Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation Is Looking For You!
In honor of our 50th Anniversary and in cooperation with our Third District, the Federation has embarked upon a comprehensive Historic Preservation Project of the Santa Monica Mountains – unincorporated county, and our local adjacent cities including Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, Malibu, portions of the City of LA.
ORAL HISTORY RECORDINGS
The most important component is an oral history recording of the grassroots activists or champions of the SMMs. Together, piece by piece, you have saved and championed these spectacular mountains and our city and neighborhood landscapes in so many ways. If we do not get a historic recording of your efforts, the important role you played will be lost to history forever.
Here’s what you need to do:
If you have contributed in any way, large or small to preservation efforts or if you know of someone who has please notify us ASAP:
Send an email to: lvhfpreservingourhistory@gmail.com
Put in the subject line: Oral History
In your correspondence – please give us a short paragraph; or two or three sentences explaining your effort or efforts. Large or small we’re interested!
Provide your contact information including a telephone number where we can reach you.
Once we have made a determination, a date will be set for you to be videotaped and recorded. There are instructions below as to how you should prepare. You will be sitting at a table – you can bring props – pics, maps, etc., and any notes you like. You may also be taped together with 1 additional person. We will provide more details and a call sheet when we get to this stage.
How to prepare
Prepare by recalling your activist battles – and the challenges that were posed and overcome. Who did you fight with and against? What was the outcome? Sometimes our smaller neighborhood battles for open space are the most significant. What elements of these battles meant and mean the most to you? Or perhaps you saved an iconic tree or trees, a ridgeline or wildlife?
How and why did you become so passionate about protecting the Santa Monica Mountains – and the magnificent wild things that call it home? What role if any did you play in the National Recreation Area — in policies like the NAP, LCP, cityhood of Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Malibu, etc.? Did you sit on any old committees that had a profound effect on the future as we know it?
Divulge facts, memories, feelings, and insight that others may not have or be aware of. Don’t let this history be lost forever. Consider that in 100 years from now — when someone clicks on the County’s history of the Santa Monica Mountains, what do you want them to know, hear, understand and realize?
At the end of the day, we all share a very deep connection to the wild that surrounds all of our communities. It clearly has called to you.