Category Archives: Public News

Fred Curts is the reason there is senior baseball in Holdfast! Driving into this small community the first thing you see are the three [3] beautiful baseball diamonds, particularly the senior diamond. Credit for this goes to Fred Curts for the numerous volunteer hours he spends weeding, trimming, edging, watering and spraying Holdfast’s baseball diamonds.

In 1993 he approached the Knights of Columbus to sponsor a baseball team. Thus, the Holdfast Knights took to the diamonds. Since that time, Fred has coached Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget baseball in both AA and AAA divisions.

Over the years following, many of these teams were League Champions, Provincial Finalists and Provincial Champions.

2004- Holdfast Pee Wee League Champions-Coach-Fred Curts.
2004- Holdfast Mosquito League Champions-Coach-Fred Curts.

1992- Provincial Bantam “D” Silver Medalists-Coach Fred Curts.
1994- Provincial Midget “C” Silver Medalists-Coach-Fred Curts.
1995- Provincial Atom “C” Silver Medalists-Coach-Fred Curts.
2003- Provincial Mosquito A2 Silver Medalists-Coach-Fred Curts.

2001- Provincial Midget A 2 Champions-Coach- Fred Curts.
2002- Provincial Midget A 2 Champions-Coach-Fred Curts.

Being very knowledgeable and technical, his teaching is very thorough, going to great lengths to correct swings, batting stances, throwing and running bases. He tries to instill his passion for the game into the players. To Fred, playing baseball is a privilege.

“Fred Curts is considered the “Champion” for the sport of baseball in Holdfast and surrounding area.” Dale Measner, Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, Regina. [2011]

“Fred Curts’ commitment to baseball for the past 20 + years is truly remarkable.” Don Pankewich, Commissioner Qu’Appelle Valley Baseball League.[2011]

“Fred Curts spent countless hours working on the baseball diamond to make it an impressive playing field that rivals most city diamonds, as well as building Holdfast into a baseball town with his creation of successful teams in very competitive leagues.” Marty Metz [2011]

“Fred Curts was instrumental in providing the town with a great baseball diamond for teams to enjoy years to come.” Dale Measner [2011]

2011-Fred coached the Moose Jaw Junior Eagles.
2012- Moose Jaw Provincial Junior Eagles Silver Medalists, Coach- Fred Curts.
2013- Arm River Junior Indians-played in the Qu’Appelle Valley Baseball League
2013- Provincial AAA Senior Champions [A Junior team]-Coach- Fred Curts.
2013- Western Canadian Provincial Silver Medalists. Coach-Fred Curts.
2014- Senior AAA Arm River Indians-Coach- Fred Curts.
2015- Senior AAA Arm River Indians.Competed in Provincials.Coach-Fred Curts

Awards

Joe McDonald Award of Merit
2010-Saskatchewan Baseball Association Annual Award.

We hope this note finds you all healthy and well. Many of us remain closed as we work through some phased re-openings within our individual states or countries while others have opened with safety restrictions in place. International Sports Heritage Association members have shared their experiences with fellow members during this health crisis and it’s one of the many reasons that ISHA remains vibrant and strong. Members helping members is at the organization’s core.

Unfortunately, we are writing to inform you that the 2020 ISHA Conference scheduled for October 21-23 in Newport, R.I., will be rescheduled for October 27-29, 2021. The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport will remain our conference host for the new 2021 dates.

The 2020 ISHA Conference Committee, which surveyed the membership regarding travel to the 2020 conference, utilized that data received and recommended to the Board of Directors to reschedule ISHA’s 50th conference to 2021. The Board voted unanimously to adopt that recommendation. We can assure you that this decision was not made lightly, but we needed to be sensitive to the health and safety of our members as well as the effects that COVID-19 has had on members’ budgets and the resulting travel restrictions.

We realize that ISHA plays an important role in providing networking and educational opportunities and we accept that these are unprecedented times in our world. It’s important for you to know that we remain committed to serving ISHA members to the best of our ability. In that vein, we will be moving forward with planning a two-day virtual mini-conference with two sessions per day on August 18-19, 2020. We will also include a virtual networking social event and the presentation of the 2020 ISHY Awards. The sessions will focus on COVID-19 related information to help us progress positively and successfully through the challenges we all face together. (To register for the free virtual conference, please click here)

The theme of the virtual conference is Back in the Game, and we hope to have a high participation rate as we bond and forge forward with the goal of adapting so that we may continue delivering entertainment through sports heritage in a meaningful and educational way.

We know it’s a cliché to say that we are all in this together, but through our ISHA connection, those words ring true. We send our best to you as we progress deeper into 2020. When details regarding the August sessions are finalized, we will distribute that information to you.

Please stay healthy and safe.

Bryan Morry
ISHA Board President
The Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon Technologies

Jordan Poland
2020 Conference Committee Chairperson
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

Meredith Richards
2020 Conference Host
International Tennis Hall of Fame

The International Sports Heritage Association Board of Directors is saddened by the recent events occurring across the United States. Sports have always provided a vehicle to bridge social change and unite people. Many athletes – past and present – use their available forum to advocate for social justice. Diverse locker rooms often represent the melding of different races that see past unnecessary divides to build strong bonds. The relationships built and lessons learned through sports at all levels can serve as an example for the world at large. For almost 50 years, ISHA has promoted sports heritage as a medium to operate and promote institutions that share history and the athletes that made it. Unfortunately, one of our members, The College Football Hall of Fame, was damaged during protests in Atlanta, Ga. While we send our heartfelt best to The College Football Hall of Fame as it undergoes repairs and prepares, once again, to serve and entertain the public, we also acknowledge that the unrest in America transcends sports. As the world works through a pandemic and social unrest, we certainly hope that sport and its many influencers can serve as a beacon for reunification, re-opening, peace and a new and necessary dialogue.

The International Sports Heritage Association is pleased to announce that it is taking applications for a Special Project Grant for 2020. Up to $2,000 is available.

In these uncertain times as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Board of Directors and the Grant Committee realize that projects at member organizations need to continue. Therefore, the Special Project grant recipient will be announced in August.

“With all of our institutions closed because of the Coronavirus, and as world leaders strategize a safe re-opening strategy, we are trying to keep ISHA business flowing as normal as possible for our members,” ISHA Board President Bryan Morry said. “We continue to follow all guidelines and examine scenarios as they unfold, but the board felt strongly that the Special Project grant should be awarded as it annually has been thanks to donations to the Founders’ Fund that supports all ISHA grants.”

Past projects include preservation of a Western Show collection at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy, improved storage for the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame and Museum, and a digitization project at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Applications for member Conference Travel Grants and Conference-only grants will be made available as soon as Directors determine the status of the annual Conference planned for October in Newport, RI. Conference planning continues with a decision on its status to be made no later than August 15.

The Special Project Grant is supported through the ISHA Founders’ Fund and helps finance museum activities intended to address at least one of the following:

· Increase collection capacity

· Increase public access

· Improve documentation

· Increase awareness

· Improve preservation

· Increase interpretation

The grant is available to all regular institutional members of ISHA. Preference will be given to those in most financial need. Additional eligibility requirements are listed on the grant application. The application may be found on the ISHA Website at https://sportsheritage.org/isha-grants/ and should be submitted prior to June 30 at [email protected].

Applicants may receive a maximum of one (1) Special Project Grant within a five-year period. A grant will only be awarded once for any specific topic within an organization.

Personal and corporate Founders Fund donations may be made by contacting Karen Bednarski, executive director, at 541-991-7315 or at ISHA, PO Box 1321, Danville, KY, 40423. Donations and money raised through a Silent Auction and Reverse Raffle support the Founders Fund.

We understand that this is a difficult time for many individuals and organizations in our membership but wanted to give an update concerning the 50th ISHA Conference, scheduled for October 21-23, 2020, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI. The Conference Committee has been meeting diligently and is still planning and preparing for the conference on that date. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic impact on many of our organizations, we are also aware that hosting our conference as we have historically done might not be a possibility this year.

A determination on whether or not the 50th ISHA Conference will take place in Newport in October 2020 will be made by the ISHA Board of Directors no later than August 15, 2020. Until that determination is made, the Conference Committee will continue to work as normal to host the Conference during the regularly scheduled time.

If we cannot host the 50th ISHA Conference as scheduled, provisions will be made for a “virtual conference” this year.

Regardless of how it happens, the ISHA Conference Committee is determined to provide the membership with the best possible continuing education experience that we can. We continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation and remain hopeful that we will all be able to get together in Newport while also preparing for virtual education sessions. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, about this year’s 50th ISHA Conference, please don’t hesitate to call or email anytime.

The International Sports Heritage Association recognizes this is a trying time for the world. The Covid-19 virus has interrupted our normal daily activities, which includes the closing of most of our cultural institutions. We encourage sports museums to adhere to state and federal guidelines regarding the virus as we all must do our part to slow its spread. The health and safety of guests and staff is of utmost importance. Each ISHA member institution will make its own determination on what is best based on local recommendations. The status of many sports museums is listed below, but please know that these are subject to change on short notice as the situation remains quite fluid. If you are sports museum visitor, please check an institution’s website to confirm its status before visiting. This list is compiled as of Monday, March 16 though some status reports are from Friday, March 13. So again, please check websites for up-to-the-minute information.

Below is also a link for member institutions to reference in terms of expectations:

https://www.colleendilen.com/2020/03/16/special-how-covid-19-is-impacting-intentions-to-visit-cultural-entities-data/

Australian Sports Museum (East Melbourne) — Closed

University of Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame (Iowa City, IA) — Closed

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (Knoxville, IA) – Open (no events)

The American Sport Art Museum and Archives (Daphne, AL) – Closed

The British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame (Vancouver, BC) – Closed

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (Woodbine, ON) — Closed

The Sports Museum (Boston, MA) – Closed

NCAA Hall of Champions (Indianapolis, IN) – Closed

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (Macon, GA) – Closed

Olympic Museum (Lausanne, Switzerland) – Closed

Negro League Baseball Museum (Kansas City, MO) – Closed

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (Calgary, AB) – Closed

Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton, OH) – Closed

Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (Wichita, KS) – Closed

Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon (Foxborough, MA) – Closed

49ers Museum (Santa Clara, CA) – Closed

Packers Hall of Fame (Green Bay, WI) – Closed

Vikings Museum (Eagan, MN) – Closed

Hockey Hall of Fame (Toronto, ON) – Closed

USGA Museum (Liberty Corner, NJ) – Closed

Penn State All Sports Museum (University Park, PA) – Open (fluid)

British Golf Museum (St. Andrews) – Closed

National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (Stillwater, OK) – Closed

Texas Sports Hall of Fame (Waco, TX) – Closed

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum (St. Louis, MO) – Open (No stadium tours)

College Football Hall of Fame (Atlanta, GA) – Closed

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (Nashville, TN) – Closed

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (Red Deer, AB) – Open

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (Denver, CO) – Closed

Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum (Baltimore, MD) – Closed

Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame/Museum (Regina, SK) – Closed for renovations

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame (Oakville, ON) – Closed

World of Little League Museum (Williamsport, PA) – Closed

Oklahoma Sports Museum  (Guthrie, OK) – Closed

Bear Bryant Museum (Tuscaloosa, AL) – Closed

Oregon Sports Hall of Fame (Beavertown, OR) – Open (fluid)

Braves Museum and Hall of Fame (Atlanta, GA) – Closed

Baseball Heritage Museum (Cleveland, OH) – Closed

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (Jackson, MS) – Closed

Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame (Halifax, NS) – Closed

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame (Colorado Springs, CO) – Closed

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (Knoxville, TN) – Closed

Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, MA) – Closed for renovations (5/1)

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum (Cincinnati, OH) – Closed

NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte, NC) – Closed

Bobby Orr Hall of Fame (Parry Sound, ON) – Closed

Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (Cooperstown, NY) – Closed

World Golf Hall of Fame (St. Augustine, FL) – Closed

New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame (Fredericton, NB) – All tours cancelled

Racine Heritage Museum (Racine, WI) – Closed

December 11, 2019

Janice L. Ogurcak
Secretary, ISHA Board of Directors
Chair, ISHA Grant Committee

Dear Janice,

Thank you for selecting our organization to receive a registration grant for the
2019 ISHA conference in Wichita. As per all of the ISHA conferences we have
attended over the years, these are days we look forward to as staff with Curling
Canada.

Our organization does not have a bricks & mortar Hall of Fame or Museum, nor
is there any potential in the future. But we have moved our strategic planning
forward to ultimately create a mobile, digital and augmented reality experience
for our fan base and new fans at our events. And we have gotten to this point
because of our attendance at the ISHA conference and the things we have
learned from the sessions and the networking with vendors and other museums.
The ISHA conference has offered invaluable information and contacts about the
digital world and its place in the Hall of Fame or Museum industry.

In particular:
• SESSION 2: Oh, What a World!: gave us valuable insight as to the
preservation of our collection which we are very guilty of not doing!

• SESSION 3: Wizard of Ease: we are currently investigating the experience
of personal information tools via mini speakers and/or augmented reality via
mobile phones.

• SESSION 4: If We Only Had a Library: our takeaway was to look at how we
get writers, story-tellers, historians access to our small collection of books.

• SESSION 5: A Roadmap to Oz: this information was passed on to our own
Foundation including booking a session this winter with Golf Canada to listen
to their successes.

• SESSION 6: From Now On: we have recently licensed a new merchandiser.
This session gave us perspective on what we need to do.

• SESSION 8: I’ll Get You, My Pretty: We are working hard in this area in our
demographic issues so the information and the role playing we did at the
conference were indeed valuable.

This winter, a group of Curling Canada staff will be in charge of implementation
of a new, updated plan mainly because of the resources we accessed via ISHA.

Sincerely, and thank you again,

Danny Lamoureux

Curling Canada
Director, Curling Club Development & Championship Services
-2-

Town & Team: An Inseparable Bond

This exhibit tells the story of the strong bond between the Packers and the community they represent. Starting in the late 1920s and well into the 1960s, most players lived downtown or nearby and were everywhere to be seen by fans who might have idolized them but also gave them their space. More recently, the connection between town and team can be seen through the charitable work of both the players and the organization. This exhibit features Packers’ hang-outs and the communities’ commitment to support the team.

Admit One: The History of the Packers Tickets

This exhibit tells the story of how the Packers have always been the hot ticket in Green Bay, dating all the way back to a packed house in their first professional league game and continuing today at legendary Lambeau Field. It explores the history of Packers tickets being sold at various locations including the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Legion Park, and the downtown Packers office building. This exhibit also features memorable tickets at Lambeau Field such as Vince Lombardi’s first win, the Ice Bowl, the Instant Replay game, and the Monday Night Miracle.