The Salemtowne Civic Organization welcomes donations to our Memorial Bench Program. Donations to the program provide a way for friends and families of Salemtowne residents to remember and honor loved ones while enhancing Salemtowne’s common ground and green spaces.
Memorial benches placed at convenient locations and walking distances throughout the community provide a place for residents and visitors to rest and visit with one another.
Application Process
The Salemtowne Memorial Program process starts when the donor signs the Intent to Participate form.
Throughout the application process, the donor works with the Salemtowne Memorial Bench Coordinator who can help a donor select a preferred location for the bench, write wording that will be engraved on a customized brass plaque placed on the bench and, if desired, manage a celebration ceremony when the bench is formally installed. The Coordinator can also provide advice on any fund- raising efforts.
If a group of people, a family for example, want to participate in the Salemtowne Memorial Bench program, we ask that only one person represent the group when communicating decisions. This person would also sign the formal contract.
Salemtowne Memorial Bench Coordinator support for a donor’s program participation is limited to one year. The application process ends when the bench is installed or the application is withdrawn. When requested and within one year of program launch, funds will be returned to the donor by the Program Coordinator if the application process ends because sufficient funds for the intended bench are not collected or the installation plan is not approved by the Board of Directors.
Honoree
The honoree must have been a legal resident of Salemtowne in the past.
Bench
The Salemtowne Civic Organization, working with community members, selected DuMor bench 490- 60TX with woodgrain recycled plastic slats
Designed and manufactured for sustainability, the bench is placed on a previously approved location within Salemtowne’s common ground. During the application process, the donor may identify a location preference. The location will be reviewed by the Board and approved unless investigation shows recent constraints to the site. The Board will then modify the location choice and advise the donor of the change.
Donations to the Memorial Bench program do not constitute ownership of the bench, the land it sits on, or surrounding lands. Salemtowne Civic Organization retains the right to use the land near the bench site or relocate the bench if needed for construction or maintenance.
Plaque
Donors can request that a customized 3” X 5” brass plaque engraved with the donor’s desired message be flushmounted on the front of the bench. For consistency and quality, the Memorial Bench Coordinator looks after the plaque’s production and installation. We do not accept donor-supplied plaques.
Donors provide the wording for the plaque during the application process. Due to plaque size, the text must be three lines or less and contain 60 characters or less to ensure that the message can be read from a short distance. Wording is reviewed during the application process and must be Board-approved before the donor’s application is accepted.
Donation and Term
Donation for full participation in the Memorial Bench program includes the cost of the bench, which is $1450, a customized plaque and the installation of the bench. Plaques remain in place for a period of 10 years; that term may be extended if the donor sends a written request to the Program Coordinator to renew the memorial and funds for any required renovation of the bench and/or plaque are received at that time. Donors are responsible to update their contact information during this time including phone number, email address and mailing address.
Donors are asked to:
- Work with the Salemtowne Memorial Bench Coordinator who provides support to the donor and the Salemtowne community throughout the process.
- Complete the Intent to Proceed form to start participation in the program.
- Complete both pages of the Memorial Bench application during the application process.
- Ensure that all needed funds are available when Board approval is granted.
- Make all checks related to the Memorial Bench payable to Friends of Salemtowne.
How to begin:
If you, your family or organization would like to take part in the Memorial Bench program, contact:
Salemtowne Office
Phone: (503) 363-4729
Fax: (503) 363-8020
