Subject: FW: Question for Town & City Historical Societies Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 12:24:20 -0500 Message-ID: <B46BC0C8F6373F43B0A84089442FE921014D99AC@MEWMAD1P0129.enterprise.wistate.us> From: "Seymour, Janet I - WHS" <Janet.Seymour@wisconsinhistory.org>
List Serve Members,
I wanted to share some helpful suggestions on this topic from a
colleague in Minnesota. I have noted several examples of this in WI as
well.
Thanks,
Janet
Janet Seymour
Field Services Representative - Northern Region
Wisconsin Historical Society
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The one thing we've found in MN is that when people ask a city for money
and only have an amount out front, it fails. The politicians focus on
"well, $50,000 would put another cop on the street, take two homeless
families into an apartment, etc." On the other hand, if the historical
society focuses on providing a real, tangible service on behalf of the
city at a very reasonable cost, then the public can rally behind that
and the politicians have less wiggle room.
For example, one could propose that the historical society will care for
the city's official records (State Archives permitting, of course) in a
professional manner so that over-worked city employees won't have to
assist a steady stream of genealogists seeking family history, and all
for the modest investment of $1 per resident each year. Or, whatever the
small amount turns out to be, once they've estimated operational
expenses. A good estimate to figure operational expenses is at least
$12-$15/square foot every year.