Project Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,750
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Sinclair Lewis Foundation
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
October 2019
End Date
October 2019
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Stearns
Benton
Sherburne
Wright
Todd
Pope
Douglas
Morrison
Crow Wing
Stearns
Benton
Sherburne
Wright
Todd
Pope
Douglas
Morrison
Crow Wing
Project Overview

Project Grant

Project Details

The 30th Annual Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference, Saturday, October 5, 2019, is one of the longest-running, most respected writers’ conferences in the Midwest, offering all writers a chance to hone their craft and to form networks.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Linda Brobeck: vice chair Wright County, visual artist, owner of Crow River North, LLC.; served on a number of non-profit boards; Ken Barry: Blues musician; Victorian photographer proficient in Digital imaging and, Platinum/Palladium printing and Wet Plate Collodion process and Bromoil printing and Cyanotype printing; University of Wisconsin; certified nuclear engineer; Buddy King: Saint Cloud playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, unit director for the Roosevelt Boys and Girls Club in Saint Cloud, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; Joyce Lyons: actress, singer, educator, member of Buffalo Community Orchestra Advisory Board; Jo McMullen-Boyer: Central Minnesota Arts Board board member, station manager of KVSC Radio, music concert producer, community events organizer; Roger Reinardy: Central Minnesota Arts Board board member, fine and commercial artist, board member for Sauk Center Area Community Foundation;Denise Todd: Central Minnesota Arts Board board member, Business Administration with a Minor in Dance from Valdosta State University, U.S. Air Force veteran, geospatial intelligence analyst; Saint Cloud State University pursuing a Major in Community Health and Planning and Community Development with a Minor in Ethnics and Human Relations; Joe Scapanski: Minnesota State Ag Society Board of Managers; Minnesota State Fair liaison for arts division; responsible for bringing artists to exhibit and perform at the Benton Co Annual Fair; 2014 International Fairs and Expositions award for promoting arts and heritage.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Linda Brobeck: board chair for Central Minnesota Arts Board, visual artist, owner of Crow River North, LLC., served on a number of non-profit boards; Ken Barry: board treasurer for Central Minnesota Arts Board, Blues musician, Victorian photographer proficient in digital imaging and platinum/ palladium printing and wet plate collodion process and bromoil printing and cyanotype printing, certified nuclear engineer; Buddy King: board secretary for Central Minnesota Arts Board, Saint Cloud playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, unit director for the Roosevelt Boys and Girls Club in Saint Cloud Minnesota, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; Joyce Lyons: board member for Central Minnesota Arts Board, CMA actress, singer, educator, member of Buffalo Community Orchestra Advisory Board; Jo McMullen-Boyer: board member for Central Minnesota Arts Board, station manager of KVSC Radio, grant writer, music concert producer, Community Events Organizer; Roger Reinardy: board member for Central Minnesota Arts Board, fine and commercial artist, served as a board member for Sauk Center Area Community Foundation; Denise Todd: board member for Central Minnesota Arts Board, dance at Valdosta State University; U.S. Air Force Veteran, geospatial intelligence analyst; undergraduate at Saint Cloud State University pursuing a Major in Community Health; Joe Scapanski: Minnesota State Ag Society Board of Managers; Minnesota State Fair liaison for arts division; responsible for bringing artists to exhibit and perform at the Benton Co Annual Fair; 2014 International Fairs and Expositions award for promoting arts and heritage.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,750
Other Funds Leveraged
$6,850
Direct expenses
$13,600
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

To facilitate participant access to professional writers while providing practical knowledge relating to participants' particular areas of writing. We measure our outcomes by asking each participant and presenter to provide written feedback concerning their conference experience. The results are used to help plan the next year's conference. We also measure outcomes by the number of participants.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Our goal has always been to perpetuate and celebrate the memory and works of Sinclair Lewis and to mentor writers as Lewis himself did. Sponsoring 30 writers conferences since 1990 addresses our goal. We evaluate our outcomes based on written feedback received from the conference participants. This feedback consistently shows that we are meeting the needs of both novice and experienced writers.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Jim Umhoefer: president and conference organizer; Roberta Olson: vice president; Deb Himsl: treasurer; Colleen Steffes: secretary
Project Manager
First Name
Jim
Last Name
Umhoefer
Organization Name
Sinclair Lewis Foundation
Street Address
39336 Wild Rose Ct
City
Sauk Centre
State
MN
Zip Code
56378
Phone
(320) 352-2735
Email
umhoefer@mainstreetcom.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency
Location

P.O. Box 458
220 4th Ave North 
Foley, MN 56329

Phone
Project Manager: Leslie LeCuyer
320-968-4290x 3