~From The President's Desk~

December, 2005

Greetings:

     Just a note to keep members informed of this organization's activities, accomplishments, and items of interest since our last quarterly.

   First, I would like to remind you that we still have the Pictorial Book, Martin County Video "Then and Now", and 2005 Pictorial Calendars available for purchase.  They make very nice gifts as well as family keepsakes.  Profits from these items help with building, research material and utilities expenses.  Membership dues pay for the cost of publishing and mailing our Quarterly.  Workers are all volunteers.

     As you know our book has been very successful, therefore, we had to ask the company for another reprint and since prices have risen, so has the book.  It is now $65.00 per book.  We believe this pictorial book is well worth the price.    

     Secondly, we have started a drive to raise money to finish the expenses on our new Martin County Historical building in Inez.  We are offering "Engraved Bricks" to be inlayed on the walk in front of the building for those who would like to immortalize themselves, or their loved ones.  The cost right now is $50.00 per brick, no more than twenty six letters per brick. There is a form in the back of the quarterly. Or make copies from the quarterly for one or more bricks.

Also, we are in the planning stage of publishing a cookbook with home-style recipes.  If you have one or more you would like to share with us, please send it to us.  We want the kind that moms, grannies, and aunts favored when making special meals, and those good old time reunions and church socials.  We would like to make this a book to be proud of and one that cooks everywhere will use often.  In doing so, we will capture an important part of our local history.  Please help us.

     Thirdly, we have contracted two more performing speakers from the Kentucky Humanities Council program.  The first one will be March 2, and the second one on May 4, 2006.  Our first performance will be about the life of Henry Clay, Kentucky's Great Statesman, and our second one deals with the "Life in the Prehistoric Kentucky" and will feature videos.  Mark these dates down and try to attend our meetings.

     As always, in conclusion, I ask you to please keep sending in those family trees, cemeteries, hand down oral stories with historical value, and copies of pictures.  We will publish them in future newsletters.  Remember that our aim is to record Martin County's history in order to preserve, protect, and pass on to future generations.  You can help by joining this organization and submitting researched material of Martin County's history. We really need your help!

Sincerely yours,

Evelynn Cassady