Even our state lawmakers have trouble pronouncing “sesquicentennial.”
“I’m just wondering, did you have to be able to say seska… sess… in order to be on the committee?” Rep. Shelley Madore (DFL-Apple Valley) asked Jane Leonard, the executive director of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission.
But the issue isn’t whether people can pronounce the word, but if the commission has the money to throw the state a rockin’ 150th birthday party.
Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Mpls), who serves on the commission, asked the House Minnesota Heritage Finance Division March 17 to approve her bill, HF2895, to dedicate a onetime appropriation of about $825,000 for the statewide party. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the division’s omnibus bill.
“Like many entities at this time, in a recession and economic challenges, fundraising is challenging,” Loeffler said. “We haven’t been able to be as successful as we’ve hoped.”
Last year, the Legislature appropriated $750,000. Leonard said the money has been doled out to communities around the state and many cities and businesses have matched the commission’s grants, but the commission would like to reach further, she said.
The activities range from an oxcart trek on the historic Pembina Trail to shining the spotlight on “Honorary Capitals for a Day,” which include Bemidji, Thief River Falls, Detroit Lakes, New Ulm and Winona.
The state fair is scheduled to host some of the biggest events, with a Minnesota musical tribute show, a big-top tent highlighting the state’s achievements and a commemorative tile mosaic mural. The commission has even created a sesquicentennial flag and postage stamp, and hopes to roll out a license plate, Leonard said.
A companion bill, SF2512, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.