Preservation Ohio Goals & Achievements – October 2008 to October 2009
As 2009 heads into its final months, we’re turning our attention to evaluating our organization – where it is, where it is going, and how we can better help Ohioans preserve their historic resources. With that in mind, here’s a sampling of what Preservation Ohio has accomplished – just during the last 12 months:
LOCAL ASSISTANCE.
Preservation can transform Ohio’s cities and towns through fostering economic development and an outstanding quality of life. To do so, Ohioans need the latest and most effective tools for preservation and revitalization right in their own communities.
GOAL. Identify and share the latest and best preservation tools with as many communities as possible.
12-MONTH ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Provided resource information, press releases and interviews for media in Toledo, Columbus, Mansfield, Dayton, Hamilton, Springfield, Athens and Cincinnati.
- Presented to groups in Mansfield, New Philadelphia, Dayton, Galion and Yellow Springs.
- Co-hosted “Financial Incentives for Historic Properties” with the Columbus Landmarks Foundation, Columbus’ first workshop on tax-based incentives for preservation in many years, as well as a day-long house renovation workshop in north central Ohio.
- Became the first statewide preservation organization nationally to host “real-time” interactive online discussions on preservation issues and opportunities.
- Worked directly with individuals, organizations and local government in over 20 Ohio communities.
ADVOCACY AND PROTECTION.
Ohio’s historic resources are threatened on a continual basis by demolition, neglect, lack of appreciation and/or misunderstanding.
GOAL. Continue effective programming and develop new efforts to promote the cause of significant endangered Ohio places.
12-MONTH ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Compiled and issued the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites, a program now in its 16th year. During May and June, we made visits to listed and threatened properties in Columbus, Yellow Springs, Hamilton, Dayton, Springfield, and Tiffin.
- Provided testimony, presence and support to our friends in Tiffin and the Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group in their efforts to preserve the endangered Seneca County Courthouse.
- Became the first and only statewide preservation organization in Ohio, and one of very few nationwide, to join local legal proceedings where important preservation issues are being considered. Because of potential legal precedent, our involvement was designed to protect the viability of historic preservation and design review ordinances in every Ohio community where the future of public buildings is being considered.
- Participated on the planning committee of the annual Statehood Day, which gives Ohioans the opportunity to share the message that “History Works” with their elected representatives, and to seek both funding and preservation-friendly state policies.
BUILDING A STRONG STATEWIDE COMMUNITY FOR PRESERVATION.
Ohio’s preservation community suffers from a lack of cohesion and from multiple groups working in ways that waste resources and produce a disjointed message.
GOAL. Build a strong, vocal constituency for historic preservation in Ohio in all of its forms.
12-MONTH ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Launched The Ohio Preservation Network, America’s first social network designed exclusively for statewide preservation and revitalization. Through the site, Ohioans can now easily share preservation news, stories, events, opportunities and enthusiasm, and gain access to key resources.
- Forged new ground in the use of online social networking to build a strong, cohesive community for preservation, and to provide public relations opportunities for our members and affiliate communities:
- Hosted the most-followed organizational Twitter page of any statewide preservation organization in the country. Each month, our stories and links are now re-posted, and our stories are clicked, over 1,000 times. We continue to build a strong presence on Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, YouTube and other forms of social media.
- We continue to publish America’s first and oldest self-authored statewide preservation blog, MyHometownOhio, which celebrated its third anniversary this summer.
- Worked with statewide and regional preservation organizations in other parts of the country to share best practices and tips on social media.
- Hosted National Preservation Conference Twitter Central, the only location online for access to all Twitter entries from the 2009 Nashville Conference, including photos and videos.
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