BJ, Thanks for your ideas and support. The issue over the cemeteries supercedes that of our county and includes the entire state. We can, however, begin to organize a coalition of support starting with one county at a time. This support group could then be plugged into a state organization made up of individuals who are concerned about this issue and other issues that affect our ability to preserve our heritage. Our hope would be to create an alert process wherein we can notify all those interested in this issue as keep them informed as to progress on such bills. This group could then, both individually and collectively, become a voice to be heard by our senators and representatives in the legislature. There are many curves yet to be straightened out but this effort may become reality should there be enough support for the idea. Others are working toward this in neighboring counties as well. Those having interest in such a unified effort and being listed on a contact list, please e-mail me with your thoughts and request to be added to such a group. Our greatest weapon of defense can be our voice to the State Legislature. Just our voices on an individual basis may already be affecting the progress of these bills. I have been advised by Senator Doug Jackson's office, co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, that SB1804 has been pulled from further consideration during this session of the legislature. This leaves the House Bill HB1354 still a threat should it make it to the floor for a vote. Sherry Jones of Nashville is the Representative sponsoring this version of the Bill. Note that when a Bill is pulled, it is not necessarily withdrawn. It can be reactivated during the next term of the legislature. Please let me know your desire to join such a state effort by e-mailing me at: mssc@heartoftn.net Thank you, Danny Nichols > >Message: 12 >Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 17:08:26 -0700 >From: BJ Martindale <bjmartindale@juno.com> >Subject: Re: [TNCANNON] Cemetery Legislation >To: tncannon@rootsweb.com >Message-ID: <20070511.170827.4076.4.bjmartindale@juno.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > >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