Summer News: Caro Thompson's Film Wins Emmy!

We're still looking for input on how this year's conference went, and hope you'll leave a "Comment" someplace on this blog if you were there!

Meanwhile, some great news just received from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LBCP) about an important film produced by MY STORY MATTERS presenter Caro Thompson:

Champlain: The Lake Between is a dramatic one hour documentary reenacting historic events of Lake Champlain. The LCBP provided funding for a CD ROM that accompanies the DVD, for use at home or in the classroom, and to distribute the DVD and CD ROM free to all Champlain Basin schools. The DVD recently won the Historical/Cultural Program category at the Boston/New England Emmy Awards on June 1st, 2009! For your copy call 802-759-8412 or visit www.historicvermont.org/chimneypoint.

My Story Matters: History Takes the Stage

Bess O'Brien and eight students spent April 8 crafting a provocative and entertaining revue that wrapped up the big conference. Tackling three big issues -- the arts, gay marriage, and violence -- the students on stage took on the personas of figures from earlier days, and commented audaciously in those voices.

Bess, who is an award-winning film and stage director and producer, e-mailed afterward: Thank you! The kids were great and it was a lot of fun!

Here's the list of contemporary issues that the group first brainstormed:

*First Black President
*Gay Marriage
*Intelligent Design -- Texas
*Child Left Behind -- education
*Invasion of Iraq/Bombs/North Korea
*Religion Reform/Separation of Church & State
*Immigration
*Economy and Recession
*Jazz or Hip Hop/Rap
*Texting/cell phone/language/twittering/FaceBook/MySpace
*Shootings/Hand guns/Video games/aggressive games
*Global warming & how it is affecting VT: sugaring / Burlington Best City
*Divorce

Sounds global to me ... Then participants brought out figures from history and wrestled with what they did and didn't know about those other times and voices, to come up with dramatic streams of commentary:

Charlotte Bronte - writer - "Jane Eyre" - 1700s
Obama - first Black President - 2009
Duke Ellington - jazz - piano / Duke Ellington orchestra / speakeasy
Martin Luther 1600 - brought on Protestant Reform./Catholic reform
Henry VIII - six wives -- ruled England - 1400s? - started Church of England - wanted to divorce wife Anne
Jesus Christ - the son of God - Messiah - can walk on water?
Winston Churchill - Second World War - Lead - Prime Minister England
Hitler - We knew! - Evil -- World War II -- very smart! - he wanted to go to art school and Dad wouldn't let him
Anne Frank - World War II - teen who wrote book!
Harriet Tubman - Underground Railroad, African
Clara Barton - Civil War - started the Red Cross
Whoopi Goldberg - Sister Act, Color Purple -- Canadian, lived in Vt
Madonna - major rock star
Hillary Clinton - first feminist candidate - Sec'y of State
John Lennon - Beatle -- assasinated ... conspiracy?
Abe Lincoln - major - top hat - Civil War - end of slavery
Albert Einstein - major inventor - Special Theory of Relativity/Newton idea/The Bomb, E = MC2
George Washington - first President of United States
Kennedy -- 1960s - assassinated, 1963 -- Catholic
Shakespeare - major playwright
Roosevelt?
Oscar Wilde - gay playwright
George Bernard Shaw - major playwright
Sylvia Plath - daring poet - 1950s - Bell Jar - committed suicide - Ted Hughes
Virginia Wolfe - "Mrs. Dalloway" - committed suicide

Special moments that hit me hard were listening to "Sylvia Plath" give advice about avoiding violence; John Lennon pleading for peace; Madonna on "the arts." What did you hear or say?

[Hey Alexis -- thanks for letting us use the conga drum! It added a lot ...]

Were You There on April 8? Your Story Matters!

[photo: Melody Walker brings her Wabanaki life to the stage as the conference keynote]
We had 181 people at My Story Matters, the first history conference for high school students and teachers held at Lyndon State College on April 8. A hundred and thirty-six of the people there were students -- awesome!

Were you there? Did you cook with Lauren Anderson, sort through Census records with Tony Booth, try out some interviewing with Peggy Sapphire? It would be great to hear from you if you worked with Caro Thompson on how to generate compelling video, or with Cyndy Bittinger on the "what if" of Grace Coolidge, Dorothy Thompson, and Anne Frank. More, more, more!

So use the Comments button here, and make your voice heard. Keep an eye on the blog, too, because soon we'll be able to post links to the amazing narratives that some of you recorded in the My Story Matters History Booth.

I'm counting on you to speak up. Beth

The Night Before the Big Day...

I can hardly wait to hear Lyndon State College President Dr. Carol Moore talking about her career path tomorrow. I know she was a biologist -- how did she get from there to heading up Vermont's northernmost college? Just a few more hours until I'll find out.

When I talked with Jenny Mackenzie earlier, she was excited about the two totally different presentations she's giving tomorrow: the first one with an amazing array of -- ooops, I almost told the surprise -- well, with an amazing amount of cool stuff, and about 50 students. And the second one, the writing intensive, with about 18 students, when she's especially looking forward to the conversations.

I heard a rumor that Joanne Bertrand, who is coaching the Story Booth before people go to record with Charlotte Albright, is arriving in full costume from another time and place! (Charlotte is giving up a day of her vacation to record your stories -- mega thanks, Ms. A!)

Melody Walker is putting finishing touches on the PowerPoint presentation she'll give in salute to her life as a young Wabenaki in Vermont. Look for her special exhibit in the theatre lobby.

At the college, Donna Wheeler's crew is rearranging rooms tonight, making sure we have plenty of seating, tables, tech support, and more. Donna, you rock!

Two "mystery guests" are coming tomorrow -- one in the morning, one in the afternoon -- for students who soak up interview skills from Peggy Sapphire, to test their new abilities. Wonder how much they'll reveal??

Just checked in with Lauren Anderson, who's been grocery shopping for her fabulous "History's Kitchen" presentation -- wow, this will be fun. Barnet's librarian Sherry Tolle, who bakes for her own Bed-and-Breakfast, will help if needed!

Caro Thompson told me she had a brainstorm and is working on some radically new handouts to go with her workshop on "Compelling Video."

Last I heard from Bess O'Brien, she was considering a raid on Jasper's music collection. I've packed a drum for her musical group!

And there's an enormous poster of Anne Frank in my car, for Cyndy Bittinger's group.

Did I mention that Tony Booth, the awesome archeologist from New Hampshire, is bringing some artifacts to check out?

Joan Alexander invented a folded paper device that's going to be great fun for investigating and retelling family stories.

I hope that the amazing Renee Kelly, whose organizing skills have kept all of this on track, is getting some sleep already. She and the folks from Burlington and Montpelier are getting up way early tomorrow ...

Me, I've got bags and boxes of supplies and handouts, -- oh, I read the one that Julia Lewandoski is using with her plunge into researching Vermont's significant women, and she's going to pack SO much into that 45 minutes that I bet everyone gets breathless ... wish I could be in that presentation room!

I've packed the card decks for "Mysteries in History." And since I'm diverting some of the crowd from Lauren's kitchen group to a special presentation on "Bakers' Tips for History Kitchens," I've been measuring out sourdough starter and packing taste-test samples of traditional New England recipes.

I can hardly wait to see you all in the morning!

203 People Are Coming on Wednesday!

Yes, that's our count for MY STORY MATTERS -- and we can hardly wait. An amazing number of people are giving time, food, skills, wisdom ... and 152 students have registered.

Even the arrival time in the morning will be full of things to do and see, as Melody Walker has offered to bring some of her Wabenaki clothing and other items; Joanne Bertrand will share her latest research at a display table; and the indomitable and ever-reading Kim Crady-Smith sets up her own bookstore, Green Mountain Books, in both the lobby and the cafeteria.

The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium has a special partnership role in Jenny Mackenzie's "Listening for Secrets" -- I promised not to reveal details ahead of time, but oh wow!

Special news: Due to a flood of enrollment for Lauren Anderson's "In the Kitchen with History" presentation, Beth Kanell (that's me!) will give a session on "Baker's Tips for History Kitchens" at the same time as Lauren's first session. We'll sample hardtack (yes, in the picture here!), cornbread, biscuits, and rolls; go over how "leavening" has changed; check how to adapt old-time recipes; and more.

Partners Make Extraordinary Challenges Easier!

Mega thanks to the Passumpsic Savings Bank, which is sponsoring producer/director Bess O'Brien at My Story Matters! The Passumpsic team supports community and the excitement of three-dimensional history, and we're grateful for such terrific support.

FLASH NEWS! There are still some slots open for students in Bess O'Brien's day-long workshop "High School History: The Musical." Whether your talents are in acting, music, creative thinking, or the quirks and mysteries that make history such an adventure, consider joining this group for your adventure on April 8. You'll develop a real musical with Bess's coaching, and perform a "first draft" of it on stage. Bring one small costume prop (a hat, gloves, moustache, apron, shovel, you name it) and have in mind your own top character from the past. There's lots of room for action and delight at this workshop.

In History's Kitchen with Lauren Anderson

You've found it -- a recipe right out of Colonial times. But do you really want to try baking in an open fireplace this week? Or, you want to jazz up your Civil War report by offering a serving of hardtack, the enduring but generally tooth-breaking biscuit that soldiers carried with them: How can you find the recipe? Or, your Aunt Grace gave you her recipe for Depression-Era mock beef stew -- er, what ARE those ingredients and how can you substitute others and still have something tasty and true to the era?

Lauren Anderson has wrestled with questions like these. She'll present "In the Kitchen with History" at My Story Matters! Seasoned in the culinary arts, energetic, enthusiastic, and ready to show you a few tricks of the stove or cookbook, she'll get you started on your next project. Bring a notebook along.

FLASH NEWS! So many people have signed up for Lauren's presentation that she'll be offering it in both sessions II and III. Teachers and other coordinators, please watch for an e-mail that will help us sort out who'll be where and when (thank you!).

Don't Touch the Shovel -- There Are More Ways to Dig!

Tony Booth is a historical archaeologist, an investigator of the evidence that vanished cultures leave behind -- especially in New England. Here's what he says:

I grew up in Barre, (have you heard of Booth Bros. Milk?--my relatives) and still consider myself a Vermonter. I live in NH but work in VT, NH and Maine. I have been doing archaeology since 1998 when I volunteered at a museum in Portsmouth, NH, while attending UNH. I worked in contract archaeology after college, went to grad school at the University of Maine, and then got back into contract work, first with my former company, and then on my own beginning last year. I worked at the Old Stone House Museum in Brownington last Spring. We excavated test pits in advance of building restoration and combined it with two school field trips so that Elementary school students could learn about archaeology and get their hands dirty under my supervision. It was fun and I think everyone learned something.

He'll fill you in on why the shovel is the last resort of today's history detectives. And he'll share with you what's going on -- and how you can take part.

Historic and Hidden -- & Contemporary and in Music Scene: Julia Lewandoski

Julia Lewandoski is a tireless researcher, which is a good thing -- because in order to unearth the stories of five Vermont women with connections to Lake Champlain and the early French and Native history of Vermont, she had to dig a LOT. Why was it so tough? She'll sort it out with participants and give a tour of the Vermont Women's History Project web site, so you can get to significant stories on your own. Meanwhile, want to see what Julia does with the other part of her life? Check out the article in Seven Days that goes with this photo, by clicking here. I bet you can tell which person in the photo is Julia!

How to Get a Woman to Reveal Herself: Poet Peggy Sapphire Shares the Art of Interviewing

You just found out that the silver-haired woman who lives close to your home used to be a famous actress and you want to know her story -- including some of the miraculous, funny, or tragic things that happened to her on the way to being famous. What questions will get you those fabulous details? Or, a friend of a friend of your brother was one of the women that President Obama invited to his inauguration. How can you get her to tell you about the details that made it so exciting? In fact, how can you get your own best friend to share with you her faith in life that makes her such a great friend? All this can come your way if you know how to interview a woman with an eye and ear open to the interaction of her life and the history of her time -- past or present. Published poet Peggy Sapphire (the cover of her book of poetry is shown here) shares some of the interviews she's done with other people, and gets you going to try the skills yourself. Expect some surprise guests at the workshop, so you can practice discovering the surprises of their lives.

Schools Registration Form, Due MARCH 10 With Estimated Numbers, Please

FLASH NEWS! Registration's extended to March 10, to make it easier for those who have school vacations just now.

If you are a high-tech person who doesn't mind fiddling with the Net AND if you have Flash on your computer, you can CLICK HERE for printable version of Program PLUS Registration Form (when you see the dark red title MSM Prog & Regist, click on it, then use the iPaper button to get "Print").

OR ask Renee to send you the registration form via e-mail: Renee.Kelly@lsc.vsc.edu.

OR copy and paste the following:

For Schools Participating in MY STORY MATTERS, April 8, 2009

Please fill in your information and copy JUST THIS PAGE into an e-mail to return to Renee Kelly: Renee.Kelly@lsc.vsc.edu – and we will follow up with a mailing that lets your students choose which events they want to attend. We need THIS PAGE right away, please – thank you!

Welcome! We’re excited to have your students and teachers (with an invitation, too, to your library staff) taking part in MY STORY MATTERS, A History Conference for High School Students in the Northeast Kingdom.

Please let us know the following:

Number of classes attending:

Grade levels in your group:

Approximate number of students attending:

Approximate number of staff attending:

Do you need a bus transportation subsidy? Yes No Amount needed

Contact person, with e-mail and phone number:




Do your students or staff members have any special needs that you’d like us to know about?





You can update your numbers with us, by e-mailing Renee Kelly, administrator, at renee.kelly@lsc.vsc.edu. You’ll receive a signup sheet for specific sessions within a week. Questions about the program components should be sent to Beth Kanell at BethPoet@aol.com (802-751-8374). Thanks!

A Terrific Conference Partner: The Vermont Humanities Council

There's a lot of buzz around the state for My Story Matters! The Vermont Commission on Women and the Women's History Project have been passing along news, and so is our partner and supporter, the Vermont Humanities Council. In fact, Mark Fitzsimmons at the council just told us:

'We’re proud to be supporting the Vermont Women’s History Project on this conference. It’s really an impressive grass roots effort, with a diverse group of people recognizing a need, coalescing around a good idea, and assembling the horse power from disparate sources to make it happen. I particularly like the fact that it breaks the confines of the classroom for young readers and potential historians, and grounds history in their very own lives, and in the lives of others that they can talk and relate to. This conference is a great case in point for why most of us live in Vermont.'

Mark Fitzsimmons
Director of Community Programs

Vermont Humanities Council
Sharing Our Past … Shaping Our Future
11 Loomis Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05602
Phone: 802.262.2626 x 306
Fax: 802.262.2620
www.vermonthumanities.org

Producer Caro Thompson

Producer Caro Thompson's film "The Lake Between" may come to your town or school this year. This Emmy-nominated TV producer and filmmaker tackled the 400-year span since European explorers arrived at Lake Champlain, to craft her film in time for this year's Quadricentennial celebrations. Her title for the movie reflects a Native American term for the lake, and she clearly portrays the presence of many people here, long before the arrival of Samuel De Champlain.

High School History -- The Musical!

Here's an image from "Shout It Out," which award-winning director/producer Bess O'Brien released last year. See who the performers are? When My Story Matters brings together a new set of performers to create High School History -- The Musical, it's going to be awesome! Meanwhile, you can purchase a DVD of "Shout It Out" for $25 from www.kingdomcounty.com and get inspired!

Keynote Speaker Melody Walker, Wabanaki Elnu Member

Elnu Abenaki member and featured keynote speaker Melody Walker discusses how her people’s history and heritage have helped influence and shape her life experiences:

"My Wabanaki heritage shapes the way that I view
the world, the way that I view history, and the way that I deal with
difficult situations. I am always mindful of my place in the world and
my culture. During the hard times, my mentors have guided me with
stories of the past, of perseverance, and of Gluskabe. Abenaki melodies
forever remind me of what I love most in the world and that no matter
what happens, there is a large family ready to stand up for each other.
Historically Wabanaki existence, physical and cultural, has been
severely threatened, up to the present day, but we are still here and
will continue to occupy our homeland. As a Wabanaki person, I have a
responsibility to my culture and to my people- to learn about our
history, relearn our technologies, and to work hard for the future. From
the time that I wake up and thank the sun, to the time that I go to bed,
I know that I am a part of something bigger and it makes me whole. No
matter what road I take, I am never alone in the world and whatever
happens along the path reflects not only upon myself as an individual
but upon all of those behind me."

Draft Schedule for an Awesome Conference

[photo: Cyndy Bittinger]
Draft Schedule, My Story Matters, Wed. April 8, 2009

8:15-9:15 Arrivals; historic snacks; displays and book sales; sign-ups for My Story Matters story booth

9:15 Welcome from Dr. Carol Moore, president of LSC

9:30-10 Keynote, Melody Walker, Elnu Abenaki leader, "Traditions & Changes: Abenaki History, Gluskabe to the Present"

10:10-10:55 Session I
11-11:45 Session II
11:45-12:30 Bag lunch in cafeteria, with discussion tables and media viewings
12:40-1:25 Session III
1:30-2:15 High School History: The Musical (performance)
2:20 Finale and handouts
2:30 Farewell


Session I: Digging for Stories
A: Local and Lively: Learn to tell family stories embedded in history, first observing a professional interview by historian Jon Rice of family story collector Joan Alexander — including Joan’s collection of artifacts! — and then develop your own family history, with research possibilities outlined.
B: How to Get a Woman to Reveal Herself: Poet and teacher Peggy Sapphire spills the inside story on several Northeast Kingdom women whose lives show the effects of history – effects on them and by them. Students will practice interviewing each other and some special guests, some famous, some mysterious.
C: Historic and Hidden: Women’s Significant Lives: Determined and dogged researcher Julia Lewandoski unearths the stories of five Vermont women with connections to Lake Champlain and the early French and Native history of Vermont. Why was the digging so tough? Why do we know so little about these women? When does the label “ordinary life” hide vitally important women’s stories? Sort it out with Julia, and she’ll give you a tour of the Vermont Women’s History Project web site, so you can use it as your own resource.
D: Listening for Secrets, then Rewriting History: Published in fiction and poetry, creative writing teacher Jenny Land Mackenzie gets your hands onto both odd and ordinary objects from Vermont’s past, and shows you how to ask: Where was this made? Who sold it, who bought it? Who used it, and for how long? What was it used for? Develop fictional histories of Vermont’s past, rich with accurate detail and imagination. (Dedicated writers can continue into the second session.)
E: High School History, the Musical, first part: Director Bess O’Brien (“Shout It Out!.” “Where Is Stephanie?,” and other films) reveals how students have turned their lives into musicals and films – then gets you started. Bring one small costume item (hat, scarf, vest, tie, whatever) and one character from history. And prepare to make some noise! (Must attend all three parts and perform.)
F: My Story Matters Booth: How has war affected your family? Why does your family live here and how do your family members earn enough money to keep doing this? How has a catastrophe or a miracle in the past changed your family history? Bring your best friend and interview each other. Limited to 7 pairs of friends per session.

Session II: Hands-On History
A; Hidden in the Hills: Tony Booth, New England historical archaeologist, fills you in on early European settlements in the Northeast Kingdom and what evidence they've left. Explore possible field projects that you can initiate in your town, and develop a plan for a successful “dig” into Vermont history.
B: Translating History into Compelling Video: Emmy-nominated TV producer and filmmaker Caro Thompson shows you how to make a story visual – the secret to connecting with your audience. Bring a two-paragraph “My Story” with you. Limited to 12.
C: Would You Have Rescued Anne Frank? Two Vermont women tried to rescue children like her in the run-up to World War II. Hear their stories in a visit with historian Cyndy Bittinger, who combed through archives on First Lady Grace Coolidge of Burlington and radio journalist Dorothy Thompson, part time resident of Barnard. Both women spoke out at a time when their actions were controversial. Yet they influenced public opinion. Do you know of modern examples of this kind of bravery? Let us talk about Vermont women who made a difference – and how you might choose your own to investigate.
D: Listening for Secrets, then Rewriting History, second part: Develop your story further, with characterization, plot, and writers’ techniques that turn you into a professional in historical fiction.
E: High School History, the Musical, second part: must attend all three parts.
F: My Story Matters History Booth: see Session I.

Lunch Break: Bag lunches, and discussion tables with presenters so you can ask in-depth questions. One or two short films may also be shown. Browse among books and handouts, too. [Teachers, we’re looking for a discussion leader and handouts for an educators’ table, too.]

Session III: Perform, Produce, Publish
A: Mysteries in History: Author Beth Kanell (The Darkness Under the Water) shares her secrets. Learn to peel back history to find mysteries. You get a starter deck of Vermont history’s suspenseful moments and issues. Then explore the use of historian’s curiosity; practice several research tools; consider strong versus weal evidence; and find the voices of stories. You’re on your way to writing your own book now.
B: In the Kitchen with History (tasting and adjusting recipes)
C: How to Get a Woman to Reveal Herself, second part: Review the secrets of interviewing with Peggy Sapphire (see Session I). Then create this conference’s newsletter of interviews and personal history to share.
D: Local and Lively: Learn to tell family stories embedded in history (see Session I).
E: High School History, the Musical, third part.
F: My Story Matters History Booth: See Session I.