January 2002, Volume 2, Issue 1

COUNTDOWN TO THE BICENTENNIAL

It's a new year and now there's only a year left until the national kick-off of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in Charlottesville, Virginia. The inaugural event of the national observance of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial will be held on January 18, 2003 at Monticello. That date marks the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's confidential letter to Congress requesting funds for an Expedition to the Pacific. For more information and descriptions of other national signature events planned for the bicentennial, visit the website of the National Bicentennial Council at http://lewisandclark200.org

SHARING THE VISION

7th Annual Bicentennial Planning Workshop to be held in Lewiston, Idaho, April 12-14, 2002

How are your bicentennial plans and projects coming along? The annual bicentennial planning workshop is a chance to connect with others across the country who are planning and preparing for the bicentennial. You also can learn important information about funding opportunities and federal and state resources that are available to assist your efforts. This year, the conference will feature mobile workshops throughout the region, including a tour in Washington focused on a demonstration of the National Park Service Corps II project. Other mobile workshops are planned, as well as conference sessions on cultural resource protection; tips for working with the media - getting out the right messages; and a day long session led by the Nez Perce about their culture and traditions. For more information, contact Gail at Premier Planning 406-442-4141.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - MORE WAYS TO FUND YOUR BICENTENNIAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE ALL THE TIME ! ! !

Washington Community Assistance Program

The Washington State Agency Assistance Team has developed grant application guidelines and award criteria for a new funding program being sponsored by the Bonneville Power Administration.

The minimum grant amount will be $1,000 and the maximum grant amount will be $25,000. The grant application deadline is February 18, 2002.

Acceptable projects:

• Must clearly relate to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial efforts;
• Purchase of equipment for specific bicentennial project;
• Design and construction of interpretive and directional signs/displays;
• Events;
• Land conservation, preservation, access, or protection (but not land acquisition);
• Educational programs;
• Marketing activities and materials developed for the Bicentennial;
• Publications/brochures.

If you feel like you have a project that might be eligible for funds from this program, contact Jean Peterson at the Heritage Resource Center of the Washington State Historical Society for the full description of the program and grant application guidelines. Jean's phone number is 360-586-0219 and her email address is jpeterson@wshs.wa.gov.

NEH Challenge Grants Special Initiative for Local History

The NEH has announced a special initiative for research, education, and public programs in local history, especially in communities underserved by humanities activities. awards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 will require recipients to raise an equal amount from nonfederal sources to match the grant. Examples of fundable activities include lecture series, exhibitions, walking tours, electronic field trips, seminars, archival research, and improved long-term care of collections. For more information, visit www.neh.gov or call the NEH Office of Challenge Grants at 202.606.8309

Bicentennial Funding Sourcebook

Just a reminder that a comprehensive funding sourcebook has been published by the Department of the Interior. The sourcebook contains an extensive list of federal, state, and philanthropic sources of assistance for state and community projects. You can download a copy at the National Bicentennial Council website (click on "News and Announcements:"
http://lewisandclark200.org

Funding Resources Table - Compiled by the US Army Corps of Engineers

The US Army Corps of Engineers recently compiled a Funding Resources Table for community based conservation projects. This list of funding sources can be obtained by contacting: Kristin Hoffman, Otak, Inc.
206-262-2840
kristin.hoffman@otak.com.

Department of Defense Announces Assistance Opportunities

The United States Department of Defense has announced its commitment to support the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial through its Director of Military Support (DOMS), Forces Command. DOMS has access to all branches of the military including the Naitonal Guard. DOMS is soliciting requests for assistance. DOMS can supply at no cost to federal agencies:

• Manpower
• Materials and Equipment
• Project Construction
• Color Guards in either contemporary or historical uniforms
• Logistical support for special events (e.g. tents, "water buffaloes")

DOMS ideally would like to receive our requests for assistance 240 days in advance of desired date of delivery. Contact
Michael.Bosma@FORSCOM.ARMY.MIL.
Phone: 404-464-5977

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

February 6, 2002
Washington's Agency Assistance Team Monthly Meeting
9:00 am to noon
Coach house behind the State Capital Museum in Olympia
211 W. 21st Avenue - Olympia

March 6, 2002
Washington's Agency Assistance Team Monthly Meeting
9:00 am to noon
Coach house behind the State Capital Museum in Olympia
211 W. 21st Avenue - Olympia

February 21-24
2002 Encounter & Exchange
A Confluence of Peoples - Cultural Interpretation And Living History Workshop by the National Association of Interpretation
Portland, Oregon.
For more information and questions contact:
Janice Elvidge 503.861.2471 x221 janice.elvidge@nps.gov
OR Sue Buchel 406.727.8733 sbuchel@fs.fed.us.

April 10 - 12, 2002
National Bicentennial Conference
Lewiston, Idaho
Tentatively will include mobile workshops/tours in southeastern Washington.
Look for more information in upcoming newsletters.

September 25-28, 2002
Indian Country Tourism USA
A conference and trade show about People, Culture, Heritage, and Place
Denver, Colorado
For more information, contact 303.661.9819.
Register at www.nativetourismalliance.org/conference.htm Email: conference@indiancountry.org

November 14-16, 2002
"Lewis and Clark, the Unheard Voices"
Conference coordinated by Penn State University
For more information, contact Chris Dufour, 814-863-5100 or Cpd1@outreach.psu.edu.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2005
Destination Pacific 2005 Bicentennial Signature Event
Pacific County, Washington and Clatsop County, Oregon. Look for more information in the future.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

Every month, Washington's Lewis and Clark Bicentennial E-Newsletter will feature a different website link.

This month, check out the updated website of the Lewis and Clark Trail National Heritage Foundation. The website features a section on Trail Stewardship, as well as information about the Foundation's partners and programs. A library and list of publications is also available.

Click on: http://temp.modwest.com/lewisandclark.org.

JOURNAL REFLECTIONS

Monthly reflections on the time the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent in this region 196 years ago:

HAPPY MOONAX DAY!

In Punxsatawney, they've got Phil. Here in Washington, we've got our beloved "Moonax." What is a moonax you ask? On April 24, 1806 during the return trip east, Lewis wrote that the party observed a "Moonax which the natives had petted..." This animal was believed to be a yellow- bellied marmot, latin name: Marmota flaviventris nosophora. The moonax is still alive and well today and can be found along the Columbia River, in the eastern part of the Gorge among other areas, although the creature is somewhat elusive. So on February 2, you might want to look for the yellow-bellied marmot instead of the groundhog - if you know where to find one!

More information about the animal and illustrations of its paw prints can be found in the book Animal Tracks of Washington and Oregon by Ian Sheldon, Lone Pine Publishing.

PLEASE LOOK for additional information and updates on Bicentennial planning activities and projects in next month's e-newsletter.

ALSO - if you have articles or news-worthy information that you would like to contribute to this e-newsletter or to Washington's quarterly bicentennial newsletter, please Contact Mandi Roberts at Otak 206-442-1369 or mandi.roberts@otak.com.

The Washington State Historical Society, lead agency of the state's Agency Assistance Team (AAT) for bicentennial planning, will send this newsletter via e-mail on a monthly basis to provide updates on events, projects, and activities going on around the state in preparation for the commemoration.

Your name is in the state's Lewis and Clark Trail database as someone who has expressed interest in the bicentennial and/or who has attended public meetings during the past three years. If you do not want to continue to receive this newsletter and/or other bicentennial communications, reply to this e-mail or contact Jean Peterson at the Heritage Resource Center 360-586-0219.

The AAT will continue to publish and mail out the quarterly "hard copy" newsletters in addition to this electronic communication.