FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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DOI - 243 - Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Advisory Commission - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Advisory Commission	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	243
Original Establishment Date	12/11/1991	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nps.gov/mamc/learn/management/feder...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	14
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Superintendent, National Capital Parks - East
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	5/12/2015	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Serena
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Bellew
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	202-568-1160
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	00000000000
Specific Establishment Authority*	Sec. 4, Public Law 102-211	Designated Federal Officer Email*	serena_bellew@nps.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/11/1991
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Commission met twice in FY24, in January and July. Subcommittees were established, developed reports, and those reports were deliberated and approved by the Commission during the July meeting.
How is membership balanced?*	As prescribed by the enabling legislation, the Commission is composed of members who were appointed from recommendations submitted by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., and other national organizations in which Mary McLeod Bethune played a leadership role. Members have also been appointed to provide professional expertise in the history of African American women and historic preservation.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Commssion met twice in FY24, in January and July. Meetings are relevant as they provide time for the Commission and subcommittees to prepare reports with recommendations.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Commission was established by Congress to advise the Secretary of the Interior in the development of the now-completed General Management Plan for the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site. The Commission is also authorized to meet and consult on matters relating to the management and development of the historic site. Additionally. the Commission is comprised of a number of the country’s foremost experts in women’s history, along with experts in marketing and educational program development. The NPS has worked hard to get this Commission up and running because it is key to improving the relationship between the NPS and the community that was strained after the site’s archives were moved off-site to protect them without proper notice to the community. One of the key roles the NPS has asked the Commission to play is to help develop the park’s planning document portfolio. Additionally, the Park is committed to increasing engagement with MAMC stakeholders and to furthering the legacy of Mrs. Bethune through new and updated programming and site improvements. The Commission serves as 1) a bridge between the NPS and the many stakeholders and community members who may be willing to contribute the success of the site and 2) subject matter experts who will advise the park as it develops its interpretation and community engagement strategy and programming.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open to the public..
Recommendation Remarks	Each subcommittee established during the January meeting provided recommendations to the Commission for consideration and were deliberated and approved in the July meeting.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	25	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Commission had 21 recommendations in FY 24. Rules Subcommittee 1. Recommended a set of rules for the Advisory Commission to follow Enhanced Interpretation Subcommittee 1. Utilize Shuttle Buses, encourage use of public transportation and collaborate with women’s groups that conduct tours to women’s history sites and conduct webinars in Washington, DC to increase visitation. 2. NPS should promote more broadly, on the website, the existence and use of the NPS Passport as a tool for increasing visitation. Encouraging visitors to get their Passport stamped at each site they visit creates an interactive relationship between the visitor and the Park visited. 3. Recommended that Mary McLeod Bethune’s life and legacy be seen through a multi- dimensional lens that reflects her national impact. Additionally, Mary McLeod Bethune’s Last Will and Testament should be utilized to promote her global impact as she worked to improve the status of women of color around the world. Recent books and other scholarly resources will enhance the NPS Staff’s knowledge of Bethune as a national figure. Additionally, Dr. Ashley Robertson Preston will be teaching a course this fall on Mrs. Bethune at Howard University using her recent book as the focus. A specific, clear, and detailed arrangement has been made with Howard, using this class, and the students will get research credit by interning at the Bethune Home. 4. At respective conferences, organize panel sessions to discuss the life and legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune. 5. To create a renewed relationship between African American public history 6. and STEAM education, we recommend meeting the public’s preferred mode of information gathering, by creating podcasts, short films, curating museum exhibitions, and animations to broaden the public’s awareness of Mrs. Bethune. 7. Recommended replicating NPS docent training incorporating the successes of the collaboration with Kiamsha and Dunbar High School students to increase the number of peer-to-peer trainers that will benefit in the interpretation of the Bethune legacy. The “transfer of knowledge” methods utilized will impact the expansion of the knowledge of Bethune. Recommend also utilizing the senior community as docents, many who have skills in transcribing and digitizing. 8. For the website, we recommend utilizing computer-generated work such as interactive maps, oral histories, etc. to promote Mrs. Bethune. 9. Recommended that the training session for interns begin with an introduction to the National Park System. Day one would be Park Service 101. Kiamsha has an excellent presentation that introduces audiences of all ages to the National Park System and a song entitled “Save the Children” that the lyrics were changed to reflect “Save the Parklands.” Consider utilizing these resources, especially to engage youth populations, to bring the Bethune legacy to life. 10. In addition to Morgan State University, we recommend in class presentations to recruit from Howard, UDC, Bowie and other HBCUs in the region such as Virginia Union, Virginia State and Hampton. Additionally recruit from local colleges and universities such as Georgetown, George Washington, American, George Mason, Catholic and other PWIs in the other. 11. We recommend engaging the community in receptions and programs at the Bethune House. Archives Subcommittee 1. Research the viability of utilizing Amazon’s Azure Cloud for long-term digital preservation and public access. Based on your findings, review outside vendors for public access. 2. Research and develop a robust metadata schema and digitization standard. 3. Connect with local organizations with similar collections and digitization capabilities. This would allow MAMC to explore partnerships with local institutions such as Howard University, community organizations, and local government organizations. We would also recommend following up with other Park Service sites that focus on Black and Women’s history, like the Maggie Lena Walker site, as possible collaborators. Communications and Community Engagement Subcommittee 1. Develop formal partnerships with relevant organizations including the Smithsonian, NCNW, Bethune Cookman University, NAACP, NTHP, UNCF, BWH, NMAAHC and schools named for Bethune. This would provide opportunities for the NPS to better communicate and engage with the local community/neighborhoods as well as with associated organizations, locally and beyond. 2. Address prohibitive factors, namely not being open on Saturdays. Expanding the hours the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House (MMBCH) is open would increase the opportunities for the community and public to visit the MMBCH and acquire more knowledge of Dr. Bethune and the MMBCH programs and available resources. 3. Provide literature in the Capitol Visitor Center – connecting the Bethune statue in the capital with the NHS and statue in Lincoln Park. Thousands of people regularly visit the Capitol Visitor Center. Availability of literature in the Visitor Center would provide information to the public about the MMBCH for potential tours and to see the historic Mary McLeod Bethune statue in Lincoln Park. 4. Expand and engage schools with visits and virtual relationships. This would increase students’ knowledge of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and her contributions nationally and internationally. Her upbringing and her life could inspire students to realize anything is possible with a dream, belief in yourself, hard work, and teamwork. 5. Develop a brief video and circulate with a brochure. Target Black History Month, Women’s History Month, May – Bethune’s passing and July – birth month. This would increase the opportunities for the community and public to acquire more knowledge of Dr. Bethune and her contributions. 6. Consider creating a YouTube channel. YouTube is said to be one of the most popular sites on the web, with visitors watching around 6 billion hours of video every month. Creation of a YouTube channel would allow the opportunity for MMBCH to create and share selected videos via the channel on an ongoing basis and thereby increase engagement with schools and universities, communities, and the public.	Access Agency Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The Commission recommended various ways to improve the management of the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site and National Archives of Black Womens History during the July meeting. None are implemented yet.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	10.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The Commission recommended various ways to improve the management of the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site and National Archives of Black Womens History during the July meeting. None are implemented yet.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	National Park Service officials provided oral or written briefings or status reports during meetings of the Commission.	Narrative Description*	The Commission advises the Secretary of the Interior on the development of the General Management Plan for, and the broader management of, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site. The General Management Plan for the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site has been completed. The Commission currently serves as 1) a bridge between the NPS and the many stakeholders and community members who may be willing to contribute the success of the site and 2) subject matter experts who will advise the park as it develops its interpretation and community engagement strategy and programming.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$100.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$0.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$100.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	8/26/2025 12:31 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	1.00	Est Cost Remarks	No meeting in FY25, none planned in FY26 at this time.
Cost Remarks	No meetings in FY25. Only cost is salary for filling out this form.

Interest Areas

Category Area Civil Rights Civil Rights Women Education Education Land Conservation and Preservation National Parks, Sites, Trails, Recreational Areas Monuments Social Sciences History

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