The participating organizations in this year’s Statehood Day, set for March 3, have released the 2009 History Works Legislative Priorities list.

Each year, Ohio’s statewide history, preservation, revitalization, archival and genealogical organizations send representatives to the Ohio Statehouse on or near the state's birthday (March 1) for a day of meetings with members of the Ohio General Assembly, their staffs, and administrative agencies.  The basis for these meetings is the advancement of particular issues or requests as profiled in a list of legislative priorities.  Together, these items combine to reinforce the underlying theme of the event -- that “History Works” for Ohio.

This year’s list contains the following items:

• Funding for school field trips to historical societies and sites
  
• Work toward efforts to preserve state and local governmental records
  
• Using stimulus funds for “shovel ready” preservation projects (click here for a press release on this subject issued today by Ohio Historical Society Director Dr. Bill Laidlaw)
  
• Full funding of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and strengthening state policies where historic properties are concerned
  
• An income-tax check-off for a preservation grants program
  
• Support for the upcoming Civil War Sesquicentennial celebration (2011-2015)
  

For the official list with additional details on each of these, click here.

Please note that you can still register for Statehood Day through Friday, February 20.  Click here for more information.