Brad: This sounds terrific. I have wrote before that I would like a statewide meeting to we can all exchange ideas and share our problems and solutions with others. We are working on a puzzling cemetery right now, worst I have encountered. But, I imagine we will be done with it by next spring when you would have your meeting. I will keep my eye out for others in Tipton County. Keep up the good work. Joan Wray Tipton County ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad Manzenberger" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 10:26 AM Subject: [INPCRP] certification, other Wow, we have a lot to discuss here. Glad to see it. There have been some really good ideas presented to us, all worthy of discussion. A few comments I have on some of them are... -More workshops and work days: Starting next spring I'd like to begin INPCRP 'sponsored' (I use the term sponsored loosely since we don't have funding, but that's another issue) work days once a month. We should pick a Saturday (the first Saturday of the month or whatever) and plan and promote these days to try to get others not involved with the INPCRP involved. Instead of one location we should have one in each region (regions to be determined) so more people can participate around the state. The cemetery should generally (but not always) fit into the basics of the guidelines listed on the website and one that could generate more community and media interest would be a plus. -Need for more structure than we currently have: First, I want to divide the state into regions and create regional directors. They would help find county coordinators, help promote the cause to the community through the local media and other sources, choose cemeteries for monthly work days and... Second, we need someone to head the education/outreach 'branch' of the INPCRP. The school projects going on are great and we need to encourage more of this. But we also need to show them the proper way to do it. Not only schools, but the Scouts, church groups and others as has been mentioned before. Third, we need someone to head the legislation 'branch' to help steer us through the maze that is our General Assembly. -Certified Restorationist's: I like the idea of this in general but I think it needs much discussion first. The first thing I'll say about this is KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF IT! If you want something to fail... I think INPCRP is quite capable of setting standards and what-not to establish a certification for restorationist's. I'd suggest that maybe there be two levels of certification to account for those who do this full time and those who are volunteers, as Larry pointed out. -Funding: I fully understand the opposition to raising money. In fact, I hate fund raising, period. But I think it's necessary to really achieve our goals. I would never make participation in the INPCRP contingent upon a financial contribution. As has always been stated on the website, "participation is voluntary, and it is our desire that nobody feels obligated to volunteer." That's it for now. Brad ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== INPCRP State Coordinator: Brad Manzenberger < [email protected] > http://www.inpcrp.org