Never Fear, Your ListMom is here... I've just been super-busy, and haven't been checking my mail on anything like a regular basis. We held a meeting a week ago Tuesday at Una's in Branson; while turnout seemed to be limited to folks we'd actually talked to in recent times (and not nearly all of them), results were great...folks connected, discussed various restoration and "kinship" projects, and promised to help us out for "Outlaw Roundup." So we scheduled two more meetings, to be held: 13 Feb (next Tue) at the Old Taney County Jail, at 6 pm. 20 Feb (the following Tue) at Una's on W Hwy 76 in Branson, at 6 pm. We will be using the same project boards--Ingrid, Rick, and I ended up with about 8 or 9 boards, with newspaper articles, pictures, artwork, and thought-provoking grafitti--we used those tri-fold science project boards, and some 4' square foam boards, so they were BIG! I also had a collection of history- and family-related quotes that I put on bright paper, like Horowitz, Lingbergh, and more (there were 20), that we taped up on walls. All this stuff will be used again and again until we get the results we need, both for "Outlaw Roundup" and for preservation of our history and culture in the White River Valley. I've been negotiating deals with Coca-Cola for soda pop, the Forsyth Lions' Club for food, musicians for playing, liability insurance, and other sundry individuals and organizations to make Roundup a success. Lest I forget--again LOL--that "Outlaw Roundup" is a benefit--with free admission, no less--to raise funds for restoration of the Old Taney County Jail... Table Rock Asphalt Construction came through Monday with 3 yards of concrete for the new sidewalk at the jail. This amounts to some $225 in free concrete. Today, a concrete finisher that Jo Stacey Albers and I met with on Tuesday at the jail called with a bid for the work. This involves putting down 6 inches of sand for a cushion on the majority of the old sidewalk, digging out the steps and sidewalk (nearly 100 year old concrete) on the south side of the building, and pouring and finishing the new sidewalk so that water will drain away from the building. The contractor, Don Madson, came in with a bid of $300. I expected it to be 3x that amount, so that was a thrill! In between all this, I've met with Forsyth's city administrator, been in touch with various people over old pictures and building restoration projects, doing fine-tuning on the Bald Knobber play with Ingrid and Rick, gallivanting to various places to check on sites for various activities and the Legacy Trail, been in touch with newspaper reporters and editors, and kinda-sorta making plans for White River Valley Homecoming (which is happening 25-28 Oct, 2001, in Forsyth! Make your plans to come!). I've got to find a band/musicians to close out Outlaw Roundup (Big Smith will be unavailable that day, unfortunately...) We are road-tripping to Joplin next Wednesday to meet with the council of the White River Band of Cherokee, to invite them to join us for Homecoming. That in itself is so exciting, I can't stand it...LOL I still haven't been out to get any donations (but I sure hit up every business/restauarant/you name it I go into). And there are still the outlaw exhibits to get started on building. That ain't everything, but you get the picture. And my kids still made at least the B Honor Roll, and Greg doesn't feel TOO neglected. I even manage some sleep every night...<BG> But I haven't done any new genealogy research, and I kinda miss it sometimes. I hope y'all who can come make it to Outlaw Roundup on May 19, and to Homecoming in October. We are going to have a blast! Don't worry, I'm doing fine, just don't get to yak much these days... Pama and Barb and all you others, thanks for your concern. On another note, my sister has been home from the hospital for a week now (after open-heart surgery 23 Jan), and she is recuperating well. Thanks for your prayers in that direction, too! Vonda W S ListMom for MOTaney and MO-AR-WRV http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~moarwrv/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gregvonda/