Blogging for a Cause Subject of 2009 Preservation Maryland Conference

I am pleased to learn that I have been selected to present “Blogging for a Cause” at the 2009 Preservation Maryland Conference.  This year it takes place on May 28-29 in Baltimore. 

 

The idea of offering workshops on blogging for a cause came about because the Town of Elkton attempted to allow a big box retail store to develop 10-acres of valuable historic land.  Once the development threat was known, I got involved in an advocacy project to save the property.  But I couldn’t get print media to cover the story so after trying for months, while watching the situation deteriorate, I turned to a practical alternative, a blog called Someone Noticed.  Almost overnight I’d become a blogger with a cause.  The weblog served its purpose by creating far more attention on the proposal than I would have ever have been able to create in a newspaper.  I’m now happy to report that the property is no longer at risk since the town has stopped persuing the development interest.

Having gained experience with using the blogosphere for a purpose, I decided to put together a workshop on my experience so others would understand how to leverage this new media for preservation advocacy. The program will present a cause study on this situation, introduce how to handle the technology, and discussed concepts related to leveraging this new media.

The Other Iranian Crisis – 1935 on the Eastern Shore

I just had a piece published in Chesapeake Life called “To Catch a Diplomat, the Other Iranian Crisis.” In 1935, Elkton’s new police chief, weeks on the job, encountered the ambassador from Iran speeding through town. Never having heard of diplomatic immunity, he proceeded to lock up the dignatary.  This caused a major diplomatic incident, which resulted in the breaking of relations with the U.S. It’s a funny story, greatly reflective of 1930s policing and the Eastern Shore.  Check out the Dec. edition of Chesapeake Life for the entire humorous story.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference

The 2008 Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) was held over the past several days at Silver Spring, MD.  Focusing on making history local, workshops were featured on documenting events on film, audiovisual collections, collaborative projects, and other archival resources.

I had an opportunity to participate in a session on audiovisual collections and local history.  The conference planners had assembled an interesting panel composed of Jeff Krulik, a filmmaker and curator of the George T. Merriken collection; Rebecca Kinglsey, filmmaker, the Last Colony; and Jennifer Snyder, co-organizer, Washington D.C. Homve Movie Day Event.  My part was to talk about how a small historical society goes about developing its AV collection.

As I listened to our panel and some of the earlier ones, I learned a great deal.  Jeff is caring for the work of a 20th century filmmaker, George T. Merriken.  He showed some of his footage from Glen Echo Park from the middle-third of the 20th century.  It’s so wonderful to have these scenes so expertly and clearly captured on film.  Rebecca is developing a documentary that examines the political rights of citizens voting in the District.  While this is still a process in the works, she showed some of the intial footage.  It was excellent and I’ll look foward to the final product.  Jennifer showed some of the home movies that were screened at the Home Movie Event in the District.  Chuck Howell of the Ujniversity of Maryland moderated the event.  Earlier I attended a session on documenting 1968, which will be helpful to my research. 

I was pleased to have an opportunity to participate in this session and share some of our experience.

New Workshop – Blogging for a Cause, Draws on Preservation Advocacy Experience

A valuable historical piece of land was threatened by a big box retail store early in 2008.  As a result of the threat, I got involved in an advocacy project to save the property, but I couldn’t get print media to cover the story.  After trying for months, while watching the situation deteriorate, I turned to a practical alternative, a blog called Someone Noticed.  All at once I’d become a blogger with a cause.

The weblog served its purpose by creating far more attention on the proposal than I would have ever have been able to create in a newspaper.  I’m now happy to report that the property is no longer at risk since the the town has stopped persuing the development interest.

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From that experience, as well as my other blogging activities for courses and publishing historical pieces, I’ve developed a new workshop called “Blogging for a cause”  In this one to three hour program, I share this real world experience with participants.  It takes participants through the process of using this medium, with comprehensive discussions ranging from the basic technical concepts to how to leverage this web 2.0 product for community advocacy.  It also examines how to create a compelling site, as well as how to strategize and leverage resources to serve as an effective advocate.