Published: July 01, 2008 08:42 am         

Association receives grant

By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

MIDDLEFIELD — The Community Foundation for South Central New York gives out competitive grants twice each year, and the Town of Middlefield Historic Association was recently selected to receive $1,090 for its Collections Management Project.

The Community Foundation’s board of directors reviewed 38 grant requests, and the Middlefield Historical Association was the only one in Otsego County selected to receive a grant. Nine other grants were given out. According to The Community Foundation Executive Director Diane Brown, the foundation had more than $309,000 worth of grant requests, but only had $75,000 to give away.

``It was a tough decision,’’ said Brown while visiting the Old Middlefield Schoolhouse with board member Callie Demtrak last Thursday. ``All the organizations are great and deserving organizations.’’ Brown said the biggest grant given away was in the amount of $10,000.

She said the foundation gives to all sorts of organizations such as zoos, clinics, art associations and school projects, and much more. Brown said the foundation has just started sending people out to a site after a grant is awarded, and that is one of her favorite parts of the job.

``I get to see the passion that people have about their organization,’’ Brown said. ``Not to mention, I get to see and learn about all sorts of new and exciting things on my travels.’’

Merrilyn O’Connell, Town of Middlefield Historic Association President and project director, said the funding will enable the association to conduct an inventory and assessment of its collections and verify records, to upgrade storage conditions, and to train volunteers in the skills and techniques of collections care. In August, a workshop will be offered to representatives of area historical societies that are planning on working on a similar project, she said.

According to O’Connell, the association’s board of directors decided to respond to a nationwide Heritage Health Index survey conducted in 2004, which focused on the condition and preservation needs of national, state and local collections. She said it emphasized that damage occurs at institutions of all sizes, but is most serious at local museums and historical societies.

The Middlefield Old Schoolhouse has been the center of education, local history and community activities since 1875, and according to O’Connell, the Town of Middlefield Historical Association has made collections care a priority, and is most appreciative of the Community Foundation’s recognition of the needs and generous support of the project. The Community Foundation for South Central New York, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997, encourages and facilitates personal and institutional philanthropy throughout the region, works directly with donors to achieve donors’ charitable goals, makes grants to other regional non-profits in order to help solve current community problems, and works to build an endowment for the region’s future needs.

The foundation serves six counties including Chenango, Delaware and Otsego.

Otsego County was added to its service area in 2007.