From: Linda Day <lindaday@historicalsocietiesnh.org>
To:
Subject:    AHSNH/Listserv Vol. II, #2
Date:    Oct 31, 2005 4:32 PM
This newsletter is sent via Blind Copy to Historical Societies and interested parties from the Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire.  If you do not wish to receive this, simply hit Reply and respond, "Please remove."  Recipients are encouraged to participate by posting inquiries and resources.  Archived issues are posted as the E-ssociate and may be read on-line at http://www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/newslet.htm.
 --Linda Day, Association of Historical Societies of NH
 
Up Front:
    The updated Directory is now on-line at the Association's website.  Let us know if you see any errors.
    Dues reminders will be sent out this week; a copy of the updated Directory will be sent by return post to those who reply.  Additional copies may be ordered for $7.50 each (plus $2.50 S/H) through lindaday@historicalsocietiesnh.org.
 
Contents:
Support Arts Alliance Map!
Good News from Div. Historical Resources
Lake Winni Lecture is Free
Shape-Note Singing, Peterborough, Open to All
Marlow Begins Documentary on Forest Fire
WebMaster Shares Freeware
Salisbury Enjoyed Don Kent
You are now linked to Soc. of Genealogists
Warner Mystery Writer Identified
Architects Invite Us to High-Performance Design
 
from the Arts Alliance of Northern NH:
Meetings on Creation of "Historic & Heritage Sites of Northern NH: A Map & Guide"
    The Arts Alliance of Northern NH invites representatives of all North Country historical societies and museums to attend one of a series of meetings on our collaborative project, "Historic & Heritage Sites of Northern NH: A Map & Guide":
    Sunday, November 6, 2 p.m., St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Groveton 
    Tues, November 29, 10 am, Rocks Estate, Route 302, Bethlehem (No.Country Council) 
    Thursday, December 8, 10 a.m., Jackson Historical Society, Route 16, Jackson
    Monday, December 12, 10 a.m., Pease Public Library, 1 Russell St., Plymouth
     
    Goals for the meetings are: to discuss the project and related opportunities (including program ideas); to obtain the information and identify the resources necessary to produce the map and guide--for example, directions to museums, hours of operation, contact telephone numbers, photographs of significant buildings; and to work together to create suggested itineraries for visitors, based on who is open and when. 
    A data form has been developed to maintain consistency; participants are urged to contact the Alliance to request forms and to bring the completed form to the meeting.  Alliance staff will bring a laptop computer and a scanner to all meetings so that  computer images of photos can be created.   Details that won't fit into the map will still be useful for the Alliance website, which will have a special section highlighting this project. 
    This effort is a partnership between the Arts Alliance and all of our region's historic and heritage sites.  Participants are urged to bring several members of their groups, including staff and volunteers with an interest in/knowledge of the organization's collection and archives; the web master, if any; and program planners.
    Participants are asked to RSVP for one of the meetings by calling the Arts Alliance's member services coordinator, Kelly Bryer, at 726-8843, or emailing her at Kelly@aannh.org.  Kelly will also be glad to provide directions, answer questions about the project, and hear ideas and suggestions for additional sources and resources.
    All organizations are also urged to contact kelly if their sites are open during the winter or spring and/or if they have any programs planned between now and May.  This information will be included on the Alliance website and in emails and faxes to lodging and hospitality sites throughout the region. 
  
from Div. of Historical Resources:
This was sent to the Land Trust listserv, but it's equally applicable to preservation-related charitable giving.  Share the news with your favorite non-profits!
    "Hello, Listers, This article (below) appeared in today’s (10/27/05) New York Times and summarizes some provisions of the recent tax relief package.
     "The new law changed the limit of deductible charitable donations from 50% of Adjusted Gross Income to 100% of Adjusted Gross Income.  The giving does NOT need to be to agencies serving Hurricane Katrina victims; it’s an across-the-board change for all charitable giving.
     "The article reports that this change is causing a scramble by some donors who see a benefit in substantially increasing their charitable giving before the end of the year, and a related scramble by organizations trying to connect with them.
    "I thought many listers might be interested in this."  (Ed. Note:  Article to which Ms. Steele refers follows her contact information.)
Kathleen Steele; ksteele@lta.org; Midwest Training Development Manager; Land Trust Alliance Midwest Program; 6869 S. Sprinkle Road, Suite C; Portage, MI  49002; 269-324-1683; 269-324-7009 (fax); www.lta.org
October 27, 2005--Fund-Raising--In Hurricane Tax Package, a Boon for Wealthy Donors
By STEPHANIE STROM
A little-noted provision in the tax relief package to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina is shaping up as a windfall for charity and a drain on government coffers.  It allows donors who make cash gifts to almost any charity by the end of this year to deduct an amount equal to virtually 100 percent of their adjusted gross incomes, double the normal limit of 50 percent of income.  The tantalizing prospect has set off a financial scramble among some wealthy donors and charities vying for their dollars.  [follow the link below for the rest of the story]http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/national/nationalspecial/27tax.html
 
from Lake Winnipesaukee H/S:
    The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society invites you to the first of our "Winnipesaukee Wednesdays" lecture series, Wednesday, November 2, 7:00 pm.  Featured speaker will be Captain Larry Tanner, former owner and operator of the Queen of Winnipesaukee, who will provide fun-filled insights on sailing the big lake for 13 years on his 46' Irwin sloop sailing yacht.  Includes short video clips.
    Free and open to the public--bring your friends!  For further information, please see the following news release or feel free to contact me at 366-5950.  ~Ann W. Sprague; Executive Director; ann@lwhs.us
    The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society Museum is located directly on Route 3 between Meredith and Weirs Beach, just south of Funspot.  Open year-round, Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  For further information, visit our web site at www.lwhs.us.  Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society; PO Box 5386; Weirs, NH 03247; 603-366-5950
   
"SAILING THE BIG LAKE" LECTURE AT LWHS MUSEUM
    Local sailor and charter sailboat captain Larry Tanner is the featured speaker for the first of the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society’s “Winnipesaukee Wednesdays” lecture series.  The free program will take place on Wednesday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the LWHS Museum on Route 3 in the Weirs.
    “Sailing with Captain Tanner” will provide a fun and first hand look at sailing the big lake on board the “Queen of Winnipesaukee.” As the owner and operator of this popular 46’ sloop for 13 years, Captain Tanner has stories that will interest any lake lover.
    Captain Tanner will share his sailing experiences that range from being caught out on the lake in storms and being stopped for speeding while under sail. In addition, you’ll see a short video of sailing the big lake on a good windy day.
    “Our guests always wanted to have a good time,” shared Captain Tanner. “Some were scared, but they always came back with smiles on their faces.”
    Larry, who sailed with his wife Therese every day from June through Labor Day, liked to give his guests the “thrill of a lifetime” and hosted themed events and weddings on board. Their “Shades of Maui” cruise offered a Hawaiian meal served by surprise from a little pontoon boat near Timber Island with everyone dressed in grass skirts!
    Guests were from all over the world and “you never knew who you’d have on,” indicated the Captain, such as the young girl from Greece visiting in Alton who turned out to be Princess Radziwell. Other guests included well-known television journalist Bryant Gumbel and President George Bush’s bodyguards who came over from Kennebunk.
    Built in Clearwater, Florida, the Queen of Winnipesaukee was a 46 foot Irwin Sloop, 13 tons, 13 feet wide at the beam, with a ballast of 4 tons of lead and a mast 60 feet tall above the water. The last time Captain Tanner knew the sailing yacht was in Venezuela, being sailed around the world by a young couple.
 
from Mariposa, Peterborough:
    Here is some information on the Shapenote Singing at the museum.  Please feel free to check our website or any of the shapenote-related websites referred to below.  ~Anne Thomas; 603-899-3249
    Shapenote Sing; Mariposa Museum, Peterborough, NH; All levels ...
    Fourth Sundays Quarterly in January, April, July and October; 1:30p-4:30p 
    Music will be provided or bring your own books...the public is invited to drop in at any time to experience this gutsy, informal music by listening or joining in. 
    In unaccompanied four-part harmony, shapenote singing is an American tradition of three centuries continuously, which began in New England as "singing schools".  The music, often fuguing, is written on conventional staffs, but the note heads are shapes intended to help people learn to sing who do not read music easily.  The music was often taken from rousing pub songs with the words changed, and currently, the general public is involved rather than people of any particular religious affiliation.  Often the music attracts people who just like the raw style of singing. 
    Music will be provided from the Sacred Harp book. The acoustics and the setting are lovely for this type of music.   A good source for information on the singing style and other "sings" in the area is: www.fasola.org .
    Included in museum admission ($5 adults; $3 children) or come and sing. For more information,  603-924-4555;  www.mariposamuseum.org
  
from Marlow:
Marlow Fire, 1941:
    Historians Charlie Strickland and Tracy Messer are producing a documentary on Marlow's catastrophic fire, the largest forest fire New Hampshire ever suffered.  It stretched into Stoddard and Gilsum as well.  They are looking for folks who remember the fire or who might have pictures to share.  There are personal stories, including local heroes.  If you have something to share or have a good lead, please contact Tracy Messer <tracy.messer@crotchedmountain.org>.
    Tracy and Charlie will be presenting "Behind the Scenes of the Fire Documentary" in Marlow, NH at 7:00 PM, Oct. 27 at The Chapel on Tin Shop Pond and will show a sneak preview of the documentary under construction.  This presentation is sponsored by The Marlow Historical Society.

from Richard Hureau:
You might consider switching over to OpenOffice, an open source (i.e. FREE) wordprocessor/spreadsheet, etc., package.  You can download it at:  http://www.openoffice.org
  
from Salisbury:
    Good meeting on Saturday (the AHSNH's annual mtg.).  I loved hearing Don Kent.  Do you know whether he would be willing to do a short program at, say, Salisbury H/S?  I know it would be a winner.  Too, our society would be happy to host a meeting in the "warm seasons."
(Ed. Response:  I imagine Don Kent would be willing to do a program--he certainly seemed enthusiastic about speaking about the weather!  I anticipate Linda Salatiello's putting me in touch with their Internet Liaison in the near future.  I'll pass that contact on to you.  Or you may want to write to Don Kent, c/o the Sanbornton H/S (address in the Directory).  I'm sure they would see that he gets it.  ~Linda)
 
from Society of Genealogists:
Link has been added to your organization on the page of NH historical societies.  ~Dave Goudsward; NHSOG Webmaster
from Warner:
Hi Linda, I am the mystery writer (referred to in the previous e-ssociate) about the movie documentary and Joseph Roger's letters.   ~Rebecca Courser for the Warner Historical Society
 
from the Architects:
    Don't miss this great tour and meeting on High Performance School Design from Scratch.  November 9, Hillsborough, NH.  We have a great caterer at this dinner, too!!
    For complete info and registration form, go to: http://www.aianh.org/calendar.shtml