Elisha Durrant's Field Reports

Renewed

Elisha Durrant — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:57:37 -0600

It's amazing how one day you can be questioning the worth of the work you are doing. And then the next day you realize that yes what I'm doing is important and worth the sacrifices. INMP has applied for a number of grants in the past year we have received several rejection letters making me question the sustainability of the program. Today I'm not sure why or how but I felt renewed. Last week we were notified by one of our state senators that INMP will be receiving one of the grants that we applied for. This is great!! I have had a renewal to my drive for this position. I want to see things grow and change. The idea of possibly redefining our goals and purposes will mean success. I'm sure everyone goes through this during the course of their year of service. Questioning the personal sacrifices you are making on a daily bases and thinking what benefit do I get out of this? Well I think the best thing for these times is to take a look around see what others are doing around you. Look at the people that you are serving do they appreciate your efforts? They may not know what steps you have taken but when you see the joy in their eyes when they learn something new or are having fun with a program you are running. That is what is important. So for anyone else who is having these thoughts just take a minute and step back and look at what is going on around you.

A complete year

Elisha Durrant — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:02:35 -0700

Everyone is writing their end of the year reports. For me it has been a rather challenging year. There are so many hurdles that you have to over come.

Professionally this year has been a wonderful opportunity. I have learned so much from my organization and the people that I work with. I'm surrounded by awesome people that have become great friends. I've got to do quiet a bit of networking and learning about how nonprofits operate or should operate. I've been introduced to the world of grant writing. I feel that I accomplished a great deal. We received a local grant that I've been working on since summer. I've planned public events (even though it was a complete flop) I learned the processes required for putting together a successful event. I worked with an after school program. And now I'm learning about running a fundraising campaign. And so much more....

Personally I've made a great deal of sacrifices. It has been a very hard year. Was the sacrifice worth this wonderful experience? I'm not sure I know the answer to that question. Early on I agree to complete another year as a Vista. Now that decision is haunting me. I'm not sure if I want to have to live this way for another year. We will see.

It's November Already?

Elisha Durrant — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:08:29 -0700

Okay, I don't know about anyone else but can you believe it's already November. Wow for those of us that started in January we are almost done. Look back over this year; this has been an absolute wonderful experience. I've learned so much and feel that I have accomplished quiet a bit.
I've visited nine museums in Eastern Washington so far and have three more scheduled. It's amazing how such small organizations can do so much. I've added ten new contributors to our Inland Northwest Memories Project. And it continues to grow.
I've worked with Middle School students after school to teach them to conduct oral history interviews which will start up again next week.
This weekend we are hosting a Veteran's Day Event that I have been completely in charge of. I've learned a lot about getting all my ducks in a row.
Finally, we've reached a lull in grant applications. I've worked on five this year so far, mainly doing research.
I'm already planning on staying on another year and my organization fully supports me in this decision.

Checking in

Elisha Durrant — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:21:04 -0600

Here's a quick update on what I've been doing here at Tincan. Continue to work on our small museums grant from Humanities Washington. We've recently submitted two grants and are looking at some smaller local grant. I've been trying to get people together for our once a month after school club for one of the local middle schools. Have not been too successful due to the lack of interest from older generation to share their history with kids, or they believe they don't have anything interesting to say. Which is not true we all have a story to tell and can learn from one another.
One of my new projects is to plan a Veterans Day event.
Also need to be working on a fundraiser, hopefully a wine tasting so if anyone has and advice please give freely.
And now I'm starting to conduct oral history interviews myself.
Busy, busy, busy but that makes the time go by fast.

Time goes on...

Elisha Durrant — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:14:21 -0600

The summer is quickly coming to a close but wait wasn't I suppose to have more done by now? Even though I've worked on several projects here at Tincan, it feels like I should have accomplished more by now. Let's see we have a grant from Humanities Washington to go to small museums and I've talked about that a lot. Well now we are actually going to the museums and making contacts. Very cool and exciting. We've submitted one grant this summer and are working on two more to submit next month. I've learned how to use the video equipment around here, although not very well. I'm working on putting together a Wine Tasting fundraiser for next spring or early summer. Trying to find time to do oral history interviews. Creating an after school program for middle school kids to learn how to conduct oral history interviews.
I'm looking forward to continuing work here and thinking about doing another year as a VISTA. Hey the money's tight but the experiences and opportunities will some day out weigh that. This project has so many opportunities for growth and can do some very interesting and challenging things in the future. I'm just happy to be part of it growth process.

Learning what your made of...

Elisha Durrant — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:29:04 -0600

I've completed over half of my VISTA year, and it has certainly been a challenge. While I've enjoyed my position and the type of work I'm doing I've been facing a rather difficult dilemma. No matter how hard I work we all make the same amount. I know everyone struggles with the income a VISTA makes. So I know many of you are feeling the pinch. Working so hard and for many hours and having so little monetary reward is a slap in the face when you can't support yourself. This experience has defiantly made me a stronger person, but it has really tested what I'm made of.
I've also reached the point of questioning if the struggles are really worth the effort. And I've come to the conclusion that I'm not working a "job" but building a future career. Which will be much more rewarding in the long run. I'm just wondering if other VISTA's face this dilemma as well? I know the people that we help appreciate the jobs we do.

All I see are grants

Elisha Durrant — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:03:23 -0600

So we've been working on a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a digitization project in cooperation with the Spokane library's Northwest Room (which houses local history). Its enough to make your head spin. Our deadline is tuesday so its crunch time.

In the mentime I've been working on a current project to go to small museums in our area to help them digitize their collections which is funded by a grat from Humanities Washington.

I'm getting a real crash course in the world of grant writing, and am just trying to hold my own.
Next project another grant from NEH for a teacher's workshop.

Keep your fingers crossed for grants :-)

Small Museum Grant

Elisha Durrant — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:28:56 -0600

We have received a small grant from Humanities Washington to go out to all the small town museums in our area. We are going to show them how to digitize their collections and place them on the INMP website. Also if they do not have a website of their own we will help them to create a basic website to help promote their museum. Finally we are going to create a 3 to 5 minute film of the project. I'm excited and ready to start.

First time after-school program

Elisha Durrant — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:03:43 -0600

Okay so I'm sure we've all experienced this...being nervous. In less then two weeks I'm beginning my first after-school program. At two of the local middle schools I will be teaching students how to conduct oral histories. This is a kind of pilot to see if the program will occur next fall...HOPEFULLY it does. I'm looking forward to working with the kids but still trying to figure out everything I need. So if anyone has an tips for the first day let me know.

Take care all.

Elisha

Hey everyone

Elisha Durrant — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:04:21 -0600

It's been a while since I've done a blog. Here at Tincan, I've been refining the INMP website. And brainstorming new projects and how to increase our contributors and school involvement. INMP is an online archive of Inland Northwest History. http://history.tincan.org

Check it out those who are interested. I know it's not like many of the websites others are working on but its still cool - if you like history.

Well wishes to all