CHCs should provide an annual report of activities to their county commissioners court and the Texas Historical Commission (THC). As a service to CHCs, the CHC Outreach Program provides a report template to remind and encourage CHCs to fulfill their statutory reporting responsibilities. Updating the template each year allows CHCs to comment on timely preservation issues, as well as document organizational efforts. CHC Outreach uses Texas’ Statewide Preservation Plan as the framework for the report to assist CHCs in complying with their statutory responsibility to align CHC efforts with the statewide plan.
CHC Outreach sends an email message to CHC Chairs in January with a link to an online report. If a CHC does not have access to the Internet, a paper report is provided. This report is used to document activities for the previous year of service. After evaluating the reports, CHC Outreach recommends THC programs and services that will address the areas of need and also suggests local, regional, and statewide partners that may enhance the overall outcome of CHC efforts.
Online reporting for CHCs
Online reporting enables CHC Outreach to analyze cumulative results, provide more accurate statewide CHC statistics, and identify regional trends for preservationists. We encourage CHCs to become more computer-friendly in order to access this online report, as well as to the variety of preservation tools and resources available online.
By participating in the online reporting method, CHC activity can be documented, compiled, and promoted in more efficient and meaningful ways. Reporting results are used to illustrate the importance of CHC work to public officials and preservation partners. Most importantly, online reporting information allows our staff to better serve the needs of each CHC.
Although online reporting is preferred, the THC is committed to serve individuals regardless of access or familiarity with computers or the Internet. Paper versions of the report are provided to individuals who do not have an email address. Photo at right courtesy of Matagorda CHC. 
Reporting Links and Templates
- Annual Report Tracking by County (PDF)
- 2011 Annual Report Summary (PDF)
- 2011 Annual Report Cumulative Results (PDF)
- 2011 Sample CHC Project Descriptions (Word)
How To Improve Your CHC Annual Report
Filling out your CHC report in its entirety will document a broad range of services and convey the degree to which your CHC engages the community in its events. We have selected reports from across Texas and listed aspects of those reports that illustrate how your CHC can improve reporting information so that the public record accurately reflects the efforts of your CHC. The selected CHCs are not the largest in the state, nor do they necessarily have the larger county allocations. What they do have is a positive attitude and a directed program of work that educates their county on the importance of history and preservation. This level of effort is conveyed through their CHC Annual Report.
2011 CHC Reports from Distinguished Service Award Winners
While the whole of each report is evaluated, there are certain questions that when answered demonstrate a CHC's level of participation in preservation-related matters. Of particular interest are the breadth of activity shown in questions 25-27, the partnerships pursued in question 35, the degree of communication with county officials shown in questions 40-41, and the depth of information provided through the project descriptions in questions 54-56.
2011 Atascosa CHC Report (PDF)
- Comments to come
2011 Carson CHC Report (PDF)
- Comments to come
2011 Collin CHC Report (PDF)
- Comments to come
2011 Newton CHC Report (PDF)
- Comments to come
2011 Pecos CHC Report (PDF)
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Comments to come
