Workshop attracts dozens,
raises funds for Historical Society
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE – What began as an idea to raise a bit of cash for the Presque Isle Historical Society turned into a well-attended fundraiser, with participants learning skills necessary to raise much-needed cash for their own organizations.
Kim Smith, treasurer/secretary of the Historical Society, said she’d spoken with officials at Northern Maine Community College about the need for such a class, offering her expertise as instructor should a grant-writing course be approved. College officials agreed to let Smith hold the workshop at the campus, with proceeds going to benefit the Historical Society. Smith said she figured since it was the first workshop of its kind, attendance would be low. But that was not the case.
The Grant Writing Basics workshop — offered jointly on Oct. 29 by NMCC and the Presque Isle Historical Society — was a sell-out crowd. This type of turnout really demonstrates how much training is in demand and needed for Aroostook County non-profits,” said Smith.
Of the 60 who registered, Smith said 55 showed up for the workshop, including one who participated thanks to a scholarship. Participants paid $20 each for the course.
Smith, who has served as an executive director for three non-profit organizations, consulted for others around the country and serves as the on-staff grant writer for Aroostook County Action Program, has been trying to start a ‘non-profit management course’ program for two years now.
“This type of training is recognized as needed by universities and colleges around the country. Unfortunately, the nearest program is downstate and over a four-hour drive from Aroostook non-profit staff and volunteers. Non-profits fill the gap in providing services not provided by the federal government and fall under unique regulations. Our non-profit leaders need to be as effective and efficient as possible,” said Smith.
In addition to a master’s degree in business administration, Smith holds a non-profit management certificate from Shenandoah University and says it has benefited her in countless ways.
“Sixty people representing non-profit organizations from St. Agatha to Reed Plantation registered for this workshop. At the end of the workshop, a survey was distributed asking attendees if they felt additional training for non-profits (e.g. a non-profit management training course) was needed and would be beneficial,” said Smith. “Of the attendees, 73 percent currently work or volunteer for a non-profit, and 100 percent agreed that this type of course would be beneficial.”
The basic concept behind the course, according to Smith, would be to offer eight classes in various topics of interest to non-profit leaders and volunteers.
“Completion of six of the eight courses would earn the participant a certificate in ‘non-profit management,’” said Smith.
Smith was pleased with how well-received this workshop was and said more money was raised for the Historical Society than she imagined possible with such an event.
“We only charged $20 per person, which is a huge discount compared to what participants would have paid downstate. Each participant also received a packet containing approximately 40 pages of handouts to take with them,” said Smith. “Of the 55 taking the course, 54 paid the $20 fee, resulting in $1,080 raised – all of which went to the Historical Society. When I first came up with the concept, I figured we’d have maybe 10 people and was hoping for 20. So this many exceeded my wildest dreams – and, again, showed how much this type of training was really needed here.”
Smith is currently in negotiations with NMCC to offer the course as part of the Continuing Education curriculum, which would also earn the participants continuing education credits. She is also working on a grant proposal for a Maine funder with which to provide the start-up funds for a “pilot” or “test” semester.
Smith, who is also a longtime volunteer for the Historical Society, indicated that this workshop was a win-win situation for everyone involved.
“It served as a great fundraiser for the Historical Society, brought some much-needed education to our area non-profit organizations, strongly reinforced the need for such training in our area and put both NMCC and the Historical Society in the limelight for bringing such an event to the area,” she said.
“The Historical Society, in partnership with NMCC, was thrilled to be able to serve our community in this way. We certainly hope this is just the beginning,” said Smith.
