About FSHCSupporting the state humanities councils and striving to create greater awareness of the humanities in public and private life.Federation of State Humanities CouncilsFSHC_dc72635c-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea00Founded in 1977, the Federation of State Humanities Councils is the national member association of the state and jurisdictional humanities councils. Our purpose is to provide leadership, advocacy, and information to help members advance programs that engage millions of citizens across diverse populations in community and civic life. State Humanities CouncilsFamiliesRural CommunitiesAt Risk PopulationsLow-Income PopulationsVeteransArtistsWritersHistorical InstitutionsCultural InstitutionsChildrenStudentsHospital PersonnelPatientsTeachersLibrariesMuseumsFSHC StaffPhoebe SteinPresidentJeff AllenVice PresidentNatalie PakStrategic Comm. Project DirectorJoy HickeyFinance & Admin. ManagerSydney BoydProject Manager – Humanities in American LifeChelsea CranshawMeetings & Conference ManagerEdward MorenoMeetings & Communications Associate2021 FSHC BoardThe Federation board includes public members as well as council executive directors from states and territories across the nation. Each board member serves a four-year term. The board chair serves a two-year term and remains for another two years as the immediate past chair. Federation members participate in a nominating process early in the year and elect their representatives to the Federation Board at the Annual Business Meeting, which occurs in conjunction with the National Humanities Conference. The Federation’s all-volunteer board works hard throughout the year to attend to organizational governance, member needs, and legislative strategy. The board’s strength lies in the diversity of its members – whose backgrounds include finance, law, fundraising, and legislating, among others – and their dedication to the Federation’s mission to represent and strengthen the state humanities councils.Susan McCarthyOK ~ Board ChairBill TsutsuiAR ~ Immediate Past ChairKimberlee KihlengGU ~ Vice ChairJulie FryCA ~ SecretaryJim BurkeMA ~ TreasurerPaxton WilliamsIA ~ Nominating Committee ChairEva CalderaMD ~ NEH Partnership Committee ChairGloria White GardnerMD ~ Racial Equity Co-ChairMatthew GibsonVATerri JettIN ~ New Board Member (2021)David PettyjohnIDStuart RockoffMS ~ New Board Member (2021)John Phillip SantosTX ~ New Board Member (2021)endawnis SpearsRIBrenda ThomsonAZSherry Paula WatkinsNC ~ New Board Member (2021)FSHC Committees & Task ForcesNHC Planning CommitteeThe Federation conference committee includes members from the Federation board, NHA, the conference host council, and other councils. The committee is responsible for developing and issuing a call for session proposals, selecting speakers, and planning special events.Nominating CommitteeWith a membership drawn from council staff and board members, this committee identifies Federation board needs, solicits nominations from the membership, and presents a slate of candidates to the members for approval at the Annual Business Meeting.Data & Evaluation CommitteeChaired by a Federation board member, the Data & Evaluation Committee aims to improve council data collection and evaluation practices, thereby enabling councils to strengthen their programming and better highlight the value of their work to the general public, elected officials, donors, and grantmakers. The committee will work with councils to develop and promote best practices and collaborate with NEH and other organizations on projects of mutual benefit.Legislative CommitteeChaired by a Federation board member, this committee works closely with the Federation legislative counsel to determine the Federation advocacy position and inform the membership of important legislative activities, calls to action, and updates.Development CommitteeChaired by a Federation board member, this committee is responsible for seeking underwriting for conference events and national partnership opportunities that would offer funding for the councils. In 2015, the committee added a charge to explore diversifying funding for the Federation.Audit CommitteeComprised of individuals with financial expertise, including the Federation Treasurer, the Audit Committee works closely with the Federation’s auditors, reviews the final audit, and gives a report at the July board meeting.Executive CommitteeChaired by Susan McCarthy, OK ~ This committee is made up entirely of Federation board members and is responsible for the governance of the Federation Board.NEH Partnership CommitteeCreated by the Federation board in 2014, this committee is responsible for maintaining and growing our partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).Finance CommitteeChaired by the Federation Treasurer, this committee oversees the Federation budget, future projections, and membership dues.Annual Business Meeting CommitteesTeller, Minutes & Resolutions ~ All committee members are required to attend the Annual Business Meeting, which takes place in conjunction with the National Humanities Conference.Teller CommitteeThe election of board members and the chair is by acclamation, but if any other vote needs to be taken at the meeting, the committee is responsible for tallying votes.Minutes CommitteeThe Federation records the meeting and transcribes the minutes. They are then sent to the committee to review, edit, and approve.Resolutions CommitteeThey review any resolutions submitted by members and determine if they are of sufficient relevance and are in the appropriate form to be brought to the floor.Citizens across diverse populations are engaged in community and civic life_dc72649c-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea00To represent and strengthen the state and jurisdictional humanities councils_dc726578-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea00DiscoveryThrough the humanities we discover who we are: diverse communities in one nation, one nation in a diverse world.DiversityUnityUnderstandingThe humanities strengthen the civic, cultural, and social fabric of society by fostering understanding and promoting an engaged citizenryEngagementHumanitiesThe state humanities councils play a vital role in ensuring that humanities programming reaches all Americans, expanding minds and transforming livesConnectionThe state humanities councils, through their connection to communities and organizations in every corner of their state, are essential entities for extending the reach of the National Endowment for the HumanitiesCommunityStrategic AlignmentThe state humanities councils have a greater impact when they are united in purpose and voiceAdvocacyAdvocate on behalf of the state humanities councils_dc726690-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea001State Humanities CouncilsFundingAdvocate for increased federal funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the NEH’s Federal/State Partnership Office_dc726758-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea001.1National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)NEH’s Federal/State Partnership OfficeThe Federation of State Humanities Councils advocates on behalf of its members, the state humanities councils, for increased federal funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the NEH’s Federal/State Partnership Office, which provides grants to the councils. In FY 2021, we are requesting $170 million for NEH and $54 million for the Federal/State Partnership . This modest increase would enable councils to rebuild programming scaled back due to funding cuts and help address the significant unmet demand from constituents for increased programs and council services.CoordinationCoordinate with other humanities organizations._dc72682a-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea001.2The Federation is committed to coordinating its advocacy with other humanities organizations. This collaborative approach strengthens the voice of the humanities in the halls of Congress, enabling our community to make the strongest case possible for funding the NEH and the councils.ConnectionsConduct events and meetings._dc7268fc-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002ConferencesOrganize national conferences._dc7269ce-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002.1THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES CONFERENCE ~ Every year in the fall, the Federation organizes a national conference bringing the state humanities councils, partners and humanities supporters together. The Federation board determines conference locations based on proposals submitted by member councils.AdvocacyHost national advocacy week in Washington, DC, each year._dc726aa0-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002.2HUMANITIES ON THE HILL ~ Every March, the Federation hosts a national advocacy week in Washington, DC. During this event, councils meet with their congressional representatives, participate in briefings, and attend a Federation-hosted congressional reception.RetreatsBring executive directors of member councils together for sustained conversation about their work._dc726b7c-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002.3State Humanities Council Executive DirectorsEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETREAT ~ This retreat provides executive directors of member councils an opportunity to come together for sustained conversation about their work.OrientationsOrganize and host orientation sessions for new executive directors._dc726c58-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002.4State Humanities Council Executive DirectorsEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORIENTATION ~ The Federation, with NEH, organize and host this orientation session with new executive directors. The orientation typically spans two days and serves as an introduction to the NEH-FSHC partnership and to the council network.Opportunities & ChallengesGive program officers opportunities to discuss opportunities and challenges._dc726d2a-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002.5State Humanities Program OfficersPROGRAM OFFICER PRE-CONFERENCE MEETING ~ This meeting is typically held the day before the National Humanities Conference and gives program officers the opportunity to discuss current opportunities and challenges, as well as program ideas and best practices.ConversationOffer opportunities for council staff members to meet and converse with colleagues holding the same or similar positions at other councils._dc726e1a-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea002.6Humanities Council Staff MembersCONSTITUENT GROUP CONVERSATIONS ~ Included within the National Humanities Conference are the constituent sessions which offer opportunities for council staff members to meet and converse with colleagues holding the same or similar positions at other councils.SupportSupport FSHC members._dc726ef6-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003DocumentationProvide access to strategic plans, income reports, and past conference materials._dc727018-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003.1GOOGLE DRIVE ~ With more than 1,000 files in this database, members have access to strategic plans, income reports, and past conference materials, among other governance, management and program documents.Questions & DiscussionHost Google Groups and listservs._dc727130-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003.2GoogleGOOGLE GROUPS ~ The Federation hosts nine Google Groups or listservs allowing council staff members to exchange ideas and information with their peers. The Google Groups allow subscribers to discuss important issues or pose questions to their specific communities of interest.E-NewsletterProvide updates on advocacy, Federation, councils, NEH, and the humanities community._dc727220-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003.3Esther MackintoshFSHC PresidentFEDERATION UPDATE ~ The Federation Update is a weekly e-newsletter distributed every Friday by Federation President Esther Mackintosh. The Update contains information on advocacy, Federation, councils, NEH, and the humanities community.AdvocacyProvide advocacy resources._dc727306-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003.4ADVOCACY RESOURCES ~ In order to help members and the public with their advocacy efforts, our website provides many advocacy resources from Hill and legislative updates to the Federation position paper and talking points.ProgramsOffer a searchable, filterable database of council-conducted programs._dc727450-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003.5PROGRAMS DATABASE ~ New this year! As part of the Federation website redesign, we are offering a searchable, filterable database of council-conducted programs from 2014 to the present. The database gives a national perspective on the impact of humanities council programming as a whole, while allowing members and visitors an opportunity to learn more about specific programs, formats and demographics.Ideas & InformationOffer a space for NEH and Federation members interested in communication best practices, strategies, and advice to exchange ideas and information._dc72754a-d2bd-11eb-83a6-439f1683ea003.6FacebookHumanities Communications NetworkNEHHUMANITIES COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ~ The Humanities Communications Network private Facebook group is a collaboration between NEH and the Federation. The group offers a space for NEH and Federation members interested in communication best practices, strategies, and advice to exchange ideas and information. National initiatives, press releases and other media-related activities are also posted to this forum.2021-06-21http://www.statehumanities.org/about-us/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net