President's Message

President's Message January 24, 2010

2010-01-24T10:20:00.002-06:00

The economy has presented a difficult obstacle for historic sites and non-profits in general.It takes a lot of money to maintain and preserve historic properties and our chapters have managed to perform these functions well in difficult times. Please keep our Endowment Trust in mind if you wish to make charitable donations in 2010 as this fund is our "lifeblood" to provide grants to chapters to maintain and repair the buildings located at APTA sites. Also in 2009, our Board approved the creation of a "revolving fund" to enable the APTA to make purchases of historic sites or land if necessary to preserve them from destruction or demolition or detrimental development. We would welcome any donations for this fund also. I anticipate that this role of the APTA will increase as time passes. We are also interested in creating historic easements or covenants to protect historic properties in the future.

I would also like to announce that the APTA has a new Executive Director effective January 18, 2010. Her name is Elliott McNiel and she has an extensive background in non-profit management and a strong interest in historic preservation. I am certain that she will introduce herself to our chapters and members as the opportunity arises. Feel free to call or e-mail her with questions or just to say hello to her.

Let us know if you wish to become active with the APTA or its chapters in 2010 as there is always a need for assistance.Thank you for your interest in and support of the APTA.

President's Message October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T23:40:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy and productive year for the APTA despite the gloomy economy. The chapter reports I have received indicate that the chapters are active and are focused on our mission to preserve historic properties and educate the public about these properties and historic preservation. Please check out our marking category to see the great sites we have recognized and marked this year. I am simply amazed at the number and variety of historic structures in this state that exist despite the constant reporting of the destruction of historic sites.

Martha Sloan has graciously continued to serve as executive director until a successor is appointed. The Executive Committee is meeting this Saturday to review the duties and qualifications of the executive director and will report to the APTA board about their recommendations. We will publish the position description and will accept applications for the position starting November 2, 2009.

We were successful in selling the Hannum Rhea House in Somerville to very preservation oriented buyers who will renovate and preserve the property in the spirit of our historic preservation covenants and easement which were recorded earlier this year. The historic preservation and easement program is a new initiative of the APTA which will enable us to have input into the destiny of historic properties even though we do not own them or elect to sell the property.

I urge any members who have not been involved actively in the APTA to contact myself or the Executive Director as we have opportunities for you to participate actively in this fine organization in 2010, the 59th year of the APTA!

Finally, I would like to urge all viewers of this site and all APTA members to consider a November or December donation to the APTA Endowment Trust to help build up our trust. The trust is essential to the ability of the APTA to function and to preseve the historic properties owned and/or operated by the APTA. The APTA is a 501 (c)(3) organization and your donations are tax deductible. Please send all donations to the APTA at 110 Leake Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205.

Thank you for your interest in preservation in this state and in the APTA.

President's Message-August 25, 2009

2009-08-25T22:02:00.002-05:00

As the summer winds down I wanted to remind our members that we are conducting our 2009 historic marking program. The calendar mentions upcoming events but I wanted to mention that photos of our marking events will be featured on this website. All APTA members and interested persons are welcome to these events. We have marked two sites this year, the Cullum Mansion circa 1838 in Carthage and the Isaac McBee house near Strawberry Plains circa 1850. Both sites are excellent examples of mid-19th century architecture. The owners of these properties are very gracious and were wonderful hosts to those in attendance. I also want to thank the Glenmore chapter for hosting the APTA Board meeting last Saturday. If you have not visited this site, please do so when you get a chance. In fact, I urge you to visit all our sites as I learn something new every time I visit a site. Finally, our Executive Director, Martha Sloan has advised that she wishes to step down from this position as soon as a replacement is found so that she can concentrate on other endeavors. She has done a great job and has been a tireless worker for the APTA. She desires to continue on as a member and volunteer, especially with involvement in the marking program. Your efforts to the APTA are very much appreciated, Martha. We look forward to your continued efforts on behalf of the APTA.

Anyone wishing to apply for this position can e-mail resumes to my attention at bnotestine@hotmail.com

President's Message-August 1, 2009

2009-08-01T21:20:00.003-05:00

It has been a busy summer for several chapters. I can thankfully report that our chapters are operating and are generally faring well. Despite the difficult economy, I continue to be amazed how resourceful our chapters are in finding funding sources to continue our preservation programs. In June I visited the Ramsey House and the Crockett Tavern and I apprecate the warm welcome of the folks at those sites. I can truly say that they represent the APTA well in East Tennesse. I also visited Arlington in July. I was fascinated by the fact that the APTA is involved in a large portion of the historic downtown area including preservation of several historic buildings. I urge all APTA members and anyone interested in historic sites to visit these wonderful APTA sites.I have now been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to visit all of our sites.

We are compiling lists of potential grants sources for the area in which each chapter is located. We hope to provide this information by the end of August to the Chapters. The APTA Board is meeting at Glenmore on August 22nd and I urge you to also visit this wonderful property if you have not been there. I want to remind all APTA members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Nationa Conference in the fall. This should be a great event for preservationists in this state. I plan to attend and hope to see you at the convention. The APTA has several historic marking ceremonies scheduled from mid-August through October and we welcome your participation in these events. Scheduled markings are listed on the calendar on this site. As always, let Martha Sloan or myself know if we can be of assistance.

President's Message May 25, 2009

2009-05-25T20:12:00.002-05:00

The annual membership meeting was successful as was the auction. The annual meeting ended up with a profit. Special thanks go to Alton Kelly for providing those in attendance with several fund-raising alternatives to consider. I feel a new drive for the APTA in the 21st century and this was evidenced at the annual meeting. I was especially glad that we have been able to network with other preservation organizations and special thanks go to Patrick McIntyre of the Tennessee Historic Commission and Dan Brown of the Tennessee Preservation Trust who attended our meeting. I have also had the opportunity to meet with Ann Toplovich of the Tennessee Historical Society and Stephen Brown of the Tennessee Preservation Trust. In these tough economic times we are all striving to promote preservation and it is really a plus to combine our efforts to achieve our goals. Our immediate goals are to promote preservation and serve our chapters. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your area, let us know how we can help. No site is necessary. Keep promoting the Preservation of this great state!

President's Message April 19, 2009

2009-04-19T20:07:00.002-05:00

The year has started out well for the APTA despite the slow economy. All non-profits seem to be hurting economically and the APTA would certainly appreciate any contributions the members care to make. Also, be sure to attend the annual membership meeting at the Belle Meade Plantation in May. Our speaker will discuss innovative fund-rasing opportunites for chapters to consider. I am working on two other things that should benefit our chapters and members. We have obtained the services of a lobbyist, Doug Jones, who can assist any chapter with what is happening on Capitol Hill. His phone number is 615-244-6670. Mr. Jones and I visited with several legislators on prerevation issues in March on Legislator's Day.The executive director and I are also working on developing a catalog of grants sources.We are also ready to embark on the 2009 marker program with letters to the successful nominees to go out this month. As always, please let me know if I can assist you in any way.

President's Message January 3, 2009

2009-01-03T21:38:00.002-06:00

I am always amazed about the creative events our chapters develop. A recent one that has come to my attention which I believe is very worthy of notice is the series of Ghostly Dinners hosted by the Maury County Chapter as an on-going event. The cost is $35.00 and includes dinner, tours and Ghost experiences. For information and dinner dates call the chapter president, Linda Gupton at (931)381-4822.

President's Message December 4, 2008

2008-12-04T22:05:00.003-06:00

As this year comes to close, I am thankful for many things despite the gloomy economy. The APTA continues to provide a unique look into the history of Tennessee and although money is tight, our sites and chapters have been innovative in finding ways to fund and operate programs.As we move into 2009, I urge anyone interested in Tennessee history and the APTA to consider the following:

1. The state APTA is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations to the APTA will be tax deductible. your donations will be used to promote historic preservation in this state.

2. If you are aware of endangered historic sites, let us know if we can help in any way.

3. Remember our historic marking program. We are accepting applications through March 15, 2009.The application form is on this site.

4.We appreciate our members. We hope you will consider membership. The application form is located on this site.

5.The Nashville Chapter has agreed to renovate the APTA office in the Gardners Shed on the grounds of Belle Meade Plantation. The office will be closed due to this process from December 10 through late January or early February. The office phone will be forwarded to the Executive Director. E-mail service will continue uninterrupted. In the interim, the fax number will be (615) 297-2413.

6. The APTA Board approved future e-mailing of the newsletter. Members please provide the Executive Director with your e-mail address.

7. We have opportunities for volunteers and some vacant Board positions. Contact us if you wish to serve the APTA.

Most of all, thank you for your interest in the APTA.I wish each of you a great holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

President's Message- November 7, 2008

2008-11-08T20:33:00.003-06:00

We had a very successful and positive APTA Board of Directors Meeting today and even through the calendar year is coming to a close, the APTA is still involved in several activities before the end of the year. The new Events section of this site will keep all interested persons informed about upcoming events. I urge all chapter presidents to keep the Executive Director infromed as to upcoming APTA events so that we can get items listed on the events calendar. I also want to remind everyone that we are accepting nominations for the 2009 APTA marking program throgh March 1, 2009. The nomination form is available through this website.

The Fayette County Chapter has been re-formed and is in full swing. Likewise, another new chapter is being considered in West Tennessee. If you are interested in forming a chapter please contact us as one of our key missions is to promote preservation throught the State of Tennessee. Contrary to what you might have heard no site historic is necessary for chapter formation.The APTA is also interested in intervening to protect and preserve endangered historic sites so I urge you to keep us informed if we can help.

If you want to help promote preservation in this state we have a couple of board positions open and we are always looking for energetic and devoted preservationists to serve. Remember, our by-laws and charter calls on us to receive real and personal property for preservation purposes, to advocate for preservation, to educate the public about preservation efforts, to provide technical assistance and to work with other organizations to accomplish the preservation of the history of this state. We welcome all persons with interests in these areas. We are also a 501 (c) (3) organization so your gifts to the APTA are tax deductible. Please call on us if we can be of assistance.

President's Message-September 7, 2008

2008-09-07T23:53:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy summer for the APTA! In addition to the four historic markings featured on the historic markings page on this site, I have visited many existing APTA sites and I plan to visit them all before the year is out. As I have said to many members during these site visits, I am simply amazed about the beauty and history that permeates all of the APTA sites. I have also realized that the need for the APTA continues to grow. Daily, historic homes and buildings are being destroyed and there are very few nonprofit agencies or entities willing to actually own, operate and preserve historic properties. The APTA's work in not done, it is really just beginning!

I would like mention a few happenings at APTA sites. The Smithsonian Museum on Mainstreet continues at the APTA's Little Courthouse Museum in Bolivar throughSeptember 21, 2008. The Buchanan Log House in Nashville is celebrating its 200th birthday this year. The Memphis APTA chapter and the APTA have been working to ensure that the historic Lee House in Memphis is preserved. The marking of the Dome Building in Chattanooga was a fantasic event and will both give the APTA a presence again in Hamilton County while, at the same time, it will promote public interest in that grand commercial building. I also wanted to mention that a unique program, the Three Stars of Tennessee exhibition in Jackson, will take place from November 1 through 16, 2008. This will be a unique display of Tennessee artifacts and art to beneift the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation.

The APTA is now accepting nominations for the 2009 marking program and will continue to accept them through March 1, 2009. The nomination form is on this site. We need the assistance of all our members in carrying out our goals and objectives and I would love to have volunteers with grants skills contact myself or Martha Sloan about forming a grants committee to assist chapters and other sites to obtain financing assistance. Finally, the APTA will continue to seek opportunities to preserve historic properties through acquisition, by gift or by preparing and recording historic conservation easements. If we can be of assistance in any of these areas just contact us.

President's Message- July 13, 2008

2008-07-13T23:49:00.003-05:00

Fellow APTA members- As part of the content on our new website, I intend to write a monthly President's message in an attempt to better inform interested persons about APTA activities and programs.On July 1, 2008 when I took office as the APTA President I was humbled about attempting to fill the shoes of so many fine past presidents since 1951. At the same time,I welcome the challenge to try to carry out the stated goals of the APTA- preservation of historic structures within the State of Tennessee, to promote the understanding of the history of our state, and to edcuate the public about preservation. Since I became a member several years ago I have been enthused about the things the APTA can accomplish in this state in the preservation field. At the same time, I have reached the realization that preservation dollars are scarce and limit the things we can do. In order to move forward to achieve our goals I propose a ten point program for the APTA for the next two year period as follows:

1. Growth of chapter and Associate membership.A special emphasis on attracting young people with preservation interests.

2. Provide better support and technical assistance to the chapters.

3. To increase the number of chapters.

4. To create a "revolving fund" to acquire and preserve, for the short-term, historic structure in danger of destruction.

5. To become more involved in the preservation of historic buildings through the use of historic conservation easements and historic restrictions and covenants.

6. To train volunteers as grantspersons and to seek grants assistance for chapters.

7. To provide centralized legal assistance to chapters.

8. To remain a "preservation player" and use out skills and resources to work in concert with other preservation agencies to preserve historic properties.

9. To create an APTA presence in as many counties in Tennessee as possible through media promotions, historic markings and chapter events.

10. To promote APTA sites through the newly revised website and our new APTA brochure.

I realize this program is expansive. I also realize it will take the efforts of all APTA members to make progress in these areas. But as this state's oldest historic preservation organization, I belive we have the ability to be a leader in the preservation field in Tennessee. I welcome the assistance of all members to carry out this ambitious program. Please contact myslef or Martha Sloan, the Executive Director if you wish to become involved in any of these programs.