FREE TALK, Preserving Personal & Family History using Oral History techniques

Date: Thursday, March 11th

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Brown Public Library, Northfield

Cost: FREE

Amanda Kuhnert is a Vermontbased personal historian who will be presenting a free talk, “Preserving Personal & Family History,” with an emphasis on Oral History methods.

Last fall, Kuhnert led an “Interviewing Workshop” for the Northfield Historical Society as the organization prepared to launch a Northfield Oral History project.

In a 1-hour talk, she will give a general overview of “the history of oral history” and how the tradition of storytelling has changed over time (most dramatically in the past century) — from Sunday dinners and fireside chats to the new social media.

Families have become increasingly disconnected – both physically and emotionally - over the past two to three decades due to a number of factors, such as increased geographic mobility and technological advances, among others. But Kuhnert believes that the use of modern oral history techniques can help mend the intergenerational communication gap for the betterment of young and old alike.

Amanda Kuhnert We will talk specifically about the existing intergenerational communication gap and how it can be bridged to create healthier, more supportive communities. What are our challenges, and what are our opportunities? How can we ensure that our personal and family stories, as well as our values and life lessons, are passed down to the next generation and beyond? And why is this important?

In summary, Kuhnert hopes to lead the group through a thoughtful process of taking stock of the “oral treasures” that lie around them (their own or those of a relative or friend) and then exploring ways to best relate and preserve those memories, stories, and values for the benefit of generations to come.

Jonathan Hoffman, right, talks to children in Afghanistan WHO: Jonathan Hoffman, Founder and Director of Direct Aid International

WHEN: March 18, 2010 at 7:00pm

WHERE: Community Room of the Brown Public Library

SPONSORS: Northfield Rotary Club, Brown Public Library, United Methodist Women of Northfield

Jonathan Hoffman, Founder and Director of Direct Aid International, and a Northfield native, will be giving a presentation on his humanitarian efforts in Kosovo and Afghanistan on Thursday, March 18, starting at 7:00pm in the Community Room of the Brown Public Library.

A chef instructor at The Center for Technology at Essex, Jonathan dedicates a portion of his time each year in helping the less fortunate in war-torn parts of the globe. Serving as an unofficial ambassador for the State of Vermont and the United States, Jonathan has brought awareness of the plight of refugees in Kosovo and Afghanistan while introducing our culture and sense of humanity to otherwise secluded regions of the world.

Direct Aid International is a small, non-profit, non-political, nonsectarian organization dedicated to bringing a sense of normalcy to crisis situations. Their focus is on education and agriculture within the context of direct aid without regard to race, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, or gender.

Direct Aid International is committed to providing direct aid to people of the world most isolated from other sources of assistance. They provide essential materials, project planning and implementation. Their community-based initiatives help create an atmosphere of self-reliance and sustainability.