Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A message from the President

March is an exciting month for the Arizona Preservation Foundation. Not only has the call for nominations for the Governor’s Preservation Honor Awards been announced, but registration for our June 12th – 14th Conference in Rio Rico is now open. This year's conference, Preservation on the Line, is being held at the Esplendor Resort, just 40 miles south of Tucson. The goal of the Conference is to bring together preservationists from around the state and Southwest to exchange ideas and success stories, share perspectives and solutions to preservation issues, and foster greater cooperation among the diverse preservation community. Click here to learn more about the Conference and to register. For information on this year’s Keynote Speaker, James Howard Kunstler, click here. To download a nomination form for the Governor’s Honor Awards, click here.

Also in March, the Arizona Preservation Foundation, Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, City of Phoenix, and Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau submitted a bid to host the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2012 National Preservation Conference in Phoenix. Thanks so much to the individuals and organizations listed below for providing letters of support. Sally Forrest, Director of National Accounts at the Convention & Visitors Bureau, stated she has not worked on a national conference before with such passionate supporters!

Advocates for Latin@ Arts & Culture, Arizona Archaeological Council, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Arizona Historical Society, Arizona Humanities Council, Arizona Lottery, Arizona Preservation Foundation, Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, ASU College of Public Programs, Capitol Mall Association, City of Chandler Office of Tourism, City of Glendale, City of Mesa Historic Preservation Office, City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office, Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Downtown Phoenix Public Market, Downtown Voices Coalition, Encanto Citizens Association, F.Q. Story Neighborhood, Highroads Magazine (AAA), Local First Arizona, Neighborhood Coalition of Greater Phoenix, Phoenix Community Alliance, Phoenix Historic Districts Coalition, Phoenix Magazine, Roosevelt Action Alliance, Salt River Project, The Honorable Phil Gordon, Mayor, City of Phoenix, and The Honorable Terry Goddard, Attorney General, State of Arizona. (29 total to date)

Between now and our state's Centennial year, we're sure you'll agree that the preservation ethic in our Capital City and statewide will be even stronger, and that many more historic preservation stories can and will be told to the 2,500-plus preservation advocates who will descend on the Valley of the Sun in the fall of 2012 from all across the country. While we have you "on the line," here are a couple other tidbits for you:

* April 4, 2008 is the deadline to submit nominations for the Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Awards. Complete details at: http://www.azpreservation.org/c_awards.php

* April 5-6, 2008 is the 4th Annual Modern Phoenix Expo and Home Tour, "Progress + Preservation," at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (Expo) and Charles and Arthur Schreiber's Village Grove in Scottsdale (tour). Complete details at: email with your name, organization, and day phone. Cost is $50 per person.

* October 21-25, 2008 is this year's National Preservation Conference, "Preservation in Progress, in Tulsa, OK. Complete details at: http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc/

Be sure to register for the APF Conference, Preservation on the Line, before April 15th to receive the discounted registration rate. Hope to see you there!

Gregory C. Michael
President