Giving Back: The Danvers Historical Society Project

Last spring, a "Summit" meeting was held to discuss the future of the Bertolon School of Business. At the meeting comprised of student leaders, faculty members and Business Advisory Board members, the participants really focused on hands-on and service learning as being important aspects of well-rounded business education in today's world. Taking the lead from the Summit group, Dean Doran worked with the Essex National Heritage Commission to identify the perfect partner for a year-long engagement, the Danvers Historical Society (DHS). In partnering with the DHS, the Dean is launching the Bertolon School of Business Service Project, for the 2008-2009 academic year!

This is the first project of its kind for the Bertolon School of Business and the school is extremely excited. The Danvers Historical Society own three historical sites: Glen Magna Farms Estate, the Page House, and Tapley Memorial Hall, a museum building, and is steward of the Endicott Burial Ground. The DHS needs help in several areas and feels the students and faculty at the BSB can fulfill many of their needs. Many members of the faculty at the BSB have committed to incorporating service projects into their curriculum.

The main goals of the project are to create additional opportunities for civic engagement for Salem State College, provide concrete help for the DHS, emphasize the necessity for "giving back" to the future business leaders who are the students at BSB, provide greater opportunities for hands-on learning for BSB students, and to create new and exciting opportunities for alumna, students and faculty to connect and network.

Some of the potential projects include: developing and overall business plan and revised mission statement for the DHS, developing a plan to market the Glen Magna Farms Estate beyond primarily servicing weddings, creating operational plans to make the DHS properties more efficient for their intended uses, creating several databases, including one that would be used for their cemetery to be utilized by genealogists, assistance with compliance on new IRS regulations and preparation for their audit, devising marketing plans for the different properties, assisting with both a budgeting process and ways to manage costs and developing a business plan for DHS's two gift shops.

A kick-off service day picnic was held in late September at the Glen Magna Farms Estate. A second service day and picnic is planned for spring semester and will be held in April. The Dean, along with BSB faculty and the Business Advisory Board, are extremely excited for this service opportunity and hope that students will take this great opportunity to learn outside of the classroom, give back to the surrounding community, while also forging relationships with alumni.