Cathy:
I like Kyle's answer as it is almost word for work what we went through.
We were all members of the local historical society and when they would have
booths at festivals we had a jar there and some pictures of our work and
hoped someone would put in a few dollars. We limped through the first year
that way. Mid way thru the first year we applied to our local foundation
for a grant. We filled out the application and listed the historical
society as a sponsor. Also we encluded before and after pictures of some of
the work that we had done already. Also we switched to the old pioneer
cemeteries that were under the local township trustees. We wrote them and
asked for permission to restore them and asked if they could reimburse our
expenses. We have been very lucky here and found some in Tipton County who
were very glad to have us help them out. Also, we went to a local monument
company and they helped us with some supplies. I hope this gives you some
ideas. Good luck.
Joan Wray
Tipton County
----- Original Message -----
From: <KidClerk(a)aol.com>
To: <inpcrp(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: [INPCRP] Organizing and fund raising
Hi Cathi:
Just some quick observations that you have probably already explored, but
just in case....
Does Clinton Co. have a county cemetery commission? If there is, see
about
contacting them. If not, find people just like yourself who would
support it
and propose the creation at the county level. While you may not be able
to
serve, I'm sure they would accept your help.
A local chapter of any group that would support cemetery preservation I
think would be considered welcome, especially in a county where nothing
else
formal is happening.
I have had success contacting other family members of people buried in
cemeteries for financial support. Many times they can't help with the
labor, but
they are willing to contribute money. Many times you'll find those who
would
say "I've been wanting to see something done in that cemetery for 30
years".
Find a 501(c)(3) organization that will be your sponsor for a grant. See
if
Clinton Co. has a community foundation that supports projects and then
find
a group who will sponsor the grant. This is where the historical society
or
genealogical society can help without contributing their own money...they
can
be the sponsoring organization.
Those are some of the thoughts I had...hopefully others will throw out
more.
None of us will condemn you for talking to those pioneers....just don't
post
anything on here that you heard back from any of them! :)
Kyle D. Conrad
Brook, IN
In a message dated 08/30/2007 3:23:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
ohiobuck(a)sbcglobal.net writes:
I have been a subscriber to this list for a long time, but have not
really
been a participant in the email banter. Nearly everything I know about
cemeteries I owe to LA. If it was not for her, I would not be getting
dirty
nearly every Saturday. Thanks, LA for all your teaching and support!
My involvement in cemetery conservation grew its roots out of genealogy
research, like so many others. I visited numerous cemeteries in other
parts of
the country that looked like so many in Indiana. Fallen stones,
vandalized
cemeteries, overgrown with weeds, etc., and wondered why no one was
taking care
of them. Then one day, I drove to Clinton County to pay my respects to
one
set of 4th great grandparents and other family members only to find the
same
thing. Again, I thought someone needed to do something about this. I
finally realized that if no one had taken care of the cemeteries
previously, they
wouldn't now. That is when I realized it had to be me out there and that
was
when I hooked up with LA.
Since then, I have been working in this cemetery pretty much by myself,
probing, digging, cleaning. I drive a little over an hour (one way)
every
Saturday as I don't live in Clinton County. I find it a quieting time, a
time that
God and I share together. If you drive by sometime, you might even catch
me
talking to those buried there. Last year, I joined the Association for
Gravestone Studies and attended my first conference held in Doylestown,
PA. I
attended the conference this year in Nashua, NH and was asked to run for
the
board. So now I am on the board.
I am telling you all of this because I think it is something that many of
us
share. My story is no different than anyone else's story. But I need
some
assistance now with different things and who else better to ask than
those
close by.
Everything used in my work is purchased with my own money. I have sought
assistance from the local genealogical society (an endorsement) so that I
might
have a friend in the county - some local support, but the society thinks
I
am after its money. The society is only 'interested in purchasing books
for
the library and preserving history.' Seems a little ironic, don't you
think?
Isn't conserving these cemeteries preserving history?
What I need are suggestions as to how to start a cemetery group in a
county
in which I am not a resident. How does a 'foreigner' go about raising
funds?
I need to find someone who can help me either locate a tripod or build
one
for me at a reasonable price. I also need to know if any of you are
interested in the AGS. If not, why and would you be interested if AGS
started area
chapters? I am looking for good feedback here. I need some good
suggestions, thoughts, ideas, whatever.
Over the past year, I have read some mean emails within this group and I
have read some really positive ones. I would hate to see this group
explode and
leave no mark. Mother nature does a job on these places without help
from
vandals. Let us help each other out and make good use of this group.
Cemetery conservation is too important to our culture and history.
Thank you.
Cathi Taylor
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