1. art and entertainment

August 2012
IN THIS ISSUE:
God and Caesar in America: Why Mixing
Religion and Politics Is Bad for Both
This article by Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell appeared in the March/
April 2012 edition of Foreign Affairs. It appears here with permission. Robert
Putnam will deliver the 17th Annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities.
Journey Stories tour................3
Sower Award Winner..........4
Free Land Chautauqua............5
Speakers Bureau auditions....5
$1 million Carson gift...........6
Celebration of Books...........6
Heritage tourism...............7
Capitol Forum survey results....7
Prime Time “Summer School”...8
Grants total $150,105............9
NHC recognizes donors........10
2012-13 Thompson Forum...12
17th Annual Governor’s
Lecture in the Humanities
Robert Putnam
“American Grace: How Religion
Divides and Unites Us”
7:30 p.m. October 2, 2012
Lied Center for Performing
Arts, Lincoln, Nebraska
The lecture is free
and open to the public.
Visit www.nebraskahumanities.
org later this summer for
details on programs related to
the book “American Grace.”
For tickets to the pre-lecture benefit
dinner, contact the Nebraska
Humanities Council at (402) 474-2131
ext 110 or julie@nebraskahumanities.
org. Co-Sponsored by the University
of Nebraska and the E.N. Thompson
Forum on World Issues.
From the day the Pilgrims stepped off not even then), religious mobilization is now
the Mayflower, religion has played a promi- tied directly to party politics.
nent role in American public life. The faithful
In fact, over the last 20 years, church athave been vital participants in nearly every tendance has become the main dividing line
major social movement in U.S. history, pro- between Republican and Democratic voters.
gressive as well as conservative. Still, the close (African Americans are a sharp, but singular,
intertwining of religion
exception; although most
and politics in the last 40
Democratic voters are now
years is unusual, espesecular, African Americans,
cially in the degree of the
the most loyal Democrats,
politicization of religion
are also the most reliitself. Indeed, religion’s
gious group in the United
influence on U.S. politics
States.) The so-called God
has hit a high-water mark,
gap, between churchgoing
especially on the right. Yet
Republicans and secuat the same time, its role in
lar white Democrats, rose
Americans’ personal lives
sharply throughout the
is ebbing. As religion and
1990s and early years of
politics have become enthis century. Before the
tangled, many Americans,
2008 presidential election,
especially younger ones,
one team of consultants
have pulled away from reeven specialized in teachligion. And that correlation
ing Democratic candidates
turns out to be causal, not
how to “do God,” so they
Robert D. Putnam
coincidental.
could eat into the RepubliIt is no surprise that
cans’ support among religious
religion and politics should be connected to Americans. Yet in 2008, the God gap remained
some degree in a highly religious and demo- as wide as ever: according to data we colcratic nation. In the 19th century, U.S. political lected, among whites, 67 percent of weekly
parties were divided along sectarian lines: churchgoers voted for Sen. John McCain, as
pietistic versus liturgical, low church versus compared with 26 percent of those who never
high church, Protestant versus Catholic. But attended church.
whereas the past saw partisans of different
The connection between religiosity and
religions (often with an ethnic tinge) face off political conservatism has become so deeply
in the political arena, today partisan divisions embedded in contemporary U.S. culture that
are not defined by denomination; rather, they it is startling to recall just how new the alignpit religiously devout conservatives against ment is. In the 1960s, churchgoers were actusecular progressives. Moreover, to a degree
Continued on page 2
not seen since at least the 1850s (and perhaps
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Continued from page 1
ally more likely than nonchurchgoers to
be Democrats. Into the 1980s, there were
still plenty of progressives in the pews on
Sunday morning and plenty of conservatives who stayed home. The rather sudden
shift since then has, and will have, both
short-term and long-term implications
for both politics and religion. For now,
Republicans must seek to appease their
fervently religious base without alienating a general electorate that increasingly
finds the mixture of religion and politics
distasteful. In the long run, the trend
could undermine the historic role of religion in the United States, as younger generations reject organized religion itself.
The country has arrived at today’s close
nexus between religion and partisanship
only recently, and understanding how it
got there—and how the role of religion in
the United States has changed in recent
decades—will help explain where it might
be headed.
To get a better sense of how novel
the present political-religious landscape
is, we must go back to the 1950s. That
decade was highly religious; indeed,
some historians argue that it was the
most religious in all of American history. Of course, there are many ways to
gauge national trends in religiosity, but
for decades, one Gallup poll question,
“Is religion’s influence on American life
increasing or decreasing?” has proved
a finely tuned seismometer of religious
tremors. In 1957, 69 percent of those
Americans surveyed told Gallup that
they thought the influence of religion in
American life was on the rise. Only 14
percent said it was declining. Every objective measure indicates that they were
right: more Americans than ever were attending religious services, more churches
were being built to accommodate them,
and more books of Scripture were being
sold and read. But in President Dwight
Eisenhower’s America, religion had no
partisan overtones. Ike was as popular
among those who never darkened the
door of a church (or synagogue, and so
on) as among churchgoers.
Then came the 1960s and a dramatic
turn in attitudes toward authority and
especially toward conventional sexual
morality, an issue tightly connected to
religious belief. In just four years, between 1969 and 1973, the percentage of
Americans who approved of premarital
sex doubled, from one-fourth to one-half.
That increase was stunning and almost
entirely concentrated among the baby
boomers, who were then coming of age.
By 1970, fully 75 percent of Americans surveyed concluded that religion’s influence
in American life was waning. Collapsing
church attendance confirmed their view.
Yet even then, religiosity did not skew
more to the right than the left; neither
during the religious boom of the 1950s
nor in the religious bust of the 1960s was
religion linked to partisan politics.
Nor did the 1960s put the United
States on an inexorable path toward
secularism. Far from it: instead, among
more conservative Americans, the moral
earthquake triggered a return to religion,
“The country has arrived at
today’s close nexus between
religion and partisanship only
recently, and understanding
how it got there—and how the
role of religion in the United
States has changed in recent
decades—will help explain
where it might be headed.”
or at least a particular type of religion.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, in an aftershock to the 1960s, conservative forms
of religion, especially evangelical Protestantism, expanded. At the same time
as liberal Protestantism and churchgoing
Catholicism were virtually collapsing,
many Americans who sought a reaffirmation of traditional norms, especially when
it came to sex and “family values,” found
what they were looking for in evangelical
Protestantism. The new evangelicals also
broke free of the self-imposed cultural exile of their fundamentalist forebears. They
did not shun a sinful world but instead
sought to change it, including its politics.
An early harbinger of evangelicalism’s new political role was the 1976
presidential campaign of the Democrat
Jimmy Carter, who spoke openly of himself as a “born-again Christian,” a label
once unthinkable in mainstream U.S.
politics. At the other end of the political
spectrum, meanwhile, moral conservatives banded together to fight the Equal
Rights Amendment, gay rights, and
abortion. Evangelicalism began morph( Page 2 )
ing from a purely religious movement
into a political one that allied devout
Americans from many denominations,
including Catholics and Mormons. Once
more, Gallup’s seismometer noted the
increasing prominence of religion. In
1976, it registered that 44 percent of respondents thought religion was gaining
influence, and 45 percent thought it was
losing influence.
Then, in his 1980 presidential campaign, the Republican Ronald Reagan
actively courted the religious vote with
considerable success. Unlike Eisenhower
in the 1950s or even Presidents Richard
Nixon and Gerald Ford in the 1970s, Reagan and the Republican presidential candidates that followed him began to pick
up the support of formerly Democratic
evangelicals in the South and observant
Catholics in the North.
The first aftershock to the 1960s
thus had two components: one religious
(the rise of evangelicals) and the other
political (the rise of the religious right).
The political movement continues, but
the religious dimension ended in the
early 1990s. As a fraction of the total
population (and, even more dramatically,
as a fraction of Americans under 30), the
number of evangelicals has been declining for nearly 20 years and is back to
where it was at the beginning of the 1970s.
Although many of the political organizations associated with the religious
right, such as the Moral Majority and the
Christian Coalition, have disappeared or
faded into near irrelevance, their legacy
remains strong: a Republican activist
base that advocates both moral traditionalism and a greater role for religion in the
public square.
The rise of the religious right echoes
in some respects a common theme in U.S.
history. Most major social movements,
both progressive and conservative, have
included important religious themes: “the
right to life” and “family values” today, abolitionism and prohibition yesterday. But
today’s unusually intimate ties between
organized religion and one particular
political party have had unintended consequences for both politics and religion.
Robert Putnam will deliver the Governor’s Lecture
in the Humanities Oct. 2 at the Lied Center for
Performing Arts in Lincoln. For more information
on the lecture and related events, see the article
on the next page.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
“Journey Stories” touring Nebraska through March 8
The Smithsonian Institution’s
Traveling Exhibition “Journey Stories”
made its Nebraska debut in June at
Kearney’s Trails & Rails Museum.
The exhibition, which will travel
the state, explores the flow of American
history through the lens of mobility—
coming to America, traveling across
America, and the influence of railroad,
automobile and airplane travel.
The Trails & Rails Museum, located on the original Mormon Trail, is
made up of historic buildings housing
different exhibits on the history of
wagon, train and automobile travel in
and through Buffalo County. Among
the buildings are the Union Pacific
Depot, 1850s Boyd Ranch House,
1880s Loup River
Freighters Hotel,
1871 District No.
1 School House,
and the 1898
German-Baptist
Mission Church,
which housed the
“Journey Stories” exhibition.
Special events during the exhibition’s stay in Kearney focused on the
transportation history of agriculture,
immigration and the Lincoln Highway,
and encompassed the museum’s annual Wagons West Celebration.
“Journey Stories” continues at the
Lincoln County Historical Museum in
North Platte through Aug. 25, Cozad’s
Putnam to deliver 2012 Governor’s Lecture
Harvard scholar Robert Putnam,
the Malkin Professor of Public Policy,
will deliver the 17th Annual Governor’s
Lecture in the Humanities on Oct. 2
at the Lied Center for Performing Arts
in Lincoln. The lecture opens the 201213 E.N. Thompson Forum on World
Issues. The lecture series will focus on
religion, rights, and politics.
Presented by the Nebraska Humanities Council and Foundation, with
co-sponsors the University of Nebraska
and the E.N. Thompson Forum, the
7:30 p.m. lecture will explore religion
in American life today, the topic of
Putnam’s most recent book, “American Grace: How Religion Divides and
Unites Us.”
Putnam has served as an adviser to presidents and national leaders
around the world. The London Sunday
Times has called him “the most influential academic in the world today.”
His book “American Grace” won the
American Political Association’s 2011
Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award for
the best book on government, politics,
or international affairs.
Students will have the opportunity to meet with Putnam at UNL
during his visit.
Before Putnam’s lecture, the Ne-
“American Grace: How Religion Divides
and Unites Us,” by Robert D. Putnam and
David E. Campbell, will be the subject of
the Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities.
braska Humanities Council and Foundation will host their benefit dinner at
the Embassy Suites to support NHC’s
statewide programming. Tickets for the
dinner will be available beginning Aug.
20. For details, contact the Nebraska
Humanities Council at (402) 474-2131
or at nhc@nebraskahumanities.org.
( Page 3 )
An overturned wagon was one of the hazards
of early pioneer travel across the country.
This accident was in Eastern Oregon. Photo
courtesy of Museum on Main Street.
100th Meridian Museum (Aug. 30-Oct.
6), Washington County Historical Association in Fort Calhoun (Oct. 15-Nov.
17), Madison County Museum in Madison (Nov. 25-Dec. 31), the Nebraska
State Capitol in Lincoln (Jan. 7-18), and
Alliance’s Knight Museum and Sandhills Center (Jan. 28-March 8).
Visit www.nebraskajourneystories.org to view a two-minute video describing the exhibit, learn more about
the host museums and their special
events, leave your own story or an image of an important journey in your life,
check out a calendar of events, and read
the latest news from the Nebraska tour.
One of the historical documents
posted there warns overland travelers
that “there are several different routes
which may be traveled with wagons,
each having its advocates in persons
directly or indirectly interested in attracting the tide of emigration and
travel over them. Information concerning these routes coming from strangers
living or owning property near them,
from agents of steam-boats or railways,
or from other persons connected with
transporation companies, should be
received with great caution, and never
without corraborating evidence from
disinterested sources.”
“Journey Stories” is made possible in Nebraska with support from
Union Pacific, the Nebraska Cultural
Endowment, the State of Nebraska, the
Nebraska Rural Radio Network-KRVN,
KTIC and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, and the “We the People” initiative
of the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Judi gaiashkibos to receive 2012 Sower Award
Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs (NCIA), will receive the 2012
Sower Award in the Humanities.
gaiashkibos will be honored Oct. 2
at a benefit dinner at Lincoln’s Embassy
Suites, in conjunction with the 17th Annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities. Harvard scholar Robert Putnam will
deliver the free public lecture that evening
at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on
the topic of his 2010 award-winning book,
“American Grace: How Religion Divides
and Unites Us,” which explores the role of
religion in American public life. Putnam’s
lecture will open the 2012-13 E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues, a series on
religion, rights, and politics.
NCIA director since 1995, gaiashkibos has a bachelor’s degree in human
relations and a master’s degree in management, both from Doane College. She is
a national leader in Indian affairs, known
for her focus on state and tribal relations,
strategic planning, policy development,
leadership and mentoring. Under her
leadership, the NCIA developed and hosts
the annual Chief Standing Bear breakfast,
highlighting issues of equality and attended by hundreds of Nebraskans of all
ages and backgrounds.
gaiashkibos was nominated for the
Sower Award by former honorees Chuck
Trimble of Omaha and Don Pederson of
Lincoln. In his nomination, Trimble said
she had transformed the Indian Affairs
commission “from an office-bound little
bureaucracy to a dynamic organization
advocating and maintaining positive
State-Tribal relations, and reaching out
to promote interracial harmony and good
community relations.”
Pederson, a former state senator, said that during his 10 years on the
Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations
Committee, gaiashkibos “gave our committee a better understanding of the issues facing Native Americans,” and that
“the humanities have been enriched by
Judi’s efforts.”
In a June 2012 profile of gaiashkibos
in L Magazine, she describes herself as a
“junkyard dog” whose tough upbringing
in the shadow of a Norfolk salvage yard
helped instill a survivor spirit. A member
of the Ponca Tribe and a direct descen-
Judi gaiashkibos will receive the 2012 Sower
Award in the Humanities. She is executive
director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian
Affairs. Photo courtesy of Frank Eleker.
dent of Chief Smokemaker, a colleague of
Chief Standing Bear, she derives inspiration from Standing Bear’s story, which led
to the first legal recognition of Indians
as people. She has been closely involved
with Native Daughters, a project of UNL’s
College of Journalism and Mass Communications, which includes a publication
featuring stories of remarkable Native
women past and present and an online
curriculum guide funded by the NHC.
gaiashkibos is past president of
the Governor’s Interstate Indian Council and serves on several state advisory
and nonprofit boards. She received the
Douglas County Historical Society’s 2009
Gate Keeper Award in recognition of her
“opening new doorways in the spirit of
Unity, Equality and Understanding.” She
consults with a variety of Native and nonNative organizations and has served as
advisor on a range of projects in Nebraska
and nationwide, especially in areas of
Indian history, culture, law and protocols.
The Humanities Council annually
honors individuals, institutions, businesses and communities with its Sower
Award for contributions to public understanding of the humanities in Nebraska,
based on nominations and letters of support from the citizens of Nebraska. The
award is an original bronze sculpture by
Nebraska-born artist Sandra Dunn Mahoney. Tickets for the Oct. 2 pre-lecture
reception and dinner, including presentation of the Sower Award, will be available
for purchase in late August.
The 2012 Governor’s Lecture in the
Humanities is presented by the Nebraska
Humanities Council and Foundation with
co-sponsors the E.N. Thompson Forum
on World Issues and the University of
Nebraska. For more details visit www.
nebraskahumanities.org.
Previous Sower Award in the Humanities recipients:
Individuals: Paul Olson, Joe Seger, Keith Blackledge, Bernice Slote, Gene
Bunge, Larry Wewel, Robert Audi, Walter Friedlander, Robert Manley, Frederick
Luebke, Rhonda Seacrest, Jack McBride, Marion Marsh Brown, Morrie Tuttle,
Nancy Duncan, State Sen. LaVon Crosby, Ron Hull, Jack Campbell, E.N. “Jack”
Thompson, Ron Naugle, Don Welch, Gary Moulton, Ted Kooser, Charles “Chuck”
Trimble, Richard Holland, Don Pederson and John Gottschalk.
Institutions: InterNorth Foundation, Septemberfest Committee of Omaha,
Holdrege Public Library, Woods Charitable Fund, Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial
and Educational Foundation, Cooper Foundation, Commercial Federal Savings
and Loan, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, El
Museo Latino, Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs, Beatrice Public Library,
the Omaha World Herald, and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications.
Communities: Seward, Oakland, Chadron, Verdigre, Henderson, Aurora, David
City, Central City, Cozad, Gering and Scottsbluff.
( Page 4 )
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
More than 1,800 people attended the
“Free Land” Chautauqua in Beatrice
Strong winds and the threat of storms
could not temper the excitement surrounding the debut of the new Nebraska
Chautauqua series, Free Land? 1862 and
the Shaping of Modern America, hosted
May 21-25 by Homestead National Monument and the community of Beatrice. The
Chautauqua was held in conjunction with
Homestead National Monument’s national
signature event commemorating the 150th
anniversary of the signing of the Homestead
Act on May 20.
More than 1,800 people from Beatrice
and the surrounding area experienced the
educational entertainment offered by the
“Free Land” Chautauqua, focusing on the
collective impacts of the Homestead Act,
Pacific Railway Act, and the Morrill Act on
Nebraska and the Great
Plains. In addition to wellreceived workshops by
Chautauqua scholars and
activities surrounding the
anniversary of the Homestead Act (available for
viewing courtesy of the
National Archives), the
public enjoyed compelling portrayals
of Grenville Dodge, George Washington
Carver, Chief Standing Bear, Laura Ingalls
Wilder, and Willa Cather, each introduced
by wise-cracking moderator Mark Twain.
Paxton Williams portrays George Washington
Carver at the “Free Land” Chautauqua in
Beatrice. More than 1,800 people attended.
The “Free Land” Chautauqua is
presented by the Nebraska Humanities
Council and supported in
part by a grant from the
National Endowment for
the Humanities and the
Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
Stay connected with
the Nebraska Humanities
Council to find out where
the “Free Land” Chautauqua will be in the
summer of 2013! If your community has
interest in hosting Chautauqua in the summer of 2014 or 2015, contact Kristi Hayek at
kristi@nebraskahumanities.org.
Sept. 1 deadline for NHC board nominations
The Nebraska Humanities Council is
seeking nominations for its board of directors. The deadline for nominees is Sept. 1.
NHC board members are selected
statewide from nominees who show a strong
interest in the humanities and the cultural
life of Nebraska.
Efforts are made to find community
leaders from the state’s diverse geographic,
occupational and ethnic constituencies. The
council seeks a balance between involvement in the humanities and other professional, business or community pursuits.
Council members are expected to attend three board meetings a year, serve on
one or more subcommittees, assist in private
fundraising, make a financial contribution to
the council, review grant requests, promote
public awareness of the NHC and its objec-
tives, and attend and evaluate programs
funded by the council.
Among the programs that the council
supports are Prime Time Family Reading
Time, Chautauqua, the Humanities Resource
Center and Speakers Bureau, the “Nebraska
Conversations” civil discussion program,
Capitol Forum on America’s Future and the
annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities. For a full description of NHC programs,
visit www.nebraskahumanities.org.
Nominations for the board of directors
must be postmarked no later than Sept. 1.
For more information or a nomination form, contact the Nebraska Humanities
Council at 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite
330, Lincoln, NE 68508; call (402) 474-2131;
fax (402) 474-4852 or e-mail nhc@nebraskahumanities.org.
( Page 5 )
NHC to audition
applicants for
Speakers Bureau
The Nebraska Humanities Council
will audition applicants for the Humanities Resource Center Speakers
Bureau this fall.
We will give special attention to
speakers with topics exploring immigration, aging, technology or the environment. We also are interested in presentations that focus on such notable
Nebraskans as Chief Standing Bear, Red
Cloud, George and Sarah Joslyn, Loren
Eiseley, John G. Neihardt, George Norris, Tillie Olsen, William Jennings Bryan,
and Robert Henri. Also of interest are
talks designed for young audiences and
schools (K-12).
If you are interested in becoming
a Speakers Bureau presenter, send the
following to the NHC office by Sept. 1:
• A description of your proposed
topic (200-250 words) and a bibliography of sources.
• A biography or resume (two pages
or less) detailing your expertise in
your proposed topic.
• One or two letters of recommendation describing your ability to
address a general public audience
and to stimulate discussion.
Individuals submitting materials
will be notified as to whether or not they
will be invited to audition.
Those selected will be asked to
give an abbreviated version of their
proposed talk (15 to 20 minutes with
an additional 5 to 10 minutes for discussion with the audience). The audience will be composed of NHC staff
and board, program users, humanities
scholars, and others who will assess
the substance and presentation of each
proposed topic.
NHC speakers receive an honorarium and mileage for each talk given
through the Speakers Bureau.
For current Speakers Bureau programs and policies, visit www.nebraskahumanities.org and click on Speakers
& Resources. For more information
contact NHC Associate Director Mary
Yager at 402-474-2131 ext 103 or mary@
nebraskahumanities.org.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Cultural Endowment receives $1 million Carson gift
On March 16, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment (NCE) announced the
receipt of a $1 million gift from the John
W. Carson Foundation. This generous
donation will help support the arts and
humanities in Nebraska.
Six-time Emmy winner Johnny Carson grew up in Norfolk, Neb., and for 30
years was host of the “The Tonight Show.”
He died in 2005.
The Nebraska Cultural Endowment
is the private partner in a private-public
partnership with the State of Nebraska
created to provide a livelihood for the
arts and humanities in Nebraska. The
NCE’s mission is to cultivate a legacy of
stability, advocacy and leadership in the
arts and humanities.
In 2003, Johnny Carson donated
$500,000 to the NCE in response to a
National Endowment of the Humanities
challenge grant. According to the Carson
Foundation, Carson believed that it was
important to support the NCE and was
impressed with the work the endowment
does in our state.
In 2010, the Carson Foundation
donated $250,000 in Carson’s honor in
response to the Nebraska Legislature’s
matching grant program for the NCE. The
foundation continues its support with the
Representatives of the Nebraska Cultural Endowment (NCE), the Nebraska Humanities Council
(NHC) and the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) gathered in March in the rotunda of the State
Capitol for the announcement of the $1 million gift from the John W. Carson Foundation. From
left they are Chris Sommerich of the NHC, Suzanne Wise of the NAC, and Paula Pflueger, Pamela
Snow and Terry Ferguson of the NCE.
recent $1 million donation.
The private-public partnership
was created in 1998 through enabling
legislation that set aside $5 million for
the benefit of the arts and humanities in
Nebraska. In 2008, the Legislature added
$5 million to the public fund over a period
of years. Income from today’s $7 million
public fund is available to the Nebraska
Arts Council and the Nebraska Humanities Council for programming when
matched by private contributions to the
Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
For more information on the endowment, contact Pamela Snow at (402)
595-2722 or phsnow@nebraskaculturalendowment.org.
Celebration of Nebraska Books Nov. 3 in Lincoln
The 2012 Celebration of Nebraska
Books is set for 3:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at
the Nebraska State Historical Society’s
Museum of Nebraska History, 15th and P
streets in downtown Lincoln.
Free and open to the public, the
event will feature this year’s One Book
One Nebraska selection, honor winners
of the 2012 Jane Geske Award and the
Nebraska Center for the Book’s Nebraska
Book Awards, and announce the choice
for the 2013 One Book One Nebraska.
This is the eighth year of One Book
One Nebraska, which celebrates the literary richness of our state by selecting and
promoting a title for Nebraska citizens
to read and discuss. Joe Starita’s “‘I Am
a Man’: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for
Justice” is the 2012 One Book One Nebraska. (Visit http://onebook.nebraska.gov/2012/
index.aspx.) Libraries and other organizations statewide have hosted activities
and events to encourage Nebraskans to
read and discuss “I Am a Man,” including
13 NHC Speakers Bureau presentations
by Starita. A special activity to honor the
book will highlight the Nov. 3 celebration.
The 2012 Nebraska Book Awards
honor authors and publishers of books
with a Nebraska connection published
in 2011. Winning authors will read from
their work and sign copies of their books.
The Jane Geske Award will be
presented to an organization, business,
library, school, association or group that
has made an exceptional contribution to
literacy, books, reading, libraries or literature in Nebraska. The award was established in recognition of Geske’s passion
for books and her contributions to the
well-being of Nebraska libraries. Geske
was a founding member of the Nebraska
Center for the Book, former director of
the Nebraska Library Commission, and a
( Page 6 )
long-time leader in Nebraska library and
literary activities.
The Nebraska Center for the Book’s
annual meeting also will be held Nov. 3.
An awards reception with the winning authors, book signings, and announcement
of the 2013 selection for One Book One
Nebraska will conclude the festivities.
The 2012 Celebration of Nebraska
Books is sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Humanities
Council, Nebraska Library Commission,
and Nebraska Cultural Endowment, in
partnership with the Nebraska State Historical Society and Museum of Nebraska
History.
For details, contact Mary Jo Ryan,
(402) 471-3434 or (800) 307-2665, maryjo.
ryan@nebraska.gov or visit www.centerforthebook.nebraska.gov or www.facebook.com/NebraskaCenterfortheBook.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Nebraska high school students and teachers
attended Capitol Forum in March.
Weapons proliferation
still students’ concern
The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island recreates a railroad town of the pioneer
era. This is one of many examples of heritage tourism sites outlined in a recent study. Photo
courtesy of Nebraska Tourism.
Humanities Council to participate
in growing field of heritage tourism
As the Nebraska Humanities Council
explores its role in the realm of cultural
tourism, the recent release of a study
called “Heritage Tourism in Nebraska”
provides an excellent place to begin. The
study found that heritage tourism (a large
component of the broader field of cultural
tourism) generates an impressive $196
million in revenue per year in Nebraska.
Researchers studied the economic
impact of visitors to historic sites and museums in 2011, and found it to be a large
and growing portion of Nebraska’s tourism
industry. The study also found that more
than 3,000 jobs in the state are supported
by heritage tourism, and $16.4 million in
state and local tax revenue is collected
annually. More than 220 museums and historic sites in Nebraska, as well as hundreds
of preserved historic properties, provide a
rich historical context to the heritage traveler. Heritage tourism complements other
types of travel destinations and activities.
The report, prepared by University of
Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research and the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, was commissioned by two
state agencies: Nebraska State Historical
Society (NSHS) and the DED’s Division of
Travel and Tourism. The Nebraska Humanities Council was a member of the steering
committee that directed the study. It combines information from on-site data collection and meetings with museums, heritage
attractions and organizations statewide.
As the first comprehensive analysis
of heritage tourism activity in the state,
the report also includes recommendations
for sustaining and increasing Nebraska’s
heritage tourism industry, such as building
capacity, collaboration and interactivity.
With the large number of historic sites
and museums, it is also critical to preserve
and enhance these existing tourism assets
and capitalize on them. A number of “best
practices” were identified statewide.
Funding for the report came from
Nebraska DED through federal funds from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development’s Community Development
Block Grant program and a grant to the
NSHS from the U.S. Department of the
Interior, National Park Service.
The report is available in hard copy
and online at www.nebraskahistory.org
(search “Tourism”) or industry.visitnebraska.org.
( Page 7 )
Nebraska high school students continue to be concerned about the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, according
to the results of a recent survey.
Nearly 450 students statewide completed the survey in April and May expressing their concerns, priorities and visions for
U.S. foreign policy as part of the 14th Annual
Nebraska Capitol Forum on America’s
Future, co-sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council and the office of Secretary
of State John Gale.
The survey asks students to rank four
proposals for future U.S. foreign policy, which
provide the core for the Capitol Forum program. The students’ views in 2012 remain
consistent with 2011 that the main objective
should be to protect the U.S. homeland. The
2012 students, however, favored protecting
U.S. global interests over building a more
cooperative world as their second priority, a
switch from last year’s group.
When asked what concerns them the
most, 41 percent of respondents agreed
their top concern is that nuclear, biological
and chemical weapons will proliferate and
end up in the hands of terrorists. While the
percentage has varied from year to year, this
has consistently remained the students’ top
concern since 2002.
For complete details on what Nebraska high school students have to say about
options for U.S. foreign policy, visit www.
nebraskahumanities.org and go to the Capitol Forum page. Capitol Forum is a Choices
for the 21st Century project, an outreach
of Brown University’s Watson Institute for
International Studies.
The 2012 Capitol Forum was funded in
part by the Nebraska Cultural Endowment,
the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Nebraska, Janet D. Miller,
and A to Z Printing.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Prime Time “Summer School” offered in Norfolk
When Title I funds were cut for Norfolk Public Schools and their traditional
summer school program was eliminated,
Reading Recovery teacher Lisa Guenther
contacted the Nebraska Humanities
Council to see if Prime Time Family
Reading Time could be offered during
the summer months.
“I realize this is unorthodox for
Prime Time,” she wrote. “However, the
mission of Prime Time is to enjoy books
and get people using the library. I have
been brainstorming what we can do for
these families to keep them reading over
the summer. I have been involved in summer school and I know how it helps these
students.”
Guenther called her idea a “pipe
dream,” but the Nebraska Humanities
Council saw it as an opportunity to design
a unique summer Prime Time to encourage Title I students and their families to
keep reading during break to avoid the
“summer slide” in their reading ability.
Prime Time is a family literacy program designed to help strengthen participants’ interest and skills in reading and
talking about books. The series is offered
free to all families whose children ages 5
to 10 struggle with reading.
Since 2002, more than 4,500 Nebraskans have participated in one or more
of the 85 bilingual and English-only Prime
Time series held in 14 public libraries,
nine elementary schools and three community centers throughout the state. Sixteen Prime Time series have been offered
by Norfolk Public Schools since 2006.
Allison Suckstorf and Jose Hernandez lead a Prime Time discussion over “The Tortoise and the
Jackrabbit” at Westside Elementary School in Norfolk.
“Cold ice cream treats, stories,
enjoyment of books and door
prize books…it doesn’t get
better than that!” – Lisa Guenther,
Prime Time coordinator, Norfolk
Westside Elementary, 1703 W. Philip
Ave., hosted summer Prime Time Tuesday
evenings June 5 through July 24, in collaboration with Norfolk Public Library’s
summer reading program. Families discussed issues such as compassion, courage, curiosity and responsibility while
also learning about library resources,
community services, and favorite books
Prime Time fall schedule:
Prime Time Family Reading Time continues this fall with programs at the
following sites.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grant Elementary School in Norfolk, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 4-Oct. 9
Lakota Lutheran Center in Scottsbluff, noon Sundays, Sept. 30-Nov. 4
South Omaha Library, 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 1-Nov. 5
Cather Branch Library in Omaha, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 2-Nov. 6
Grand Island Public Library, 6 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 4-Nov. 8
Washington Branch Library in Omaha, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 13-Nov. 17
Westside Elementary School in Norfolk, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 23-Nov. 27
Eiseley Branch Library in Lincoln, Fall 2012
Washington Elementary School in Norfolk, Fall 2012
( Page 8 )
from librarians, school principals, city
police, firefighters, and elected officials.
Prime Time in the summer looked
a little different from Prime Time during
the school year. It was offered eight weeks
instead of six. Families from Westside,
Washington, Grant and other Norfolk
elementary schools were invited to attend. Ice cream treats were provided and
preschool children were welcome in the
main storytelling program, with coloring
sheets available, so they could participate
with their families.
“Summer Prime Time has been a
boost to the families that are attending,”
said Guenther. “Families are enjoying the
books, discussions and activities. Norfolk
is very thankful to be able to offer summer Prime Time in addition to the school
year Prime Time at four of our elementary
schools. Prime Time is helping create a
community of readers who enjoy reading
and realize the important value reading
has for students and families.”
Prime Time Family Reading Time is
a nationally recognized program created
by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. In Nebraska, it is sponsored and
coordinated by the Nebraska Humanities
Council with funding from the State of
Nebraska and Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Sponsors in Norfolk include Norfolk Public Schools, Read Aloud Norfolk,
Wal-Mart, and The Connie Fund.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Council awards grants totaling $150,105
The Nebraska Humanities Council
(NHC) recently awarded 42 grants totaling $150,105. The grant recipients and the
amount of each grant:
Project Interfaith, Omaha, $12,000 for RavelUnravel,
an interactive website to share video interviews
and foster discussion of religious and spiritual faith,
belief, stereotypes and diversity.
Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival, Seward,
$12,000 to help fund participation by children’s
book authors, illustrators and literacy experts in
a three-day festival for children, youth and adults.
Institute for Holocaust Education, Omaha, $12,000 for
“Remembrance, Creativity and Transformation,”
series of school residencies with Hawthorne Quartet and artist Jim Schantz providing background on
the Holocaust and discussing the meaning and
importance of creative freedom.
Kearney Area Community Foundation, $10,000 for the
National Lincoln Highway Centennial Celebration.
Metropolitan Community College Foundation,
Omaha, $8,000 to help fund participation by four
playwrights at 7th annual Great Plains Theatre
Conference.
Omaha Table Talk, $6,740 to extend its successful
dinner-conversation discussion format on topics of
social justice, race and ethnicity to sites in Lincoln,
Fremont and Grand Island.
Omaha Creative Institute, $6,500 to develop “Conversations on a Bus,” an exhibit for display at five
locations in Omaha area.
Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities, Lincoln,
$6,000 to develop an hour-long video featuring
Nebraskans discussing issues of sustainability for
use as a stimulus to conversation in college and
high school classrooms and community venues.
Main Street Beatrice, $5,400 to bring an NEH On the
Road exhibition to the community with related
publicity and programming.
Panhandle Resource Conservation and Development
Inc., Scottsbluff, $5,000 for the Intertribal Gathering
at Fort Robinson State Historical Park.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of History, $5,000 to support fifth Pauley Symposium on
History, Truth and Reconciliation.
Hildegard Center for the Arts, Lincoln, $5,000 for
“Heroes Among Us” after-school workshops for
at-risk youth at People’s City Mission, Cedars
Youth Services, Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach,
and Lighthouse.
Creighton University’s Center for Health Policy and
Ethics, Omaha, $5,000 to help fund 22nd Annual
Women and Health Lecture with Dr. Tess Gerritsen.
Metropolitan Community College Foundation, Omaha,
$4,635 to help fund the Winter Count Buffalo Robe
Project during the summer and fall 2012.
Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Omaha, $4,500 to
help fund the 2012 summer pre-show seminars for
the 26th annual Shakespeare on the Green and
the 7th annual fall tour for middle and high school
students and teachers statewide.
Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival, McCook,
$3,500 for the festival.
Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries, $3,210 to bring
“The Wartime Escape” exhibit to Bennett Martin
Library for middle school field trips and the public.
The Great American Comedy Festival, Norfolk, $3,000
to help fund annual Youth Camp in conjunction with
comedy festival.
Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, Lincoln,
$3,000 to help fund planning to explore elements
necessary for creation of a Standing Bear Trail.
Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Arts,
Omaha, $2,500 for program resulting in creation
of community-centered murals.
Conference for Inclusive Communities, Omaha, $2,500
for the summer IncluCity I residential program
for youth.
The UNION for Contemporary Art, Omaha, $1,500 to
help fund one community presentation about craft
and contemporary art.
Caring People Sudan, Omaha, $1,500 for presentation
about connections and differences between Nuer
and Nebraskan cultures.
Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and Educational
Foundation, Red Cloud, $1,500 to help fund poets
and scholars at 57th annual Willa Cather Spring
Conference.
Nebraskans for Civic Reform, Lincoln, $1,500 to support development of civic engagement program
and curriculum for K-12 students for pilot program
in the Lincoln Public Schools.
Sandhills Discovery, Ainsworth, $1,500 to help fund
Doug Watson as Will Rogers at conference.
Southeast Community College, Lincoln, $1,500 to help
fund narration, interpretation and translation for
musical demonstrations by ensemble from Tuva.
Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation, $1,500 for
school reunion celebration.
Office of the Capitol Commission, Lincoln, $1,500 for
Lincoln monument centennial.
Omaha Public Library, $1,500 for 140th anniversary
community conversations.
Flatwater Shakespeare Company, Lincoln, $1,200 for
classes leading up to youth productions of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” this summer.
Crane River Theater Company, Kearney, $1,200 for
panel discussion on “Two Rooms.”
Nebraska Archaeological Society, $1,100 for 2012
Nebraska Artifact Show.
Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, $1,000 to
help fund panelist for meeting and conference on
history of Missouri River.
Village of Ohiowa, $1,000 to help support living-history
demonstrations at community’s 125th Anniversary
Celebration.
NET Foundation for Television, Lincoln, $1,000 for
hour-long documentary on history of death penalty
in Nebraska.
Joslyn Castle Trust, Omaha, $1,000 for “A Wilde Time
at the Castle” festival.
Indian Center, Scottsbluff, $1,000 for Circle the Bluffs
Traditional Powwow.
( Page 9 )
RavelUnravel explores
spiritual identities
RavelUnravel explores the tapestry
of religious and spiritual identities
that make up our communities
and the complexities of how we
construct and deconstruct identity. View the stories that make
up RavelUnravel and add to the
movement by sharing your own.
Go to ravelunravel.com.
Nebraska Association of the Deaf, Lincoln, $850 for its
conference, June 6-9, 2013, in Omaha.
Durham Museum, Omaha, $750 to support Civil Warfocused lecture series.
Tilden Public Library, $520 for a Golden Age Expo.
Heartland Family Services, Omaha, $500 to help fund
a speaker for 2nd annual North Omaha Summer
Arts Festival.
Grant applications are available
online at www.nebraskahumanities.org.
Major grants are for more than
$1,500 with two grant cycles a year. Application deadlines are March 1 and Aug.
1. Mini grants are for $1,500 or less with
six grant cycles. Application deadlines are
Jan. 1, March 1, May 1, July 1, Sept. 1 and
Nov. 1. Media and website/digital grant
deadlines are Jan. 15 and June 15.
For details on applying for a grant,
visit the website or call Mary Yager, Erika
Hamilton or Kristi Hayek at (402) 4742131.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
NEBRASKA HUMANITIES COUNCIL & FOUNDATION DONORS
Gifts received between February 1, 2012 and May 31, 2012
Many donors make multiple gifts throughout the year.
Donors are listed at the level of their cumulative giving for the year in the NHC Annual Report.
Join these generous contributors and help to cultivate an understanding
of our history and culture. Thank you for becoming part of our mission!
Organization Donors
Gifts of $5,000-$9,999
Lincoln Financial
Foundation Inc.
Gifts of $1,000-$4,999
Lockwood Foundation
Tri-County Board of
Realtors Inc.
Gifts of $500-$999
Grand Island Community
Foundation
Lincoln Community
Foundation Inc.
Jane D. & Thompson H.
Rogers Foundation
Gifts of $100-$499
Creighton University –
Jesuit Community
Gifts of $50-$99
Friends of the Columbus
Public Library
Hartington Friends of the
Library
Individual Donors
Gifts of $1,000-$2,499
Joanne Berkshire
Sam & Lynn Marchese
Pat & Don Kingsley
Don & June Pederson
Patty & Earl Scudder
Christopher & Vicki
Sommerich
Gifts of $500-$999
Connie & Bill Adams
Kit & Gerald B. Dimon
Marilyn & Ron Hayek
Meg & Jim Lauerman
Roger & Carol Lewis
Mike & Lin Simmonds
Gloria Wolbach
Gifts of $250-$499
Dr. George & Colleen
Adam
Mr. & Mrs. Harold W.
Andersen
Mary Ann Blackledge in
memory of Keith L.
Blackledge
Todd & Debora Carpenter
- Subway
James P. & Mary Jeanne
Cooke
Jessica Coope & Stephen
Hilliard
Susan & John Hoppe
Mark & Deanna Hutchins
Mary McNamee & Kieth
Simmons
Ann Rawley
Judge William B. Rist
Brenda Robinson in
memory of Cal Robinson
Joel Russell
Pamela H. & Marcus J.
Snow
Mary A. Swanson
Dr. Hal & Bette Anne
Thaut
Red & Jann Thomas
Dr. & Mrs. William G.
Thomas III
Richard & Karen Vierk
Susan Watts
Justin & Kili Wenburg
Gifts of $100-$249
Valerie J. Able
Dr. & Mrs. Gordon D.
Adams
Dean & Gaylene Aden
Tom & Jane Allman
Phyllis Aron
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick N.
Backer
Pam Baker
Lyle W. Barksdale
Fredda M.P. Bartenbach
Kathleen Bassett
Carrie Bence
Deb & Tom Berger
J.S. & Margaret Berry
Dr. Vince & Vicki Bjorling
William & Martha Boyd
David & Lisa Brandt
John & Beatty Brasch
Col. & Mrs. Gale Bullard
Duane & Jacqueline Burns
Clay & Dale Capek
Ulysses & Georgene
Carlini
Thom & Barbara
Christensen
Dale & Joan Clark
Cloyd & Linda Clark
Karen A. Colleran
Vision Circle of Donors
We invite you to join the Vision Circle of donors to the Nebraska Humanities
Council. Your tax-deductible contribution of $1,000 or more will honor nearly
four decades of vital humanities programming made possible by generous
Nebraskans and will help ensure continued statewide access to these
programs. We are grateful to the following individuals for supporting current
programs by joining the Vision Circle in the past year. We encourage you
to do the same.
Steven & Sara Achelpohl
Catherine Angle
Mogens & Cindy Bay
Joanne Berkshire
Kit & Gerald B. Dimon
Roy & Gloria Dinsdale
Kate & Sandy Dodge
Lana & Lon Flagtwet
Mitzi Fox
Carol Gendler
Chris & Ron Harris
Marilyn & Ron Hayek
Linda Hillegass & Jim
McKee
Richard D. Holland
Jane Renner Hood
Taylor Keen
Kevin & Shannon Cooksley
Carol Cope
Jack & Judy Crowley
Tom & Marianne Culhane
Spencer & Vivian Davis
Dr. Dan & Trudie
DePasquale
Ron & Lori DePue
Robert & Anne Diffendal
Alice M. Dittman
Rosemary & Art Dobson
Charles & Linda
Duckworth
Dr. John R. Dungan
Rupert & Ruth Dunklau
Erick & Harriet Egertson
Dr. Ali Eminov
Carl & Janet Eskridge
Ellen & David Feingold
Richard & Beverly Fellman
Terry & Catherine
Ferguson
Molly Fisher
Kathleen & Donovan
Foote
Dr. Mark Foxall
( Page 10 )
Pat & Don Kingsley
Catherine D. Lang
Roger & Carol Lewis
Sam & Lynn Marchese
Angenette & Bob Meaney
Janet D. Miller
Shirley & Dan Neary
Michael J. Nolan
Diane Oldfather
Natalie & Sam Olson
Don & June Pederson
Kim M. Robak & William J.
Mueller
Brenda Robinson in memory of
Cal Robinson
Lynn & Dana Roper
Joel Russell
Barb & Ron Schaefer
Bill & Ruth Scott
Patty & Earl Scudder
James & Rhonda Seacrest
Chuck Shoemaker & Lynne
Friedewald
Mike & Lin Simmonds
Christopher & Vicki
Sommerich
Gene & Ann Spence
Dr. & Mrs. William G.
Thomas III
Gail & Irv Veitzer
Susan Watts
Ross & Judy Wilcox
Gloria Wolbach
Richard & Linda French
Allen T. Freye
Mrs. Marti Fritzen
Wayne & Celia Ganow
Wayne & Kathy Gappa
Georgia Glass
Mike Gloor
Kay Lynn & John Goldner
Amy Haddad
Mrs. Rachael L. Hamilton
Walter & Marijane
Hancock
Terry & Judy Haney
Roger & Jackie Harned
Lavon & Robin
Heidemann
Endowment is unique partnership
The Nebraska Cultural Endowment
(NCE) is the private partner in a
private-public partnership with
the State of Nebraska created to
provide financial stability for the
arts and humanities. The Cultural
Endowment supports the statewide educational programs and
projects of the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Nebraska Arts Council. Qualifying
contributions to the NCE are matched by income from
a state fund. For details, contact Pamela Snow at (402)
595-2722 or phsnow@nebraskaculturalendowment.
org or visit www.nebraskaculturalendowment.org.
Nebraska Humanities Council Newsletter / August 2012
Give to Lincoln Day a huge success, raising $6,540 for NHC
Thanks to thousands of donors across Lincoln, Give to Lincoln Day was a huge success, raising
$1.33 million in 24 hours, including a $200,000 match from the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF).
What an amazing outpouring of generosity!
Special thanks go to the 42 donors who helped the Nebraska Humanities Council and Foundation
raise $6,540, including an LCF match of $990. These gifts allow NHC’s core programs, including Prime
Time Family Reading Time, the Speakers Bureau, and Chautauqua, to thrive in Lincoln and across
the state. The generosity of the donors enriches the lives of Nebraskans as we discover our history,
explore our culture, and imagine our future through the humanities. Thank you!
Dr. & Mrs. Richard L.
Hendriksen
Sharon A. Hersemann
Frank & Liz Hilsabeck
Don & Jan Hinds
Dr. Paul E. Hodgson
Dr. Daniel & Alice Holtz
Elizabeth Hunt
Willis D. Hunt
Tom Ineck
Julie & Mike Jacobson
Andrew & Becca Jewell
Kile & Virginia Johnson
Larry & Irene Johnson
Lisa & Bob Jorgensen
Howard & Gloria Kaslow
Ruth & Jim Keene
Bob & Rossell Kelley
Bradley L. Knuth
Howard & Sharon Kooper
Dr. & Mrs. Robin R. Koozer
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Korslund
John F. Kotouc & Wende L.
Kotouc
John & Cynthia Kugler
Lou & Pat Lamberty
Nicholas J. Lamme
Embree A. Learned
David & Marje Little
Dr. William & Mrs. Virginia
Locke
Cheryl & Edward
Lockwood
John & Mary Longo
Mr. & Mrs. Martin
Massengale
Ellie & James R.
McClymont
Mardy McCullough
Cindy & Jim Mohl
Francis & Maxine Moul
W. Don & Andrea Nelson
Michael Nevrivy
Sharee & Murray Newman
Larry & Donna Niemeyer
Dale & Wauneta Nitzel
Don & Rita Otis
John & Janet Palmtag
Give with CSF worksite deduction
Serving donors. Serving causes. Serving community.
The Nebraska Humanities
Council is a proud member
agency of Community Services
Fund (CSF). We greatly appreciate
donors who designated gifts to
us through CSF workplace giving
campaigns last year. Contact
CSF at (402) 489-4332 or visit
www.communityservicesfund.
org.
Edward L. Bannister Jr.
Ed Bates
Ruth Cover
Nancy Finken Ernst
Elizabeth Evans
Carol J. Fichter
Mark Gustafson
Don Hickey
Karl D. Hostetler
Deborah A. Kincaid
Sherry Komenda
Linda S. Meyers
Gary G. Osborn
Carol R Rempp
Tyler Richard
Katherine J. Sanchez
Lyle Schmidt
Jason Skold
Heather Thomas
Art & Carol Thompson
Andrea T. Wenke
Twyla J. Witt
Patricia A. Wright
Mary Yager
Todd Pankratz & Jessica
Meeske
Charles & Nancy Peek
Harvey & Susan Perlman
Christian M. Petersen
Dr. Nelson Potter &
Kathleen A. Johnson
Jack R. Preston & Nancy
Haney
Steve & Peg Pribnow
Robert Price
John & Deb Quirk
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Raun
Susan & Thomas Reiber
Jane Renner Hood
Paul & Susan Rice
Ronald & Lois Roskens
Marcia Rost
Eleanor M. Sack
Cynthia Schneider
Nancy Schwertley
Don & Barbara Sergeant
Larry & Linda Shepard
Frank J. & Shirley Sibert
Paul & Annette Smith
Wayne & Elaine Specht
Merle Stalder
Joe Starita
Roger & Liana Steele
Gregory & Margaret
Sutton
Dr. Peter T. Suzuki
Tom & Sheryl Thomsen
Carl & Alice Throckmorton
Barbara Tripp
Harriet Turner
Ann M. Van Hoff
William & Joan Vobejda
Rod Wagner
Michael & Susan Walenz
Katherine L. Walter
Craig & Elizabeth
Wanamaker
Roger Wehrbein
David & Lorma Wiebe
John & Nancy Wiederspan
John Wiltse
George E. Wolf & John G.
Taylor
Avery Woods
Deborah J. Wright
John & Susan Wunder
Kevin & Paige Wycoff
Dan Yost
( Page 11 )
Mark Young & Susan
Koenig
Eli Zietz
Gifts of $50-$99
Jerry & Linda Adams
Sayre & Bonnie Andersen
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Annable
Diane Berlett
Susan Billups
Kate Bradley
Beth Burkstrand-Reid &
Brian Reid
Robert & Judith Burton
Blake & Gail Butler
William & Audrey Cassel
Dr. Dave & Karen Colan
Tim & Carol Crook
Beth & Amnon Dotan
Phyllis & Robert Dunne
Laverna & Rod Epp
Craig & Lela Fidler
Joan Fink
Loyd & Marie Fischer
Shirley Flack
Daniel & Ann Flood
Joan Giesecke
William & Sarah Ginn
Jan & John Gradwohl
Karen & Gordon Granberg
R. W. Hasebroock
Ellan Hove
Mr. & Mrs. John V. James
Ree & Jun Kaneko
Dianne & Walker Kennedy
Phil & Mary Kommers
Ron & Betty Kort
Carole Levin
Karen Levin
Gerald & Bonnie Luckey
Margaret Lutton
Constance Malloy &
Harvey Freetly
Dr. & Mrs. William T.
Griffin
Mele Mason
Julia A. McDougal
Alice & Ken McElhose
Ruth McMaster
Fern Medlin
Rosalind Morris
Gary E. & Faye W. Moulton
Robert & Phyllis Narveson
Rick & Roxanne Nelson
Michelle J. Oldham
Dale & Fern Olson
Wil & Shari Packard
David & Lori Pankonin
Dick & Vicki Powell
Thomas O. & Kirsten S.
Powers
Darrell & Myrna Puls
Orv & Mary Qualsett
Margaret Quambusch
Chris & B.J. Reed
Richard & Judy Reimer
Kenneth & Dorothy Rieke
Karla Ritter-Lindsay
William & Dolores
Roundey
Ronald & Susan Samson
John S. Schleicher
Suzanne G. Schreiber
Jim & Deanna Schwartz
Mike Seacrest
Steven & Nanette
Shackelford & Family
Barbara K. (Bunny) Smith
Donna Jo Smith
Ruth Snyder in memory of
Keith S. Snyder
Barbara Sprague
Dr. & Mrs. Roy F. Statton
Mr. William Sternad
Bill & Donna Stewart
Dr. & Mrs. Gene F. Stohs
Elizabeth H. Summers
Doris Thompson
Janyce Warneke
Kent & Susan Warneke
Don & Marcia Welch
Rae E. Whitney
Anne M. Woita
David S. Wysong
Scott & Reba Zana
Zak & Amy Zutavern
We appreciate donations of all
sizes, but due to space limitations
recognition of gifts in NHC
publications begins at the Friend
level ($50). Gifts of $50 or more
also entitle members to receive our
annual Nebraska Humanities
magazine. Donate online at:
www.nebraskahumanities.org.
NEBRASKA
HUMANITIES
COUNCIL
Sara Crook, Chair, Peru
Andrew Alexander, Vice Chair, Wayne
Carol Rempp, Treasurer, Lincoln
B.J. Reed, Immediate Past Chair,
Omaha
Steven Achelpohl, Omaha
Connie Adams, Broken Bow
Virginia Aita, Omaha
Eric Brown, Lexington
David Buntain, Lincoln
Dazmi Castrejon, Omaha
Annette Eisenhart, Culbertson
Mark Foxall, Omaha
Carol Gendler, Omaha
Mary Henning, Kearney
Chantal Kalisa, Lincoln
Taylor Keen, Omaha
Michael Nolan, Norfolk
Gretchen Peters, Gering
Dayle Wallien, Scottsbluff
Katherine Walter, Lincoln
NEBRASKA
FOUNDATION FOR
THE HUMANITIES
Natalie Olson, President, Lincoln
Marilyn Hadley, Vice President,
Kearney
Densel Rasmussen, Treasurer, Grand
Island
Joanne Berkshire, Omaha
Eric Brown, Lexington
Diane Brownell, Lincoln
David Buntain, Lincoln
Sara Crook, Peru
Annette Eisenhart, Culbertson
Carol Gendler, Omaha
Deb Glenn, Scottsbluff
Chris Harris, Lincoln
Catherine Lang, Lincoln
Michael Nolan, Norfolk
Molly O’Holleran, North Platte
Susan Poser, Lincoln
B.J. Reed, Omaha
Carol Rempp, Lincoln
Joel Russell, Omaha
Barbara Schaefer, Omaha
Gail Veitzer, Omaha
Carol Waring, Fremont
Susan Watts, McCook
Kathy Wilson, Omaha
STAFF
Christopher Sommerich, Executive
Director
Liz Makowski, Program Assistant
Erika Hamilton, Director of Literary
Programs
Elisabeth Pflanz, Fiscal Officer
Kristi Hayek, Program Officer
Julie MacDonald, Development
Coordinator
Barbara Grant, Office and
Communications Assistant
Heather Thomas, Development Officer
Mary Yager, Associate Director
215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 330
Lincoln, NE 68508
402-474-2131
Fax 402-474-4852
nhc@nebraskahumanities.org
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Forum theme is “Religion, Rights and Politics”
The 2012-13 E.N. Thompson Forum on
World Issues, a cooperative project of the
Cooper Foundation, the Lied Center for Performing Arts and the University of NebraskaLincoln, will address the theme of “Religion,
Rights and Politics” with five lectures.
The Nebraska Humanities Council and
local colleges and universities will again expand the impact of the Lincoln lectures with
simulcasts to audiences in Columbus, Hastings, Kearney, McCook, North Platte, Omaha
and Scottsbluff.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. – The series
opens with Robert Putnam delivering the
Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities. (See
story on page 1.)
Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. – Charles
Villa-Vicencio, South African theologian,
“Violence, Religion, Financial Muscle and
Liberation: Can Africa Heal Itself?”
Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. – J. Kirk
Brown, Nebraska solicitor general, and
Michael Radelet, University of Colorado
Boulder professor, “The Death Penalty: Justice,
Retribution and Dollars”
Monday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. – Felice Gaer,
American Jewish Committee, “International
Religious Freedom”
Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. – Shirin
Ebadi, Nobel Laureate, “True Islam: Human
Rights, Faith and Women”
Lectures are free and open to the public.
( Page 12 )
Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi will speak on “True
Islam: Human Rights, Faith and Women,” Feb.
26, as part of the E.N. Thompson Forum on World
Issues. Photo courtesy of E.N. Thompson Forum on
World Issues.
With the exception of the Governor’s Lecture
in the Humanities on Oct. 2, all begin at 7 p.m.
(CST), 6 p.m. (MST) in Scottsbluff. Free tickets
are required for attendance at the Lied Center
in Lincoln and may be obtained by calling the
box office at 402-472-4747 or downloading
a ticket order form at enthompson.unl.edu.
Simulcast locations are posted at www.
nebraskahumanities.org or contact Mary
Yager, associate director, at mary@nebraskahumanities.org or (402) 474-2131 ext 103 to
request email notification before each lecture.