4th Annual Lewis & Clark Conference Oct. 3-4 in Bozeman

Montana's 4th annual Lewis & Clark Conference agenda and activities are taking shape. The conference is scheduled for Oct. 3-4, 2002, at the GranTree Inn in Bozeman. Updates on bicentennial activities on the national, regional and statewide levels will highlight the conference. With the national Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration kick off on January 18, 2003, at Monticello, VA, it is increasing-ly important that groups along the trail are up to date with all that is being planned and under-way. A conference feature will be a special reception and program at the Missouri Head-waters State Park on Thursday, Oct. 3. Registration information will be mailed in early August. For more information, including details on sponsorship and vendor displays, contact conference planner Gail Brockbank, Premier Planning, 442-4141.

Upcoming Meetings

MT L & C Bicentennial Commission:
- Oct. 2-3, 2002, Bozeman, MT
- Feb. 11, 2003, Helena, MT

Reg. Comm./Tribal Reps:
- Oct. 2,2002, Bozeman, Glasgow, MT

4th Annual Fall Conference:
- Oct. 3-4, 2002, Bozeman, MT

L&C Trail Heritage Foundation Annual Mtg:
- July 28-31, 2002, Louisville, KY

"Confluence of Cultures" Symposium:
- May 28-31, 2003, UoM, Missoula,MT

Legacy Campaign Fundraising Effort Gearing Up

The Montana Lewis & Clark Legacy Campaign is currently in development. The Legacy Campaign is focused on raising $14 million to finance the preservation, promotion and development programs of the Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, Pompeys Pillar Historical Association, Travelers' Rest Preservation and Heritage Association, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Foundation and the Montana Historical Society. The Montana History Foundation is providing campaign coordination and management. The Charles Bentz Associates consulting firm will serve as fundraising counsel for the campaign. In preparation for the campaign launch, the funding objectives are being refined, campaign materials are undergoing design and production, active recruitment for steering committee members is underway and a Helena campaign office is being set up. The campaign partners realize the attainment of their fundraising goal is an ambitious undertaking, and are confident that presenting one focused, statewide campaign is the critical element for success. For more information on the Legacy Campaign contact the state Commission office or call the campaign office, 457-9080.

Commission Update:

• In order to better serve and assist the growing number of Montana organizations and communities with projects funded by the state Commission's grant programs, Amy Baird has been hired to provide grant administration support. Amy is a 2002 history graduate from Carroll College. She was hired in May for a half-time position with the Commission Office. If you are a recipient of a Commission grant, and or have any grant-related questions, feel free to contact Amy during week day afternoons at the state Commission office. If you have a current grant project underway, you will be hearing from Amy as your grant report deadlines approach and/or pass.
• A special thanks goes out to the Glasgow community and the NE Regional L&C Bicentennial Commission for a great job hosting the June Commission meeting. The hosts treated everyone to a great meeting in Glasgow as well as a memorable tour of the Fort Peck Lake area, and an event dedicating new interpretive signs at the Milk River/Missouri confluence.
• Congratulations to Jack Lepley, the new chair of the Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission. Hal Stearns will serve as Vice Chair.
• Three Commissioner terms will expire on October 1, 2002. The Commission posts currently held by Betty Stone, Darrell Kipp and Homer Staves are up for appointment by October 1. Interested individuals wanting to serve on the state Commission should submit a letter and resume to Governor Martz. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and serve three-year terms.

National Bicentennial Planning Update:

• The new National Geographic Lewis & Clark Imax film opened to rave reviews in Omaha, NE, April 18, 2002. This "big screen" Lewis & Clark feature is now showing three times daily (11AM/3PM/7PM) at the National Geographic Theater in Imax in West Yellowstone, MT. For more information call 406-646-4100.
• The National Council met in Lewiston, ID, April 12, 2002. They approved a communications, marketing and fundraising contract with The Metropolitan Group.
• The first-annual National Planning Forum is scheduled for Great Falls on April 10-13, 2003. This series of planning meetings replaces the national planning workshops held the past seven years. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and a vendor show is planned. For more information, contact Steve Kubick, 406-727-2481.
• The Corps of Discovery II continues planning its interpretive components while working to secure funding from both Congress and the private sector. As of early June, the Montana Regional Bicentennial Commissions and Tribes submitted in-depth questionnaires to the National Park Service for consideration as 2005-2006 host communities for the Corps of Discovery II. Montana's Corps II host locations are anticipated to be named by Fall 2002.

Montana L&C Projects Receive National Park Service Funds

Success came to over half of the Montana L&C projects requesting funds from the National Park Service's 2002 Challenge Cost Share Program. Forty-eight Montana projects submitted funding requests to NPS; 27 were approved for a total of $597,500. The 2002 Challenge Cost Share Program awarded $4.95 million through 192 grants for projects along the national L&C trail. Montana's success rate was the highest of the 19 states along the trail.

Montana to Participate in Nat'l. Bicentennial Kick-Off

Planning is currently underway for Montana's participation in Monticello's "Jefferson's West" National Heritage Signature Event, the kick off to the 4-year national bicentennial observance. A Montana booth will highlight our state's plans for the Bicentennial. Key Montana leaders will be invited to attend and participate in the national "Media Day." At home, we plan to announce the official "kick-off" of the National Lewis & Clark Commemoration with a Montana State Capitol event featuring Lewis & Clark addressing the 2003 Montana's Legislature. The Capitol Rotunda is reserved for "Lewis & Clark Day, " Saturday, January 18th. Stay tuned for more details.

License Plate Update

Almost 7,000 Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial license plate have been sold in the first five months of 2002. More Lewis & Clark plates are showing up on Montana vehicles every week, but we'd sure like to see more! The bicentennial plates are not only for vehicles, but can be purchased as collector items for the same $30 fee. Contact the Commission office about this. Tell your out-of-state friends and family that an attractive Montana Bicentennial license plate can be theirs. Ask them to join you in showing pride in Montana's Lewis & Clark heritage!

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Presenters, Performers Invited to Apply for Confluence of Cultures Symposium

Invitations are being sent out to prospective presenters and performers to participate in the May 28-31, 2003, Confluence of Cultures Symposium planned for the University of Montana campus in Missoula. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and a vendor show is being contemplated. For more information on all aspects of this unique and exciting symposium contact David Purviance, Coordinator at 406-243-6093; e-mail addresss:cultures@mso.umt.edu; symposium web site: www.umt.edu/cultures.

Planning a New Interpretive Sign Project?

Don't re-invent the wheel! The Lewis & Clark Focus Team of the interagency Montana Tourism & Recreation Initiative (MTRI) has created a statewide Interpretive Sign Strategy that summarizes the key steps in designing, fabricating and installing a family of interpretive signs. The plan includes design templates to help create signage that is recognizable, attractive and effective in telling Montana's Lewis & Clark-related stories. The sign strategy is available in electronic format on the What's New page of the Commission's Intranet Site: www.montanalewisandclark.org/whatsnew/. For more information contact the Commission Office or any one of the MTRI agencies involved in developing the sign plan.

Montana Lewis & Clark Tour Guides "On-Line"

Individuals who successfully demonstrated their education and experience related to five key Montana Lewis & Clark "knowledge areas" will soon be featured in the state Commission's Resource Library page of the Intranet site. Lewis & Clark tour guides interested in expanding their guiding expertise and being included in the new on-line tour guide directory should plan to enroll in the second annual Lewis & Clark Guide Training Program to be offered by the Lewis & Clark Training Academy in early 2003. Training program announcements will be posted as the class schedule is finalized.

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