Invitation from Mary Lou Cook

This is our invitation and encouragement for other communities to start a Living Treasure program. It is simple, it is easy it doesn't take a lot of time and you'll see that it doesn't cost much to say thank you.

We've put this booklet together as an informal sharing of ideas and how-to's toward creating a Living Treasure program. It represents well over a decade of hard-earned successes and mistakes. you're welcome to use whatever might work for you, including the name.

With time, we have grown only more pleased and committed. We see this as a remedy for today's ills, as it models values, spirit and the finest in humanity. Our inspiration is Gandhi's quote, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." We hope you'll want to start a similar program in your community!

Gather a Committee Together

Carefully select people of positive attitude, those who are creative and listen to their hearts. (Remember that one negative person can dampen ideas and cause frustration) Aim for diversity of background and experience, along with competency compassion and humor. Be enthusiastic yourself, and let it show.

This project doesn't require much time or money and needs no fund-raising. There is no paid staff; the committee shares the responsibility as volunteers. The payoff is immense satisfaction and delight; allowing the deep goodness of your soul to be experienced.

Select a convener, a mutual meeting time and place, and there you go!

Get Organized

• Establish your own operating procedure. Keep it simple, have fun, be creative, trust yourselves (no more shoulds), and learn to listen. Decide that there's no right way, no wrong way there's your way.
• Agree on a purpose and write it down.
• Print a one page description of project. Invite written nominations from community.
• Self-select which responsibility you want to do, something that you enjoy.

• Convener–facilitates the ceremony
• Photographer
• Videographer–if you can manage it
• Nominations–keep clippings of possible honorees and letters of nomination
• Librarian–keeps clippings of Living Treasures in files and scrapbooks; maintains filing cabinet
• Computer operator–maintains lists, labels, correspondence and decisions made
• Graphic artist–designs stationery logo, certificate and invitations
• Public Relations–Writes press release and works with media
• Telephoner–coordinates and makes calls for meetings; plans invitation mailings

All Love and No Money

It doesn't cost a lot to say thank you, this is a low-budget operation. In all these years, we've seldom had more than several hundred dollars in our pocket.

The basic needs are photography supplies (photos of L.T.s, a main focus in our program; optional), stamps and printing for invitations. We pass the hat at each ceremony, which covers most expenses until the next ceremony.

Beyond that, committee members may pay for special needs such as: a quality tape recorder for interviewing, a file cabinet and telephone listing in the phone book. An optional decision is to make a video of each Treasure. This can be expensive, but is a valuable addition to the archives. (Your community college may be interested in taking on an on-going "oral history" video project. Ask them.)

Decisions

Your committee meets to consider:

• When to hold ceremony, once or twice a year
• What day, Saturday or Sunday afternoon (evenings are difficult for Elders)
• Choose place for ceremony and get confirmation
• Start a mailing list for invitations
• Choose new Treasures from nominating letters. Consideration of qualities might include:
• simplicity
• cooperation
• courage
• humility
• constancy
• serenity
• wisdom
• appreciation
• authenticity
• truthfulness
• kindness
• respect
• grace
• trust
• humor
• civility

Contacting the New Treasures

• The Convener calls the honoree with news of his/her selection. Gives date, place and time of Ceremony.
• Advises that honoree will be contacted for photograph and interview.
• Convener mails basic information about Living Treasures to honoree.
• Photographer makes appointment and goes to home or place designated. Obtains signed release.
• Interviewer makes appointment, conducts interview on tape according to committee's standards. Collect all possible biographical information. Makes copies for files. See "Tips for Interviewing."
• If video taping the interview, consider 30 minutes duration. Keep in mind age and health of honoree, some are fragile and tire easily.
• Honoree is given 50 invitations to mail and distribute to family and friends.
• Inquire if honoree requires transportation to ceremony.

Get the Word Out

• Plan adequate lead time for media.
• Prepare media announcement of ceremony date and details of new honorees. Include clear photo with well written press release. The public is invited.
• Ask for a feature story in newspaper re the new honorees.
• Try to line up radio and TV interviews.
• Local magazines and newsletters. ("calendar of events" usually free)
• Schedule presentations about your program at schools and service clubs.
• Address invitations. Have extra copies printed for handouts.

Tips on Interviewing

• The main purpose is to get the interviewee's story (hereafter called person), through inquiry of values, personal thoughts, memories, attitude and experience. Without this taping, stories often are lost.
• Before the interviews do research from friends on person, study TV interviews for skills in questioning.
• At interview, before recording, put person at ease. Comfortable? Adjust lavaliere microphone and test voice. Talk about something that makes person happy. Consider age factor of person in length of interview.
• When starting tape, clearly give your name, date, place and name of person.
• Be a good listener, be a questioner, keep your own opinions to yourself.
• Divide person's life into three parts: child, youth and adult.
• Start with simple facts: when born, origin of family. circumstances, relatives, memories of childhood, what was their downtown like, education, job, how this shaped who person is today.
• Sometimes you must interrupt too lengthy details to complete overall story.
• Optional questions:
• Your favorite activity.
• Fun times.
• Most significant mistake.
• What would you do differently.
• What have you learned.
• What and who inspires you.
• How do you view yourself.
• Secret of life.
• What is your most significant accomplishment.
• What is your heart's desire.
• What is your wish for mankind.

Invitation and Certificate

• The graphic artist designs a certificate, (see sample) 8 1/2 x 11 to be used henceforth, leaving space for name and date. Print 25 or so, on good paper stock. This is presented in a frame at the ceremony.
• The artist designs an invitation (see sample), which is reproduced. A self-mailer is practical, as it eliminates cost of an envelope. It is folded twice, with return address showing (Return address is printed at the side).
• Schedule a time for addressing, labeling and stamping invitations. It is important that all committee members participate, as this is a fun and positive bonding time. Program business or decisions can be taken care of as well.
• Mail two weeks before the ceremony.
• Continue to update mailing list from returned, undeliverable invitations. Add names from guest book at ceremonies.

The Honoring Ceremony

• The committee arrives early to set up room. Arrange chairs in circle with outer 2nd circle for larger ceremonies and standing room for late corners if possible. Honorees and attending Living Treasures sit in front row. If crowded, ask youngers to give seat to elders.
• Check for temperature comfort, lighting and noise factors. Test PA system if using it. Set up any exhibit, guest book, refreshments, etc.
• The convener welcomes the community "Can everyone hear?" Gives brief history of program, then introduces committee and other Living Treasures, as king L.T.s to share what they are doing presently.
• Begin honoring of new Treasures. Encourage stories and comments about this person, "purposeful reminiscing." Hopefully the mood is comfortable, informal and spontaneous. There will be tears and laughter. The new honoree is then invited to speak. Ask that stories be brief so many can share.
• We pass the hat to cover printing, mailings, photos, etc. All are invited to join for refreshments.

Related Projects

Projects this important often spawn related ideas.

• This program may be used to honor all-aged "treasures" within organizations, schools or work.
• Plant trees in the park to honor a Treasure.
• Hang the collection of photographs in public area or gallery with guest book for comments.
• Treasures are often invited to be on community panels.
• We encourage school classes to do oral interviews of their grandparents. We developed "Tips for Interviewing" (included in this booklet) for committee members, and found it has many other uses.