Rachel Carson Homestead Association Inc.

RCHA seeks to inform and inspire the world through Rachel Carson's story and legacy, her environmental ethic, courage, and vision.

We utilize her historic birthplace and early home as the base from which to accomplish that. Our goals include:
1. Stabilize the Physical Structure and Maintain the birthplace and early home of Rachel Carson: Presenting a “cared for," welcoming, and attractive House and grounds
A. Increase safety & ADA-compliance
B. Redesign “garden" areas; integrate environmentally-friendly features

2.Develop the Landmark historical home of Rachel Carson into THE destination to learn about her, her accomplishments, and her environmental ethic - and what she would want us to do today. It offers the most authentic location important in her life.

3. HISTORIC RESTORATIONS
A.Finish facade and repair/replace doors, shutters , damaged flooring, change floor plan to what existed during Rachel's lifetime, convert two rooms into "writer's rooms" to be let by invitation.
Repair (repoint) interior of the springhouse and well - where Rachel and her family obtained their daily water!

C. Plan and Design drainage and erosion control, sidewalks, accessible entrances, and a Visitor's Center

5. EDUCATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ABOUT RACHEL CARSON'S LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY
Rachel Carson's name & message are still unfamiliar to many. The Rachel Carson Homestead Association is in a unique position to redress that situation.
A. Deliver programs that inform about Rachel Carson's life, legacy, accomplishments, and environmental ethics & sense of wonder; use that foundation to inspire programs that lead to adoption of the Rachel Carson Legacy Challenge: furthering environmental awareness of the global web of life, lifestyles integrating our role as stewards, and lead to wise consumer choices.
B. Host programs in collaboration with environmental educators, scientists, and academics.

6. Increase the capacity of RCH Human Resources:
A. transition volunteer Executive Director to full-time paid staff enabling program and administrative assistance
B. Develop the Board's service as ambassadors and advocates, including education and marketing & communication skills with internet and social media venues.
C. Develop attainable short- and long-term staffing plans, board succession.
E. Strengthen the RCHA Volunteer Program,
F. Actively Promote and Increase the Number of RCHA members.
G. Utilize diversity plan to expand demographics.

7. Increase the Financial Capacity of RCH:
A. engage and re-engage donors as "investors" in the RCHA mission, at all levels, from individual, corporate, & foundation sources.
B. adopt a comprehensive development plan, fund-raising activities, publicize opportunities for sustainable revenue sources, such as RCH-branded merchandise and events.
C. Eventually develop an endowment so that financially-difficult years do not allow deterioration of the physical structure and site, neglecting programs.

RCHA has reviewed its strategic plan, methodically reviewing these goals & progress in their initiatives. We seek champions to build and grow committees that will attain success through the necessary tasks.

We need investors who believe in Rachel Carson. We may need to develop awareness to reach and engage them.

Physical site requires us to:
1. Stabilize & Maintain the Physical Structure and Maintain the birthplace and early home of Rachel Carson, beginning with urgently-needed critical repairs:
b. Grade around the house to reduce storm-caused erosion and water seeping into the basement;
d. Paint the exterior of house
e. Repair plumbing and electrical lines, bringing to code and functional;
f. Correct the historic areas to the proper flow (add doorway, remove a wall, etc.)
g. Replace leaking and wood-rotted windows

B. Grounds: Redesign “garden" areas; integrate environmentally-friendly features such as rain-barrel & rain-gardens; landscape using stone walls to provide authentic farm-style and easy-to-maintain grounds as proposed by Bill Swain (late, landscape designer).

2. Develop the Landmark into a destination, following preservation standards, define marketing as the most significant location associated with Rachel Carson's life.
Complete the restoration of the exterior while increasing accessibility: repair/replace windows and doors, restore shutters modeled from damaged remnant of originals made from long-lasting sustainably-harvested wood.

Education plans - sponsor education and interns to develop and deliver practical information to all audiences, including translations and in accessible modes.

Plan and Design a Visitor's Center to host interns and researchers, library and educational center.
a. Develop the Plan
b. Outline goals
c. Engage advisors
d. Secure Funding
e. capital campaigns
f. Proceed with acquisition and remodeling or new construction utilizing energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly methods and materials.

"Gardens" planted with non-invasive species, attractive and easy to maintain. Engage volunteer gardeners to assist in maintenance or pay fair-wages to contract persons..
Human Resources: include event and special recognition and awards demonstrating appreciation for volunteers.
Education: Outreach through Pittsburgh-area libraries and community centers.

- Progress will be reported on the website - www.RachelCarsonHomestead.org
and through updates to Guidestar and similar services.

The RCHA is confident that its goals can be realized, gaining synergies with each success, overcoming inevitable hurdles and strengthening the foundation for future successes as capacity is built.

The present board rebuilt credibility. It is cohesive and driven by passion for Rachel Carson and her legacy. Human resource and financial capacity need to be developed for a sustainable future.

Current areas of capabilities include: (1) Organizational Assets; (2) Development Issues and; (3) Areas of Potential.

Organizational Assets include the most authentic and significant site in Rachel Carson's life. There is world-wide recognition of the environmental legacy of Rachel Carson; outreach to "Rachel Carson" organizations and supporters. Improvements were interrupted during the COVID crisis and the site closed during construction (restoration) though online programs were developed.
We have the opportunity to build an active calendar of events, programs and tours; re-engage the local community and continually expand it.
Developmental aspects that need attention include an unreliable revenue, low budget for interns and staff. RCHA needs an increase of investors, membership, and the number of volunteers; further restoration of the Homestead; growing a recognition of the RCHA as a regional asset; the need for enhanced communication and marketing resources.

Areas of Potential include developing a robust Advisory Council bringing professional skills that guide and expand board efforts and skill- and knowledge-areas.

Fund raising and development opportunities reaching a gamut of demographics.

Educational opportunities at all levels, and in casual visitor on-site programming opportunities, relationships with like-minded organizations such as a formal alliance (no exchange of funds) with the Rachel Carson Council (the organization RC envisioned to carry on her messages from Silent Spring), and Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance (RC's former home in Silver Spring, MD) and other organizations with compatible mission; utilize the power of social media to solicit participants and aid in publicity.

RCHA has had recent success in making visible progress to the physical site with restoration, more needs to be completed.
Recovered social media accounts as re-establishing as communication venues.
• RCHA continues to fulfill nonprofit mission with re-established open hours, guest speakers and virtual on-demand award-winning filmstours of the Homestead are held every weekend and on-demand (within reason and as possible).