The Missouri History Speakers’ Bureau - Speakers - The State Historical Society of Missouri

Effective November 2, 2009, The State Historical Society of Missouri is suspending indefinitely the Missouri History Speakers’ Bureau because of budget cuts.

Please read the following information carefully.

Who can request a speaker?

Missouri-based, adult, not-for-profit organizations, including service and religious groups
At this time, the Bureau does not provide speakers to elementary or secondary schools (K-12), colleges, or universities.

You should know:

Allow 30 days for arrangements to be completed.
The Missouri History Speakers' Bureau is sponsored in partnership with the Missouri Humanities Council and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
Groups can request one speaker per calendar year from the Speakers’ Bureau. Available funding is allocated equally among Missouri’s nine U.S. Congressional Districts. Once a district has requested its share of speakers, notice will be given that no additional presentations will be scheduled for the district.
Events must be open to the public. Host groups must provide a minimum audience of twenty. There is no charge to the host institutions, but the availability of presentations is limited.
Speakers will only be available to organizations hosting an event with no admission charge. (An exception would be an event held in conjunction with a meal for which there is a charge.)
The speaker will also present an overview of The State Historical Society of Missouri and the Western Historical Manuscript Collection and will make available some promotional literature.
Host groups/organizations are required to promote increased awareness of The State Historical Society of Missouri, and understanding of the benefits of membership. Annual membership is encouraged for host institutions.
Some speakers prefer to accept engagements within 100 miles of their residence while others are willing to travel throughout the state for programs. This information is noted with the program description.
The State Historical Society does not provide equipment for speakers' presentations.

Program Inclusion for People with Disabilities

Program sponsors should try to accommodate the interests of people who need help to participate fully in the programs.
As a first step, we ask sponsors to select program venues that provide parking, entrances, bathrooms, and seating that accommodate people who use wheelchairs. When such venues are available, it is important to publicize accessibility.
It is also important to anticipate the needs of people who have limitations on their vision. When designing programs or other printed material, think in terms of high contrast between printed word and its background. Black print on white paper is 100% contrast. Anything lower than 70% contrast is not accessible. As a general rule, 12-point san serif type (Aril, Helvetica) is a standard for broad accessibility.
Please consider providing a sound-amplification system so that all audience members can enjoy the speaker’s presentation.

The Society invites donations to maximize the number of sponsored presentations and to continue this service at no cost to the host institutions.

The Society invites and encourages organizations to make donations to the Speakers' Bureau to help maximize the number of presentations that can be sponsored and to help the Society provide this service at no cost to the host institutions.
Speakers will ask audience members to make donations as well.
Donations for the Speakers’ Bureau should be sent to:

The State Historical Society of Missouri
1020 Lowry Street
Columbia, MO 65201

Please designate “Speakers Bureau” in the memo line.

Contributions can also be made online.

If you would rather fax or mail your request you can print a request form:

Fields marked with an * are required.

Name of the requesting organization*
Address of the requesting organization*

Street*

City*
State*	Missouri
Zip*
E-mail address:*
Web site:
Phone:*

Is the organization an adult not-for-profit group?*
Yes No
Will the event be open to the public without an admission charge?*
Yes No
Which presentation do you wish to request?*

Groups can request a maximum of one speaker per calendar year from the Speakers' Bureau.
- 1st choice*
- Alternate choice*
Date of the event*
(must be at least 30 days from now)
- 1st choice*
- Alternate date choice*
Time of the event*

Address of the event

Full Street Address*

City*
State*	Missouri State*
Zip*
Emergency phone:*	(In case the speaker gets lost or has trouble on the road)

What type of facility is this?* Private Residence Other
If "Other" please identify:

How many attendees are you expecting? Host groups must provide a minimum audience of 20 people.*
Does your audience have any specific age group or other characteristic that may be influential to the event?*
Yes No
If yes, explain
In what type of room will the event take place (meeting room, auditorium, classroom, public hall, etc.)?
Any helpful information for the speaker when he or she arrives: room number, department name or special directions?
Is there any other information regarding the setting of the event that may be helpful to the speaker?
Yes No
If yes, explain

In order to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided, we require a program evaluation. An event confirmation packet including "Program Evaluation Forms" will be mailed to the address of the requesting organization. Who will distribute, collect and return the forms to the Society?

First Name*
Last Name*
Street*
City*
State*
Zip*
Phone:*
E-mail address:*
Comments?

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