Formed in 2005, the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center (FOSCHC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
We are a partner of the History Center for:
- Acquiring supplementary funds for exhibits, acquisitions, digitization equipment, etc.
- Advocacy: building awareness of the History Center’s role in preserving local history.
- Communications and Programming support: Our website, newsletters, and social media keep the public informed about the History Center and encourage involvement with the preservation of local history.
Our mission is to assist the Sarasota County History Center through fundraising, programs, services and activities that promote and enhance the use and enjoyment of Sarasota County’s cultural and historical heritage. As a non-profit organization, we are solely dependent upon donations and grants. We do not receive funding from the County, the City or the State.
Meet the Board of Friends of the Sarasota County History Center:
Kim Patton Manning, President
Kim Patton Manning has been in Sarasota since 1961. She is president of NewView Services, Inc. Previously she founded Patton Enterprises, Office Starters, Interview Screening Services and worked at Sears, American Bank and Hyatt Sarasota. She created the “1986 Sarasota Trivia Calendar;” and is working on a new Sarasota County Trivia project. Kim also served on the Steering Committee for Sarasota County’s Centennial celebration.
David Harper, Vice President & Development
As an LPL Registered Principal at HPK Provident Advisors, David offers more than 20 years of financial planning experience. His specialties include financial planning, team oversight, wealth management and compliance. He has received multiple President’s Club Awards for helping our division reach rigorous service benchmarks and goals. David holds a B.A. in Religion with a minor in Greek (Pre-Seminary Tract) from Westminster College and an M.A. in Sociology (Family Systems Theory Tract) from Indiana University of PA and his background includes pastoral counseling and family systems theory, which drives his hands-on approach to financial advising. Outside of the office, David enjoys tennis, art, hiking and traveling.
Kathryn Chesley, Secretary
A theater educator, playwright and trained actress with a love of history, Kathryn performs “Life and Times Portrayals” of 10 historic women. She is a member of the Sarasota Area Playwrights’ Society, Arts Alliance Playreaders, Historical Society of Sarasota County, Venice Historical Society, Sarasota Historical Preservation Society and is on the board of the Friends of the Sarasota History Center. Kathryn is a national presenter with the National Women’s History Alliance. She is also a local tour guide for Discover Sarasota Tours. You can reach her via her website HERE.
Don Bayley, Treasurer
Board member Lemon Bay Historical Society, Englewood Museum, History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County, Friends of the Englewood Archives and Friends of the Sarasota History Center; Webmaster Sandwich (Cape Cod) Town Hall Preservation Trust and Sandwich Historical Commission; former board member Sandwich Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services Board; worked for ABC News Radio as Technical Supervisor; edited and published: Sandwich 375 Years: Photos, Facts and Fables of Cape Cod’s Oldest Town and Monty’s Stories: Growing Up in a Small Florida Town
Dr. Frank Cassell, Past President
Historian and author, member of the Sarasota County Historical Commission and the History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County; retired history professor and university president; published books and articles on American history including Suncoast Empire and Creating Sarasota County
Andrew Littaur, Development
“Before Sarasota, my Florida home now, I lived & worked in Europe, Asia and the US; 25 years bank management. Subsequently founded APT, a company in Europe engaged in HR. I was born in New York, secondary schooling in Washington, Connecticut at the Gunnery School and college in Beloit, Wisconsin, with a junior year in Switzerland at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes. My first job was as a government intern in Washington DC during the Johnson administration before getting an advanced degree at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, which school nominated this late bloomer for a Fulbright post-graduate grant in Manila. There I completed a thesis on economic nationalism issues and I also taught international relations for almost a year. Travel is a passion of mine. In the last couple of years, I vacationed in Ravello, Marbella, Saville, Taormina, Nantucket and Chania, and I have been in most European capitals.”
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Benefits Include: Free admission to lectures and programs, Special invitations to events and parties, Program updates, the Opportunity to serve on the Friends Board of Directors.
How Members of the Friends Can Get Involved
1. Become a member of a Friends’ committee:
• Membership: Recruitment, membership communications, activities, promotions
Email Kim Patton Manning: foschcmembership@gmail.com.
• Long-Timers: Email Kim Patton Manning: foschcmembership@gmail.com.
• Programs: Promote & attend Speaker Programs, set up donation table
• Communications: Design, computer and writing skills are desirable.
Email Don Bayley: friendsschistorycenter@gmail.com.
• Development: Seeking gifts and grants.
Email David Harper: dharper@hpkprovident.com.
2. Help prepare content for the Friends’ social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, as well as the Friends’ newsletter. Email Don Bayley: friendsschistorycenter@gmail.com.
3. Assist the History Center with tours, information, talks and pop-up exhibits.
Email Kim Patton Manning at FOSCHCmembership@gmail.com.
4. Dr. Goodman would like to train a volunteer to research our History Center collection and prepare high quality posts to go on the Friends’ social media. Email Dr. Josh Goodman at jgoodman@sgov.net.
5. Be alert for possible donations of historical artifacts, rare history books, and the records of county institutions such as churches and clubs. This helps the History Center fulfill its mission, but some training is required from the History Center staff. Email Dr. Josh Goodman at jgoodman@sgov.net
6. Become a speaker on behalf of the Friends and the History Center before civic clubs and homeowner associations. Awareness of the History Center is needed and the staff will provide outlines and talking points.
7. Tell your friends about FOSCHC and urge them to join us. Membership is at its heart a form of advocacy for the History Center.
8. Make an annual gift to the Friends to support educational programs and additions to the collections.
9. Consider becoming a member of the Board of Directors.
MEMBERSHIP INFO
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