I would also like to speak up for the cemetery commissions who work hard and
try to do the best they can with the funds available. I am the secretary of
the LaPorte County Pioneer Cemetery Commission and we meet regularly each
month. Some months we preceed our meetings with a tour of a number of
cemeteries to determine their needs. With funds we receive from the county
we contract with a firm to do mowing and cleanup of the cemeteries that have
no caretakers.
Those that have a volunteer caretaker and no funds, we give them an agreed
upon amount each year to do the work. (Would any of you be willing to
maintain a pioneer cemetery for anywhere from $200-$500/yr.?) Our hats off
to their dedication.
We have also begun a program of stone restoration. Mark Davis has
completed two of earliest
cemeteries. We can't speak highly enough of his quality work and
dedication. Next year he
will do two more cemeteries for us.
Also, many of you do not know that a member and lawyer of our commission
many years ago
was instrumental in the writing and passage of the pioneer cemetery
legislation we have today.
Because of it we are funded (we could always use more funds to maintain our
cemeteries) and it is possible for other counties to fund cemetery
commissions.
Patricia Harris
----- Original Message -----
From: "GTielking" <tielking(a)knightstown.net>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 10:54 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Another legislative update
Lee,
I am sorry to hear about those cemetery commissions that give the good
ones
a bad rep. I work with Hancock and Henry Co. cemetery commissions.
They
both
are doing what they should be doing, they hold elections every year,
they
meet regularly, and work very hard in the cemeteries cleaning and
restoring
what we can. Henry Co. is not funded, but has received A LOT of
support
from the public with donations. Hancock Co. has a very small budget and
will
receive less next year. They do not have the support of the public
like
Henry Co. and have only had about $100-150 in donations.
Restoration of stones can be expensive, and we need the money to finish
the
work that needs to be done. Every little bit helps.
If you want to see two hard working cemetery commissions, they would love
for you to attend their meetings. Henry Co. meets the fourth Thursday of
every month at the Courthouse in New Castle at 6:00 p.m. They will be
meeting on Thurs. Nov. 20 instead of the 27th due to the Thanksgiving
holiday.
Hancock Co. meets the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at 110 S.
State St. in Greenfield.
Everyone is welcome. We like hearing from others.
Take care,
Angela Tielking
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee" <Armytruck(a)webtv.net>
To: <INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 10:23 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Another legislative update
>
> Having a cemetery commission, let alone one receiving additional
> funding, will guarentee nothing. I only know one in the surrounding
> area doing what it should (I believe they subscribe to the list). Of
> the others, you have the president for life, they meet once or twice a
> year over dinner- I have never seen them near a cemetery, and pay to
> have work done they never go to inspect, including tombstone
> repairs. The next wonderful commission spends all their money on two
> cemeteries
> which have current burials every year.
> There are others just as lame.
>
> You can only hope that this additional money goes to where it can be
> monitored and handed out for supplies for volunteer
> laborers, that being us. Often this is going to need the ears of the
> county council and the county commissioners. My free advice to groups
> that are large enough, to have a political action section.
> A cemetery commission can grant you funding for your materials,etc. as
> long as there is accountability. And as long as you are willing to
> pursue it at meetings
> and with individual office holders.
>
> The action being taken at the state level
> is great, but it will have to be pursued down through the govermental
> agencies
> until you actually see the result yourselves.
> We are not going to see any magical results, just because commissions
> get set up and laws get passed. This means diligent efforts from all of
> us, regardless
> of what happens.
>
> Lee Creed
> Greencastle
>
>
> ==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
> Scott Satterthwaite < ssattert(a)localnet.com > is the INPCRP State
Coordinator. Feel free to contact him directly regarding questions or
comments you may have about the INPCRP.
>
==== INPCRP Mailing List ====
Quote from William Gladstone (1809-1897), three-time Prime Minister of
England
and Victorian contemporary of Benjamin Disraeli:
"Show me the manner in which a nation or community
cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical
exactness the tender mercies of its people, their
respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty
to high ideals."