To the Editor:

Working together to increase exposure to the public and leverage advertising clout was what Helderberg Hilltowns Association had in mind when planning its second Hilltowns Regional Historical Summit.  It couldn’t have been met with greater or more exciting success.

Town historians, librarians, historical society and museum representatives from 12 organizations from the four Hilltowns and surrounding municipalities in Albany and Schoharie counties met this past Saturday to describe their collections and resources, posit ideas, and make plans. Five other groups were unable to have representatives attend, but have asked to be included in the project.

A discussion of collaborative efforts produced a decision to develop a series of programs for 2017 with the common theme of local industries. The 2018 theme will be the Anti-Rent Wars.

Each group will begin to formulate program plans around their own collections and resources, and utilize the New York State Path Through History program, developed by the I Love NY campaign to specifically showcase New York State historical and cultural assets, for advertising to a statewide-and-beyond audience.

The summit group will begin to meet quarterly, rotating among the municipalities to share ideas, coordinate programs, and to increase familiarity with each other’s resources. The next meeting will take place March 4, 2017 at 10 a.m. in Berne and will focus on 2017 programs and advertising. The meeting will include instruction on uploading attractions and events to the Path Through History online calendar and a tour of the Berne Museum’s Rooms of History.

For more information, contact HHA President Zenie Gladieux at or (518) 894-8589.

Dawn Jordan

Secretary, Publicity Chair

Helderberg Hilltowns Association