The thing about Main Streets (from the few meetings/functions I have attended) is new businesses and improved business positively impacts my quality of life in the hood. Having a dry cleaners nearby that I can drop off and pick up stuff after work matters, it means less time traveling around elsewhere running errands. Having a coffee-shop where I run into my neighbors and friends on a regular basis helps improve those relationships. Having restaurants and bars in walking distance offer other amenities I can use to meet up with friends passing through, other other places to entertain besides my home, and I can point to them as something that makes my neighborhood great. Basically people know you can get more tangible milage out of hole in the wall carry out that offers the best Thai in the city than some 'pretty' building ya don't even live in.
do you think we can make a similar case about preservation and neighborhoods? Maybe it isn't as direct and immediate, but it's the same basic principle. But yep, you hit it on the head... Thanks.
Honestly, no. Because it isn't direct and immediate or tangible. It doesn't affirm aspects of identity to younger persons who may see themselves as hip, cool, and forward minded.
The past (here's the mess part of history) is used as a weapon against newbies, younger people, and whites, particularly in areas where the dominate or memorable history is African American history.
NTHP needs to do more than marketing and "repositioning". Some actual competence would help.
I've had the mixed blessing of being associated with a NTHP property for the last several years, as a volunteer and as a part-time docent. My perception of NTHP is they're a bunch of prima donnas with degrees in art history and such, have family money so really don't need to work for a living, and have no real ability to manage people or money.
There are diva properties and stepsister properties, and I happen to work at a stepsister. The place slowly deteriorates, and I see no long plan of maintenence, so I guess things are just supposed to fall apart until they get to a crisis level- then you have a bazillion dollar campaign to raise money. It's this way at other sites too.
There is no lack of willing volunteers, it's just that people get burned out and frustrated because nothing ever changes. We've had loads of people wanting to help, but then at the management level nothing happens, they either get blown-off, or their info falls through the cracks. Also, paid staff is protective of their jobs, so are therefore suspicious of enthusiastic volunteers.
Our director is not a leader, and obviously prefers hobnobbing with the board and the bigwigs at NTHP rather than the people who do the actual work (either for free, or at minimum wage). If you are a weekend worker, you'll never see him/her, and a word of advice: sending a mere token of appreciation such as Christmas card would not kill you. It also would not kill you to show up at the all-volunteer-funded "holiday party" and get to know some of the folks who keep the house going and keep you employed.
NTHP is a typical non-profit. Always begging and whining about money, but can't manage it, or manage people. The best thing they could do would be to hire people who have actual business or work experience, and ditch some of the academics, the dreamers, and those pining for a magical past. Our site was once begging for various "curatorial" people ("salary starting in the 20's"), but thats the last thing they need. They need property managers and people managers. It's not a lack of money or volunteers that's the problem, its the lack of competent people who know how to manage those 2 assets.
Spooky, I could swear you were talking about museums and some small libraries/ archives. I've encountered unrealistic colleagues who create rules that we should follow to preserve documents and in a world with fully funded budgets and staffing, that can occur.
Some museum heads are just figureheads and the work they do keep their egos fed.
Volunteerism and civic engagment is a HUGE part of the Main Streets' product and what each particular organization brings to a community. That is why young people are recruited and retained. VOLUNTEERS MATTER!
Preservation groups on the other hand are very issue oriented and can be dominated by dicators. I am a relatively young person (26) who cares about historic preservation. However, many local preservation groups feel like the "socialist committee" of the community. They are too authoratative and not enough fun.
I am personally not interested in angry activism. I think it also has to do with baby boomers and their past experiences with government and the capitalist economy - many of which are no longer valid in today's world. It's not 1972 anymore. Some of these organzations need to realize that and change tactics.
Well, it's a house museum, so your're close.
Preservationists need to figure out the broad message as to why property owners in non-deesignsted areas should add a layer of bureaucracy and subjectivity to their "property rights".
Folks need to figure out the sales pitch to the unknowing in order to galvanize more support.
Commenting by HaloScan
