Fort Stanton Letters

Letters from Lynda Sánchez:

Dinero!!! 

Hello everyone:

While I am sure some of you have already heard the news, I know some of you
have not.  The great news is that through the grant writing skills of Earl
Pittman and Fort Stanton Inc., we now have an additional $210,000 grant from
Save Americas Treasures to Ft. Stanton Inc for use on the foundation and
outside of the Adm. building! At least that is what Senator Bingaman's rep
told me, and there was a brief mention of it in the Ruidoso News.  She also
indicated that it was the only one listed for New Mexico on the web site.
I hope that by Friday, the News will have a much bigger article on this
project.  (Check out www.cr.nps.gov/HPStreasures/2005grants)

So, next time you see Earl congratulate him for not giving up despite some
obstacles that he faced both times he submitted the grant.  It paid to
persevere and now we have that amount, plus the $265,000 we, the Commission
obtained from the Legislature, and hopefully the grant that will be
forthcoming once the Veterans project is off the ground.  Thus, "little by
little" we have now obtained a really substantial amount to fix up and
create a first class Museum Complex.  Once that is accomplished, as you all
know how often I have stated, we will have a show place to prove to others
what they can do with their donations or investments.

I am also hoping that our stables project will gear up soon and we will have
some donations as well.

Additionally, the Boots and Saddles folks have submitted the 7 forts to NM
Heritage Preservation Alliance for inclusion on their 2006 most endangered
list, and some of you may be unaware of this but  2006 is also the 100th
Anniversary of the Antiquities Act (federal) and also the 75th Anniversary
of New Mexico State Monuments (state under DCA)!  Under both of these groups
or Acts, the President can declare a National Monument, and the Governor can
declare a State Monument without all the usual red tape of Legislative
approval.  There may be some hoops to jump through, but there are many out
there who could and would help us.   So, something to think about to
celebrate 2006 at the Fort...one or the other as a way of gaining more
positive attention for the Fort.  And, who would not want a National
Monument or State Monument in their back yard!!!  It would take time, and
commitment, but we have the movement going now, so, at least let us think
about it, and  explore that option.  There is nothing that states we could
not work with private groups or 501 c 3's to continue our preservation
projects with such a declaration.  Snowy River both sub surface and surface
area may be headed in that direction, so why not be all encompassing and
include the Fort in such a designation?  Thinking outside the box can lead
to many new and innovative ideas as one special person told me recently. It
may be awhile before such an opportunity arises again!

And for some who don't know, our Fort Stanton Commission meeting has been
changed from Oct. 22 to Oct 29th.  See you then.  Lynda

Mil gracias

Sent:  Saturday, October 01, 2005

Subject:  Mil Gracias

Dear Everyone:  And this means all of you who have helped through encouragement, patience, letters, emails, calls and pushing from the side or in the back ground; by volunteering at the Fort as docents; by helping with ideas, or by working on the maintenance, roofs, architectural plans of the quadrangle, the Veteran's cemetery project, the museum complex, getting those petition signatures, and asking good questions and demanding answers, caring about the research whether it be in geology, archaeology, caving, re-enacting, horse back riding, walking the trails or just enjoying the wide expanse of territory.

Today, this headline greeted me as I walked into our final meeting for this week regarding Fort Stanton.  Mr. Romo has it right, I think, as he was at our Thursday meeting in Ruidoso and he too noted the amazing about face of most of the Commission; and even the Collaborative, although I believe some still wish to push it despite what the folks want.  Nevertheless, this is a victory for the integrity of an awesome place that deserves national status in the future. 

No one ever stated that the Commission had voted on the 600 or that bulldozers were at the door.  But, by voicing our concern over the proposal early, we prevented a major proposal from even getting off the drawing board.  Although there definitely was mis-communication on the part of the Commission to the public, there was no misunderstanding about where the proposal was headed if we had not been pro-active, and all of you had not taken time to check out the books; or written; called or cared.  Mr. Bill Hume (from the Governor's office) helped a lot this past week by his presence and I believe he, too, saw the transformation of a group who really pushed for the concept and ultimately the reality of a high density housing project was rejected by the people. (Indeed, there are some good ideas within the Masterplan books that need to be followed up and used so all is not lost in that department)  This was democracy in action and again, mil gracias. 

 Now, we need your energy, your ideas and of course ways to raise funds, even for small projects.  We will maintain our vigilance and now focus our energy on the entire fort, not just the historic core as I kept hearing today from the Collaborative and others who still fail to understand that the Fort is much more than the quadrangle (historic core).  The surroundings make the core area even more significant in today's world, and will provide that legacy of honor for our future generations.

I also stand at the ready to give any one group or separate individual a tour of this awesome place and perhaps some will step up to the plate to help us fund part of the march forward.  Additionally, keep in touch with our legislators and send your letters to them and the Governor urging continued support or a hand up, not hand out, as we progress down new paths.

Our County Commissioners also stepped up to the plate by giving guidance, and I hope that sometime in the near future, they will also lend support to a millevy or bond money to help.  No one entity can do it all, but together, we can preserve this incredible cultural resource.  Just remember, poco a poco andan lejos (little by little we can walk far!)

 Abrazos a todos, Lynda