Members of the original Centennial Time Capsule Keepers are in the final days of recruiting a new generation of replacements in time for the state’s 125th birthday celebration Nov. 11 in Olympia.
Nominations for new Capsule Keepers end Oct. 21. Any child living in Washington state who was born from Nov. 4 to Nov. 18 in 2004 is eligible. Children of 1989 Capsule Keepers are also eligible. Interested children should have a parent or guardian complete a registration form. Parent or guardian permission is required.
A form is available at http://www.capsulekeepers.org/apply/.
“Our state’s 125th anniversary is a special event, and a big part of it is ushering in a new generation of children to carry forward the tradition of the Centennial Time Capsule,” Secretary of State Kim Wyman said. “We’re looking for kids who will turn 10 years old around November 11 to serve as our next generation of Capsule Keepers. It’s a fun honor, and we hope many eligible kids in Washington apply before the deadline so they can be part of our state’s special anniversary.”
Keepers of the Capsule Chair Jennifer Estroff said being part of this group is a unique experience.
“It’s a great way for a child in Washington to be connected to our state,” Estroff said. “Knowing I am a Keeper has changed my life for the better as I’ve grown up. It’s made me more civically involved, keeps me focused on the future, and honestly, it’s just a fantastic story to share.”
The next generation of Capsule Keepers will be introduced and officially sworn in during a ceremony at the State Capitol in Olympia on Nov. 11. While the swearing-in ceremony is an exciting opportunity for children to meet their fellow Capsule Keepers, attendance is not required, Estroff said. In fact, she was sworn in by her parents in their living room.
The Keepers’ main responsibility is to remind the state (through the Office of Secretary of State) of the existence and location of the official Centennial Time Capsule in 2039. That is when new material will be added to the capsule and another generation of Capsule Keepers is chosen and sworn in.
The Centennial Time Capsule is a 3,000-pound green safe located at the south entrance of the Capitol. The safe contains 16 individual stainless steel time capsules that will be filled with new items every 25 years. During the Nov. 11 anniversary event, the Time Capsule vault doors will be unlocked and a special drawer left for the 1989 Keepers will be opened and shared. All of the individual time capsules and their contents, however, won’t be opened until 2389, Washington’s 500th anniversary.
As part of the Washington 125 celebration, new content that represents the state’s culture and people will be added to the Time Capsule during a special ceremony on Feb. 22, 2015. The Keepers of the Capsule are gathering materials to be included in the capsule, such as messages from Washingtonians and books that represent our state.
Messages to the Future
The Capsule Keepers are asking Washingtonians to write messages to future generations that will be kept in the capsule. Messages will be microfilmed and sealed in the Time Capsule until its 2389 opening. Messages to the future may be sent via e-mail to message2389@sos.wa.gov and also by printing and sending this form at http://1.usa.gov/1xHDDld .
Book Nominations
Washington residents also are invited to nominate a favorite Washington-related book for inclusion in the Time Capsule. Digital copies of books published between 1989 and 2014 by Washington state authors or books about Washington will be included in the capsule as a representation of the state’s culture. The book must have been published by a traditional publishing house or small press. No self-published titles will be included. Washington residents also are invited to nominate books to be sealed in the capsule. Only one book per author will be selected. To nominate a favorite book visit http://bit.ly/1lYX1WU .
For more information on becoming a Capsule Keeper, contact Erica Gordon, Keeper Recruitment, at erica_mortensen@hotmail.com.
More information is available at www.capsulekeepers.org, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WACapsuleKeepers) or on Twitter (@WACapsuleKeeper).
