5.b) Minnesota Sesquicentennial Meeting Date: 1/8/2008
Agenda Item: �! �
City Council Agenda Report
City of Scandia
14727 209�' St. North
Scandia,MN 55073 (651)433-2274
Action Requested: Consider whether or not the City should sponsor any activities in
recognition of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial in 2008.
Deadline/Timeline: N/A
Background: • Statehood Day is Sunday,May 11,2008. A fact sheet on the
Sesquicentennial is attached.
� Staff was recently contacted by Lynne Moratzka of the
Gammelgarden Museum regarding whether or not the City was
sponsoring an event,or was interested in co-sponsoring any event,
in recognition of the 150�'anniversary of Minnesota statehood.
The Museum will have birthday cake and free admission to
historic buildings.
Recommendation: I recommend that the Council discuss whether or not you are
interested in doing anything for the Sesquicentennial.
Attachments/ • Fact Sheet, Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission
Materials provided:
Contact(s):
Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator
(I 50 years of statehood)
Page 1 of 1
O 1/03/08
���r AT-a-GLANCE FACT SHEET
October zoo�
Minnesota at its Sesquicentennial
iso vEAl:s Exceptional People-Exc�tional Place.
n�STAT E Fi00D
The Sesquicentennial is a commemoration and a catalyst, an
opportunity to learn from our past and to connect all of us as
Minnesotans in creating a thriving,innovative future.
A 17-member Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission created by the State Legislature
in 2005 and appointed in 2006,guides the Sesquicentennial. Eight members are legislators. Nine
members ftom across Minnesota were appointed by the Govemor.The Commission will oversee several
events,commemorations and initiatives of statewide significance.It also encourages citizen engagement
and grassroots action by local citizens and organizations to create statehood events and projects in all of
Minnesota's 87 counties.
The Commission is implementing the following key events and programs and coordinating with
other organizations for many more.Register yours at http:/lwww.mn150vears.ora/eventform.html
A Sesquicentennlal grant program reaching statewide and into every county to provide seed funds for projects that
commemorate our past and invest in our future to ensure a lasting legacy of the S�aquicentennial.Grant forms are
available online at http://www.mn150vears.ora/arants.html
Statehood Week,Weekend Festival and Ceremony beginning Statehood Day,May 11,2008,extending across
Minnesota with the Capitols for a Day series May 12-16,and culminadng in the Statehood Festival and Expo at the
State Capitol grounds in St.Paul on May 17-18,2008,featuring Minnesote People,P/eces and Progress,through
exhibits,entertainment,a resource fair,family activities and a little bit of everything that makes Minnesota great.The
event will also include a commemoradon ceremony to pay tribute to key elements statehood today and into the future
–Civic Engagement&Honoring Those Who Senre.
Many Votces—One Mlnnesota: A Sesquicentennlal Plan for Our Future process beginning in October 2007 that will
leave a lasting blueprint to help the next generatlon prepare for a demanding Minnesota future.What do we want tlie
future to be like for our children and great-grandchildren&what are the°got-to-deal-with°issues to help make that
future reai?Community cronversations across Minnesota will engage dtlzens and ask what they are doing now
personally to ensure that future.
Partnerships with crommunities across the state,the Minnesota Historical Society,other state agencies,the University of
Minnesota,�e MN State Colleges&Universities System,local govemments and schools,the private and non-profit
sectors to c�ordinate huncireds of events and acBvitles statewide beginning now and throughout 2008 to
commemorate Minnesota's 150°i year of statehood.
The Sesqutcentennial Community Sptr�t Program,beginning in September 2007 and running throughout 2008,to
connect Minnesotans and communities across the state in shared Sesquicentennial spirit eiforts. We take our
inspiratlon from one of the Sesquicentennial mottos:"The Ster of the North Wfll Always Shine BrighUy."
The Sesquicentenniat Commission is serving as a community outreach clearinghouse for locat community events
and projects;tools available include our events calendar,e-newsletter,Sesqui-blog,Community Resour�ce Guide,
Sesquicentennial Spruce Up program,and Sesquicentennial street graphics and merchandise(banners,flags,
buttons,commemorative items,etc.)Go to the Communitv Soirit link.
Mtnnesota Sesquicentennial Commemorative Stamp,designed and printed by the U.S.Postat Service,to be unveiled
first in October,2007,end official issuance in May,2008.
A Sesquicentennial Fellows Program to engage young people in the Sesquicentennial to help with Commission and
community projects and build the foundation for a Minnesota Enterprise Corps as a living legacy of the
Sesquicentennial call to service.
Sesquic�rrtennial collaboraUons for whtch we are seeking sponsorships:A Sesquicentennial train,all-county m�aic
arts project,Song of the North Star Chautauqua traveling show,and many more.See our website soon for a
complete list.
Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission–James J.Hill House-240 Summit Ave–St.Paul,MN
651-296-1870-www.mn150vears.org–info�a,mn150years.org.