The following article will be in this weeks local papers...it is presented here for those of you not in the area: In response to the charge made by former Historical Society President Frank Geleskie to bring in new blood and to expand the organization, Society President John Kautz and the Board of Directors have been meeting monthly working towards that end and there is much to show for it. Back in November the Board voted to "adopt" the Cameron County Genealogy Club at the request of the Club membership. As of January 1, the Club is now a part of the Historical Society. Club Director, Mike Wennin, said that this move will eventually add 70+ members to the Society. The Club voted at it's last meeting to be called The Genealogy Club of the Cameron County Historical Society. It meets the first Saturday of each month at the Library. The next meeting will be Feb. 7th at 1:00PM. The guest speaker will be Cameron County Prothonotary, Dave Reed who will discuss the historical records that are available from his office. Everyone is welcome to attend. (Historical Society President, John Kautz will also address the group.) The Board also voted to reproduce the 1940 Tour of Emporium movie and the response from the Community has been exciting. The first two shipments of videos and DVD's sold out with in a week or two. The next shipment has just arrived and are once again available at the Library. The Board would like to thank the Library Staff and Marylee Keefer for assisting in the sale of the videos. They would like to remind those of you who purchased the movie, that the sale price included a one year membership to the Society and would remind you to send your application in. Since the October Fall meeting, the Society has gained over 80 new members, bringing the total to over 200 members. One Board Member's personal goal is for 500 members by the end of 2004. He says that they will need that many members to gear up for the Sesquicentennial in 2010 and to accomplish the goals of the Society in the near future. You are invited to join! Send your check for $5 to Suzie Murray, 311 Howard Circle, Emporium, PA 15834 It has been brought to the attention of the Board that the Little Museum may be one of, if not the last standing Sears, Roebuck Simplex Sectional Two-Room School Houses in the country. If so, there may be some excitement generated in those circles who are interested in Sears Homes. At least one author and Sear Homes expert is anxious to come and see it. Another author is planning to visit the Museum this Spring and include it in her next book on Pennsylvania Museums. There are plans in the works to promote the Museum out of the area since most of the visitors to the Museum come from out of state. This promotion will be done through articles in magazines, links on the internet, and word of mouth. The goal is 1000 visitors for the 2004 season. A Spring Spruce-Up of the Museum is also planned. In the works are the acquisition of the contents of a local landmark- details to follow; a companion book to the 1940 video that will identify as many people as possible in the video; a reprinting of the Flood of 1889 book and possibly the 1942 Flood book; cataloging the contents of the Little Museum onto a computer; a website promoting the Little Museum; a new color brochure about the Little Museum to be used to promote the Museum in the surrounding areas; inviting a speaker from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council to talk about researching your Pennsylvania Roots; rotating displays of Museum artifacts at the Library and at the Courthouse; working with the Schools to involve our children with their Heritage; and much more. The Society now has a newsletter called The Voice. It was named after an Emporium newspaper from the 1920's. The next issue will be out in March. It is planned that the newsletter will eventually become a quarterly journal of Cameron County History and Genealogy. Also planned for March will be a general meeting of the Society to discuss goals and plans for 2004 season and the future of the Society. Once again, you are invited to join the Society and be a part of the excitement! Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero