[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2004-01-28

[INFO Heritage]

In this issue:
1.  Nominations sought for regional heritage award
2..  February open house dates announced
3.  Making museums matter conference topic
4.  Two archeologist positions open


NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR REGIONAL HERITAGE AWARD

Application materials are available on the Center for Columbia River History's website for the 2004 Castles Heritage Award. Through the Castles Heritage Award, the center honors individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to foster a deeper understanding of the history of the Columbia River Basin. Nominations are open to any individual or non-profit organization in the Columbia River Basin. The award carries a $1,000 honorarium.

The center will present the 2004 award at the Pacific Northwest History Conference in Olympia May 6-8. Castles Award recipients will receive complimentary conference registration and a travel subsidy in addition to the honorarium.

For more information, please see  http://www.ccrh.org/center/04awardform.pdf or contact CCRH at (360) 258-3289 or info at ccrh.org  The deadline for applications is March 22.

The Center for Columbia River History's James B. Castles Heritage Award was established in 1996 through a generous endowment from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver. The award is a memorial to Jim Castles, a founding member of the Trust and an enthusiastic supporter of public programs in regional history. The Castles Heritage Award is the only Columbia River Basin-wide public history award in the Pacific Northwest.

The center is an educational consortium of the Washington State Historical Society, Portland State University and Washington State University Vancouver.


FEBRUARY OPEN HOUSE DATES ANNOUNCED

February open houses for properties on the National Register of Historic Places are scheduled in Albany, Cottage Grove, Hammond, Hood River, Independence, Medford, Portland, Salem, Springfield and Troutdale.

Each of the historical properties receives property tax relief under the state's special assessment program, which freezes a property's assessed value for 15 years for local property tax purposes. Owners of commercial properties may reapply for an additional 15 years.

The monthly open house list is distributed through the State Historic Preservation Office  and certain participating chambers of commerce, historical societies, assessor's offices and local landmarks offices. It is on the Internet along with other information about the program at << http://www.hcd.state.or.us/index.php >.>

The special assessment program freezes a property's assessed value for 15 years for local property tax purposes. Owners of commercial properties may reapply for an additional 15 years. In return for the special assessment benefit, an owner must hold an annual open house for the public at least one day, per year, for a minimum of four consecutive hours between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Except for state observed national holidays, owners may choose any day of the year. 


MAKING MUSEUMS MATTER CONFERENCE TOPIC

A three-day-workshop March 4-6 at the University of Victoria's Dunsmuir Lodge will allow senior museum professionals to talkabout making museums matter to their communities.

The conference will focus on museum roles and purposes, as well as how museums can define and accomplish success. Stephen Weil, senior scholar emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution and well-known museum observer and thinker, will create a framework it develop practical (and perceptive) strategies to ensure that a museum matters. 

As registration is limited, visit our website at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp/courses/making_matter.cfm to learn more about this workshop and about registration procedures.


TWO ARCHAEOLOGIST POSITIONS OPEN

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service are looking for archaeologists to fill positions in Salem and Pendleton.

The OPRD position is responsible for providing professional, legal and regulatory review of all Oregon Department of Transportation related undertakings, pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1996 (as amended).  This position provides technical and professional expertise in the field of archaeology and represents the State Historic Preservation Office in cultural resource meetings, planning sessions, and field visits regarding ODOT.  In addition, this position will serve as a technical resource for staff administration for federal program areas, such as:  archaeological review compliance and provides support staffing for federal program areas including comprehensive planning (archaeology), survey & inventory (archaeology), and National Register (archaeology).  

You must complete a State of Oregon application (form PD100).  Application forms may be obtained from any local office of the Oregon Employment Department OR most state agency personnel offices.  If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application materials, you may call the OPRD Personnel Services Section at (503) 986-0658. Application information is also available at http://www.oregonjobs.org

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is looking for an archaeologist/cultural resources specialist GS 193-11. This is a field position, based in Pendleton, that is assigned to the John Day Umatilla Basin and covering all the Umatilla ceded lands in Oregon. For more information, see http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=20558237
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission.