FW: PPS September E-Newsletter

In This Issue Preservation Education Events Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events September 17 MEP Exhibit Opening Reception September 28 - November 25 Children's Heritage Education Tours October 23-24 Fall Symposium October 24 Gold Dome Gala December 5 Downtown Holiday Architecture Tour February 6 Winter Bash September 2009 News Preservation 2009 Most Endangered Properties Photography Exhibit Opening Reception: Thursday, Sept. 17 5:30-9:00 p.m. PPS's acclaimed annual photography exhibit will appear September 10-October 10 in the atrium of the historic Peerless Building at 150 Union Street in downtown Providence. A collaborative effort between PPS and the Arts & Business Council of Rhode Island, the exhibit is a unique promotion of preservation advocacy through fine art. The show features the work of Michael Cevoli, Ryan Conaty, Andrew Dernavich, Stephanie Ewens, Adam Hall, Kryzstyna Harber-Caldarone, Matthew Kierstead, Brian McDonald, Frank Mullin, and Karen Philippi. The opening reception will take place on September's "Gallery Night" from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The event and reception are free and open to the public. The exhibit may also be viewed during the building's leasing center hours: Sunday 1-5:00 p.m., Monday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information contact PPS at (401) 831-7440 or go to www.ppsri.org. Education Children's Heritage Education Curricula Now Online For the past two and a half years, the PPS Education Department has been researching and creating curricula to support the Children's Heritage Education Tour Program. Each curriculum consists of two weeks of lessons including a tour of a Providence neighborhood. Currently, three neighborhoods are explored; College Hill, Fox Point, and Downtown, with more to be added in the future. Students of all ages can learn something about Providence's architectural heritage. Explore! Three of the six curricula are available for online viewing by visiting www.ppsri.org/curriculum. We thank our numerous volunteer interns, work-study students, curricula vetters, the PPS Education Committee, PPS Heritage Education Docents, and staff for their help and advice in making this project a reality. Funding for this project was provided by the City of Providence, Dexter Donation; The Haffenreffer Family Fund; and the Robert E. Freeman Downcity Fund. Summer Urban Planning Students Give Final Presentations On Wednesday, August 12, high school students in the Urban Planning Class at Volunteers in Providence Schools Summer "Learn to Earn" Program gave their final presentations at the Gymnatorium at Central High School in front of teachers, family, and project collaborators, including PPS. The lead teacher, Karlene Toppin, commented that "all of the students brought an interest in their community to the program. That is not something that one can teach." Through continued community collaborations, PPS can nurture young people's interest in their surroundings and inspire them to be caretakers of their community and built environment. Register Now for PPS Children's Heritage Education Docent Training September 22-24 PPS is looking for individuals interested in leading walking tours for elementary and middle school students, grades 4-8. Each year, docents lead over 3500 students on walking tours of Providence using the city's architecture as a resource from which students learn the history of Providence. This year's training will focus on the Downtown, College Hill, and Fox Point neighborhoods. No previous experience is necessary - just an interest in history and architecture and the desire to work with school children. Upon completing a 2.5 day training provided by PPS, docents are asked to make a one-year commitment to the program. For more information, please contact Kathleen McAreavey, Education Coordinator, by e-mail or telephone: 401-831-7440, ext. 103.  Fall Symposium - October 23 - 24, 2009 The American Renaissance and Providence: A Golden Age in Architecture and the Arts Please join us on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 to explore a "Golden Age" in Providence's history at the PPS Fall Symposium, The American Renaissance and Providence: A Golden Age in Architecture and the Arts. Seven speakers include Richard Guy Wilson, Ph.D., Commonwealth Professor in Architectural History at the University of Virginia, the premier architectural historian of this period. We anticipate stimulating and engrossing dialogue about the architecture, interior architecture, decorative arts, and culinary history presented in buildings of the period. More information will be posted at www.ppsri.org as it becomes available. Advance registration required. Events Save the Date: 2009 Gold Dome Gala October 24, 2009 The Providence Preservation Society's 2009 "Gold Dome Gala" promises to be as distinctive as its location - the iconic Old Stone Bank building, ca. 1854. This special event, planned in conjunction with the PPS Symposium on Providence during the American Renaissance, will give 200 attendees a glimpse into an otherwise private Providence landmark. Dinner, cocktails, and a spectacular location conspire to make this a remarkable event. As further information becomes available, it will be posted on our website. 2009 Downtown Holiday Architecture Tour December 5, 2009 Tour the Town! Celebrate the Holidays with the Providence Preservation Society Downtown Holiday Architecture Tour. In 2008, this holiday event attracted hundreds of people to explore downtown living in creatively renovated historic buildings and enjoy seasonal festivities. This year, the event has a new name and promises to be even more exciting. Stay tuned for more information as plans develop. 2010 Winter Bash! Save the Date: February 6, 2010 It's getting closer to midnight in The Garden of Good & Evil. Start picking out your mask for the Winter Bash 2010! Volunteer Opportunities General Office/Clerical Assistant PPS seeks a volunteer to assist with general office/clerical tasks, including but not limited to answering a multi-line phone, greeting visitors, working on special projects, assisting with mailings, and attending and assisting with various major events. Experience with Microsoft Office programs necessary. Help needed Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Must be pleasant on the phone and able to handle multiple tasks at once. Please email your interest and availability to info@ppsri.org. Community Notes The Avon Cinema History Project The Avon Cinema (260 Thayer Street) is looking for photos, newspaper clippings, and personal stories and memories to put in a retrospective exhibit in their lobby. Simply scan your materials and e-mail them to AvonHistoryProject@gmail.com. The mission of the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is to improve the quality of life in the city of Providence through historic preservation and the enhancement of the built environment. PPS is a nonprofit membership organization, exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is recognized as a charitable organization.