HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Poet Laureate/City Historian Update AGENDA STATEMENT
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: December 9, 2010
SUBJECT: Poet Laureate/City Historian Update
Prepared by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOMMENDATION: Receive Presentation
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: At the May 18, 2010 City Council meeting, the Council confirmed the
Mayor's appointment of Jonnie McCoy-Howell as the new Poet Laureate, replacing the two-year
volunteer position previously held by Ronnie Holland, and re-appointed Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold as
City Historian to a second two-year term.
The Poet Laureate serves as a public advocate for the appreciation and advancement of the literary arts for
the City and is a resource to Staff, the Commission and the City Council.
The City Historian assists researchers, students, librarians, members of the public, the press and directs
them to resources for historical information and is a resource to Staff, the Commission and the City
Council.
Jonnie McCoy-Howell has been in her position for a brief six months and Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold
has served in her volunteer position for two and one half years now. In 2010, both City volunteers
accomplished a number of activities on behalf of the City. A few of their many accomplishments are as
follows:
Poet Laureate (May 2010—December 2010)
• Guest poet at the New Birth Community Outreach-San Leandro Marina Park with guest
appearance by Mayor in July 2010
• Guest poet at the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church in August 2010
• Wrote &presented an original poem for the Grand Opening of Fallon Sports Park in August 2010
• Interviewed as guest for the Tri-Valley Community Television's "Slice of Life"program
COPIES TO: Ronnie Holland
ITEM NO: 8.1
G:\HERITAGE COMMISSION\AGENDA_STMTS\2010\12-9 Poet Laureate-Historian presentation.doc
• Made an"In a Word" studio appearance/interview with Tri-Valley Community Television in
September 2010
• Patch.com-News Website-published an article on new Poet Laureate and Poem "To Fallon"
• Guest poet at the Greater Love Ministry in October 2010
• Travis Air Force Base "Imagine Me": Cancer Fundraiser Gala with Dublin's Poet Laureate.
• Hosted the first Spoken Word Monthly Meeting at"Me and My Friends Cafe" in Pleasanton in
November 2010
• Guest poet at the Hope Hospice Presents: "Lights of the Valley Celebration" in December 2010
City Historian (January 2010—December 2010)
• Presented a talk on Dublin History for the Alameda County Women's Club
• Responded to a number of questions on Dublin's history from the City's Heritage Center website
• Prepared and presented a history of the Fallon family for the Fallon Park Dedication Event in
August 2010
• Coordinated a few donations for the Heritage Center
• Assisted in the facilitation of the Camp Parks History Center collections inventory.
• Attended the annual meeting of the California Conference of Historical Societies in Victorville,
California
• Attended the annual meeting of the California Council for the Preservation of History in
Sonora, Jamestown& Columbia, California
• Provided research to East Bay Regional Parks to correct the spelling of the Donlon family for the
sign and related materials of the Dublin Hills Regional Park
• Participated in the Black History Month Celebration in February 2010
• Procured a copy of the "Bunshaw Index" (an index of the Tri-Valley Herald newspapers on
microfiche at the Livermore Library - 1899-1965)
• Began work as part of the Steering Committee for the Tri-Valley History Council's October 2011
"Tri-Valley Heritage Happening"
• Assisted Commissioner Steve Minniear in compiling an historical City Council Member and
Mayors list for the Heritage Center website
• Made an Oral History presentation to the Senior Center Advisory Committee
• Manned the DHPA/Heritage Center booth at the July 3`d Ice Cream Social
Both the Poet Laureate and City Historian have a list of planned activities for 2011, and will present some
of their future goals to the Commission.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
receive the presentation.
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