Read about Our Partners on page 2
MCHP GUILFORD TEAM MEMBERS
Guilford Historical Society
As one would expect it was the secretary of Guilford Historical Society who was alerted to the MCHP grant and in connection with the society’s work on digitizing and archiving the artifacts and records they held, felt this would be a tremendous opportunity. She acquired an application and began to seek out partners that would not only qualify as such, but would bring something to the table in terms of interest, ability, insightful input, and most important, a passion for our community. Each of the several partners, listed below, added their thoughts and ideas to the application and surprisingly, Guilford was selected as a recipient of this wonderful grant opportunity, the smallest village in the 2009 class.
Excited about their good fortune, the group began to meet to discuss the overall project, review the materials received from MHS, register for program access on Maine Memory Network, and plan for the Portland orientation session. In July, seven members attended that session and learned what the expectations were, the integral parts of the proposed site, and how to make it all happen, as well as enjoying the chance to meet the participants from the various other towns and cities.
In October, our MCHP kick-off/Community Conversation Event was held during the Guilford Historical Society's Annual Harvest Fair at the United Methodist Church to seek input from the townspeople for exhibits. Larissa Vigue Picard was introduced from the Maine Historical Society and presented an overview of the Maine Memory Network.
The Team went back to Portland in January for a mandatory Mid-Year Training. We presented an overview of the narrative, some historic photographs, and an old-fashioned storyboard exhibit. The latter was presented by 7th & 8th grade Social Studies Teacher Rex Webb and two of his students, Elaine Riitano and Spencer Martell. During the Training, teams received extensive instruction on exhibit and website building.
We hosted Dani Fazio from MHS for Photography Training, two sessions at PCMS and one at the Guilford Historical Society.
PCMS students and Teacher Rex Webb have visited the Society frequently for scanning demonstrations, extensive history research and photography sessions. Kristie Littlefield from MHS has been involved in extensive project and exhibit planning with PCMS.
The Guilford MCHP Team Members have held regular monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month since June 2009, discussing and updating progress, budget, purchases, and events. The meetings were frequently attended by MHS staff.
Our Team met weekly for “Monday Night Workshops” to engage partners and outline our site; scanning and uploading original photos, photographing artifacts, researching and writing “good history”, discussing the Narrative and planning Exhibits, studying existing sites from prior years, and celebration planning.
We held a Celebration Event to unveil our website On June 3, 2010 at the Piscataquis Community Middle School.
(Click here to read about our Event on the MCHP blog written by Larissa Vigue Picard, Project Coordinator, Maine Historical Society)