BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:A public meeting on Tuesday\, May 15 will be the last of 10 H eritage Discovery Workshops held in \;Minnesota \;and \;Wisc onsin \;counties along the \;St. Croix River \;and its tribu taries since February. All residents of \;Washington \;County&nb sp\;and the surrounding area are invited to the workshop to share specia l stories and places throughout the watershed and the common threads whi ch tie the region together.\nThe Heritage Initiative is hosting the disc ussion about the possibility of National Heritage Area designation for t he region around the \;St. Croix River. The citizen-led initiative i s facilitated by the St. Croix Valley Foundation.\n&ldquo\;This is an op portunity for people and communities to imagine new possibilities for ou r area\,&rdquo\; said Marty Harding\, chair of the Heritage Initiative T ask Force. &ldquo\;The upcoming workshops will ask people to share what they feel makes the \;St. Croix River \;region special\, and how we could work together to make the most of what it has to offer.&rdquo\ ;\nWorkshop Details:\nTuesday\, May 15\, 2012 &ndash\; 6 to 9 p.m.Water Street Inn101 \;Water St.\, \;Stillwater\, \;MN\nPlease R.S. V.P. by May 11 calling \;715-386-9490\, sending an e-mail message to  \;jmoore@scvfoundation.org\, or online at \;www.stcroixheritage .org/workshops.\nThere are 49 National Heritage Areas around the \;U nited States\, though none currently in \;Minnesota \;or \;W isconsin. \;National Heritage Areas recognize places that have made important contributions to \;America&rsquo\;s history and culture. T hey celebrate stories\, conserve natural and historic resources\, and he lp promote economic growth through local partnerships.\nRecognized by Co ngress as nationally-significant regions\, Heritage Areas are managed lo cally\, usually by a steering committee made up of local citizens\, by a non-profit organization\, or a university. They emphasize collaborative opportunities\, such as connecting people and organizations working acr oss traditional boundaries\, such as state and county lines.\n&ldquo\;A National Heritage Area is a set of strategies meant to make the most of existing resources\, and to help people work together to promote economi c growth in their communities\,&rdquo\; said \;Jill \;Shannon\, Director of Community Partnerships of the St. Croix Valley Foundation. & ldquo\;We have wonderful historic and cultural resources in this region\ , and the Heritage Initiative is seeking ways to use the past to build t he future.&rdquo\;\nThe Heritage Discovery Workshops are an important ph ase of the Heritage Initiative. The group held briefings around the regi on in February and March of 2011 and last summer decided to engage in a Feasibility Study\, which is taking place over 18 months.\nSeveral organ izations have joined to host the May 15 meeting including ArtReach St. C roix\, Arcola Mills\, \;Gammelgarden \;Museum\, the Lower St. Cr oix Valley Community Foundation\, the Stillwater Area Foundation and the Washington County Historical Society.\nOther meetings have been held in Chisago and Pine counties in Minnesota and Pierce\, St. Croix\, Polk\, Burnett\, Washburn\, Sawyer and Bayfield counties in Wisconsin. \;\n ### \;\nThe Heritage Initiative seeks to explore our communities in the \;St. Croix River \;region and their contributions to the Am erican story. The Initiative is facilitated by the \;St. Croix \ ;Valley \;Foundation and led by a task force of interested citizens from throughout the region. Contact \;Jill \;Shannon at the  \;St. Croix \;Valley \;Foundation at \;715-386-9490 \;or  \;jshannon@scvfoundation.org \;with questions or to schedule a short presentation about the Initiative at your service club or other co mmunity group meeting. Learn more at \;www.stcroixheritage.org. URL:http://stillwater.patch.com/events/heritage-discovery-workshop SUMMARY:Heritage Discovery Workshop LOCATION:Water Street Inn: 101 Water St S\, Stillwater\, MN END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR