Historic Southern Indiana is kicking off our 2012-2013 membership drive. For over 25 years, we have worked hard to successfully meet our mission of identifying, preserving, enhancing, and promoting the special resources of the region. We achieve this through special programs and projects that benefit local communities, teachers, students, heritage tourism professionals, and travelers.

HSI continues to offer quality programs of recognition such as the Community Legacy Award, the Frank and Judy O’Bannon Heritage Enrichment Award, and the Darrel Bigham Faculty Engagement Fellowship. We maintain our support for the two scenic byways we helped to create: the Ohio River Scenic Byway and Indiana’s Historic Pathways. We also offer educational programs such as the War of 1812 symposium and the "Getting from Here to There: The Story of Southern Indiana's Transportation Routes" teacher workshop.

We look forward to new endeavors, such as the upcoming Indiana Bicentennial, that will continue to help us promote and preserve the distinctive heritage of our region. Your membership support will help us achieve these goals. To make a membership pledge, please visit https://www.usi.edu/foundation/gift/giftform.aspx.

Historic Southern Indiana sponsored the 3rd annual Indiana's Historic Pathways teacher workshop on October 2 in Brownstown. We would like to thank all the teachers, speakers, and donors who made the event a success.

The theme of the workshop was "Getting from Here to There: The Story of Southern Indiana's Transportation Routes." Topics included the Underground Railroad, canals, and roads in Indiana.

A panel discussion with current teachers explored ways to use class projects as a way to teach students about Indiana's early transportation routes. Teachers also received a kit with items pertaining to the history of the byway which can be used as a hands-on classroom project.

Photos from the event are located at Indianashistoricpathways.org.

Connect with Southern Indiana is accepting applications for the 2013 class. Applications are due November 2, 2012.

Connect with Southern Indiana is a regional leadership program sponsored by the University of Southern Indiana. This program, established through a Lilly Endowment, seeks to boost Indiana’s retention of intellectual capital and nurture active citizenship to enhance the quality of life in the region. At the heart of the program is strengthening critical thinking and encouraging connections that transcend traditional boundaries of towns and counties, benefitting the entire Southwest Indiana Region. Connect with Southern Indiana is open to residents in the following counties: Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick.

Applications and information on Connect with Southern Indiana can be found at http://www.usi.edu/extserv/outreach/connect.ASP. For questions about the program, contact Leslie Townsend at 812/465-7013.

Do you live or work in one of the communities along the Indiana's Historic Pathways National Scenic Byway? The byway is moving forward with installing roadway signs and securing 501(c)(3) status. If you are interested in getting involved in the byway and helping us with future projects, please join us for a public meeting:

Indiana’s Historic Pathways is sponsoring a coloring book contest for students in 6th through 12th grades. The illustrations submitted to the contest will be used in an activity book to teach children about Indiana history. The books will be distributed at schools, visitor centers, fairs, and teacher workshops.

The contest deadline is November 15, 2012. Prizes include a $100 Visa gift card and tickets to Bluespring Caverns. Download the official rules and entry form here.