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Massachusetts 250 organizers outline statewide program, flag time-capsule process and grant awards
Summary
Commission leaders and Massachusetts travel officials reviewed Massachusetts 250 programming, announced $3.5 million in grants to 96 groups, proposed items for the national America 250 time capsule, and asked staff to return with a final submission deadline and selection process.
Sen. Paul Marks convened the Massachusetts 250 Executive Commission and opened a broad discussion of statewide commemorations tied to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Sheila, speaking for the state travel and tourism team, said the program has distributed $3,500,000 in Massachusetts 250 grants to 96 organizations and described several statewide initiatives, including coordinated readings of the Declaration of Independence and a suggested contribution to the national America 250 time capsule. "We have given out, $3,500,000 in Massachusetts 2 50 grants to 96 organizations across the state," she said.
Sheila urged the commission to consider what Massachusetts should place in the national time capsule, noting that items must be paper or noncorrosive metal because "everybody from 50 states and the 6 territories will be contributing to the time capsule." Commissioners asked who should have final authority over selections. Sheila said, "It could be the commission," but the chair, Marks, said he would prefer that the Secretary of the Commonwealth — identified in discussion as the archives steward — play a central role. "I feel very comfortable giving secretary Galvin this duty because I don't think he minds making people angry," Marks said.
Sen. Nick Collins cautioned the commission against running an open 'sweepstakes' contest for submissions, warning that a subjective selection process could produce complaints. "You start calling, you know, making judgment calls, balls and strikes on people's subjective thinking," he said, and urged clear, historically grounded criteria.
Sheila told the group that the window for national submissions appears to extend into September; she said she would provide the exact deadline to commission staff. Marks asked the team to return with a confirmed cutoff and recommended process at the next meeting so the commission can decide whether to take on final selection or delegate it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
The commission also discussed lower-profile, community-facing programs such as "America's potluck" (July 5), recommended local participation in a 6 p.m. EST cooperative reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, and encouraged participating towns to use existing events rather than create new work for volunteers. "Maybe make your July fourth parade themed Massachusetts 2 50," Sheila suggested.
The panel did not adopt a formal policy at the meeting; staff were asked to provide the time-capsule deadline and a proposed selection process at the next commission meeting.
