Innovate
The conference theme, Innovate, encourages the councils to take stock of innovation in our
community, reflect on current challenges we face, and develop creative solutions to them. The
conference aims not only to facilitate innovation but to embody it. By offering more session formats
and advanced sessions, as well as emphasizing practical takeaways, the conference itself will answer
the theme’s call to Innovate.
The planning committee invites councils to consider the following issues:
• How can we stimulate innovative thinking and practices in the council community? How can an
individual council nurture creativity in its staff and board?
• What obstacles do councils face in being innovative? To what extent is innovation limited by
insufficient staff and funding? How can these obstacles be ameliorated, if not overcome?
• Which council practices are the most innovative? How did they come about? What problems
were they intended to address?
• Where is innovation most needed among the councils?
• Have any innovative council practices failed? If so, why? What lessons might we learn from
these failures?
• What can we learn from other organizations about creating a culture of innovation, such as
arts agencies, museums, libraries, or schools? From start-ups or corporations?
• How can we more efficiently learn if other organizations have already developed innovative
practices that councils could adopt to address their own challenges?
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Conference Tours & Events
Unless noted, all events will take place at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark.
Tour pricing reflects estimated per person cost.
Hannibal Day Tour * $
Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Visit Mark Twain's boyhood home and the backdrop for The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn. The tour includes a visit to the Ilasco Historic Site and
the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, where Samuel
Clemens lived from 1844-1853. Cost: $90
Microbrewery Madness Tour * $
Thursday, 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Start with a private tasting at Schlafly Bottleworks, the first new
brewery opened in St. Louis after Prohibition. End with a drink
at one of America's first microdistilleries, Square One Brewery
& Distillery. Cost: $58
Schwartz Prize Presentation
Friday, 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Check out the amazing programs nominated for this year’s
Schwartz Prize and stay to see who wins! Winners announced
following the poster session.
Saint Louis Art Museum Tour * $
Friday, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Hop on the bus for a scenic drive through Forest Park, one of
the largest city parks in the U.S., and arrive at the Saint Louis
Art Museum to tour the museum's permanent collection of
American, African, and Asian art. Cost: $28
Welcome Orientation *
Thursday, 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM
New to the conference? Join fellow first-timers to learn about
the Federation and its relationship with the NEH, especially the
Federal/State Partnership. The session will provide
opportunities to ask Federation board members questions and
network with colleagues.
Opening Reception * $
Thursday, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Kick off this year’s conference with opening remarks at
the Missouri History Museum, originally planned as the first
national monument to Thomas Jefferson. Explore artifacts of
St. Louis and Missouri, and view two special exhibits, History
Clubhouse and Coffee: The World in Your Cup, while networking
with colleagues from across the nation. Cost: $35
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour * $
Saturday, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Walk the grounds of the 100-acre complex that houses the
famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery and several National Historic
Landmarks. Visit the Old Lyon Schoolhouse, Clydesdale stables,
and Beechwood Aging Cellar. Complete the evening with a beer
at the Anheuser-Busch Brewhouse. Cost: $52
St. Louis Walking Tour * $
Sunday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Take in the incredible views of Busch Stadium, the home of the
St. Louis Cardinals, along with other historic buildings, such as
the Old Courthouse, where the Dred Scott freedom trial took
place, the Old Cathedral , and the nation's tallest
monument, the Gateway Arch. (Tour in total is 1.6 miles, rain
or shine). Cost: $22
Book Auction
Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Stop by and bid on a first-edition or signed book!
Ste. Genevieve Day Tour * $
Sunday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Visit Missouri's oldest town on a tour of the churches and forts
of New France. See the Holy Family Parish Log Church and Fort
de Chartres, the seat of the French government in Illinois
during the 18th century, before taking a ferry to Ste.
Genevieve to see the colonial village and the Bolduc House.
Cost: $70
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Conference Speakers
Opening Plenary – JUST Listening: The Ferguson Project *
Friday, 8:45 AM to 9:45 AM
JUST Listening, a project of the Missouri Humanities Council, tells the story of
Bobby Norfolk (bobbynorfolk.com)
Ferguson through artistic responses using a humanities- focused narrative to
weave additional and inspirational voices throughout the Movement that
began with the death of Michael Brown. This program addresses the
community’s response through different artistic genres. JUST Listening
compiles these artistic endeavors in a video format, utilizing different chapters,
each with its own thematic base. Narrators and the accompanying artwork—
poetry, song, paintings, drawings, and sculpture—will tell the Story of Ferguson
in these chapters. For the opening plenary, Emmy award-winning storyteller
Bobby Norfolk will present an overview of the seven chapters of JUST
Listening, using multi-media and live performance art.
Capps Lecture and Book Signing with Dave Eggers *
Friday, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Directly following the Schwartz Prize, listen to this year’s Capps lecture as
Daniel Moulthrop, co-founder of The Civic Commons, interviews Dave
Eggers, author of ten books, including most recently Your Fathers, Where
Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever?, The Circle and A
Hologram for the King, which was a finalist for the 2012 National Book
Award. He is the founder of McSweeney’s, an independent publishing
company based in San Francisco that produces books, a quarterly journal
of new writing (McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern), and a monthly
magazine, The Believer. McSweeney’s also publishes Voice of Witness, a
nonprofit book series that uses oral history to illuminate human rights
crises around the world. Eggers is the co-founder of 826 National, a
network of eight tutoring centers around the country and ScholarMatch, a
nonprofit organization designed to connect students with resources,
schools and donors to make college possible. He lives in Northern
California with his family.
Dave Eggers (Paolo Vescia, New York Times)
Breakfast with NEH Chairman William D. Adams *
Saturday, 8:30 AM to 9:45 AM
Join colleagues for breakfast with the chair of the NEH, William D. Adams, who
served as president of Colby College in Maine for 14 years and who has been an
active advocate for the humanities and liberal arts education. Adams earned his
undergraduate degree in philosophy from Colorado College and his PhD from the
University of California at Santa Cruz.
William Adams (Fred Field, Colby College)
Closing Plenary - LBJ and the Creation of the NEH: A Conversation *
Saturday, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Join us for an intimate conversation about President Lyndon Johnson’s legacy. Moderator Mark
Updegrove, Director of the LBJ Library and Museum, will be joined by sisters Lynda Johnson
Robb and Luci Baines Johnson to discuss how the President’s personal experiences, love of
history, and passion for education influenced the passage of historic legislation, including the
creation of the NEH in 1965.
Pictured (from left to right, clockwise): Luci Baines Johnson (CNN.com), Lynda Johnson Robb (klru.org),
and Mark Updegrove (LBJ Library)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Conference Schedule
In the following pages short descriptions are listed for events
and sessions. To view a session’s full description click the
Appendix link under “Concurrent Sessions” title.
Interested in seeing the sessions by track? Click the titles below.
 Communication
+ Marketing
+ Inclusion
 Leadership
 Partnership
 Fundraising
 Data + Impact
 Response to Local Events
 Other
4:30 PM to 5:15 PM
Welcome Orientation for First Time Attendees *
New to the conference? Join fellow first-timers to learn about
the Federation and its relationship with the NEH, especially the
Federal/State Partnership. The session will provide
opportunities to ask Federation board members questions and
network with colleagues.
 Diversity
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
TH
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
MHC Welcome Table Open
Stop by the Welcome Table in the hotel lobby hosted by the
Missouri Humanities Council! Meet the host council members
while you learn about local dinning and attractions. Don’t
forget to pick up a welcome bag courtesy of MHC and the St.
Louis Visitor's Commission.
1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Program Officers Pre-Conference Meeting, Day 1 * $
Learn, Experience, Connect. Our goal is to provide meaningful
professional development, time for professional networking,
and valuable humanities experiences. To see the full agenda,
click here.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Hannibal Day Tour * $ CANCELED
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
MHC Welcome Table Open
8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Program Officers Pre-Conference Meeting, Day 2 * $
Continuation from Wednesday’s meeting.
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
FSHC Board Meeting *
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Registration Open
1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Microbrewery Madness Tour * $
Start with a private tasting at Schlafly Bottleworks, the first new
brewery opened in St. Louis after Prohibition. End with a drink
at one of America's first microdistilleries, Square One Brewery
& Distillery.
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Transportation to Reception
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Opening Reception * $
Kick off this year’s conference with opening remarks at
the Missouri History Museum. Explore artifacts of St. Louis and
Missouri, and view two special exhibits, History
Clubhouse and Coffee: The World in Your Cup, while networking
with colleagues from across the nation. A special thanks to this
year’s donor Debbie Depew, board member of the Missouri
Humanities Council.
7:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Transportation to Hotel
7:30 PM
Dinner on Your Own
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
FSHC Board Dinner
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Registration Open & Book Auction
8:00 AM to 8:45 AM
Continental Breakfast
8:45 AM to 9:45 AM
Opening Plenary - JUST Listening: The Ferguson Project*
The opening session, moderated by Kathleen Nigro, is dedicated
to ‘JUST Listening’, a project of the Missouri Humanities
Council. Bobby Norfolk tells the story of Ferguson through
artistic responses, using a humanities-focused narrative that
weaves additional and inspirational voices throughout the
Movement that began with the death of Michael Brown.
9:45 AM to 10:00 AM
Break
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
10:00 AM to 10:50 AM
For detailed descriptions of sessions, see the Appendix.
Publishing, Reimagining, and Sustaining Council Magazines
Speaker(s): Brian Boyles, Louisiana Endowment for the
Humanities; Kathleen Holt, Oregon Humanities
Carla Walker, Oklahoma Humanities Council
Moderator: Theola DeBose, National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH)
Council magazines and websites offer unique opportunities to
rethink the audience and impact of the humanities in public life
while issues of sustainability and distribution force councils to
rethink business models. The panel discussion will compare four
publications and incorporate the views of experts from outside
the humanities to consider some key ideas such as audience,
editorial processes, digital versus print media, and goals of
council publications.
Designing for Diversity: Theory and Practice
Speaker(s): Simon Nyi, Illinois Humanities
Moderator: Leah Nahmias, Indiana Humanities
This session will explore the ways in which a council’s
theoretical and strategic approach to diversity informs the
program structure. It will begin with brief presentations from
Illinois and Indiana Humanities followed by a discussion on best
practices for approaching diversity. NOTE: Attendees are
strongly encouraged to complete an electronic survey, which
will be circulated in advance of the conference.
Best Practices in Working with Non-Profit Boards
Speaker(s): Margaret Plympton, NEH
This session will focus on best practices in working with nonprofit boards, including governance responsibilities, legal
requirements, board engagement methodologies, and key
practices to ensure stronger board engagement. After a brief
presentation, attendees will be encouraged to discuss key
strategies, problems, or challenges faced, and any innovative
practices undertaken.
Arts and Humanities Councils Working Together: A Sign of the
Apocalypse or a Win for Everyone?
Speaker(s): Suzanne Wise, Nebraska Arts Council; Beth
Klingenstein, North Dakota Council on the Art;
Brenna Gerhardt, North Dakota Humanities Council
Moderator: Chris Sommerich, Humanities Nebraska
After their founding 50 years ago, the NEH and NEA took
different approaches to establishing networks of state-based
entities to advance their missions, with state arts councils as
state agencies and humanities councils as independent nonprofits. For arts and humanities to flourish in our states, it is
imperative that statewide entities working within those realms
look at how their roles align and how their work fits into the
bigger picture, yielding a better understanding of our states’
needs. This moderated session will include several panelists and
a high level of interaction with attendees.
Strategic Advocacy
Speaker(s): Ed Marohn, Idaho Humanities Council;
Dave Reetz, Wyoming Humanities Council;
Kathlyn Fares, Missouri Humanities Council
Moderator: Louis Riggs, Missouri Humanities Council
This session will explore best practices in grassroots advocacy
using traditional as well as electronic means. The participants
have extensive experience in advocacy at the state and federal
levels and have adapted their approaches as technology has
improved.
Standing Together: Best Practices, Lessons Learned, and
Challenges of Public Humanities Veterans' Programming
Speaker(s): Trista Matascastillo, Minnesota Humanities Center;
Sara Ogger, New York Council for the Humanities; James
Schelberg, John Hopkins University
Moderator: Angel Ysaguirre, Illinois Humanities
The NEH initiative, Standing Together, has resulted in thousands
of programs and veterans reached by state humanities councils.
However, some councils have been doing this work for years
and for others, veterans are a new population. This session
brings together council staff, executive directors, and veteran
facilitators to discuss both new and well-established efforts as
well as successful innovations in programming and audience
development.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Unrestricted
Funds (And Aren’t Afraid to Ask)
Speaker(s): Brenda Clark, Florida Humanities Council; Roger
Burns, Ohio Humanities; Heather Thomas, Humanities
Nebraska
Moderator: Aaron Heinsman, Maryland Humanities Council
This facilitated interactive discussion of seasoned fundraising
professionals will answer questions you pose regarding (nearly)
anything and everything related to unrestricted funds. Topics
will be generated by attendees’ questions. Possible areas of
focus: annual fund, memberships, direct mail, online giving,
#GivingTuesday, getting corporations & foundations to give
general operating funds, etc. You have the power to make this
session substantive and informative!
Making it Personal: Program Evaluation for the Humanities on
a Human Scale
Speaker(s): Elizabeth deSota, Minnesota Humanities Center;
Shandi DiCosimo, Minnesota Humanities Center;
Moderator: Jean King, University of Minnesota
In the simplest of terms, evaluation answers three questions:
What? So what? Now what? In asking these questions, the
Minnesota Humanities Center has developed a process that
considers how responses resonate and provide substantive
program feedback to intended users.
11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Marketplace of Ideas
This session allows for informal conversations about specific
topics of interest to councils. Topics to be announced prior to
the conference.
NEH Screening Room
Grab some popcorn and come join us at the first ever NEH
screening room! We will be screening a selection of NEHfunded films for your enjoyment. Catch some favorites, as well
as a few new releases. Selections from the following films will
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
be screened: LBG (1991), Latino Americans (2013), Freedom
Summer (2014), Debt of Honor (2015), and Walt Disney (2015).
The final screening schedule will be posted outside the
th
screening room. This session will repeat on Saturday, Nov. 7
at 10:30am.
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Lunch on your own
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
2:00 PM to 2:50 PM
For detailed descriptions of sessions, see the Appendix.
To App? Or not to App? Tips and Tricks on How to Choose and
Use the Best Platform for your Digital Projects
Speaker(s): Jennifer Snyder, Florida Humanities Council
SheriLynne Hansen, Humanities Nebraska
Technology is changing the ways in which we get our
information, interact with each other and communicate as an
organization. How can councils approach this digital future with
limited resources and staff time? This "Ted Talk" will focus on
the question "To app or not to app?" by delving into the
successes and failures from two councils, Nebraska and Florida.
State History, Literary Mystery: Using Innovation and
Collaboration to Reach Target Audiences
Speaker(s): Laura Miller, CT Humanities; Lisa Comstock, CT
Humanities; Susan Muro, CT Humanities
CT Humanities teamed up with 24 local authors and illustrators
to engage 9 to 12 year olds in an interactive and innovative
story project, “The Great Connecticut Caper!” that brought
Connecticut’s history into a new light for this often challenging
age group. This session is not an ordinary case study
presentation; attendees will become detectives of their own
state’s cultural heritage and will brainstorm ways their council
can use innovation and collaboration to connect with target
audiences.
Evaluating the Absences: What We Can Learn from the People
Who Don't/Won't Show Up
Speaker(s): Chris Guzaitis, Illinois Humanities; Rebekah Levin,
Robert R. McCormick Foundation;
This workshop will explore ways to design evaluations that can
inform the types of outreach and programming councils do. The
first portion of the workshop will discuss the importance of
evaluating why people do not attend humanities events, how to
carry out this type of evaluation with a limited budget and staff,
and the benefits of using this data to re-conceptualize outreach
efforts. The second portion will demonstrate how this data can
inform approaches to programming.
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control? Humanities Councils and
Quick Response Programs
Speaker(s): Adam Davis, Oregon Humanities; Keira Amstutz,
Indiana Humanities; Kathleen Holt, Oregon Humanities
This interactive presentation will explore quick response
programs and the opportunities and challenges they offer.
Starting with an overview of two efforts by Oregon Humanities
and two by Indiana Humanities, the session will examine the
planning stages, the presentation, and the projected outcomes
of these program types.
The Federal Environment: FY 2016 and Beyond
Speaker(s): Timothy Aiken, NEH; Theola DeBose, NEH, Carolyn
Fuller, Van Scoyoc Associates
Moderator: Rick Ardinger, Idaho Humanities Council
This session will draw on the expertise of Federation and NEH
representatives involved in the legislative process to launch a
discussion of the current political challenges and
prospects. The session will include discussion of issues we need
to consider and ways we wish to position ourselves as we move
toward the next national election.
Getting Started in Planned Giving
Speaker(s): Rob Vaughan, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities; Mark Roock, Maryville University; Marian Fey,
Nebraska Cultural Endowment
Moderator: Chris Sommerich, Humanities Nebraska
Currently very few state councils have endowment income as a
significant source of funding. This session will explore how to
get started with strategies to build endowment funding through
basic planned giving activities.
Data on the Humanities in America Life: A Discussion of
Existing Resources and Unmet Needs
Speaker(s): Lesley Langa, NEH; Carolyn Fuqua, Humanities
Indicators; Jeff Allen, Federation of State Humanities Councils
(FSHC); Jim Kitterman, Maryland Humanities Council; Beatrice
Gurwitz; National Humanities Alliance (NHA)
The goal of this session is to heighten councils’ awareness of
data available from NEH, NHA, FSHC, and the Humanities
Indicators. Another goal is to highlight the ways councils’ use
this data in outreach, program development, and other
activities.
Staying Current with NEH General Operating Support Awards
and Requirements
Speaker(s): Tarsha Johnson, NEH; Leondra Burchall, NEH; Meg
McReynolds, NEH
Moderator: Tarsha Johnson, NEH
This session will serve as a brief overview of Federal/State
General Operating Support Award documents, Award Terms
and Conditions, Federal Administrative Requirements, and
Reporting Requirements. The session will also address how
councils are to remain in compliance with the award and the
new Grant Reform regulations "Uniform Guidance.”
POSTER SESSION
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Come grab a snack and refreshment while perusing posters and
listening to members discuss their programs in the first-ever
National Humanities Conference poster session.
This session is designed to be an informal conversation between
colleagues. As a bonus, all 2015 Schwartz Prize nomination
posters will be featured. Council members of some Schwartz
Prize nominations will also be present for discussions
Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in Dakota and Ojibwe
Nations
Speaker(s): Casey DeMarais, Minnesota Humanities Center;
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Annamarie Hill, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council; Eden Bart,
Minnesota Humanities Center
Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in Dakota and Ojibwe
Nations is a traveling exhibition exploring the Native nations
and their treaty making with the U.S. in the place once called
“Mnisota.” Creating a unique partnership among the Minnesota
Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center, and
the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in
Washington D.C., this exhibit is unique in its community-based
approach. From its foundation, created by the inception,
knowledge, and insight of tribal members, this program has
emerged as a vehicle for authentic Dakota and Ojibwe voices
upon which these communities tell their own stories of
sovereignty, adaptability, and sustainability.
Standing Together and the Veterans’ History Project
Speaker(s): Monica Mohindra, Library of Congress; Meg
McReynolds, NEH
Library of Congress staff will share information on participating
in the Veterans History Project and strategies for working with
veteran communities. NEH staff will facilitate a conversation on
best practices that emerged from the NEH initiative titled
Standing Together. Participants will also discuss ways to get the
word out about veteran-serving programs to veteran
communities, congressional audiences, and broad public
audiences.
Schwartz Prize Nominee Posters
Louisiana’s PRIME TIME Preschool
Speaker(s): Miranda Restovic, Louisiana Endowment for the
Humanities
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities has responded to the
urgent and critical need for enriching early childhood
experiences with a premier humanities program for vulnerable
families. Parents, along with their 3-5 year olds, are shown and
practice positive interactions and school readiness techniques
through sharing high-quality children’s literature and
engagement with age-appropriate activities, all focused on key
humanities themes.
Maryland’s Hometown Teams: Galesville Community
Speaker(s): Jessica Wichmann, Maryland Humanities
Council
A major goal for Hometown Teams was to strengthen
communities through local partnerships. The oral histories, the
Hot Sox Documentary Quilt, the Field Guide to Galesville, and
most importantly the relationships that were built between
local students and hometown heroes like the remaining
Galesville Hot Sox players are byproducts of this successful
partnership. The Galesville Community Center’s work to
explore, preserve, and share local history has energized its
public and solidified its place as a community driver.
Indiana’s ALL-IN
Speaker(s): Jacqueline Cromleigh, Indiana Humanities
The core of ALL-IN is a website that poses questions, provides
trivia, features infographics and polls, and issues challenges in
eight categories rooted in the humanities (explore, discover,
read, remember, participate, connect, reflect, and dream). The
interactive site boasts a scoreboard and opportunities to share
progress with friends on social media – and even to customize a
hashtag with your zip code. Sharing challenge completions on
social media via the website was popular, but Indiana
Humanities discovered that in-person events, organized and
held locally, were a great complement to the digital platform.
Idaho’s Nuestros Corridos: Latinos in Idaho
This multi-faceted project, designed to reach an underserved,
minority population in Idaho, reached audiences totally 625,
with the final product having the potential to impact the
general public, teachers, and students for years to come. The
project was funded with a series of grants totaling $16,750 from
the Idaho Humanities Council to an organization called Mujeres
Unidas de Idaho over several years to teach the history and
composition of traditional Mexican corridos. Corridos are
unique musical ballads that record and preserve “news of the
day,” and which often profile noteworthy individuals and
historical events in a musical story.
Washington’s Race, Place and Culture
Speaker(s): Zaki Barak Hamid, Humanities Washington
A special, two-year initiative focused on exploring and
celebrating the diversity of our communities through the (often
overlapping) lenses of race and ethnicity, community and place,
and the cultures that result due to the intersection of the two.
Through a series of conversations delivered through our Think
& Drink programs, speakers and audiences explore, discuss and
learn about each topic in a way that engenders greater
understanding of our complex histories and encourages
dialogue around how to move forward in a positive, generative
manner.
Wyoming’s UCross Project
Ucross Project is a multi-year, multi-event, multi-product
collaboration venture between the council and the University of
Wyoming that has far-reaching impacts on our state and
demonstrates the power of the humanities to foster authentic
dialogue between two major realms of inquiry – art and science
– to explore what it means to be fully human within the natural
world. The environmental problems of our day are the products
of our being biophysical, technological, sociopolitical, economic,
historical, rational, emotional, creative, moral, spiritual
creatures – and in this light, the humanities are vital to the
development of genuine solutions. In the summer of 2014, we
gathered together artists and scientists for an experiment in
cultivating mutual understanding of the land at Ucross Ranch.
4:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Schwartz Prize Presentation
Check out the amazing programs nominated for this year’s
Schwartz Prize and stay to see who wins! Winners announced
following the poster session.
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Capps Lecture with Dave Eggers *
Directly following the Schwartz Prize Presentation, come hear
an interview by Daniel Moulthrop, co-founder of The Civic
Commons, with Capps Lecturer, author Dave Eggers . Best
known for his memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering
Genius (2000), a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Pulitzer Prize, Eggers continues to write fiction and screenplays.
He has also founded three nonprofits: McSweeney's
Publishing, 826 Valencia, and ScholarMatch.
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Executive Directors – Keira Amstutz, Indiana Humanities;
Phoebe Stein, Maryland Humanities Council
6:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Dave Eggers Book Signing
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own
6:30 PM
Dinner on your own
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
St. Louis Art Museum Tour * $
Hop on the bus for a scenic drive through Forest Park, one of
the largest city parks in the U.S., and arrive at the Saint Louis Art
Museum to tour the museum's permanent collection of
American, African, and Asian art.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Registration Open
8:30 AM to 9:45 AM
Breakfast with NEH Chairman William D. Adams *
Join colleagues for breakfast with NEH chair William D. Adams.
9:45 AM to 10:00 AM
Break
CONSTITUENT GROUP CONVERSATIONS
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Program Officers - Lizz Sinclair, Maine Humanities Council
Communication Officers - Adrian Moore, Rhode Island
Council for the Humanities
Development Officers - Aaron Heinsman, Maryland
Humanities Council
Fiscal Officers - Jim Kitterman, Maryland
Humanities Council
Civic Reflection for Board Members - Jeff Allen, Federation of
State Humanities Councils
Board Member Conversations - Federation of State Humanities
Councils Board Member
NEH New Board Orientation
Speaker(s): Meg McReynolds, NEH; Leondra Burchall, NEH
Attendees at this session will achieve a good understanding of
NEH’s programs beyond its work with state councils, as well as
learn about special initiatives and new directions. The
relationship between state councils, the NEH and the
Federation will also be explained.
NEH Screening Room
th
Repeat of session from Friday, November 6 at 11:00am. See
page 5 for details.
1:00 PM to 1:50 PM
For detailed descriptions of sessions, see the Appendix.
Focusing Our Work to Increase Impact: Case Studies from
Pennsylvania and Illinois
Speaker(s): Angel Ysaguirre, Illinois Humanities; Laurie Zierer,
Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Moderator: Courtney Chapin, NEH
This session will present two case studies of councils who have
undergone significant changes in strategy, programming, and
branding. The executive directors of the Illinois and
Pennsylvania councils will discuss reasons for these changes,
processes of engaging stakeholders and reshaping programs,
measurements of effectiveness, and results of their planning.
Content Academies: Enhancing Teaching and Learning for
Diverse Populations
Speaker(s): Rob Vaughan, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities; Karenne Wood, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities; Emma Violand-Sanchez, Virginia Foundation for
the Humanities
Moderator: Rob Vaughan, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities will discuss its Content
Academies, an innovative approach to enhancing teachers’
understanding of issues faced by minority populations. In
collaboration with Arlington County Public Schools, Content
Academies are daylong teacher education programs that
include scholarly presentations, in-depth conversations,
readings, activities, film screenings and community
components. It addresses Standards of Learning and provides a
broad range of resources for further research and classroom
use.
What's New on Main Street?
Speaker(s): Robbie Davis, Smithsonian Institution; Tracy Quillin,
Kansas Humanities Council; Jennifer Tonko, Minnesota
Humanities Center
Moderator: Robbie Davis, Smithsonian Institution
This session will explore two councils and their Museum on
Main Street (MoMS) collaborative efforts. Kansas Humanities
Council partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas to
launch a statewide healthy behaviors initiative as part of the
MoMS Hometown Teams Kansas Tour. In Minnesota, the
council partnered with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
to increase water consciousness as part of the MoMS exhibit,
Water Matters. Both these councils have explored innovative
ways to extend the MoMS programs’ impact.
Civic Engagement and Service
Speaker(s): Kathleen Nigro, Missouri Humanities Council; Louis
Riggs, Missouri Humanities Council
In this session, participants will read Dr. King’s “Letter from a
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Birmingham Jail” aloud and discuss how Dr. King’s reflections on
“outsiders coming in,” “power structure,” and “a single garment
of destiny” are lessons we have not learned, but should
endeavor to learn before there are more Fergusons, more
“victims of a broken promise.”
Finding Common Ground with the Common Good
Moderator: Eva Caldera, NEH
This session will examine many of the framing questions posed
by the Common Good initiative on the role of the humanities in
our national life and in matters of public policy. Panelists will
consider these questions in a highly interactive session where
participants will have the opportunity to submit information
about their work on Common Good themes in advance.
Building a Board and Staff Fundraising Team, Part I
Speaker(s): Barbara Fried, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities; Dave Reetz, Wyoming Humanities Council; Ted
Frantz, Indiana Humanities
Moderator: Deborah Watrous, New Hampshire Humanities
Council
In Part I of a two part session a panel of board members from
state councils will share their perspectives and experiences in
fundraising with their council.
ALL-INnovation: Using Competition to Spark Connection
Speaker(s): Lean Nahmias, Indiana Humanities; Keira Amstutz,
Indiana Humanities
Indiana Humanities' ALL-IN program is a digitally based
competition that encourages Hoosiers to learn more about
Indiana, get connected to their neighbors and community
organizations, and get inspired about Indiana's future. During
this session, attendees will look at ALL-IN as a case study of
innovation in humanities council programming and
communications.
2:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Coffee Break
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
2:30 PM to 3:20 PM
For detailed descriptions of sessions, see the Appendix.
A Culture of Communication Nurtures a Culture of Innovation
Speaker(s): Brian Sooy, Aespire
Organizations effectively raise their voice when they nurture a
culture of communication. This session will explore how four
dimensions of communication align your state council’s
purpose, character, culture, and voice. For your council,
strategic design connects your message and mission with your
members and advocates.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Looking Back on Our Work
with Veterans’ Programming
Speaker(s): Lizz Sinclair, Maine Humanities Council; Jasper
Collier, Humanities DC; Felicia Kelley, Cal Humanities
Moderator: Meg McReynolds, NEH
This session will focus on information sharing and giving
councils the space to gather, reflect, and discuss their programs
for veterans. The first portion of the session will be framed by a
moderated discussion before opening up to a question and
answer session and conversation.
Innovative Partnerships: Beer, Google, and History
Speaker(s): Peter Hedlund, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities; Raleigh Seamster, Google Earth Outreach
Moderator: Matthew Gibson, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities
This session will explore several formal and informal
partnerships undertaken by Encyclopedia Virginia, a publication
of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Attendees will
discuss lessons learned from several less successful
partnerships. This panel is intended to be highly interactive.
Attendees should be prepared to discuss experiences
identifying, forming, and maintaining partnerships.
Staying Current with the NEH Office of Inspector General
Moderator: Laura Davis, NEH
The NEH Office of Inspector General session will be designed to
address and explore with participants various topics concerning
accountability and the Federal award. Specific topics include:
Proper reporting procedures related to the General Support
Grant - Preparing the Federal Financial Report (SF-425); OIG
Investigative Activities - What Does the OIG Do?; Independence
Issues and the Single Audit; and other relevant updates.
Building a Board and Staff Fundraising Team, Part II
Speaker(s): Barbara Fried, Virginia Foundation for the
Humanities; Dave Reetz, Wyoming Humanities Council; Ted
Frantz, Indiana Humanities
Moderator: Deborah Watrous, New Hampshire Humanities
Council
Part II of this session will consist of a facilitated discussion on
staff and board responsibilities in fundraising. What are the
appropriate expectations and roles on both sides?
Cultural Data Project Pilot: Our Findings
Speaker(s): Jeff Allen, Federation of State Humanities Councils;
Nick Crosson, Cultural Data Project (CDP); Lauren Kushnick,
New York Council for the Humanities
Moderator: Mimi IIjima, Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Data Task Force members invite our colleagues to learn about
and discuss findings from our Cultural Data Project pilot. Data
collected through CDP can enable us to make strides in
advocating for our sector, strengthen our ability to do impactful
work, and shed light on NEH's investment in and grant-making
to the state councils. This session will walk-through the valuable
information that emerged from the data collected from the 20+
councils in the pilot. Next steps for the project will be explored,
and participant in-put during the session will be strongly
encouraged.
3:20 PM to 3:45 PM
Coffee Break
3:45 PM to 4:45 PM
Annual Business Meeting
All Federation member councils are strongly encouraged to
participate in the Annual Business Meeting. This meeting
provides an opportunity to vote on the Federation’s plan,
budget, and new board members.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8
4:45 PM to 5:00 PM
Break
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Closing Plenary – LBJ and the Creation of the NEH: A
Conversation *
Join us for an intimate conversation about President Lyndon
Johnson’s legacy. Moderator Mark Updegrove, Director of the
LBJ Library and Museum, will be joined by sisters Lynda Johnson
Robb and Luci Baines Johnson to discuss how the President’s
personal experiences, love of history, and passion for education
influenced the passage of historic legislation, including the
creation of the NEH in 1965.
6:00 PM
Dinner on your own
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Private Tour * $
Walk the grounds of the 100-acre complex that houses the
famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery and several National Historic
Landmarks. Visit the Old Lyon Schoolhouse, Clydesdale stables,
and Beechwood Aging Cellar. Complete the evening with a beer
at the Anheuser-Busch Brewhouse.
9:30 PM to 12:00 AM
NHC 2016 Kickoff & FSHC Hospitality Suite
Kick back, grab a drink (or two!) and enjoy the last few hours of
the conference with the Federation board, staff and Utah
Humanities, hosts of NHC 2016. This year, the hospitality suite
will be in a private area of the hotel and is intended as a big
thank you to all who attended this year’s conference along with
cheers to our next event in Salt Lake City!
Stay Connected & 2016 Preview
The Federation of State Humanities Councils provides a
number of ways for conference attendees and members
to stay connected throughout the year. Make sure you’re
a part of the action!
Ways to Connect:
•
•
•
•
Google Drive: housing more than 1,000
documents for councils to reference
Google Groups: nine listserves tailored to
subscribers’ interest/position
The Federation Update: a weekly e-newsletter
sent from Esther Mackintosh, FSHC President
Social Media:
o Conference Hash tag: #NHCStLou15
o Facebook: Federation and NHC pages
o Twitter: @HumFed
Any question, or to sign up for Google Groups, Drive or the
Federation Update, please contact Natalie Pak, FSHC
Communications Manager, at [email protected]
Coming Fall 2016
The first-ever joint Federation-NHA Conference!
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
FSHC Board Breakfast *
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
St. Louis Walking Tour * $
Take in the incredible views of Busch Stadium, the home of the
St. Louis Cardinals, along with other historic buildings, such as
the Old Courthouse, where the Dred Scott freedom trial took
place, the Old Cathedral , and the nation's tallest
monument, the Gateway Arch. (Tour is 1.6 miles, rain or shine)
9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Ste. Genevieve Day Tour * $ CANCELED
Join us in Salt Lake City, November 9-13, 2016
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About the Federation
About the Federation
Acknowledgments
The Federation of State Humanities Councils, founded in
1977, is the membership association of the state
humanities councils. Through its program of research,
conferences, collaborative projects, and communication
to members, legislators and others on issues of public
interests, it provides support for the state humanities
councils and strives to create greater awareness of the
importance of the humanities in public and private life.
The Board of Directors and the Federation of State
Humanities Councils staff gratefully acknowledge and
express our appreciation for the work of the 2015
National Humanities Conference Committee. Thank you
also to the staff of the Missouri Humanities Council for
their invaluable contributions to and support of this
conference.
2015 Federation Board of Directors
Judy Bynum, Chair
Hayden Anderson
Steve Belko
Clarice Britton
Sherry DeBoer
Caroline Lowery
Louis Riggs
Lorraine Sandstrom
Shannon Smith
Jim Weidman
Kathryn Stephenson, Chair (TN)
John Roth, Immediate Past Chair (WA)
Peter Torkildsen, Vice Chair (MA)
Dave Reetz, Treasurer (WY)
Julie Mulvihill, Secretary (KS)
Rick Ardinger, Legislative Committee Chair (ID)
Keira Amstutz (IN)
Christina Barr (NV)
Judy Bynum (SC)
Jarett Fields (WI)
Ralph Lewin (CA)
Chris Sommerich, (NE)
Phoebe Stein (MD)
William Tsutsui (AR)
Willis Whichard (NC)
Federation Staff
Esther Mackintosh, President
Jeff Allen, Vice President
Elizabeth Paine, Director of Finance
Shannon Loburk, Meetings and Events Manager
Natalie Pak, Communications Manager
Makenna Cannon, Administrative Coordinator
2015 Humanities Conference Committee
Missouri Humanities Council
Steve Belko
Clarice Britton
Lisa Carrico
Barbara Gill
Maura Gray
Emily Skeels
Marilyn Webster-Brown
Jim Weidman
Federation Social Media
Twitter:
@HumFed
(for NHC info use #NHCSTL15
Facebook:
facebook.com/federationofstatehumanitiescouncils
Carolyn Fuller, Legislative Counsel
Van Scoyoc & Associates
1600 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 902
Arlington, VA 22209
T: 703.908.9700
F: 703.908.9706
www.statehumanities.org
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