Hello, everyone,
I have returned from a week in New England. Trust me when I tell you that the colors are
absolutely gorgeous this weekend. One thing about that region - you don't drive on
any kind of road, including interstates, without being surrounded by the trees. In
Indiana, you're surrounded by concrete.
Ok, enough commentary. I attended the board meeting in Greenfield, MA this past Saturday.
All of the committees met. The Chapters Committee was hard at work attempting to make
this chapter idea a reality. Let me begin by telling you that not all of the kinks have
been worked out, but if you have a question (and I don't have an answer), I will be
happy to submit your question/idea to the committee chair for input/answer.
Let me begin by saying that AGS is not about conservation only. For those of you
interested in stonecarvers, stone, carving, photography, art, etc., there is a place at
the table for you. That is why there are different workshops at the annual conference.
At the last conference, attendees had an opportunity to carve a stone. And that is what
the chapters will be about - anything having to do with cemeteries. And while we are on
the topic of conferences, I have heard from some of you that the cost is too high. I can
tell you that AGS is looking very hard at the cost; however, the other side is fluctuating
membership. PLEASE REMEMBER that the cost of the conference includes EVERYTHING including
all of your food (breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire conference), room (because
they are generally at a college), workshops, and bus tours. Since it will be just outside
Columbus, Ohio next year, the travel costs will be considerably less this time
around.
By the way, rumor has it that the 2011 conference may be in Chicago and 2012 in Maine.
Back to the chapters: the area of the chapter is not set in stone. By that I mean that
if there is enough interest in Champaign, IL and enough in our area, there could be two
separate chapters. However, if there are only a couple people in IL and Indiana has a
chapter, we can include Illinois. Later on, should Illinois numbers increase and they
want to start their own chapter, they may. When a person joins AGS, that person will
automatically be assigned to a chapter (at no extra cost). Each chapter can put on
programs for anyone to attend covering various topics on cemeteries. Each chapter will
report to the AGS President once a year advising what it has done.
Let me tell you that the board could not believe the different things that are happening
in Indiana. For instance, the workshops, legislation, etc. Some of you may know that AGS
has previously written pamphlets on various topics, such as restoration dos and
don'ts; how to do pamphlets, and others. The conservation committee is in the process
of rewriting those appropriate to them and they have already looked at the INPCRP website
as a reference as to putting this information on their own website!
One of the board members is hosting an event in New Hampshire in November with three
speakers. So we are anxious to see how this goes. I hope you share some of the
excitement. Those of us Midwest board members have been asking for a closer conference
and now we have it. Please let me hear from you as to whether you would be interested in
starting a chapter, or not, and your reasons. While discussion is good, I certainly hope
that discussion on this topic is quite as lively as it was last week on another topic.
Cathi