HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Poet Laureate/City Historian Update `82
AGENDA STATEMENT
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: November 12, 2009
SUBJECT: Poet Laureate/City Historian Update
Prepared by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOMMENDATION: Receive Presentation
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: Two high priority objectives adopted by the City Council for the
Heritage & Cultural Arts Division in Fiscal Year 2007-2008 were to: Explore the opportunity to develop a
Poet Laureate for the City; and explore the opportunity to develop an Historian for the City. In May
2008, Mayor Janet Lockhart appointed Ronnie Holland as Dublin's first Poet Laureate and Georgean
Vonheeder-Leopold as Dublin's first City Historian.
The Poet Laureate serves as a public advocate for the appreciation and advancement of the literary arts for
the City and is a resource to Staff, the Commission and the City Council.
The City Historian assists researchers, students, librarians, members of the public, the press and directs
them to resources for historical information and is a resource to Staff, the Commission and the City
Council.
Ronnie Holland and Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold have served in their volunteer positions for one and
one half years now. In 2009, both volunteers accomplished a number of activities on behalf of the City. A
few of their many accomplishments are as follows:
Poet Laureate
• Hosted three Poetry Readings at Old St. Raymond's Church in January, August and October of
2009 with eight guest poets presenting their works.
• Wrote and presented a new poem in honor of the Shannon Community Center for the Facility
Dedication event.
COPIES TO: Ronnie Holland
ITEM NO: 8.1
GAHERITAGE COMMISSION\AGENDA STMTS\2009\11-12 Poet Laureate-Historian presentation.doc
• Served as a judge for the Sister City Association's "Lucky Limerick" Contest and introduced
winners at the Sister City Green & White Gala.
• Served as a member of"Literary Row" at the 8th Annual Pleasanton Poetry, Prose &Arts Festival.
• Read for "An Evening of Poetry" with Tri-Valley local Poets Laureate and open mike at the San
Ramon Library, hosted by San Ramon Poet Laureate Pat Perry.
• School Events: Read poems to third graders at John Green Elementary School; judged and read
finalist poems for Wells Middle School's 10th annual Barnes & Noble fundraiser; served as a
guest poet for a Las Positas College "Critical Thinking/Writing Literature" class.
• Had two poems included in 2009 California Poets Laureate Anthology, Sometimes in the Open,
featuring 65 poets. Awarded finalist in Common Ground Review's Tenth Annual Poetry Contest
and awarded first honorable mention in the California Federation of Chaparral Poets' 2009 Annual
Contest.
City Historian
• Presented an historical perspective on the Shannon Community Center for the Facility Dedication
event.
• Was interviewed for the Kolb Family video being prepared by Tri-Valley Community Television
for the Historic Park Grand Opening.
• Currently serving on the Oral History Program Steering Committee and will be participating in
training to become an interviewer.
• Has responded to several inquiries submitted by community members on the "Interactive
Historian"page of the Heritage Center website.
• Is writing the Introduction for the Kolb Booklet.
• Is collaborating with fellow Commissioner Steve Minniear to develop a list of former City
Council members and Mayors for the Heritage Center website.
• Is working with the Library and DHPA to procure 15 years of annually bound Valley Times
newspapers.
• Staffed the Heritage Center and DHPA booth at Day on the Glen Festival.
Both the Poet Laureate and City Historian have a list of planned activities for 2010, and will present some
of their future goals to the Commission.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
receive the presentation.
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