How hard would it be to organize an Association for the Preservation of Historic and Family Cemeteries of Cannon County? Everything gets done by email these days, so there would not be much cost to soliciting members, and keeping organized. There should be enough of us on this list to sign up as "members" to give the group some clout with the legislature. When you represent a group with several hundred members, they might listen better than to individuals. The Association for Preservation of the Patton Cemetery has about 40 families the could "join" the new group. Several of you will be together over Memorial Day and at your early June Reunions. Maybe we could sign people up to be members, maybe collect $1 per person at those gatherings and appoint on local member to be their representative to the larger Association. (APHFCCC is not too cool an acronym - maybe someone can come up with something better.) Maybe neighboring counties would like to join or form their own group? Maybe the Historical Society of Middle Tennessee should be carrying the spear on this one? Maybe at your reunions each group should at least circulate a petition and get signatures to present to the appropriate legislative body. We might be able to convince them that they should just forget this one - too many people are going to be unhappy with them. Surely they have bigger issues to deal with. Way too many "maybe's" here I know, but what do you think? Unfortunately it will really depend on the local folks to take the lead, those of us that are far away can't really do it. BJ Martindale 425-861-1981 bjmartindale@juno.com

Way to think outside the box, BJ. I'm just not sure another organization is the answer. How about the Cannon Co. GenSoc create a remote membership category w/ reduced dues, or as you suggest: > Maybe the Historical Society of Middle Tennessee should be carrying the > spear on this one? You locals jump in on this.... what would work best? Joe