Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

[paulcalloway]

Hey All -
Due to your subscriptions here on the AC, which have kept our site going almost seamlessly the last two years, we've been able to also raise a great deal of money on behalf of CW Preservation. We're now ready to make another $500 donation.

I know we all have our pet projects - and we can't do all of them. But $500 is enough though to have an impact somewhere.

I know Gettysburg gets a great deal of attention - but with this new Casino fight, I can't help but think this would be timely to that cause.

Please share your thoughts and if you think there is a better choice than Gettysburg - let me know. Let's remember this is about the battlefields though - not about personalities.

[M_Kupsch]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

Bro. Paul,

Yes, I know there are many other sites in danger, but currently, Gettysburg is clearly in danger of Casinos. I suggest the money goes toward preventing that from happening. Quite possibly, we might consider contacting the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania; they have a vested interested in seeing the Casinos defeated too.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

Please share your thoughts and if you think there is a better choice than Gettysburg - let me know. Let's remember this is about the battlefields though - not about personalities.

As great as a donation to the Gettysburg Casino fight is, Gettysburg gets National attention and is still very high on Summer Traveler's tourist destination lists. This may even have contributed to some of Gettysburgs development encroachment issues. Being "High Profile" is often a double edged sword.

I would love to see a donation go to Pickett's Mill, or one of the other parks in Georgia that are greatly suffering from recent budget cuts with potentially more loomimg in July, as well as decline in tourism and visitors. There is a LH coming up in June (EFUBU) that will help bring some attention to the parks, but Picketts Mill should not be one of the forgotten Battlefield sites.

Please, get those registrations in!

Pickett's Mill needs a good showing from this event, because the budget ax will fall again on Parks and Historic Sites on July 1 2010.

They could not possibly do any more cuts? Oh yes they can.

At this time it seems that the Lodge Parks and maybe the Golf Courses are going to take the next budget hit.

Locally, Red Top Mountain is probably going to take a budget hit. The Lodge will either be privitized or closed. The Park will remain open but the Lodge may or may not stay open.

How does this affect Pickett's Mill? I do not know yet and that's what worries me.

A good turn out at this event on June 5 might help turn the budget cutters in a different direcion as the new budget kicks in on July 1.

As for those people who think I might do something out at Pickett's Mill later but not this time, well there may not be a next time if the Park does not get good turnouts for events. Right now the powers that be are questioning the value of black powder programs and training at Georgia State Parks. Yes that really has me worried!

Thanks for letting me get on my soap box,

James Wooten, Interpretive Ranger
Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site

[Marc29thGA]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

Paul,

I would agree that Gettysburg would be the good fight to fight with this money. There are some many good causes out there, but short of donating to CWPT, Gettysburg is on the frontline and should get a little boost from this community.

Y.O.S.,

[Bill Cross]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

The deciding issue, I believe, is: where will $500 make an impact?

Does the Casino fight at Gettysburg really need that money, or would a smaller venue (such as Pickett's Mill) give us more "bang for our buck"? In other words, how well-funded is the anti-casino fight? In terms of priority for our history, G'burg certainly ranks up at the top.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

For the record -
In the past we've donated to Brandy Station ($500), the South Carolina Relic Room & Museum ($1000) on behalf of the McRae Collection and most recently Perryville, KY ($500).

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

CWPT has secured a $5 to $1 match for donations to secure two central acres of Gettysburg battlefield. This is an "in-holding" tract of land that is privately owned inside the boundary of the National park. I propose the $500 be sent to CWPT for this purpose as the $500 will instantly turn into $2500.

[ACCope1862]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

I like the idea for Pickett's Mill...it might need the most dollar help. Gettysburg will get the high dollar boosters, Pickett's Mill will need help. In my humble opinion.

[Upacreek]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

Is it unreasonable to consider splitting the $500 into a couple smaller donations? Would $250 to a couple sites do so much less good than $500 to just one that it would have been wasted?

George Lewis
Virginia

[Blair]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

I, personally, would have a tendency to agree with the previous posting.
Many Historic Sites are hurting for operating funds these days.
The Community of Gettysburg themselves have created the Tourist Mecca that it has become. "The Disney World of all things Civil War".
I hate the place because of its commercialism!
This does not mean Gettysburg it is not worth saving. It only means the Community of Gettysburg need to consider saving itself from its own greed.
I would vote offering the Preservation Monies raised go anywhere but Gettysburg!
Just my opinion, are you sorry you asked?

[tomsfiretruck]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

I agree with many of the others. Any place but G'burg


Sergeant_Tom
210th PVI:wink_smil

[firefite44]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

I would tend to agree with Upacreek in the fact that if we could help a few causes with splitting the $500 then why not do that. $250 for Pickett's Mill will do some good and with the 5:1 CWPT match that will do good at Gettysburg as well.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

I'm glad to see some newer members posting on this thread. Same rules apply though - sign your names to your posts.

[MissMia]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

I agree w/ Mr. Paolillo,
I'm in GA, and there are small parks (such as Picketts Mill etc.) and battlefields that are in need of funding..

[Creel]

Re: Upcoming CW Preservation Donation

G'burg has become amoung other things a mecca for teaching half history and wrong things by federal gov't (I made a parital list when I visited last). I would not support them. Just recently the Natural Bridge CSO (Citizens Support Organization) for the NB Battlefield historic site has helped with the purchase of more of the battlefield and currently working on getting it ready for future use. Any help would allow future use and promotion of history as this is a State owned site and supported by several local groups. just imho.