Our truest and most compelling writing comes from deep within, from conscious or unconscious knowledge that is innately part of who we are.
--Susan Tweit,
Walking Nature Home
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Interpretive Writing Intensive
Early bird registration ends soon!
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REGISTER NOW
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Register by midnight,
Feb. 28, 2010 &
SAVE $200
April 19-24, 2010, Penn Center
St. Helena Island
South Carolina
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Know someone who could use the information in this newsletter? Click
"Forward email" at the bottom of the newsletter, or contact me and I'll add their name to the
list.
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Want to Host a Writing Workshop?
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| We offer one, two, and four-day interpretive writing workshops. If you're interested in an on-site workshop, click the logo or contact Judy by email or phone, 888/886-9289. |
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Wishing all blizzard-bound friends and colleagues warmer weather soon!
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Why are you doing that?
Why are you doing that?
Why that program or exhibit? Why that theme, that topic? Why that newsletter, slide show, walking tour, web site?
Oftentimes, we're so immersed in our site's knowledge and stories that we automatically jump to "Hey, here's a cool idea for a great program." We have a strong internal sense of why a particular theme or approach is a good idea, and we're confident about the outcome.
Intuition is a great place to start, but it isn't enough. For our interpretive creations to work effectively with everything else that's going on--other interpretive programs, marketing and public relations, fundraising efforts, and more--we need to articulate exactly why this new bit of interpretation justifies the precious time and resources we're about to spend.
Some of this seems so obvious that we forget how important it is to write it down. Say you're working at a site dedicated to the culture and history of Mennonite and Amish people in central Ohio; you're not going to create an interpretive program about great white sharks and ocean conservation. And if you're at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you're not going to develop programs about the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center's Behalt cyclorama, even though both of these stories are intriguing and important.
But why do shark stories belong with the aquarium and cyclorama stories with the heritage center?
The answer lies within the purpose of each organization. The purpose is summarized by the organization's mission or purpose statement, which tells us why the site or organization exists and what it intends to accomplish.
The missions of our two examples are quite different from each other:
"The mission of the non-profit Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans."
The mission of the Mennonite Heritage Center is "to accurately inform visitors about the faith, culture and lifestyle of the Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite peoples; to extend a warm welcome and hospitality to guests among us; to interpret the heritage of our people to both tourists and our own faith community; to invite visitors to meet the Christ of our culture, His uniqueness and claim upon our lives and customs."
Note that the mission statements are broad enough to encompass a variety of ways to fulfill that mission, and specific enough to be clear about what the organization hopes to accomplish.
Mission statements are the "top-level" goals of the organization. They are the big picture of purpose. These big goals don't tell us how to accomplish the mission or purpose. They don't specify how to measure progress towards reaching those goals. They simply say, "This is what we want to accomplish."
It's pretty clear that a program about great white sharks is unlikely to further the mission of the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. But what about a program on different religious settlements in Ohio? Ohio's first Catholic settlement was in 1751, near what is today Sandusky. The Mennonites first arrived in Ohio during the early 1800s and settled farther south and east. Mennonites migrated to the United States from Europe for several reasons, including to escape Catholic and Protestant persecution. So is a program about the first Catholic settlement appropriate for the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center?
This is where things start to get interesting--and sometimes, a bit confusing. And it's a great example of why we need to look at the big picture goals of the mission statement.
Incorporating the history of the conflict between Mennonites and other religions does fit within the mission to "accurately inform visitors [and] interpret the heritage of our people," so a program addressing the conflict between Catholic and Anabaptist movements that led to Mennonite settlement in Ohio is an appropriate topic for interpretation.
But an interpretive program devoted to the Catholic settlement itself doesn't make sense here any more than a shark exhibit, because the Catholic settlement has nothing to do with the later migration of Mennonite people to Ohio. If, after researching this topic further, I discover there is a connection between the two groups in Ohio, I might decide to include information about the Catholic settlement, but only as far as supporting the goal of interpreting the heritage of the Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite peoples.
The goal of your interpretive program is a subgoal of the big-picture goals; it must support those top-level goals of the mission statement. Many interpretive programs, especially large or complex ones--a series of exhibits or a complete exhibit hall, for example--will usually have subgoals, too (they're sub-subgoals of the big picture goals). Each subgoal supports the goal above it, all the way up to those big-picture goals. Notice that the goals are not, in and of themselves, measurable.
We begin writing goals by exploring "What if," "I hope," and "I wish" questions. What if people had a better understanding of our heritage? I hope our visitors become better stewards of the ocean. I wish visitors felt more comfortable with our culture and beliefs. These become the rough drafts of our goals.
When we finish editing them, they are the answer to, "Why are you doing that?"
Next time: How do you know you're on the road to achieving your goal? That's where objectives, which are both specific and measurable, come in. Learn more in our next issue!
Have a comment or question? email me
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Interpretive
Writing Intensive
at historic
Penn Center in April
Register before Feb. 28 and save $200
The Interpretive Writing Intensive is coming to Penn Center, St. Helena Island, South Carolina, April 19-24, 2010.
Join us for an ALL INCLUSIVE, 4-day/5-night workshop with optional 6th night at historic Penn Center, St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
This
highly interactive workshop is designed for interpreters who write. If
you struggle with writing--if you wish your writing were more powerful,
persuasive, and effective--if your creativity and efficiency could use
a boost--if you want your writing to make a difference--then this is
the workshop for you!
Arrive Monday between 3:00 and 6:00 on April 19, 2010
Depart Saturday morning, April 24, 2010
Optional: Stay an extra day to explore, including the Port Royal soft shell crab festival; depart on Sunday, April 25, 2010
All-inclusive pricing:
Registration: $1690.00
Optional--Extend your stay a day! Saturday night lodging: $75.00
Register early and save up to $200.00!
Register 3 or more people at the same time and save another $50 per person!
All Inclusive Price includes the workshop, lodging (5
nights) at Penn Center's Arnett House, and snacks and meals from Monday evening
through Friday night. Lodging is shared room, maximum 2 people per room; single premium available, please call 888/886-9289 for pricing.
Optional Saturday night fee ($75.00) includes lodging at
Penn Center's Arnett House, April 24, 2010. Please note: this fee is for lodging only
and does not include meals or transportation.
Save up to $250.00 per person!
Early Bird Registration: Register by midnight, February 28, 2010 and
save $200! Register three or more people at the same time and save $50 per person off of Regular and Early Bird prices.
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 Freeman Tilden said interpretive writing should be "concise, focused, inspirational, and engaging." Lofty goals for any writer!
To
ensure a quality experience with plenty of individual attention,
workshop size is limited to 15 people. Registration is first-come,
first-served.
Register today to take advantage of the Early Bird discount--$200.00 off the regular registration!
More info on our web site, or call Judy at
970/416-6353 or 888/886-9289 (toll-free in the U. S.).
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Your Registration Includes:
4-day workshop,
all workshop materials and handouts, one thirty-minute individual
consulting session, instructor review of one previously submitted
writing sample; Lodging* at Penn Center's Arnett House from Monday evening through Saturday morning, April 19-24, 2010,  with an optional 6th night for additional $75.00 fee; Meals and snacks from Monday evening through Friday evening, April 19-23, 2010.
All-inclusive pricing:
Registration: $1690.00
Optional--Extend your stay a day! Saturday night lodging: $75.00
Register early and save!
Early Bird: Register between January 26 and midnight February 28, 2010 and save $200.00 (registration is $1490.00).
Group Discount: Register three or more people at the same time and save $50 per person off Early Bird and Regular Registration (registration is $1440.00 or $1640.00, depending on when you register).
For more details, including cancellation policy and payment options, please visit our web site. *Lodging is shared room, maximum 2 people per room; single premium available, please inquire for pricing. |
Please don't hesitate to contact me by phone (888/886-9289 or 970/416-6353) or email or through our web site if you have questions or need more information. I hope to see you in April at Penn Center!
Sincerely,
Judy Fort Brenneman
Greenfire Creative, LLC
P.S. Can't make it but know someone who might be interested? I'd be grateful if you'd forward the information. Thanks! |
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