The Montana Committee for the Humanities adds new programs to its Speakers Bureau offerings annually. The Committee now invites proposals for programs for 2000-2002.
The Speakers Bureau. The MCH Speakers Bureau is Montana's largest and most popular speakers bureau. It enables local organizations-museums, libraries, colleges and universities, schools, civic and professional organizations, churches, and other groups-to bring high quality humanities programs to their members and the public at very low cost. Local sponsors provide the setting, an audience, local publicity, planning and coordination. More than fifty speakers now constitute the Speakers Bureau, with more than seventy programs, focusing on contemporary Montana and its issues, the state's history, literature, native peoples, and a number of other humanities topics. Each program remains active with the Speakers Bureau for three years. Funding for the Speakers Bureau comes from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Montana Cultural Trust, the Montana Committee for the Humanities, and from local communities and individuals.
Speakers Bureau programs. Programs proposed may fit into any of a number of categories. Currently, such categories include: Native Peoples' Histories and Stories, Lewis and Clark, Montana and Western History, Literature, The Arts, Montana in the New Millennium, Communications, Culture, and Public Policy, and Chautauqua presentations. The Committee is particularly interested in programs that will appeal to the adult, out-of-school public and that will foster discussion and a deeper appreciation of ourselves, our cultures, and our world. Presentations combined with slides, videos, or other media also are acceptable. Some two-person programs have been successful, whether presenting as a team or offering opposing positions on a topic. Proposals are welcome also for scholarly facilitators whose expertise and humanities perspectives can assist in discussion of community issues. National Endowment for the Humanities guidelines under which MCH operates prohibit support of programs directed at persuading an audience to a particular political, philosophical, religious, or ideological point of view.
Civic Culture. For 2000, in conjunction with the initiative "Toward Deliberative Dialogue in Western Communities," the Committee is particularly interested in new programs bearing on issues of civic culture: the decline in civic engagement and how to address it, deliberative dialogue, civil society, consensus, and others.
Proposal and review process. There is no limit to the number of program proposals that may be submitted. However, speakers are limited to a maximum of three programs on the Speakers Bureau roster in any year. Each program proposal must include a completed application form (available from MCH; see below), which identifies the proposer and references, and a brief description of the proposed program.
Deadline. All application materials are due in the MCH offices on March 20. The full Committee will review the subcommittee's recommendations and make final selections in April. MCH will announce new speakers and programs in early summer. Additions will be made to the Speakers Bureau catalog in time for late summer mailing.
Further information. MCH will be pleased to answer questions and provide complete information and application forms. Contact the MCH offices at 311 Brantly, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-7848, at 406-243-6022, toll-free in Montana 800-624-6001, or via e-mail at <lastbest@selway.umt.edu>.