture. Find a complete listing of Preserve America Communities at http://www.preserveamerica.gov/PAcommunities.html. Calendar Send calendar entries by the 5th of each month to center@byways.org *indicates Resource Center workshops 2009 APRIL April 17-20 10th Annual RV RallyÑ ItÕll be A Kick on Route 66 Albuquerque, New Mexico For more information, please visit: www.therally.com/ April 22-24 2009 California Trails and Greenways Conference Fish Camp, California California State Parks; Recreational Trails Conference Foundation For more information, please visit: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24151 April 22-26 74th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology Atlanta, Georgia For more information, please visit: www.saa.org/meetings/index.html April 25-29 American Planning Association National Conference Minneapolis, Minnesota For more information, please visit: myapa.planning.org/nationalconference/index.htm April 27-May 1 29th Annual Recreation Resource PlannerÕs Conference Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania National Association of Recreation Resources Planners For more information, please visit: www.narrp.org/ClubPortal/ClubStatic.cfm?clubID=1431&pubmenuoptID=14716 MAY May 4-5 Reviving the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway Forum: What Can We Accomplish Together? Northwest Tribal Tourism Hwy 101, Washington For information, please contact: info@pacificnwtribes.ipower.com May 16-20 Miami International Pow Wow Travel Industry Association Miami, Florida For more information, please visit: www.tia.org/powwow/ General_Information.html JUNE June 1-3 ITS AmericaÕs Annual Meeting & Exposition National Harbor, Maryland Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America For more information, please visit: www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html June 14-19 NCAI Mid Year Conference Niagara Falls, New York National Congress of American Indians For more information, please visit: www.ncai.org/Conferences_Events.7.0.html June 18-28 The Gettysburg Festival: Celebrating America Gettysburg, Pennsylvania For more information, please visit: www.gettysburgfestival.org JULY July 8-10 ItÕs Tourism Time Phoenix, Arizona AZ GovernorÕs Conference on Tourism From more information, please visit: www.aztourismconference.com/ July 9-12 Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference Gainesville, Florida Southeastern Distance Riders Association For more information, please visit: www.southeasternequestriantrails.com July 27Ð30 The 27th Annual National LTAP/TTAP Conference: Building Bridges in the Iron City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania PennDOT LTAP/Region 3 LTAP Centers For more information, please visit: www.dot7.state.pa.us/LTAP/Public/ RegistrationInfo.aspx AUGUST August 21, 22 and 23 Colorado Pre-Conference Workshop Tours Presented by Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program For more information, please visit: www.bywaysresourcecenter.org/events/conferences *August 23-26 2009 National Scenic Byways Conference: Elevate Your Expertise Denver, Colorado AmericaÕs Byways Resource Center For more information, please visit: www.bywaysresourcecenter.org August 23-27 National Rural ITS Conference Seaside, Oregon Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Oregon For more information, please visit: www.nritsconference.org/ OCTOBER October 11Ð14 Rally 2009: The National Land Conservation Conference Portland, Oregon Land Trust Alliance For more information, please visit: www.landtrustalliance.org/learning/rally or email: rally@lta.org. October 11Ð16 NCAI 66th Annual Convention Palm Springs, California National Congress of American Indians For more information, please visit: www.ncai.org/Conferences_Events.7.0.html October 13-17 National Preservation Conference Nashville, Tennessee National Trust for Historic Preservation For more information, call: (202) 588-6092 or email: conference@nthp.org October 25-28 8th Annual Mid America Trails & Greenways Conference Kalamazoo, Michigan For more information, please visit: http://www.michigantrails.org/news/mid-america-trails-greenways-conference/ SHARE THE NEWS Contact Vistas Editor: Leah Kohlts Direct: 218-625-3301 lkohlts@byways.org Change of Address? Just e-mail your name and new address to center@byways.org to receive Vistas at your new location. VISTAS is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, processed chlorine free. 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