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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Request - High Desert MuseumEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: High Desert Museum Organization Description: Opened in 1982, this organization provides natural and cultural history for the High Desert, which covers eight states and 20% of the continental United States. The organization employs 41 fulltime staff members and utilizes 275 volunteers, including 34 teens. Approximately 150,000 visitors and 8,000 students make use of this organization's resources. Project Name: Volcano Country Project Description: The funds will be used for an exhibit focused on the volcanic processes and geological history of the High Desert region. The exhibit will use interactive elements to teach visitors about how volcanoes are formed, what causes eruptions and what accounts for variances between eruptions and types of volcanoes. The exhibit will also feature information specific to volcanic eruptions among the Cascade Mountains. Project Period: April 9, 2011 — June 19, 2011 Amount of Request: $5,000 (Total projected expenses = $27,200) Previous Grants: • September 2008: $1,000 Fire Up About Oregon's Forests ($500 Luke; $500 Baney) Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Anthony DeBone Date: 3/22/11 x Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Applicant/Organization: Commissioner Alan Unger All Three Commissioners Volcano Country 4/9/11 $5,000 Address: Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: High Desert Museum 59800 South Highway 97 Contact Name(s): Fax: Janeanne A. Upp 541-382-5256 Alternate Phone: Tax ID #: City & Zip: Telephone: Email: 6/19/11 1 6/19/11 51-0179336 Bend 97702 541-382-4754 Ijupp@highdesertmuseun On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Tammy Baney: Amount: Signature: Anthony DeBone: Amount: Signature: Alan Unger: Amount: Signature: .org HIGH DESERT MUSEUM VOLCANO COUNTRY MARCH 22, 2011 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. In 1976, visionary Donald M. Kerr founded the High Desert Museum on 135 forested acres in Central Oregon "to wildly excite, and responsibly teach." As a high school student, Don raised a wolf cub in biology class; later, he raised two great horned owls. This hands-on connection sparked his passion for natural history and helped form Don's guiding principle that "education and experience are the basis for thoughtful decisions throughout life." Since the Museum's doors opened in 1982, we have been telling the story of the natural and cultural history of the High Desert—an area that extends through eight states and covers one-fifth of the continental United States. We believe that every visitor, regardless of age, is a student whose curiosity and ability to learn can be encouraged through rich, innovative, and experiential programs. With a fulltime staff of 41, complemented by 275 enthusiastic volunteers (including 34 teens), we annually welcome over 150,000 visitors and educate almost 8,000 students. Led by President Janeanne A. Upp, the Museum's staff is committed to serving the local and regional community through exceptional exhibits, programming, and educational opportunities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. From April 9 to June 19, 2011, the Museum will present Volcano Country, an exhibit focused on volcanic processes and the geologic history of the High Desert region. Relying on examples from the Central Oregon region, the exhibit uses interactive elements like rock tables and a "magma elevator" and caldera to teach visitors about how volcanoes are formed, what causes eruptions, and what accounts for the variation between eruptions and types of volcanoes. In addition to this scientific grounding, Volcano Country will feature information about volcanic eruptions among the Cascades and how Oregon's geology has shaped its settlement and development. Because visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the volcanoes they can see surrounding Bend, the exhibit is a highly relevant and place -based experience. Museum goals for Volcano Country include increased understanding of volcanoes and the region's history. Through the exhibit, visitors will: • be engaged with dynamic earth science knowledge. • understand how volcanoes work and be able to identify different types of volcanoes. • understand High Desert volcanic landmarks. • appreciate the geologic history of the High Desert and the impact of that history on the settlement and development of the region. Accompanying Volcano Country, the Museum will present additional learning opportunities for the public. The Museum will host two lectures by U.S. Forest Service Geologist Bart Wills and Larry Berrin, Director of Conservation Education at Discover Your Northwest, and provide interactive activities for children to help them understand volcanic processes. Children, for example, will get to play with "gack" to learn about viscosity and its role in how volcanoes explode. Rock samples will also be available for visitors to gain a hands-on understanding of the exhibit's content. Finally, the exhibit will be utilized by our Rockin' Geology class, which introduces elementary school students to different types of volcanic explosions and how they have shaped Central Oregon. We will continue to utilize the interactive components of the exhibit in our school programs, thus extending the life of the exhibit through our annual educational outreach. High Desert Museum Proposal, Page 1 of 3 To bring Volcano Country to fruition, the Museum is collaborating with various local and regional institutions. We have developed the exhibit content with Central Oregon Community College volcanologists and geologists, ensuring that the material is accurate and understandable. In addition, the Museum is borrowing a series of 16 panels from the Oregon Historical Society— produced in conjunction with Oregon State University, Oregon Paleo Lands Institute, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and Portland State University—which detail how the region's geology has influenced Oregon history. The exhibit will feature photographs from Michael Collier, an aerial photographer, to give a stunning birds -eye view of the volcanic features of the High Desert. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. Volcano Country will run from April 9 to June 19, 2011. The following timeline shows work that has taken place and is currently in progress to bring about the exhibit installation and opening: June 2009 June 2010 • Content development with Central Oregon Community College volcanologists July -November 2010 • Exhibit design December 2010 -April 2011 • Exhibit production and fabrication January -March 2011 • Planning for programming to accompany exhibit April 9, 2011 • Exhibit opening April 9June 15 • Implementation of programming, including lectures and kids activities 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. The High Desert Museum is the second largest tourist attraction in Central Oregon, behind only Mt. Bachelor for its ability to draw visitors. We draw visitors from throughout the state and High Desert region; a full 80% of our 150,000 visitors each year come from outside of Central Oregon. On average, each visitor spends $10 at the Museum, meaning that we earn $1.2 million from outside of the region. This money, in turn, is reinvested in Deschutes County through salaries for Museum employees and contracts with local service providers. The Museum's vibrant and changing exhibits are essential to our ability to attract visitors throughout the year. Each year, we present nine new exhibits so that visitors will always have something new and engaging to learn about. Volcano Country is part of this larger effort to present varied programs for visitors. As an exhibit focused on the geologic landscape of the High Desert region, Volcano Country will resonate with visitors from throughout Oregon, Washington, and California whose local environments have been created through volcanic processes. Like all Museum exhibits, Volcano Country will explore the interaction of people and the High Desert environment, challenge visitors to learn more about the region's natural and cultural history, and provide hands-on, interactive experiences. At the end of the exhibit's tenure, the materials produced for Volcanoes will be incorporated into the Museum's Rockin' Geology class so that the investment in this exhibit will continue to have an impact on the region's students in the future. High Desert Museum Proposal, Page 2 of 3 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. Between April 9 and June 19, 2011, we anticipate that 25,000 people will visit the Museum and see Volcano Country. These people will fall into three categories: local visitors, school groups, and visitors from outside Central Oregon. Local visitors will benefit from Volcano Country by learning more about the volcanic landscape in which they live. After touring Volcano Country, these visitors will able to apply their newfound knowledge to the mountains they see everyday. We anticipate that approximately 4,700 students will visit the Museum during this time period for self -guided field trips; Volcano Country will expose these students to foundational geologic information. Schools attending the Museum's Rockin' Geology class will also benefit from Volcano Country, as the exhibit will provide additional hands-on activities and visual aids. People from outside Central Oregon will make up a significant portion of visitors to Volcano Country; these people will learn more about the High Desert region, the local geography of the Bend area, and contribute to Deschutes County's economy. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. The total budget for Volcano Country is $27,200 (attached). This budget includes costs associated with fabricating, installing, and operating the exhibit and accompanying programming. We are requesting $2,500 from Deschutes County to help fund this project; the Museum has secured $10,000 in matching funds from BendTel, Bend Research, Inc., and Vernier Software and Technology. The remaining exhibit balance is within our operating budget. This grant from Deschutes County will cover the costs for programming to accompany the exhibit. High Desert Museum Proposal, Page 3 of 3 HIGH DESERT MUSEUM Volcano Country Project Budget Expense Budgeted Fabrication of and materials for interactive components of exhibit $12,000 Interpretive panels 3,500 Aerial photography 1,500 Exhibit lighting 600 Volcano structure 6,000 Operating supplies (paint, theater components, signage) 700 Misc supplies 400 Exhibit programming 2,500 Total Expenses $27,200 internal Revenue Service District Director Date: November 5, 1986 The High Desert Museum, Inc. 59800 S. Highway 97 Bend, Oregon 97702 Gentlemen: NOV 1 0 1986 7H_ H)GH DESERT MUSEU}?: BEND, O. Department of the Treasury Date of Exemption: 7602 Internal Revenue Code Section: 501(c)(3 ) Refer Reply to: E 0 Division Thank you for submitting the information shown below. We have made it a part of your file. The changes indicated do not adversely affect your exempt status and the exemption letter issued to you continues in effect. Please let us know about any future change in the character, purpose, method of operation, name or address of your organization. This is a requirement for retaining your exempt status. Thank you for your cooperation. Item Changed Name & Address Sincerely yours, G --{`C./ District Director From Western Natural History Institute 1234 N.W 25th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97210 To Above P.O. Box 21224, Seattl , MA98111 B-4 Letter 976(DO) (7.77) fddri s t2ny reply tc P.Ox 7 i 224 S6atila, tq hinucerr 98111 C a g. ED @iatofi ' reamiv Contact: Ms, Freddie Le Curry Phone: (206) 442=5329 internal Revenue 3c ice 6n rapl' rafier.tr.: RP%EO:FLC Oregon High Desert Museum P,O, Box 5035 Bend, OR 97781 lata of Fxemptlom February 1976 Internal Revenge Code w�#lon: 3 (c)(3) Gentlemen: Thank you for submitting the information shown below. We have made it a part of your file. The changes indicated do not adversely affect your exempt status and the exemption letter issued to you continues in effect. Please let us know about any future change in the character, purpose, method of operation, name or address of your organization. This is a requirement for retaining your exempt status. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely yours, a-6 District Director Item Changed From Name & Address Western Natural History institute 19595 Poplar Street Bend, OR To Oregon High Desert Nus,eum P.O. Box 5035 Letter O766(DO) (7-77) Interval Revenue Service Department of the Treasury District Director 11/4t'w OLIN 15 1971 Western Natural History Institute 1234 N. W. 25th Avenue Porti and, Oregon 97210 Po O. Box 21224 Seattle, Washington 98111 Our !.attar 14atocl: February 17, 1976 Peraon to tam Sandra L. Burger ContactTelophrnrte Number (206) 442-5110 G en t.l emen: This modifies our letter of the above data in which we stated that you would be treated as an organization which is not a private foundation until the expiration of your advance ruling period. Based on the information you submitted, we have determined that you are not a private foundation within the mewing of section 609(a) car'; the Internal • Revenue Code, because you are en organization of the typo described in section 509(a)S 2) . :' our exempt sta.5 us ander section 501(0) (3) of the code is still in effect. Grantors and contributors may.rely on this determination until the Internal Revenue Service publishes notice to the contrary. However, a grantor or a contributor may not rely on this determination if he or she was in part responsible for, or was aware of, the act or failure to act that• resulted in your loss of section 509(a).(11_______ status,• or acquired knowledge that the Internal Revenue Service had given notice that you would be removed from classification as a section 509(0 (2) • organization. Because -this letter could help resolve any questions about your private foundation status, please keep it in your permanent records. If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown above. Sincerely yours, /3;,/sem Michael Sassi District Director Form L-399 (Rev. 1— Ic C o James K. Guh1ke (206) 442-5110 LED®PcIEREIMEN ©fl a® Trea WITTy .- liiu bs&urekiltA GGA@C- Data: - - in reply roFee to:EP/E0: E01: JKG • FEB 17.9 7 .D®391, Code 428 SEA:E0; . 76.-252 l3 ..Western Natural History Institute 1234 NM. 25th Avenue Po rtlard, -0R _ 97210 Accounting Period Ending:. December 31 Form 990 Required: ` 1] Yea ❑ No ' Advance Ruling Period Ends: December. 31, 1976 Dear Applicant: - - Based on the information supplied, and assuming your operations will be as stated in your application -for recognition of exemption, we have determined you are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c).(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. •Because you are a' -newly created organization, we are not now making a final determination of your foundation status under section 509(a) of the Code. However, we have determined that you can reasonably be expected to be a publicly supported organization of the type described in section 170(b) (1) (A) (vj:) and 509(a)(1). : ' • Accordingly,you will be treated as a publicly• supported organization, and not -as a private foundation, during an advance ruling period. This advance ruling period -begins on the date of•your inception and ends on the date shown above. Within 90 days after the end of your advance ruling period, you must submit to us information needed to determine whether you have met the requirements of the applicable support test during the advance ruling period. If you establish that you have been a publicly supported organization, you will be classified as a section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) organization so long as you continue to meet the requirements of the applicable support test. If, however, you do not meet the public support requirements during the advance ruling period, you will be classified as a'private foundation for future periods. A1so,'in the event you"are classified as a private foundation,•you will be treated as a private foundation from the date of your inception for purposes of sections 507(d) and 4940. - Grantors and donors may rely on the determination that you are not a private foundation until 90 days after the end of your advance ruling period. In addition, if you submit the required information (over) Foran 1-391 (4-73)