A preservation commission often must rely on people outside of its own membership to accomplish the commission's work. These human resources may include a hired professional contractor, volunteers, and students.

Working with a Hired Professional

Sometimes a commission will want to hire a professional consultant to accomplish a specific task. Consultants are often used for large, labor-intensive projects such as developing a National Register district nomination, conducting a survey of resources, or writing design guidelines. Consultants can bring a wide range of professional experience and knowledge to a project and offer an outside perspective.

When a commission is deciding whether or not to hire a consultant, the commission needs to clearly define the project and what services will be performed, who will perform each task, time frames, and the costs involved. Both the consultant and the client need to understand these factors. Keep in mind that a consultant will need to work with staff and the commission so the progress of the project is monitored.

When a commision is choosing a consultant, a good first step is to check with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for advice on how to hire a contractor. The SHPO will be able to identify what qualifications to look for regarding your specific project. Other communities may have undertaken similar projects and may be able to suggest names of potential consultants. Provide potential consultants with a request for proposal that defines the scope of work and requires specific responses about how the project will be carried out, costs, timelines, and other details. Ask for qualifications and a list of previous clients for similar projects. Contact these clients for their opinions of the consultants' work.

Working with Volunteers

Volunteers can be a great asset to a preservation commission. Volunteers can help complete projects, provide added support to staff, and assist with program details. Tasks assigned to volunteers should not be related to the legal responsibilities of the commission or require the expertise of professionals, such as keeping meeting minutes or notifying affected property owners. These jobs should be reserved for staff members. But volunteers can do a number of small jobs or assist with long-range projects, such as:

• Updating photographs of historic resources,
• Conducting research on properties,
• Helping to organize and host awards programs, and
• Assisting with development and distribution of promotional materials and activities.

Volunteers with special skills can serve as members of special advisory committees. These committees can advise the commission on items such as publication formats, graphic standards for signs, landscape evaluation, and other matters.

Volunteers also can be excellent advocates for historic preservation. Volunteers who have a positive experience with the commission can help generate support for preservation activities in the community and bring a positive image to the commission.

Volunteers can come from a variety of sources and a wide range of backgrounds. Retirees typically have a number of skills and experiences as well as time. Other great sources of volunteers are local and regional historical societies and preservation organizations, neighborhood associations, agricultural and arts organizations, local clubs, and sororities or fraternal organizations.

Working with Students

Students at colleges and universities represent a potential pool of interns and volunteers. Many schools throughout Wisconsin have academic programs in history, art history, and architecture. Commissions should establish contact with nearby programs to identify tasks within their work plans that might be of interest to students. Universities and colleges in Wisconsin with related fields of study include the following:

• Alverno, Milwaukee, History
• Beloit College, Beloit, History, Art History
• Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, History
• Carroll College, Waukesha, History
• Carthage, Kenosha, History
• Concordia University, Mequon, History
• Edgewood College, Madison, History
• Lakeland College, Sheboygan, History
• Lawrence University, Appleton, History, Art History
• Marian College of Fond du Lac, History, Art History
• Marquette, Milwaukee, History
• Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, History
• Northland College, Ashland, History
• Ripon College, Ripon, History
• St. Norbert College, De Pere, American Studies, History
• Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, History
• University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Public History, History
• University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, History
• University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, History, Public History
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, History, Material Culture Studies
• University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, History, Public History, Architecture and Urban Planning
• University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, History
• University of Wisconsin, Parkside, History
• University of Wisconsin, Platteville, History
• University of Wisconsin, River Falls, History
• University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, History
• University of Wisconsin, Superior, History
• University of Wisconsin, White Water, History, Public History
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Baraboo/Sauk County, History
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Barron County, History, Urban and Regional Studies
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Fond du Lac, Architectural Studies, Landscape Architecture
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Fox Valley, Architecture, History
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Manitowoc, History
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Marathon County, Architecture, History
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Rock County, Architecture, History
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Washington County, Architecture,
• Architectural Studies, Interior and Landscape Design, History, Urban and Regional Studies
• University of Wisconsin Two Year program, Waukesha, Architectural Studies, Landscape
• Architecture, History, Urban and Regional Studies
• Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, History

• Working With (or Without) Staff
• Preservation Commission Operations