It was not my intention to do a slight-of-hand number on folks. When we accepted the original probate records from the court house, they provided a list of names that included the file number and date. We recognized the need to have more complete information and contacted the Archives; they directed us to include the items you find on the index we have posted on our web site. Our volunteers collected that information over the period of a year or so and the index you see is a result of their work. Because we were advised by the Archives, it would be logical that we would have much the same information they have on their index. When we were trying to arrive at a fee to charge for copies, we weighed our expenses and tried to swag it to achieve an average since some files are going to be larger and require more postage. We hope to make a dollar or two at the very most, after we buy the envelopes, pay the postage and cover our copier expense. We're poor folks here and get no government funding. The Miller County Museum, like other small museums, struggles to keep the doors open and properly preserve the artifacts, photographs and documents entrusted to us. This is not an inexpensive assignment if it is to be done correctly. We have to come up with creative ways to cover our finances and quilt raffles alone don't do it. We don't charge an admission fee but rely on donations. Our individual dues are $5 per year, about what a person would spend for lunch at McDonalds. It basically covers the cost of sending our newsletter. (We may have to consider raising that in the near future to cover increasing costs.) One major source of revenue is contributions from individuals and companies. We are looking at that resource to fund the building addition we now have under construction. Thank heavens one donor has given us $50,000 seed money with the promise to match other contributions up to an additional $50,000, but we look for an overall cost in the neighborhood of $150,000 for the building alone. Furniture and equipment has been acquired through donations and garage sales--any FREE source. We are still faced with on-going maintenance and upkeep--paying our heat and light bills. In the past, it has been necessary for us to close for the winter because we can't afford to heat the building. We only recently felt we could commit to installing a telephone. We hope to build a reserve in our 501C3 to provide the money necessary to stay open year round, or at least keep our research library open year round. We are an organization run entirely by volunteers (no paid staff). We are a too-small, devoted group with a monumental task ahead of us. We don't ever want to give the impression that we are trying to pick our neighbor's pocket. Actually, we give away more than we charge for; we're here to freely share what we have with others. To paraphrase Blanche DuBois, "We have always relied on the kindness of strangers." We thank you for your kindness and support, Nancy Arnold Thompson

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Hello! I hope you are well. I must have come in on the back side of a conversation because the only thing that I can do is to express my gratitude at the work that you and your team are doing. I live in Dayton, Ohio and therefore, driving in to get the information I seek is not an option for me. If you have to raise the costs-do so. I believe for the state of Ohio, it is $35.00/year. I know that's what it is for Pennsylvania. If we are going to have these resources, its going to cost to cost us-whatever state a body is in. It's all in how you look at it. "I don't know where I'm going, but I'm sure where I come from..." That's Wynonna Judd in Guardian Angels. Some resources that you may want to tap are the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation. There is also Oprah Winfrey and finally, Dolly Parton. I know it's sounds dumb but they have funds set up for groups like yours that need help. I hope this helps a little without starting a war. Becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Good job. Have you ever considered politics? Thanks so very very much.. I sent it on to Joe, just in case you hadn't. You should be equally appreciated by all. Sharon On Apr 23, 2007, at 9:45 AM, Nancy & Jerry Thompson wrote: > It was not my intention to do a slight-of-hand number on folks. > When we > accepted the original probate records from the court house, they > provided a > list of names that included the file number and date. We > recognized the > need to have more complete information and contacted the Archives; > they > directed us to include the items you find on the index we have > posted on our > web site. Our volunteers collected that information over the > period of a > year or so and the index you see is a result of their work. > Because we were > advised by the Archives, it would be logical that we would have > much the > same information they have on their index. > > When we were trying to arrive at a fee to charge for copies, we > weighed our > expenses and tried to swag it to achieve an average since some > files are > going to be larger and require more postage. We hope to make a > dollar or > two at the very most, after we buy the envelopes, pay the postage > and cover > our copier expense. We're poor folks here and get no government > funding. > > The Miller County Museum, like other small museums, struggles to > keep the > doors open and properly preserve the artifacts, photographs and > documents > entrusted to us. This is not an inexpensive assignment if it is to > be done > correctly. We have to come up with creative ways to cover our > finances and > quilt raffles alone don't do it. > > We don't charge an admission fee but rely on donations. Our > individual dues > are $5 per year, about what a person would spend for lunch at > McDonalds. It > basically covers the cost of sending our newsletter. (We may have to > consider raising that in the near future to cover increasing costs.) > > One major source of revenue is contributions from individuals and > companies. > We are looking at that resource to fund the building addition we > now have > under construction. Thank heavens one donor has given us $50,000 > seed money > with the promise to match other contributions up to an additional > $50,000, > but we look for an overall cost in the neighborhood of $150,000 for > the > building alone. Furniture and equipment has been acquired through > donations > and garage sales--any FREE source. > > We are still faced with on-going maintenance and upkeep--paying our > heat and > light bills. In the past, it has been necessary for us to close > for the > winter because we can't afford to heat the building. We only > recently felt > we could commit to installing a telephone. We hope to build a > reserve in > our 501C3 to provide the money necessary to stay open year round, > or at > least keep our research library open year round. > > We are an organization run entirely by volunteers (no paid staff). > We are a > too-small, devoted group with a monumental task ahead of us. We > don't ever > want to give the impression that we are trying to pick our neighbor's > pocket. Actually, we give away more than we charge for; we're here to > freely share what we have with others. > > To paraphrase Blanche DuBois, "We have always relied on the > kindness of > strangers." > > We thank you for your kindness and support, > Nancy Arnold Thompson > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MOMILLER- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message