OHCHA

2007 Work Plan

2007 Work Plan

1. Maintain strong presence on Governor Strickland’s transition teams for the Governor’s Office of Appalachia and the State Historical Society.  Promote the following state policy development that will benefit heritage preservation and heritage development in Ohio’s Hill Country:

A. Fund designated heritage areas throughout the state, with a first priority being to fund the existing heritage areas that were started with state assistance and have managed to maintain themselves without any state support; and then analyzing other likely candidates for additional designated heritage areas.

B. Support fair geographic distribution of the new State Historic Preservation Tax Credit program for people that are rehabilitating historic properties (both income producing and owner-occupied homes) 

C. Develop practices in the Main Street Ohio program that allow very small communities with limited resources, such as many of those found in Hill Country, to participate in this program.

D. Develop a two-pronged, coordinated strategy for heritage tourism in the region with fair distribution of funds to both existing organizations that are working collaboratively to carry out this approach, including funds for regranting mini-grants to communities.  The two prongs are:

• The protection, interpretation and appropriate development of authentic heritage resources with Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area (representing local and sub-regional heritage groups) as the community-based channel for such efforts.
• The marketing of heritage tourism sites and events in the region by Ohio’s Appalachian Country (representing county tourism and convention & visitors bureaus) as the community- based agent for such efforts.  

E. Integrate the principles of historic preservation, environmental conservation, beautification, sustainability and appropriate development into public policy in all state agencies.

2. Seek funding that will provide paid staff leadership and office development for the organization.

3. Target the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, regional utilities and large corporations as organizational funding sources. 

4. Work with board consultant Nancy Recchie in developing and seeking funds for a project that promotes training of trainers in after school programs targeting the OHCHA adopted heritage theme of the Underground Railroad.

5. Co-sponsor a summer workshop funded by the Ohio Environmental Education Fund with Sunday Creek Associates (Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council) and the Wayne National Forest that shares the experience of the Little Cities of the Forest Project that is researching and publishing the natural history of area as part of an overall heritage interpretation and geotourism development strategy.  Explore future funding for natural heritage education programs. 

6. Serve as fiscal agent for the Ohio Paw Paw Festival in Albany who will donate a portion of their earnings to the operations of Ohio Hill Country. 

7. Continue the Heritage Awards Program that honors “inspiring practices” throughout the region. 

8. Grow membership from 60 to 100 members during the year with the formation of a membership committee.

9.  Explore re-development of working committees in the area’s of membership, newsletter, web site, heritage inventory, annual Gathering, and fundraising.  Form committees as leadership and resources become available.

10.  Give consideration to offering small stipends for leadership of newsletter, web page and membership areas to assure appropriate effort is given to these matters. 

11. Resume production of the Ohio’s Hill Country Voice quarterly newsletter, either electronically or in print, seeking an editor/production contractor who would be paid by modest stipend.

12. Upgrade the thematic trails section of Ohio’s Hill Country Web Site based. 

13.  Add three new working members to the Ohio Hill Country Administrative Board.

14. Continue to promote Ohio Hill Country product sales and development via:

a.)   sales of newly released Kevin Morgan t-shirts focusing on Native American & Pioneer Life in the region.

b.)  creation of additional pieces from Native American & Pioneer Life image including prints and cards.

c.)  work with board consultant Nancy Recchie in a collaborative submission to the USDA Rural Development Microenterprise program to seek financial support for product development.

d.)  test pilot 4 note card images utilizing the photography of Tom O’Grady

15. Promote sales of the first in a series of collectible Kevin Morgan OHCHA T-Shirts and begin planning for the second image that tells the story of the region.  Pursue the development of the Morgan images and Tom O’Grady photographs into other products such as prints and stationery.

16. Sponsor the 9th Annual Hill Country Gathering with target location being Historic Greenfield in Highland County.  Consider co-sponsoring event with Ohio’s Appalachian Country.

17. Join and seek further collaboration with the Main Street Ohio/Heritage Ohio program to help bring Main Street programs to the region, including consideration of the “circuit rider” approach where a group of Main Street restoration projects can be managed by one program in a particular county or thematic area.    

18. Participate in Rural Action’s Share Your Heritage project as it seeks an appropriate mission.