Working in Collaboration

La Farge Restoration Foundation

* The New Dollars New Partners for Your Sacred Place training program is also listed on our Rhode Island Preservation Watch! Learn more about this program and read updates on the training here.

Preserve Rhode Island has joined with the La Farge Restoration Foundation at the Newport Congregational Church as a co-sponsor to bring Partners for Sacred Places to Rhode Island to provide the New Dollars/New Partners for Your Sacred Place training program in winter 2009. This training program is designed specifically for congregations with historic sacred places. 

New Dollars New Partners helps congregations build leadership, research and write a realistic and compelling case statement for funders, understand proven methods for reaching out to a wider community and learn how to fund-raise effectively. The training consists of four interactive training sessions over a nine month period.  In the sessions, participants from 8-15 congregations will learn with other congregations then return home to do their own planning with fellow congregants.   

As the lead Sponsor, the La Farge Fund is working to raise a substantial portion of the funds to pay for the training.  At this time the La Farge Fund has raised half of the funds required to bring New Dollars/New Partners to Rhode Island.  Each congregation will be asked to contribute between $500 and $1000 to help fund the training program.  The contribution amount for each congregation will depend on additional funds raised by the La Farge Fund, the number of congregations participating, and each congregation's ability to pay.  If your congregation is interested in participating please download and complete the Request for Participation Form below.  The more congregations that participate, the lower each congrations contribution will be. Please do not hesitate to submit the Request for Participation Form if you are concerned about your congregation's abilitly to pay.  The La Farge Fund will work with your congregation on its contribution.  The success of this training program depends on the participation of 8 to 15 congregations who will share challenges, successes, and experiences to develop solutions for your sacred places.

Request for Participation Form            Module I Agenda

For more information about this training program, send a message to Karen LaFrance, Consultant to La Farge Restoration Fund, at klaf@cox.net. Voice mail messages may be left for Karen LaFrance at 602-788-9646 (toll call) who will return calls as soon as possible. Or contact Susanna Prull at Preserve Rhode Island at 401-272-5101 or sprull@preserveri.org

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

Preserve Rhode Island is partnering with the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission (BRVNHCC) to conduct a Blackstone Canal Preservation Study in Rhode Island in winter 2009.  In 2005, the BRVNHCC partnered with the Worcester Historical Museum to complete a study of the Blackstone Canal in Massachusetts.  The study, prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), includes:

• an inventory of historic resources associated with the canal, including the canal trench, towpath, locks, dams, reservoirs and mile markers;
• detailed maps showing the path and condition of the canal and the location of associated resources, based on historic maps, existing documentation and public input; and
• recommendations regarding key segments of the canal, selected based on their integrity, level of protection, potential for public access, and opportunities for restoration and interpretation.

A comparable study will be completed for the Rhode Island portion of the Blackstone Canal in 2009.  VHB has completed preliminary work on the project, including fieldwork and preliminary mapping.  Remaining tasks include the preparation of a report, which would include a narrative description of the canal and associated resources and GIS maps; selection of and recommendations regarding key segments for preservation; and public outreach.    

This study is a great opportunity to identify and protect one of Rhode Island's most significant historic resources.  As the study proceeds PRI will post updates to the enewsletter and here on the website.

Visit the BRVNHCC website to learn more about the Blackstone River Valley!

   

Preservation Roundtable

Preserve Rhode Island has convened representatives of preservation organizations from around the state in a "Preservation Roundtable".  The Roundtable has provided a consistent, reliable and collegial forum to discuss preservation issues - from the "pause" in the state rehab tax credits to the impacts of foreclosure on historic neighborhoods to the potential threats and opportunities to historic properties from the federal stimulus investments in energy conservation and transportation.  Local issues that have statewide impact or are indicative of trends (such as challenges in enactment of local historic district zoning) are also on the agenda.  The Preservation Roundtable helps glue together the Rhode Island preservation community through candid and lively discussions and getting to know each others' resources and expertise.

Preserve Rhode Island believes that considering the benefits of restructuring the non-profit historic site and preservation communities is important, especially given the current economic challenges.   Preserve Rhode Island believes Rhode Island's non-profit preservation and historical organizations will welcome an open-minded assessment of non-profit organizational changes designed to strengthen our ability to accomplish our related and important missions. 

Thank you to the Preservation Round Table participants: Clark Schoettle, Providence Revolving Fund; Dennis Stark, Pawtucket Historical Society; Edward Sanderson, RIHPHC; Eric Hertfelder, Fort Adams Trust; Vicki Veh, Providence Preservation Society; Karen Jessup, National Trust for Historic Preservation;  Wendy Nicholas, National Trust for Historic Preservation; Jan Reitsma, John H Chaffee Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission; John Grosvenor, Newport Architects; Martha Wrenfels, Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects; Paul Mowrey, Pawtucket Historical Society; Pieter Roos, Newport Restoration Foundation; Trudy Coxe, Newport Historical Society; Richard Youngken, National Trust for Historic Preservation; Rupert Friday, RI Land Trust Council; Scott Wolf, Grow Smart RI; Sheila Brush, Grow Smart RI.

Historic Sites Coalition of Rhode Island

Read about this collaboration on our Historic Sites Coalition of Rhode Island page.