We are looking for new presentations for the statewide program Montana Conversations: Speakers Bureau and Speakers in the Schools. Do you have an expertise in history, literature, public affairs, or other humanities topics? Would you like to lead interactive discussions with your fellow Montanans? Montana Conversations offers high quality programs to community organizations and schools across the state, paying speakers an honorarium and travel expenses.

The current Speakers Bureau and Speakers in the Schools catalogs offer nearly 100 different programs on topics like Native American cultures, Montana, U.S. and international history, current events, literature, and art criticism. Applications to join this roster of humanities scholars will be accepted until March 20. Applicants must submit an online application, including a narrative description of their presentation, two references, and, if possible, an example of their work, such as a video. For more information or to fill out the application, visit our website.

Humanities Montana evaluates applications on humanities content, demonstrated speaking ability, public appeal of the topic, and relevant humanities expertise of the presenter. The board will consider new proposals at its June 8–9 meeting in Miles City. New programs will become available to the public as of July 1, 2012.

The board and staff of Humanities Montana joined 100 Great Falls citizens in recognizing Humanities Heroes Norma Ashby, George Horse Capture, Jim Heckel, and Arlyne Reichert during a reception at the Ursuline Centre on January 26. For a fine account of the event, read this article at the Great Falls Tribune.

We'll announce Helena Humanities Heroes in late March—look for the good news!

The 1972 Montana Constitution redefined citizens' rights and responsibilities. Contemporary Montanans debate the meaning of the federal constitution. Talk about these and other issues during "We the People: Conversations on the Montana and U. S. Constitutions," April 20–21 at Carroll College. Visit this web page for more information. Special thanks to our sponsors and partners on this project.

Leave a legacy of the humanities in Montana. Through a planned gift, you can assure that Humanities Montana continues to connect kids to community, support vital cultural institutions, and encourage community conversations about current issues. Join the members of our Legacy Society who have already made that commitment to Montana's future through a planned gift. For much more information, visit our website.

"Missoula MLK Day Community Celebration," NCBI Missoula, Missoula, $1000. Support for an event celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day through community engagement and discussion. January 16, 2012.

"Bozeman Senior Center Book Club," Bozeman Senior Center, Bozeman, $1000. Seniors in Bozeman meet the third Monday of each month February through September 2012 to read and discuss novels with a facilitator.

"Privacy in the Digital Age," Lewis and Clark National Forest and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Great Falls, $1000. Support for an all-day public workshop led by an expert on social media and media librarian to explore modern privacy issues. April 26, 2012.

"Darby Community Public Library Spring Book Discussion Series," Darby Public Community Library, Darby, $700. Support for the monthly book discussions at the Darby Community Public Library the third Wednesday of each month February through May, with an additional discussion group on April 4, 2012.

"Darby Community Public Library Conner Book Discussion Group Spring Series 2012," Darby Public Community Library, Darby, $700. Support for the monthly book discussions at the West Fork Mountain Crafts facility in Conner February 8, March 7, April 11 and May 9, 2012.

"Filmmakers in the Schools at BSDFF 2012," Big Sky Film Institute, Missoula, $1000. Support for documentary film screenings and discussions with filmmakers at area high schools with programming that ties to Diversity Week curriculum.

"The Woman Who Loved Mankind: The Life of a Twentieth-century Crow Elder by Lillian Bullshows Hogan," University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, $2130. Support for indexing of the forthcoming book, an autobiography of Lillian Bullshows Hogan.

"Children of the Hill: The Meaning and Making of Childhood in Butte, Montana, 1900-1960," Montana Historical Society Press, Helena, $2000. Support for the publication of a study of childhood in Butte by Janet Finn.

"Mexican Migrant Families," Naomi Lapidus Shin, Missoula, $4000. Research Fellowship to study Mexican migrant workers and their families who travel to the Flathead Valley to pick cherries each summer.

"Tainted Revelations: The Art of Bill Ohrmann," Joseph A. Nickell, Missoula, $2000. Research Fellowship to research and write a biographical history of Drummond artist Bill Ohrmann.

"Monuments to Travel: Montana's Historic Railway Stations," Mark Hufstetler, Bozeman, $4000. A Research Fellowship to support a comprehensive, statewide effort to identify the surviving historic railway depots in Montana.

"Montana International Children's Film Festival," Alliance Francaise, Missoula, $2000. Support for a foreign film festival aimed at families, with screenings, workshops, and talks by international students at the University of Montana.

"Planning Kootenai Summer 2012," AlterNative Solutions, Pablo, $5000. Support for a new language acquisition method, "Where Are Your Keys?" on the Flathead Reservation.

"Reflections West, Year 3," Missoula Writing Collaborative, Missoula, $6000. Support for the five-minute radio program featuring short reflective essays about what it means to live in the West, aired on public radio throughout Montana.

"The Coal Export Conversation: Billings and Coal Trains," Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council, Billings, $3000. A two-day conference to share information about plans to increase train traffic through Billings.

"Community Discussion of the Social and Cultural Impact of the Energy Boom in Eastern Montana," Miles City Public Library, Miles City, $3000. A community discussion, using the Gracious Space method, about the social and cultural impact of the energy boom in Eastern Montana.

Organizations
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park
Friends of Literacy Broadus
Friends of the Library-Livingston
Friends of the Madison Valley Public Library
Friends of the Roundup Community Library
Highgate Senior Living
Hysham Chamber
Library of Congress, Center for the Book
Missoula Public Library
Montana Preservation Alliance
Ravalli County Museum
Shakespeare & Co

Individuals
Ossie Abrams and D.B. Orser
Kim Anderson*
Sidney Armstrong*
Carol Bronson
Brian Cockhill*
Paul Filicetti*
Bill Jones*
Linda Karell*
Tom Kotynski*
William Marcus*
Judy Mathre
Zena Beth McGlashan*
Twylla McPherson**
Alice M. Meister*
Dr. and Mrs. LeRoy Moline
Sue Near*
Virginia and Albert Niccolucci
Lawrence Pettit*
Arlyne Reichert
Karen and John Rimel
Corby Skinner**
James Shanley*
Jessica and Ed Stickney
Ruth Towe*

*Current Board and Staff Members
**Former Board and Staff Members

Visit our online calendar to find out about upcoming Humanities Montana-sponsored events.

The next deadline for grants $5,000 and below is February 20. Humanities Montana is especially interested in proposals focused on the 40th anniversary of the Montana Constitution and the 150th anniversary of Montana Territory. Full information on grant guidelines and deadlines is available at Grants.

Our resolution for the New Year is 500 Facebook fans! Help us reach our goal and keep in touch with fellow humanists by liking us at Facebook and inviting your friends. Follow us on Twitter as well, and check out our YouTube channel to revisit major humanities events, including the Butte Digital Film project and a provocative conversation on "The State of Montana" with Pat Williams and Lorents Grosfeld.

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