PRESS ROOM

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2008
    For more information contact SDHC at 605/688-6113 or SDSU_SDHC@sdstate.edu

    One Book South Dakota to start in May

    What if everyone in South Dakota read the same book? The South Dakota Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council, invites libraries, schools, book clubs, civic organizations and corporations across the state to join in the Sixth Annual One Book South Dakota project. Designed to stimulate discussion and generate ideas, the program begins in May and runs through the end of the year.
    Louise Erdrich’s 2003 novel Master Butchers Singing Club has been selected as the book for 2008. The capstone event of the program is an author appearance at the Sixth Annual South Dakota Festival of Books, which gives readers several opportunities to listen to her share her thoughts on the book. The Festival will be in Sioux Falls, September 26-28.
    Erdrich has written a dozen novels, many of which are bestsellers. Her book Love Medicine won the National Book Critics Circle Award. She has also been a finalist for the National Book Award with The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. Erdrich, an enrolled member of the Anishinaabe nation, currently lives in Minnesota and owns Birchbark Books, a small independent bookstore.
    To participate in “One Book,” groups can download an application found at www.sdhumanities.org or in the SDHC Program Catalog, and return to SDHC, 1215 Trail Ridge Road, Suite A, Brookings, SD 57006, five weeks prior to the first activity. The Council will send books to circulate in your community approximately one month prior to the discussion date. Books need to be returned to SDHC within one week following the discussion.
    A bureau of scholars who can serve as discussion leaders has been established and can be found on the SDHC website. SDHC will pay the scholars’ stipend and travel expenses.
    For more information about “One Book South Dakota,” please contact SDHC at 605/688-6113 or visit www.sdhumanities.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2008
    For more information contact SDHC at 605/688-6113 or SDSU_SDHC@sdstate.edu

    Schools and Libraries Encouraged to Apply for NEH’s Picturing America

    Picturing America, a new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, individuals will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art. Collectively, the masterpieces in Picturing America, used in conjunction with the Teachers Resource Book and program website, help students experience the humanity of history and enhance the teaching and understanding of America’s past.
    South Dakota schools and public libraries are invited to apply at this time. Applications are available at www.picturingamerica.neh.gov. Successful applicants will receive a set of 20 laminated reproductions printed on both sides with artwork, one teachers’ resource book and access to additional educational resources on the NEH website. Only K-12 schools and libraries, or a group of K-12 schools and libraries, are invited to apply for this program. Applications will be accepted now through April 15, 2008. Notice of awards will be sent May 30, 2008, and the exhibit will be shipped around September 4. The final report is due May 29, 2009. The organization that received the grant keeps the reproductions and educational materials for ongoing use.
    The purpose of the exhibition is to connect American history to American art. Perpetuating democracy is difficult. And it’s become more difficult in an increasingly fast-paced, global environment. Picturing America conveys our common heritage and ideals by bringing us face to face with the people, places and events that shaped our country. It provides an innovative way to experience America’s history through our nation’s art.
    For additional information, please contact the South Dakota Humanities Council at 605-688-6113 or via email to sdsu_sdhc@sdstate.edu.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    CONTACT: SUZY COLLIGNON-HODGEN (605) 359-2981

    Join a Book Discussion: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

    Join other Sioux Falls residents who are reading Fahrenheit 451 as part of The Big Read at a neighborhood book discussion group.

    April 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Fire Station 10, located between Tea and Ellis Road
    April 15, 8 p.m., Augustana Student Book Group, Augustana Library, lower level
    April 16, 7 to 9 p.m., Paramount Wine Bar in the back room
    April 16, 3 p.m., Augustana Community Big Read at the Center for Western Studies Board Room
    April 21, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Fire Station 3, located at 37th and Minnesota
    April 27, 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble
    April 29, 1:30-3 p.m., Fire Station 3, located at 37th and Minnesota
    May 1, 12 noon, Center for Active Generations

    The discussion groups are all free and open to the public. No registration is required.

    The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Arts Midwest, the South Dakota Humanities Council and many local sponsors provided funds to help get Fahrenheit 451 in the hands of Sioux Falls residents. Siouxland Libraries purchased 225 copies of Fahrenheit 451 for the community.
    Organizers hope people will discuss the book over lunch at work, in corporate boardrooms, during service club meetings, and of course in book clubs, libraries and bookstores.
    The wrap up mixer event May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Food and Fermentations will feature local celebrities talking about the one book they would save from the flames. The writing contest winners will read their works and the mixer will include some great book conversations.
    To learn more about The Big Read, go to www.sfbigread.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2008
    For more information contact South Dakota Humanities Council, 605-688-6113

    Humanities Council to host open house

    The South Dakota Humanities Council will celebrate their new building with an open house on Friday, March 14 from 3-5 PM. The open house will feature tours of the new office, located in the Galleria III Plaza in Brookings at 1215 Trail Ridge Road (near the intersection of 12th Street South and Main Avenue South), and information on the various Humanities Council programs. It is free and open to the public.
    After being housed on the campus of South Dakota State University for over 35 years, the new office was built out specifically for the Council, and offers many amenities not available before. Most notably, there is a conference room where meetings of up to 12 people can be held.
    Following the open house, there will be a reception at the Tompkins Alumni Center, located on the campus of South Dakota State University, from 6:30-8:30 PM. The reception is open to the public and features a short presentation by author VJ Smith as well as all of the previous directors of the Humanities Council at 7 PM.
    For more information about the open house, please call SDHC at 605-688-6113.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2008
    For more information, contact South Dakota Humanities Council, 605-688-6113

    Bradbury Conference to be held February 1-2

    The South Dakota Humanities Council, home of the South Dakota Center for the Book, invites readers from across the state to attend the Bradbury Mini Conference, February 1-2 at Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma. As part of the Council’s The Big Read program, the conference will highlight the life of Ray Bradbury and his work, specifically the American classic Fahrenheit 451.

    The conference will offer programs to the general public with an interest in Bradbury, science fiction/fantasy writing and community reading programs. There will also be several concurrent sessions designed for teachers. South Dakota teachers will be able to get one graduate credit from Dakota Wesleyan University or one South Dakota Department of Education renewal credit by attending the conference.

    Conference presenters include Jane Jewell, executive director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America; Peter Heck, a science fiction author; and professors from South Dakota State University and Dakota Wesleyan University. A host of sessions are planned, focusing on themes ranging from preserving the freedom to read, censorship, the importance of personal space and property, to Bradbury’s continuing influence on writing.

    This spring, eight South Dakota communities will further celebrate Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451 by participating in The Big Read. South Dakota towns participating in the program are Spearfish, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Madison, Ridgeview, Martin, Pierre and Scotland.

    The conference fee is $25/person, which includes meals. To register for a graduate credit, there is an additional $55 fee, and to register for a South Dakota DOE credit, there is an additional $5 fee.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 3, 2008
    For more information, contact South Dakota Humanities Council, 605-688-6113

    Humanities Council seeking grant applications

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is now accepting grant applications for Research and Discussion Programs. Applications are postmark due to the SDHC office by Wednesday, January 30, 2008. Programs must start no sooner than April 15, 2008 to qualify for this round of grant awards.

    Please find all of the grant requirements on-line at sdhumanities.org, or call the office at 605/688-6113 with questions. Discussion programs include any public humanities program where ideas are exchanged, and are generally funded at $3,000, with a few projects funded for more than $5,000. Research programs are limited to humanities-based, scholarly research and are typically funded at $2,500. Proposals must include a strong tie to the humanities and South Dakota life.

    A staff review of proposals is available for those interested. The deadline for staff review is Friday, January 18. Preliminary applications are not required, however, they are recommended for first time applicants.

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is an independent, non-profit corporation supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the South Dakota Humanities Foundation, corporate sponsors, individuals and other sources. The Council’s mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 5, 2007
    For more information, contact South Dakota Humanities Council, 605-688-6113

    Volunteers needed for Festival of Books

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is seeking volunteers to work at the 2007 South Dakota Festival of Books, September 28-30 in Deadwood, SD. The Festival of Books is a weekend long celebration of the literary arts. Over 60 writers, including Richard Ford, Joseph Marshall III, Ivan Doig, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Sonia Manzano and Ted Kooser, are scheduled to give presentations. The majority of volunteers are needed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 29.

    Volunteer duties include serving as a room monitor for presentations, working at the information booth, transportation of writers between the airport in Rapid City and Deadwood and assisting with special events. To sign up to volunteer, please visit www.sdhumanities.org or call the Humanities Council at 605-688-6113.

    For more information about the Festival, please visit our website, call 605-688-6113 or pick up a Festival Guide, available in the Sept/Oct issue of South Dakota Magazine.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 2007
    For more information, contact South Dakota Humanities Council at 605/688-6113
    Grant application deadline approaching

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is now accepting grant applications for Media, Teachers Institutes and Discussion Programs. Applications are post mark due to the SDHC office by Thursday, August 30.

    Please find all of the grant requirements on-line at www.sdhumanities.org or call the office at 605/688-6113 with questions. Media grants are capped at $7,000, while discussion programs generally funded at $3,000, with a few projects funded for more than $5,000. Teacher Institutes are funded up to $20,000. With special funding endowed by the South Dakota Humanities Foundation from interest earned on Challenge Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, SDHC funds one Teachers Institute on American Indian culture in our state each year.

    Proposals should address the humanities first and foremost. Proposals with the following initiatives incorporated into their program are strongly encouraged:
    - Encouraging Youth: Programs that reach South Dakota youth, both in and out of traditional classroom settings
    - Literacy and Literary Programs: Programs that incorporate a reading component.
    - Programs for American Indians: Programs that involve a diverse group of presenters and/or audience members to facilitate cultural understanding.
    The South Dakota Humanities Council is an independent, non-profit corporation and the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council’s mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines.

    For more information, please visit sdhumanities.org or call 605-688-6113.

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    For Immediate Release: July 23, 2007
    For more information, contact SDHC, 605-688-6113
    Humanities Council new officers meet
    The South Dakota Humanities Council and Foundation recently held their first joint meeting with new officers for the Board of Directors. Fee Jacobsen of Pierre is the incoming Chair of the Council, Terri Davis of Rapid City is the Chair-Elect and Dr. Marilyn Carlson Aronson of Beresford is the Secretary. The Foundation Board Executive Committee includes Rebecca Dunn of Sioux Falls, President, Charles Woodard, Brookings, Vice President, Kate Campbell of Sioux Falls, Secretary and Anne Gormley, Pierre, Treasurer.

    “We are pleased to have this new executive committee. We feel that their leadership will prove invaluable as the Council progresses with new programming and fundraising goals,” Sherry DeBoer, SDHC Executive Director, said. “The officers varied backgrounds will help in promoting the humanities throughout South Dakota.”

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    For immediate release: July 3, 2007
    For more information contact South Dakota Humanities Council, 605-688-6113

    Humanities Council and Foundation to meet in Sisseton

    The South Dakota Humanities Council and Foundation will hold their summer meeting in Sisseton on July 13-14. The meeting marks the first under the direction of new Executive Director Sherry DeBoer, Brookings, and new Council Chair Fee Jacobsen, Pierre.

    The meeting will begin at 2 PM on July 13 and conclude at noon on Saturday with an Indian Taco lunch prepared by Sisseton Whapeton Community College. The public is invited to a sunset reception with the Council and Foundation boards on Friday, July 13 from 8:30-9:30 PM at Nicollet Tower. Additional items on the agenda for the July meeting include an orientation session entitled “Representing the Humanities,” and significant time will be devoted to board development.

    The Council and the Foundation boards are composed of South Dakota citizens with an interest in promoting and developing the humanities throughout the state. They serve as volunteers and meet three times per year.

    For more information about the South Dakota Humanities Council, call 605-688-6113 or visit sdhumanities.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2007
    For more information, Contact South Dakota Humanities Council, 605-688-6113

    Humanities Council names new Executive Director

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is pleased to announce that Sherry DeBoer of Brookings is the new Executive Director of the organization.

    DeBoer has worked at the Council since 1987, serving in a variety of capacities. Her most previous position was as Director of the South Dakota Center for the Book program and Deputy Director of the Council. In that position, she has coordinated the South Dakota Festival of Books, The Big Read and the One Book South Dakota program.

    "South Dakota has such a rich cultural legacy that it makes humanities come alive in the state. We are so fortunate to have excellent base programming and we hope to build on those existing programs that have become important to people in our state," DeBoer said.

    Immediate plans for the Council include moving to a new office in Brookings, the upcoming South Dakota Festival of Books in Deadwood and hosting a Smithsonian traveling exhibition in 2008.

    "We have so many exciting programs coming up," said Fee Jacobsen, Chair-Elect of the Council. "I am certain that Sherry will lead the Council to new potential as she transitions from Deputy to Executive Director. We are pleased to have someone with a long-standing passion for South Dakota humanities in this position."

    For more information about the South Dakota Humanities Council, please call 605-688-6113 or visit sdhumanities.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2007

    ONE BOOK SOUTH DAKOTA STARTING NOW

    What if everyone in South Dakota read the same book? The South Dakota Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council, invites libraries, schools, book clubs, civic organizations and corporations across the state to join in the Fifh Annual One Book South Dakota project. Designed to stimulate discussion and generate ideas, groups may begin to sign up now. The program runs through the end of the calendar year.

    Ivan Doig's critically acclaimed novel The Whistling Season has been selected as the book for 2007. The capstone event of the program is an author appearance at the Fifth Annual South Dakota Festival of Books, which gives readers several opportunities to listen to him share his thoughts on the book. The Festival will be in Deadwood, September 28-30, 2007.

    Doig, who lives in Seattle, has written ten books. His first book, This House of Sky was a finalist for the National Book Award. He is a former ranch hand, newspaperman and magazine editor. He was born in raised in Mondata, living along the Rocky Mountain Front where much of his writing is set. The Whistling Season chronicles the fictional story of a one-room school graduate who is now an administrator with the state department of education and charged with the tasks of closing all of the one-room schools in Montana. The main character reflects on his experiences while attending school in his decision-making process.

    To participate in "One Book," complete the application found at sdhumanities.org or in the SDHC Resource Center Catalog, and return to SDHC, Box 7050, University Station, Brookings, SD 57007, five weeks prior to the first activity. The Center for the Book will send a set of books to circulate in your community approximately one month prior to the discussion date. Books need to be returned to SDHC within one week following the discussion. Discussion guides, postcards and posters will supplement local planning efforts.

    A bureau of scholars who can serve as discussion leaders has been established and can be found on the SDHC website. SDHC will pay the scholars' stipend and travel expenses.

    For more information about "One Book South Dakota," please contact SDHC at 605/688-6113 or visit sdhumanities.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2007

    TEN SOUTH DAKOTA ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE HUMANITIES FUNDING

    Seven non-profit organizations recently received grant funding from the South Dakota Humanities Council. An additional three grants were funded jointly with the South Dakota Arts Council. The Humanities Council, composed of 18 South Dakota residents, awarded over $20,000. All of the grants awarded are for humanities public programs that aim to educate and entertain South Dakotans of all ages.

    The South Dakota Heritage Fund received a grant in support of the 2007 South Dakota State Historical Society annual conference. The theme of the conference, scheduled for April 13-14 in Pierre, is "Romancing the West: Women’s Lives on the Great Plains."

    Elementary school children from across South Dakota will benefit from the "South Dakota History Rocks!" program grant. The grant, awarded to the Pierre Chamber of Commerce, will offset field trip expenses when students travel to Pierre.

    The South Dakota State University Journalism Department received a grant to initiate a Lakota/Dakota Storytelling competition at the annual Lakota Nation Invitational in Rapid City. The grant will go towards developing this new area of programming for the annual basketball tournament.

    Critically acclaimed historian and Chautauqua performer Clay Jenkinson will speak in Sioux Falls on June 22. The presentation will kick-off South Dakota University Center's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

    On April 17, Black Hills State University will host a conference entitled "The Red in the Red, White and Blue" that will focus on the American Indian involvement in the US Armed Forces – from the past and present. The conference is part of the university’s annual pow-wow.

    The Oscar Micheaux Center in Gregory received a grant for the annual Micheaux Festival. The event celebrates the life and legacy of Gregory-area homesteader Oscar Micheaux, who is considered the grandfather of African-American cinematography. The festival is scheduled for August 8-12.

    The South Dakota State Historical Society received a grant in support of the 2007 Plains Anthropological conference. The regional conference will draw archeologists from across the region to Rapid City on October 10.

    The South Dakota Arts Council and SDHC awarded three grants jointly for programs that incorporate the arts, humanities and economic development. The goal of these programs is to draw tourists to the host community.

    The National Music Museum in Vermillion will have a Javanese Gamlan concert and workshop on May 4. The concert will be a brown bag event at the Arne B. Larson Concert Hall at the museum. Javanese Gamlan is a unique musical style.

    Dakota Wesleyan University received a grant in support of the McGovern Center's "Grassroots" event scheduled for July 10. The event will serve as a commemoration of the 1972 Democratic National Convention. In addition to the conference that will bring political historians and scholars to Mitchell, there will be a concert by the Comfort Theatre Company of Sioux Falls celebrating music of the 1970s.

    The Aberdeen Area Arts Council will hold "Storybook Land Festival" on July 28. The event will feature events for children, including readings by regional children's authors.

    For more information on any of the programs listed above, please contact the hosting organization. SDHC, an independent, non-profit corporation, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines, which include archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, comparative religion and numerous other subjects of interest to general audiences.

    The next deadline for grant applications is August 30, 2007 for programs scheduled to take place after November 1, 2007.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2007
    Contact: Corey Vilhauer, (605) 351-4705, Volunteer Committee Chair

    The Big Read Offers Poetry Slam for Willa Cather’s My Ántonia

    For the first time ever, The Big Read South Dakota will invite poets from around the area to participate in The Big Read Poetry Slam. This year’s The Big Read selection is My Antonia by Willa Cather.

    Would be participants are encouraged to write original poetry based on Willa Cather's My Antonia. This poetry will then be featured in an open-mic format at Cool Beans Coffee Company, located at 3822 S. Western, across from Campbell Supply, on Friday, May 4 at 8:00 PM.

    "The inspiring words of Willa Cather and the vision of My Antonia lends itself quite nicely to poetry," Corey Vilhauer, committee member, said. "We hope this Poetry Slam will lead people to celebrate the passion and beauty of Willa Cather’s My Antonia."

    Participants should sign up at any of the four Sioux Falls Siouxland Library branch locations before close on Friday, April 27. Signing up is necessary to assure sufficient interest in the Poetry Slam.

    This poetry slam is part of a statewide reading celebration called The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, and the South Dakota Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council. The program is running in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Mitchell and Aberdeen from April 15-May 15, 2007.

    Get more information on the first annual The Big Read Poetry Slam and learn more about My Ántonia at www.sdhumanities.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2006
    SOUTH DAKOTA CENTER FOR THE BOOK RECEIVES "THE BIG READ" GRANT
    Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Rapid City and Aberdeen to participate in national program to promote literary reading

    The South Dakota Center for the Book is one of 72 organizations nation-wide to receive a grant for The Big Read. The Big Read is a new national program by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, that encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss one book. The $40,000 grant provides funding to promote and carry out community-based programs in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Rapid City and Mitchell this March and April.

    "We are so pleased to be selected for this program two years in a row,� Sherry DeBoer, Director of the Center for the Book, said. “This year, with expanding to four South Dakota communities, the program will benefit many more citizens."

    The South Dakota Center for the Book was one of ten organizations selected to pilot the program in 2006. Along with the NEA including 62 more organizations, in July, Mrs. Laura Bush enthusiastically joined the Big Read as its Honorary Chair for 2007.

    The Big Read is meant to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the NEA’s 2004 landmark survey Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America. The survey showed that less than half the American adult population now reads literature.

    "With the Big Read we want to get everyone in a community—from high school kids and office workers to public officials and senior citizens—reading a great book together," said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. "Our goal is to get people talking about Fahrenheit 451 or The Great Gatsby with the same conviction that they debate the World Series. We want people to feel worse about not reading the book t han they do about missing an episode of Lost or CSI."

    "We are delighted to be partners in The Big Read. It's exciting to know that our partnership on the national level can make it possible for local communities across the United States to connect around reading a good book," said IMLS Director Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice. "My message to the new communities that are now part of The Big Read is: Bravo, I urge everyone to get involved; reading together is a powerful experience!"

    The four South Dakota communities and their surrounding areas will read and celebrate the classic American novel My Antonia by Willa Cather. To encourage community-wide participation in the project, the Center for the Book will collaborate with public and private partners within each community to develop a program of activities related to the selected novel, including readers' theatres, discussions about the middle border, writing contests and community discussion groups. The public libraries in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Aberdeen will lead the effort in their respective communities and Dakota Wesleyan University will coordinate programs in Mitchell. In addition, the Community Foundations of America, cfa.org, will be called upon for additional support for this project in South Dakota.

    Through NEA, the Center for the Book will provide participating communities with reader’s and teacher’s guides, an audio guide featuring distinguished actors and writers, Big Read display materials, and a comprehensive program Web site (neabigread.org).

    For more information on the program, please visit www.neabigread.org.

    The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: www.imls.gov.

    Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2006
    STUDENTS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL WRITING CONTEST

    “Read. Be Inspired. Write Back.� That is the theme of a Library of Congress writing contest gives young readers an opportunity to write a letter to their favorite author, giving students a chance to win an expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC for themselves and their parents!

    The trip to the US capital is the national prize in Letters About Literature, a reflective writing program for readers in grades 4 through 12, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target Stores. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. Young readers can select authors from any genre – fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic.

    The South Dakota Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council, will select the top essayists in the state from each of the three competition levels: Level I for students in grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8 and Level III, grades 9-12.

    Deadline for entries is December 8, 2006. To obtain the required entry coupon, call the South Dakota Center for the Book at 605/688-6113 or visit http://www.loc.gov/letters.

    State winners advance to the national competition and receive savings bonds and gift cards. They will also be recognized at a special awards ceremony in spring of 2007.

    Six national winners will each receive an expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capitol to read their letters during the National Book Festival in the fall of 2005. In addition, they will receive a $500 Target gift card redeemable at any Target Store or target.com.

    Teachers, librarians, or parents interested in obtaining copies of the contest guidelines and the 16-page teaching supplement to guide students through the reading/writing process should visit the Center for the Book website.

    Target Stores, along with its parent company Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with non-profit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2006
    HUMANITIES COUNCIL AWARDS FIRST ROUND OF 2007 GRANTS

    Ten non-profit organizations recently received grant funding from the South Dakota Humanities Council. An additional two grants were funded jointly with the South Dakota Arts Council. The Humanities Council, composed of 18 South Dakota residents, awarded over $50,000 at their fall meeting in Sioux Falls. Grants awarded were in the categories of discussion programs, teacher institute and media programs.

    The Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies was awarded the 2007 Teachers’ Institute grant. The institutes, scheduled for June 22-July 1 and July 20-29, will take place on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. Scholars from across the state will present on “Approaches to Teaching Lakota Culture.� The participants at the institute receive room and board, course materials, and college or continuing education credits for a nominal fee.

    The Center for Western Studies at Augustana College received a grant in support of the 2007 Dakota Conference. The conference is an annual gathering of professional and amateur historians. This year, the theme is “Railroading the Plains.� The event is scheduled for April 20-21 in Sioux Falls.

    South Dakotans for the Arts, an advocacy organization for arts and culture in South Dakota, received a grant for a project entitled "A Cultural Sharing: Rhythm in Shoes." The program involves a professional dance tour presenting at Todd County Schools in Mission, March 26-27, and at Takini School in Howes on March 29-30. At the schools, the founder of the dance company will talk about traditional European dance and Dallas Chief Eagle will talk about traditional Native dance.

    Three prolific female authors will present in Kyle and Rapid City on November 17 through a grant sponsored by Cangleska, Inc. The authors, Allison Hedge Coke, Susan Power and Sally Roesch Wagner, will present on "The Woman’s Role in Tribal Culture."

    The Adams Museum in Deadwood received a grant to develop an exhibit gallery guide for “Digging Deadwood.� The exhibit examines the archeological digs of Chinese artifacts in Deadwood.

    A project of collecting and digitizing oral histories describing the cooperative movement in South Dakota will be conducted by the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. The Farmers Union received a grant to assist in the expenses incurred in the production of the project.

    The legacy of Grace French, an artist of the Black Hills, will be presented at the Journey Museum in Rapid City. The museum plans to do a gallery exhibit, virtual exhibit, and publication about French's influence.

    The Fall River Historical Society received a grant to present the “Focus on Fall River� history conference in January. The conference features the stories, culture and events in southwest South Dakota history.

    The Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls will conduct a series of South Dakota Humanities Council sponsored “Performance Insights� discussions prior to each production in the Husby Series. The discussions are led by local scholars and give insight into the forthcoming production, creating a more meaningful experience for audience members.

    Lastly, the Association of South Dakota Museums received a grant to produce a South Dakota Museum Map. The publication will be used to collectively promote South Dakota museums and cultural organizations, being placed at rest areas and tourist information locations across the state.

    The Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association received one of the two Arts and Humanities Joint Project Grants to present the AgriCultural Heritage Conference on November 8-9 in Sioux Falls. The conference will feature sessions designed to establish collaborative efforts between producers and cultural organizations and artists.

    The second Arts and Humanities Joint Project Grant went to Mount Marty College in Yankton for the Plains Writers' Tour series. Throughout the year, the college will present poets, writers and panel discussion presentations. The presentations will all take place at Marian Auditorium on the university campus.

    SDHC is an independent, non-profit corporation supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the South Dakota Humanities Foundation, corporate sponsors, individuals and other sources. Its mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines, which include archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, comparative religion and numerous other subjects of interest to general audiences.

    The Council will again award grants for programs after April 15 at their spring meeting. For more information about SDHC or the grants awarded, call 605/688-6113 or visit http://sdhc.sdstate.org.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2006
    SOUTH DAKOTA FESTIVAL OF BOOKS TO DRAW BIG NAMES

    September 22-24, people from across the region will converge in downtown Sioux Falls for the Fourth Annual South Dakota Festival of Books, presented by the South Dakota Humanities Council, home of the South Dakota Center for the Book. With the theme of "Where Readers and Writers Rendezvous," Festival attendees have the opportunity to come face to face with some of the nations' most talented writers, highlighted by 2005 Pulitzer Prize winners Ted Kooser and Marilynne Robinson. Authors of fiction, history, non-fiction, poetry and children?s literature, as well as representatives from the publishing industry, will spend the weekend in Sioux Falls. Along with presentations and readings by authors, participants will enjoy an exhibitor?s hall featuring a variety of vendors, book signings, music and panel discussions.

    Complete event details can be found in the official "Festival Guide" available at all Siouxland Library branches and area bookstores. It will also be inserted in the Sept/ Oct issue of "South Dakota Magazine."

    The Festival will run for three days and two nights, officially starting with an Early Bird Book Signing Party at 3 PM on Friday, Sept. 22, followed by a full day of concurrent activities on Saturday, September 23. The Festival will conclude by 2 PM on Sunday, September 24. Six areas of interest focusing on specific literary genres will highlight the weekend. The event is free and open to the public with the exception of a Business Leadership Breakfast, scheduled for September 22 at the Holiday Inn Starlite Room from 7:30 ? 8:45 AM. Tickets to the breakfast are $15 and can be purchased by calling 605/688-6113.

    Primary event locations include the Holiday Inn City Centre, the Orpheum Theater and the Siouxland Library Main Branch. Events will also take place at the Multi-Cultural Center, Barnes & Noble and Touch of Europe.

    Our Rhythms, a tribute to poetry, brings former United States Poet Laureate and 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner Ted Kooser and South Dakota Poet Laureate David Allan Evans to Sioux Falls. Kooser will moderate a panel featuring local and nationally known poets on September 22 beginning at 8 PM at the Orpheum Theater.

    The non-fiction track, Our World, features National Public Radio Senior Correspondent and Fox News Analyst Juan Williams, book appraiser Richard Austin, "Dakota Flora" author Dave Ode and "USA Today" columnist Craig Wilson. Austin will evaluate books brought in by the public on September 23 from 11 AM ?12:45 PM at the Holiday Inn.

    Children's literature authors will be entertaining audiences as part of Our Youth activities. Peg Kehret, voted to have the best book in 2005 by South Dakota third through fifth graders, and Harry Bliss, voted to have the best illustrations in 2005 by South Dakota K-2 students, will present. South Dakota illustrator Donald Montileaux and children?s authors Jean Patrick and Jodi Latza will present. Along with author presentations, kids can meet Edward Tulane, learn how to operate a letter press, and take part in other hands-on activities at the Creation Stations located at Siouxland Libraries Main Branch. Schools throughout the Sioux Falls metro and other South Dakota communities will host authors in their classrooms prior to and following the Festival.

    Emerging authors can hear from experts in the publishing business in the tribute to Our Creativity: Writers? Support. Rob Fleder, editor at Sports Illustrated, self-promotion queen Hillary Carlip, a literary agent, representatives from professional writing associations, publicity directors for major publishers and an editor with Random House will all be in attendance to assist up-and-coming authors. Professionals will look at science fiction, fantasy, sports and general fiction and non-fiction book ideas.

    History and Tribal Writing will be celebrated in the Our Culture tribute. The highlight of this area is a discussion on the effects of war, presented by John Glusman, David Callahan and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Edward Humes. Also, Joseph Marshall III, who consulted on the TNT series "Into the West," will present about his newest books, including one on Crazy Horse.

    Finally, Our Fantasies, includes mystery, short stories and comedy by such authors as Pulitzer Prize winner Marilynne Robinson, best-selling mystery author JA Jance, National Book Award winner Pete Dexter, South Dakota ?One Book? author Kent Meyers and PEN/Hemingway winner Susan Power. Nancy Pearl, a Seattle librarian who has had an action figure modeled in her likeness, will host "So Many Authors, So Little Time" on September 23 at 8 PM at the Orpheum.

    These authors and many more comprise the more than 60 presenters at this year?s Festival. For more information, please visit the Humanities Council website, http://sdhc.sdstate.org or call 605/688-6113.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2006
    VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

    Volunteers are needed to help with the 4 th Annual South Dakota Festival of Books September 22-24 in downtown Sioux Falls.

    The festival is an annual gathering of readers and writers in celebration of the literary arts, Sherry DeBoer, deputy director of the SD Humanities Council, said. This year over 60 national, state and local authors will attend, including Pulitzer Prize winners Marilynne Robinson and Ted Kooser, mystery author J.A. Jance, and many more.

    Volunteers are needed to serve as panel moderators, greeters, set-up, assist with book signings, monitor children?s activities and much more, DeBoer said. An informational meeting for those interested in helping will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, August 14, at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 2006
    GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is now accepting grant applications for Media, Teachers Institutes and Discussion Programs. Applications are postmark due to the SDHC office by August 30.

    Please find all of the grant requirements on-line at http://sdhc.sdstate.org, or call the office at 605/688-6113 with questions. Media grants are capped at $7,000, while discussion programs generally funded at $3,000, with a few projects funded for more than $5,000. Teacher Institutes are funded up to $20,000. With special funding from the Challenge Grants at the National Endowment, SDHC will fund one Teachers Institute on American Indian culture in our state each year.

    The focus for grant programs for 2007 includes programs that encourage youth, literary and literacy programs and programs for South Dakota?s American Indians.

    The South Dakota Humanities Council is an independent, non-profit corporation supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the South Dakota Humanities Foundation, corporate sponsors, individuals and other sources. The Council's mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2006
    SIMMONS RESIGNS AS SDHC DIRECTOR

    Donald Simmons has recently resigned from the South Dakota Humanities Council effective September 1 to take on duties as Director of the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. Simmons will have served state humanities councils for 11 years, including six years in Mississippi as the Assistant Director and the previous five years as Executive Director in South Dakota. In his tenure at SDHC, he established the South Dakota Center for the Book and the South Dakota Festival of Books, now in its fourth year.

    "Don is a progressive leader for the humanities in South Dakota. His vision has helped SDHC grow and become the strong organization that it is today. Although he will no longer work for the Council, we are pleased that he is staying in South Dakota and will continue to advocate the humanities," Richard Papousek, SDHC Chair, said.

    "Working with cultural organizations across South Dakota has been a very rewarding experience," Simmons said. "While I am excited about the opportunity to work at Dakota Wesleyan, I will miss working on a daily basis with the wonderful staff and board at the humanities council."

    The Council will soon start the search for a new Executive Director. In the interim, Papousek will serve as Director. The new director, who should be in place by early 2007, will be responsible for the administrative operations of the organization and works for the board of 18 members. The Executive Director's general duties include creating public awareness of SDHC and the role of the humanities in life. A formal job announcement will be released at a later date.

    SDHC, based in Brookings, was created in 1972 by the NEH to give financial support to public humanities programs in the state. SDHC is an independent, non-profit corporation supported by a grant from NEH and also by grants and gifts from private foundations, corporations, and individuals.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2006
    MADISON, PIERRE TO HOST CHAUTAUQUA

    Experience the Lewis & Clark journey this summer with the South Dakota Humanities Council in either Madison or Pierre. The Dakota State campus in Madison and Steamboat Park in Pierre will be the settings for the 2006 Great Plains Chautauqua, ?From Sea to Shining Sea: Cultural Change and American Expansion, 1790-1850.? The free event, running July 13-18 in Madison and July 20-25 in Pierre, is coordinated by the Humanities Council and features a weeklong residency of daytime workshops and evening presentations under the Chautauqua tent.

    "Every summer, the council brings an opportunity to the state to experience living history at its finest. We are certain this year's presentation will be successful, and children and adults will be able to learn something by attending," Don Simmons, SDHC Executive Director, said.

    This is the fifth and final year of the exploration theme for the Great Plains Chautauqua. Visitors will have the chance to see portrayals of William Clark, Sacagawea, York and other trailblazers. The moderator will act as Dolley Madison.

    Each night, a different character will be highlighted. The daytime workshops include lectures, children's activities, discussions and a variety of other events. Please consult a Chautauqua tabloid in each community or contact SDHC for event times and locations.

    The Council is an independent, non-profit corporation supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the South Dakota Humanities Foundation, corporate sponsors, individuals and other sources. Its mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines.

    For more information about Chautauqua 2006, please contact the Council at 605/688-6113.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2006
    HUMANITIES COUNCIL DONATES BOOKS TO LOCAL LIBRARIES

    The South Dakota Humanities Council recently donated nearly 700 books to over 120 South Dakota libraries.

    The books were used in Humanities Council sponsored reading programs, such as "One Book South Dakota" and "Knowing the World Through Reading."

    The Council is an independent, non-profit corporation supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the South Dakota Humanities Foundation, corporate sponsors, individuals and other sources. Its mission is to support and promote public programming and provide grant funding for programs in traditional humanities disciplines, which include archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, comparative religion and numerous other subjects of interest to general audiences.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2006
    ONE BOOK SOUTH DAKOTA TO START IN JUNE

    What if everyone in South Dakota read the same book? The South Dakota Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council, invites libraries, schools, book clubs, civic organizations and corporations across the state to join in the Fourth Annual One Book South Dakota project. Designed to stimulate discussion and generate ideas, the program begins in June and runs through the end of the year.

    Marilynne Robinson's 2005 Pulitzer Prize winning novel Gilead has been selected as the book for 2006. The capstone event of the program is an author appearance at the Fourth Annual South Dakota Festival of Books, which gives readers several opportunities to listen to her share her thoughts on the book. The Festival will be in Sioux Falls, September 22-24.

    Gilead is Robinson's second novel. In the early 1980s she published Housekeeping, which won a PEN/Hemingway Award. She wrote non-fiction between writing her novels, including Mother Country and The Death of Adam. Gilead is written as a letter from a 76-year-old Congregationalist Preacher to his seven-year-old son. Robinson is a Congregationalist, and has served as a deacon in the church.

    To participate in "One Book," complete the application found at http://sdhc.sdstate.org or in the SDHC Resource Center Catalog, and return to SDHC, Box 7050, University Station, Brookings, SD 57007, five weeks prior to the first activity. The Center for the Book will send books to circulate in your community approximately one month prior to the discussion date. Books need to be returned to SDHC within one week following the discussion. Postcards and posters will supplement local planning efforts.

    A bureau of scholars who can serve as discussion leaders has been established and can be found on the SDHC website. SDHC will pay the scholars' stipend and travel expenses.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2006
    SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS COMPETE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION ON U.S. CONSTITUTION

    On April 28, students from Spearfish High School will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will represent South Dakota in the national finals of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, an academic competition on the U.S. Constitution.

    The Spearfish students have studied for months under their teacher Patrick Gainy to prepare for their role as experts testifying on constitutional issues in a simulated congressional hearing. To represent their state at the national finals, the class won the state competition earlier this year.

    The first round of the national finals will be held April 29 and 30. The competition involves entire classes making presentations and answering questions on constitutional topics before a panel of judges composed of scholars, lawyers and government leaders, recruited from across the country. The top ten teams from the first two days of hearings will compete in the championship round May 1 on Capitol Hill.

    We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by an Act of Congress. The program is directed by the Center for Civic Education. The South Dakota Humanities Council administers the program in South Dakota. Nationwide the program is implemented at the upper elementary, middle, and high school levels and has reached more than 28 million students during its nineteen year history.

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2006
    "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" READERS THEATRE AND LAW DISCUSSION PANEL

    A free readers theatre event featuring "To Kill a Mockingbird" and a discussion of controversial legal cases, takes place at 7 p.m., Friday, April 7, at the Holiday Inn City Centre. The performance is the last in a series of events called The Big Read, designed to get people in Sioux Falls to read Harper Lee?s classic book.

    The cast includes Sheriff Mike Milstead, Sylvia Henkin, State's Attorney Dave Nelson, Judge Glen Severson, Michael Luce, and others, Rosella Blunk, director, said.

    Panelists for the discussion to follow include Justice Judith Meierhenry, John Schlimgen, Dave Nelson, Mike Luce, Cynthia Howard & Michael Butler. Refreshments will be served.

    Sioux Falls was one of ten cities nation-wide to receive a grant through the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest. The grant helped provide training for book group discussion leaders, included numerous special event opportunities, and provided 400 copies of the book To Kill a Mockingbird to Siouxland Libraries.

    These free events were sponsored by The Center for the Book, a program of the South Dakota Humanities Council.

    Full cast list:
    Atticus: Michael Luce
    Tom Robinson/Rev. Sykes: Orlando George
    Jem: Zachary Miller
    Dill/Boy: Elijah Bonde
    Bob Ewell: Larry Schrag
    Heck Tate: Mike Milstead
    Mr. Gilmer: Dave Nelson
    Boo Radley: Tyler Muth
    Judge Taylor/Water Cunningham: Glen Severson
    Calpurnia: Lenn George
    Scout: Kathryn MacGregor
    Jean Louise: Phyllis Schrag
    Miss Maudie/Miss Stephanie/Mrs. DuBose: Sylvia Henkin
    Mayella: Taylor Eastman

    Director: Rosella Blunk
    Assistant Director: Kris Hayes
    Costumes: Nancy Henrichsen

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2006
    HUMANITIES COUNCIL AWARDS OVER $28,000 IN GRANTS

    Three South Dakota non-profit organizations recently received grant funding from the South Dakota Humanities Council. Jointly with the South Dakota Arts Council, an additional four proposals were accepted and awarded funding for cultural tourism programs. In total, the Council, composed of 18 South Dakota residents, awarded over $28,000.

    "The Council received applications for a diverse variety of programs," Don Simmons, SDHC Executive Director, said. "We are pleased to see the innovation that organizations are using to promote the humanities in South Dakota."

    The Rapid City Arts Council received a grant for the ?Dahl Mountain Culture Festival. The event will be April 17-May 14, 2006. Throughout that time, there will be a series of lectures, panel discussions, performances, a competitive photography exhibit on mountain culture and an extreme sports expo.

    The Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls received a grant for a series of "Gallery Insights" discussion programs. The discussions will take place prior to shows at the Visual Arts Center, featuring the artist and a humanities scholar, and are geared to assist in the public understanding of the artwork.

    The Oz Festival in Aberdeen received a grant to fund a children's literature component at their event this summer. Children's authors Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Mark McGinnis and Jean Patrick will attend the Festival, along with Robert Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum. The Festival takes place June 9-10.

    The Oscar Micheaux Center received support for the Oscar Micheaux Festival in Gregory, August 9-12. This year marks the 11th annual Festival, where South Dakota and national scholars discuss the life and films of Micheaux, an African-American film pioneer who homesteaded near Gregory. There will also be a musical component, with jazz, music of the homesteading era and music from Micheaux's films being performed.

    The Council awarded grants for traditional humanities programs as well, giving over $8,000.

    South Dakota State University received a grant to assist in the publication of a book on "Place and Community in South Dakota." The book, a collection of ten essays, is in the process of getting published. The project also includes a series of discussions with the contributing authors.

    Sioux Valley Schools in Volga received a grant to bring author Ben Mikaelsen to Brookings area schools. The beloved children's and young adult author will visit schools in Brookings, Volga, Elkton and White in October.

    The Council will again award grants for programs after November 1, 2006 at their fall meeting.

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