Opening The Gate

     

 During the year 2021 Higher Ground Inter-Cultural & Heritage Association got a big boost from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. The Executive Director of the foundation, Kathryn M. Curran, has always been an influential figure supporting small, undeveloped non-profits working in the field of historic preservation who have exhibited excellence in their endeavors. In 2020 - 2021, she succeeded in creating a program containing a grant to build the organizational capacity of several non-profits, one of which was the Higher Ground Inter-Cultural & Heritage Association of Setauket, NY. (Hereinafter - Higher Ground, or HGICHA). When a corporate board was formed, and arrangements between the RDL Gardiner Foundation and Higher Ground were satisfactorily completed, it culminated in creating a project/school in which our non-profit participated under the tutelage of four primary, professional consultants, and two alternate associates. The six individuals were called: the "Gardiner Foundation Dream Team." The project ran under the name: RDL Gardiner Organizational Capacity Building Program. (Hereinafter GOCBP).

            It is a rare occurrence when people living vastly different lives, with a wide range of age, and business administrative knowledge are joined together in a common effort to build something; to establish a good thing which had not existed previously. This is what happened in the RDL Gardiner Foundation Organizational Capacity Building Project of 2021.

            As we all know beginning in 2020, and raising havoc to this day, massive national disasters have been caused by the Covid-19 virus. No organization was spared from damage caused by the bug as our project got off the ground in 2021. As non-profit corporations looked for ways to recover, Higher Ground and the Gardiner "Dream Team," resorted to the internet, and virtual technology for meetings, and classroom instruction. The program ran the entire year in all phases of instruction and study using I.T. and virtual meetings, and without interruption. It was amazingly successful.

           

             The term "amazingly successful" is framed in a relationship which is the distance between were we were before Kathryn Curran presented the GOCBP, as compared to where we are now. After following the mandate to make modifications in several portions of Higher Ground governance, managerial staff, and marketing, our attention shifted toward having a more rigid structure that leans more toward functioning by modern laws instead of functioning by old standards that were far less restrictive. To continue, I will give you a better view of what we are now experiencing.

            By no means have the modifications been easy, especially when given the fact that a robust hi-tech infrastructure must be installed, in conjunction with acquiring a fully trained staff. Whereas previously we had the opportunity to adjust organizational function to match our meager funding, we must now address things critical to our mission that require vastly more monetary resources, resourcefulness, and innovation. Although seeking funding to fulfill a mission and activities does create the largest work effort of any organization, what is often not fully appraised, not fully recognized, nor appreciated, or perhaps misunderstood, is the external community environment in which a non-profit is functioning. Misjudging this appraisal can cause big problems for a non-profit.

            We will never forget Aria Camaione-Lind's gentle, but persuasive instructions, and explanations about organization governance and management as she guided us into compliance; and we will always remember the hi-tech, computer prowess of Harold House walking us through the dizzying world of marketing. We remember the gift of Erin Richardson's deep insightfulness as she led us through the mine fields of intellectual property rights, and collections policies. Finally, but not the least, are Joel Snodgrass' inspiring lectures, instructions, and building condition know-how as he led us through the hips and valleys of restoration building structural analysis. We also remember Amanda Smith, project director, and program associates Carrington Reynolds, and Matah Marcellus. Today, while we are still gaining familiarity with our new level of achievement, we are not detached from our instructors. The "Dream Team" consultants are obtainable at any time, which is definitely reassuring.

            The important thing that Higher Ground participants soon realized is that the program is an unconventional concept. This is a far reaching, ground-breaking concept that has produced an upgrade in HGICHA capacity, but the RDL GOCPB is much greater than a funding opportunity. It does not diminish the hopes of small, low profile historic preservation organizations, such as Higher Ground, because expectations for growth and development are not dashed to pieces by a letter of denial from a grantor. However, by far the biggest impact of the RDL Gardiner Foundation "Dream Team" consultation concept is that a much greater number of heretofore unrecognized small non-profits, with historic preservation as their core purpose, and exhibiting excellence in their mission, are now in the pool of all organizations competing for funds. This concept brings benefits to everyone; not just to a few. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Organizational Capacity Building Program ended January 1, 2022.

            Throughout all that happened in the program, it was definitely a rewarding experience. But most of all, we simply want to thank the Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, Kathryn M. Curran, and her associates, and to let her know that due to her desire to assist small, undeveloped non-profits which have exhibited excellence in the field of historic preservation, that the Higher Ground organization today stands a lot taller, and much stronger than it was prior to 2020.