NEW Visitor Experience! IMLS Grant Received!

Sotterley Plantation Awarded Prestigious Grant
from the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Hollywood, MD- Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Sotterley Plantation is embarking upon a new course in her over 300 years of history. This highly sought after grant, awarded to only select applicants each year, will change how visitors experience the rich history of this site.

The grant of $37,343 will be used to create a well researched, accurate, engaging interpretive script for use by site interpreters, a professionally recorded audio tour of the Plantation House and grounds, and a professionally edited 10 minute video orienting visitors to the site. Funds will also support the addition of streaming video to the soon to be updated website.

“Much of the credit for this grant award goes to Sotterley Board of Trustees member, Merideth Taylor, Professor of Theatre and Dance at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, for her tireless efforts of researching and preparing the IMLS Grant with support of the Sotterley staff,” stated Nancy Easterling, Executive Director of Historic Sotterley, Inc. “This project will greatly enhance the visitor experience for visitors to our National Historic Landmark.”

“This year’s MFA grant recipients are truly an exciting and diverse group of museums, representing the remarkable ways that large and small institutions are serving communities. Funded projects support digitization and collections management plans, enhanced accessibility, environmental literacy, and much more. The work of these institutions will educate and inspire citizens of all ages. IMLS is pleased to support museums as they engage their communities through programming tailored to their specific needs, and this round of MFA grants furthers this work,” stated Marsha L. Semmel, acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 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.
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It's Getting Better All the Time!

Awarded Matching Grants
from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority
and the Maryland Humanities Council
“Implementing Living History Reinterpretation of Sotterley”

Hollywood, MD – Historic Sotterley, Inc. has been awarded a $9,600 grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and a $5,089 grant from the Maryland Humanities Council for the project “Implementing Living History Reinterpretation of Sotterley.” This exciting project will fund the cost of research, script production, and the design/creation/purchase of costumes and props for Sotterley’s first Living History program, aside from its annual Ghosts of Sotterley Tours and Holiday Candelight Tours.

“Historical sites which offer Living History programs provide a deeper understanding of their site’s history and relevance through a positive and memorable experience. With the upcoming national bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812, Sotterley Plantation is thrilled that this generous award will allow new Living History program to be ready to present to the public several times between 2012 through 2014,” stated Nancy Easterling, Executive Director. “We would love for this to be the first of many living histories, covering our incredibly rich history of over 300 years.”

A team of knowledgeable and talented individuals have agreed to work on the project to ensure a quality experience for site visitors. Dale Jones of “Making History Connections” will write a Living History that, while historically accurate, will be focused on encouraging audience participation and interaction. Leon Wiebers, Associate Professor of Design at St. Mary’s College of Maryland will help with the creation of period costuming, a visual catalyst to take our visitors back in time and bring the past to life.


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Riverside WineFest Advertisers ... so far!

The Riverside WineFest at Sotterley 2010 program is shaping up nicely! If you (or someone you know) are interesting in advertising in this year's 8.5" x 11" full-color throughout program, please contact Eileen Miller, Marketing Manager at 301-373-2280 or marketing@sotterley.org

Join us!

Proceeds for this event support the important educational programs at Sotterley Plantation - a National Historic Landmark and jewel of Southern Maryland.

Thank you to the following 2010 Advertisers!

Blue Fox Consulting

Blue Wind Gourmet

Cafe' des Artiste

Caren's of Solomons

Clipper's Canine Cafe'

Colleen's Dream

Community Bank T.C.

Dry Dock Restaurant

Full Stride Communications

Heritage Printing & Graphics

Interlude Pet Resort & Spa

Julia & Co Salon and Spa

LaQuinta Inn & Suites

Lamson, LeBlanc and Carmean, LLC

The McNelis Group, LLC

North End Gallery

PNC Bank

Pink Beach

Prince George's F.S.B.

Red-Inc

St. Mary's County Division of Tourism

W.M. Davis, Inc.

Two for The WIN!

Raley, Watts & O’Neill
and The Selective Group Foundation
Provide Matching Grants
In Support of Sotterley Plantation

Raley, Watts & O’Neill Insurance and The Selective Group Foundation, the foundation of Selective Group, Inc., has joined forces to support the positive efforts of Historic Sotterley, Inc. through a $1,000.00 grant. The grant represents a $500.00 donation from Raley, Watts & O’Neill matched by a $500.00 grant from The Selective Group Foundation.

Rick Tepel, CEO of Raley, Watts & O’Neill said, “Sotterley is such an important and beautiful historical landmark and also provides so many educational resources - there is truly nothing else like it in Southern Maryland.” Mr. Tepel is a valued supporter and Board of Trustees member of Historic Sotterley, Inc.

“The Matching Grant program allows us to partner with our agents to support the needs of the communities in which we serve and operate,” said Tony Albanese, Senior Vice President, Bond and Agency Development.

“During these tenuous economic times, businesses are creatively finding ways to support Sotterley Plantation, and matching grants allow donated funds to be multiplied,” stated Nancy Easterling, Executive Director of Sotterley Plantation. “This generous grant will be applied toward the Riverside WineFest at Sotterley 2010, our well-established event now in its 10th year, with all proceeds directly supporting Sotterley’s significant educational programs. Our most sincere thanks to Raley, Watts & O’Neill and The Selective Group Foundation for being part of our continuing history.”

Raley, Watts & O’Neill Insurance is an independent insurance brokerage founded in 1954 in Lexington Park, MD. Visit them at http://www.rwoinsurance.com/.

Selective Insurance Group, Inc. is a holding company for seven property and casualty insurance companies rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best. Through independent agents, the insurance companies offer primary and alternative market insurance for commercial and personal risks, and flood insurance underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program. Selective maintains a website at http://www.selective.com/.

Riverside Winefest at Sotterley 2010 ... Already?

Yes ... Already!

And you know what that means - we are in need of Sponsors and Advertisers. The proceeds of the Riverside WineFest at Sotterley 2010 enable us to continue our significant educational programs, such as: Colonial Tidewater Plantation Life, Riverways, Archaeology Rocks!, Dig This! - An Archaeological Field Day, Slave Cabin Presentation, and the award-winning Slavery to Freedom.

Please see the attached Sponsorship Benefits and Advertising Opportunities forms for details. Interested? Contact Eileen Miller, Marketing Manager at 301-373-2280 or marketing@sotterley.org. Exciting news: this year's 8.5" x 11" program will be full-color throughout and the advertising prices remain the same as last year!

This year's Riverside WineFest at Sotterley will be held on October 2 & 3, 2010 from Noon- 6 pm.

July 4th - An Independence Day Celebration Concert!

Over 300 visitors joined us for our traditional and quaint 4th of July celebration this year! An Independence day Celebration concert featured the patriotic sounds of the Chesapeake Orchestra Brass Quintet led by Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag of St. Mary's College of Maryland. Enhancing not only the enjoyment of the day, but also the ongoing Sotterley fundraising efforts, the Silent and Brown Bag Auctions were a tremendous success - featuring toys to treasures to necessities, everything from a telescope to a Last Will and Testament!

It may have been a sweltering afternoon, but the ample shade from the ginko and oak trees on the front lawn coupled with Bruster's Real Ice Cream, provided relief and delicious delight. "On A Roll" offered a wide selection of America's fave fourth food. And has anyone noticed that Sir Pops A Lot is present for the majority of our events (after all, we love our kettle corn here in Southern Maryland)?

Big thanks to the talented musicians, the Maestro, the volunteers, the auction contributors, Nancy Easterling (Sotterley's Executive Director), Rebekah Guyther (Sotterley's Membership Manager, who leads up the auction every year) and Linda Tucker Jones (Sotterley's Event Manager, who pulled off another successful event).

(Special thanks to Bob Aldridge for his fantastic photos!)